Grade higher than Heaven

The first thing that happened was the gentle caressing sensation in his abdomen. Kai realized that the manual was most probably right.

Sitting at the lotus position, Kai began the active digestion of the spirit herb that he had just swallowed.

According to the manual, Kai should use his Qi as a catalyst for the digestion and inject a will for the wood Qi from the spirit herb to be absorbed.

Kai was slow. It might be because it's his first time. Nonetheless, the process proceeded slowly but surely.

Digested Spirit herb that turned into wood Qi would be forced into every single cell on Zhou Kai's body. Even his nails and body, the only exception would be for his excretions and impurities.

Based on his comprehension, he could target specific parts of his body that he wanted to infuse with the wood Qi. The more parts he successfully infused, the higher his level would be in the Mortal Realm.

While all this was happening, Zhou Kai was also shocked by the effects that he could feel while performing Yggdrasil's Path Method. His weak dantian that he formed to reach the mortal realm was now completely destroyed and the Qi in it dispersed into thin air.

Right now, Zhou Kai was continuously replacing the lost energy with the wood Qi from the Scorching leaf. Kai was enlightened. As of now, he was actually repairing his imperfect roots.

The only thing that Kai was pondering about was why he had no dantian at all. Instead of a dantian, his whole body acted like a vessel for Wood Qi or more specifically, all his cells would be imbued with wood Qi.

Everyone else has a dantian as long as you are a cultivator. Even the beasts had dantians like humans. Only difference is that it is tangible and will remain even after the owner's death. Zhou Kai has no dantian at all.

'What would I be then?' He thought. Despite this, he did not stop digesting, refining, and absorbing the wood Qi.

After some more absorbing going on, Kai finally ran out of spirit herb to digest. As such he opened his eyes to check his condition and immediate environment.

Zhou Kai instantly felt stronger and more energetic.

He looked around and saw it was noon at the moment. After that, he found out that he was still in his room but this room smelled like a pigsty.

"Urgh!" Zhou Kai knew that this was his impurities that he expelled just like the manual said.

Kai hurriedly went inside his mental dimension to check for his progress. Before he ate the Scorching leaf, he was a Mortal realm Level 2 but now, Kai was surprised to find that 2 of the 5 orbs inside the Green soul were lit up.

This means that he was somewhere between level 3 or 4 of the mortal realm.

These 2 dark green orbs represent his awakened utilities based on the soul. The 1st orb made a body part to permanently change while the 2nd unlocked an innate talent or simply trait.

Kai decided to call the 1st orb Mutation orb while the 2nd will be the Trait orb.

Zhou Kai already knew his mutation which led to him recovering his mantool so, Zhou Kai peered into the Trait orb to gain information about it.

As he did, Zhou Kai only found some information to comprehend.

He learned that this orb granted him some sort of a passive ability that is connected to wood.

'Evergreen.' An innate trait that gave Kai the regenerative, and recovery properties of flora. The rate of regeneration and recovery depended on his level of cultivation.

Kai can't help but exclaim in his mental dimension. 'Another godsent ability!' one would just wonder how Kai managed to unlock these things inside his mental dimension.

'With this ability, I'd be safer. Furthermore, at my current level, my regeneration and recovery improved by 20%! The best news is that it can only get better as I progress.'

'Regeneration is for the body and vitality. Recovery is for Qi and mentality.'

With that, Kai stopped with the orb and went to check what he could unlock at level 5 of mortal realm.

He peered on the 3rd orb which was gray and lifeless. The information inside says that he would finally be able to summon his contracted beast. He checked for other things like setbacks and side effects but found nothing. 'Yggdrasil's Path is truthfully profound. I would give it a grade higher than heaven if I could!'

Kai went out of his mental dimension in order to get rid of the black grime on his body. He stood up and got off his bed.

That is the plan but, as he opened the door, Kai was surprised to see his uncle Wu Chen standing there.

Wu Chen also saw Zhou Kai opening the door and he was surprised.

He cupped his fist to greet the chief. "Chief! Congratulations on your breakthrough to level 4!" Wu Chen was shocked by his nephew's cultivation speed.

'Uncle's already back?' Kai was also surprised.

Kai originally thought that he was somewhere between 3rd and 4th level but now, his uncle just confirmed it for him. This means that 1 low-grade spirit herb can make him level up by 2.

Kai also cupped his fist together. "Many thanks uncle. I'm impressed by your speed uncle. It took you less than 2 days to finish your business in Earth Snake Town."

"Hmm?!" Wu Chen was now the one who's confused. He looked at his nephew again and soon, he was enlightened. The chief probably did not have the proper sense of time due to his hard work for breaking through.

As the senior, he decided to make the first move.

"Chief, you must have missed the time. According to Zhou Mei, this is the 10th day of your seclusion." Wu Chen carefully disclosed this information to his nephew. As for how Wu Chen asked Zhou Mei, Mei probably just gestured and somehow Wu Chen understood.

Kai was now shocked. He thought that it had only been a day since he ate that Scorching leaf but it turned out that he was lost in a trance and lost track of the time instead.

"What?!"

"Yes. I and the Bei family representatives made it back 4 days after our departure. I have been here waiting for almost 7 days now."

"I-Is that so?" Zhou Kai was bewildered but let it slide. What is there to do? He can't turn back time. Not that he would if he had the ability.

"Yes."

The conversation's tone was respectful.

"There's nothing we can do then. I will clean myself and get back to you. Call uncle Chun and the family leaders and wait for me at the meeting room"

"Certainly." Wu Chen agreed and then immediately left. He was safe with Zhou Mei here. His nephew reeked of a gut wrenching odor. As a cultivator himself he knew that the stench is a blessing in disguise.

Zhou Mei saw Wu Chen out.

With that, Kai took a bath and wore the Chief's robe then went directly to the meeting room at the village hall. Zhou Mei was like a shadow that followed behind him.

***At the meeting room***

8 individuals patiently waited for Zhou Kai's arrival. They were the Wu twins and the 4 family heads. Ning was at the side standing behind Wu Chun as she was now Wu Chun's only disciple.

"Did the Chief really break through to level 4?!" Nan An exclaimed. 10 days ago, he just met Kai and he clearly saw he was just at level 2 and yet, Wu Chen said Kai was now at level 4.

Who could take this?

The others were equally surprised by this piece of news. Most of them here were old and knew of some rumors of prodigies that can easily advance in cultivation. Nan An was the strongest family head at level 7 but he is already nearing his seventies. This just emphasizes Kai's talent.

No one dared believe this. Who here doesn't know of their chief's inferior talent? They all knew he was practically a cripple in cultