Day 20 Night and changes

The students fought a few of the low-level beast that day up until the night time. A lot of the students still feeling excited about the previous duel they witnessed.

Ye Xinghe had gotten a lot of advice from the teacher and Lin Hong afterward when no one was looking. Both doing their best to wheedle into his heart by the looks of it. Basically about way he did wrong during the fight. Which was mostly about the freezing up and not fighting with the intent to really kill or injure his opponent.

Liang Yu had recovered well enough on his own. Only fighting a little bit to test himself and to gather the demonic beasts into his internal space for later use. The fight helped pushed his insights further in qi usage. Almost instinctively.

Liang Jian continued his arrogance. But caught on to the fact quite a few students gave him an evil look at times. Staying with the other Dark Moon students only soothe his worries a little. But also kick his arrogance back up.

Once camp was made, Liang Yu ordered the Dark Moon people to behave themselves. As for Liang Jian, he ordered him to stay close to him to talk about something. For they could talk over "family" matters.

Remembering that this was the night the young man would die made him try a little more to change his ways. As well as collect some information about other matters hopefully.

Before they got far An Xueyun passed a pouch to Liang Yu. Inside were Star Stones to help with Cultivation. As well a few pieces of metal. She was after all from a noble house and had some resources to help advance her cultivation. Only way she would have reached the level she currently had. That and the time she spent with Ye Xinghe for "healing" and whatnot.

The exchange was clear. She wanted the two to be even and for her not to owe him anything. As well her family from having to get involved. Liang Yu was not gonna turn that done at all.

Liang Jian watched the girl leave just as fast as she came. The notion that his licked his cousin immediately leaving his mind after seeing Liang Yu's look of contempt.

"I do not understand what is going on with you!" Liang Jian shouted. Despite being told to keep it down. It was night time afterall. "Why did you treat those.. commoners like they were people?" He was about to say slaves but that last time he said the word, Liang Yu gave him what he called an Indian rug burn. With actual fire added on it was really painful to the arms.

"Ok, for the last time, the Dark Moon family is not as powerful as you think." Liang Yu was going to make this the last time he explained it to him. "Rebellion is building up all over. Soon they will make their move and the family will be in danger. I am sure you have heard the rumors already in your travels as well as whispers among students."

Liang Yu had tossed the metals, demonic beast blood, and a few low ranking herbs that couldn't be used for anything unless in large quantities into the Flame Vortex Core. He wanted to try something to help the Flame Martial Arts reached above that little hurdle.

As Liang Jun talked he circled Astral Sense along with Fire Body. The combination of the two worked togethor easy enough but not with the precision of running either one by itself.

Trial and error for now with this thing.

"The family is unbeatable, no one dares mess with us." Liang Jian said. His cousin didn't look away from her for a second. Which made the young man think about getting into favor with him more. "THey defintely are thinking twice after seeing you put that Ye Xinghe in place!"

"Today how many people messed with the family without a second thought really?" Liang Yu shook his head at the stubborn young man. "Several family members saw this happened, talk to them if you don't believe my words. In fact, check the rumors of other vassal families and you will know."

"These upstarts need to know their place!" Liang Jian bared his teeth in anger. Unable to calm himself down over the matter. "Why are you not as mad about what happened?"

"Well it was a duel, I agreed to it." Liang Yu cocked an eyebrow at him. Understanding what he was really trying to say. "Besides, I can not kill a fellow student as well as a disciple of the Vice-Principal, that is stupid. That girl cares for him, it was expected she would act. Her attacking was most likely due to the way I treated her."

"She hang with her own people more." Liang Jian folded his arms slightly angsty. His eyebrow twitching for some reason. THe air in the roof was stifled by something. 'Why does my chest feel so funny all of a sudden?'

The qi in the room was reacting to Liang Yu's cultivation. Liang Jian was feeling the effects hands on. Internally his dantian was slowly spinning in response to the changes of the Flame Vortex Core.

Both unaware of what was going on inside Liang Jian.

"The commoners are unsettled but they will be straightened out soon."

"Gonna get worse most likely, considering..." Liang Yu caught the presence of someone close to his tent. They were subtle but not subtle enough. His left hand moved behind him as he grabbed as a small stone and infused qi into it. With a flick of the wrist, it was launched at the creeper outside.

*Pow!* A small explosion was heard outside. No matter what Liang Yu did, anytime he circled the Flame Vortex Core and used the regular qi, the latter would always slip a little into it. Why, he had a few theories but he needed to understand cultivation more.

"What the heck is going on out there?" Liang Jian questioned. "Don't they know people are trying to rest?" Considering just minutes ago he was loud and generally yelling was not missed by Liang Yu. 'Ugh, what is this pain!'

Liang Jian felt a sharpness in his chess. Potent qi had gathered there and was now heading to his Dantian. Almost beckoned by it in a way.

"Just a little rat causing trouble maybe." Liang Yu felt the presence scurry away. Paying close attention to the room, he was able to feel the Flame Martial Arts push to the next level. Black remains left inside his body from the refining process was spit out to the side. "Ptui!"

*Fwish!* Flames swirled around Liang Yu as he entered the 3rd Heavenly easily. The majority of the energy causing his Dantian to almost hum in joy. Before he could inspect it more, he had to deal with Liang Yu.

"All we have to do is kill them and show them their place once more. If that brat died.." Liang Jian closed his mouth as he felt a chill. Liang Yu gave him a glare that was extremely hostile. He fell back almost out of the tent even. "We are on the same side cousin!"

"We were until now. I am trying to keep you from getting killed and become better as a man, but you just refuse to listen. I can only do so much before I stop caring." Liang Yu calmed himself as he said his goodbyes. "I wish the best in your next life."

No reason to help him anymore especially when danger was present from himself. It was time to change focus back to what was more important. His own survival. Only a small thought into if the Old Xu headed his warnings about things still.

Liang Jian scurried away. Bumping into a few other students who gave him a wide berth of room. Seeing he was covering his mouth they thought he was just sick.

"Maybe a bad meal." A student said offhand. The student looked at the tent he ran from and just shrugged. "Dark Moon family is just odd lately. At least Liang Yu is not causing troubles anymore."

Inside the tent, Liang Yu was cultivating as best he could. The stones were thrown into the Flame Vortex next as he circulated it the maximum. The stones were turned into powder as they were deprived of the power inside them.

It took about an hour before it was finished and he circled it once through his body.

'Success!' Liang Yu cheered happily as he slipped into the next stage for the Flame Vortex Core. Instead of just increasing in strength like before, it actually increased in size by 3x this time. Information pouring into his mind so fast he was happy he wasn't observing himself internally to much. 'Almost got sucked in by observing with a small trace during this time. Man, this thing is just dangerous.'

*Fwish!* Blue fire danced in front of Liang Yu. As it moved about, it formed an image of someone.

"Why... him?" Liang Yu rubbed his chin in thought. The more he cultivated the more the detail increased. Up until the image looked to be puking its guts out and taking a shit did he get annoyed. "I did not need to see that."

As for the information that rose up inside him, it directed him to head to the Star Pillar. A chance for a lot of power was there. Something that could not be ignored if he wanted to do things his own way. And considering that he rembered his "father" was high up there in the Heavenly Layers of power and had several people under his control the pressure was on.

But that was not a problem immediately. After all, the rebels had the numbers and some strength.

'Whatever is in this Star Pillar defintely needs to be mine.' Liang Yu stood up ready to gamble his faith. 'And if get a nice little boost in power I can take everything in the cave that has that halberd. Ye Xinghe left to much behind, I am taking everything I can!'

Moving after the coast was clear, the image flickered in his mind very briefly before he dismissed. He tried to save him that was good enough in his book. Reconciling the information in his head made him feel giddy.

'The Flame Vortex can refine things and turn it into qi for my Dantian or for itself. But only certain material can go into my Flame Vortex Core. But my Dantian is not that picky. But metal can not be refined by it that easily. I need to find stuff to increase the technique level of the Metal Seed in the center of my chest.'

The image was that of Liang Jian. The vast impurities in his body very coming out all at once. He looked a sorry sight as it came out both ends forcefully. But that was the least of his trouble at the time.

A cloaked figure stalked him in the shadows. Bidding their time before striking. The current situation only making it easier to act against them.

"Urrp!" Liang Jian threw up some more black bile. It was the last of it but the aftertaste was almost to much. "Can't be!?" Moving his hands up, he marveled at some red lines that appeared then vanished. "Did I breakthrough?!"

*Fwish!* Rich flames appeared as Liang Jian felt he stepped directly into the 4th Heavenly Layer, His energy was low but his body felt amazing. Considering what just happened anyway. Inside the flames were small traces of lighting. Very minuscule traces.

"Who's there!?" Liang Jian turned on his heels as someone attacked him. Senses heightened due to his recent breakthrough. He attacked with all he had in fear. "Do you know who my family is!?" Bravado in his voice but a lot of fear.

"Of course I know!" The masked figure said evily. "That is why you have to die!" As his hand turned to scales as he attacked, the figure didn't take notice of the attack Liang Jian gave in haste. The attack pierced the man's side letting a little bit of fire and lighting inside. 'Ugh, I was careless!'

*Rip!* A clawed hand ripped into Liang Jian. But he did not go down instantly. A small skirmish was fought. With a very likely result.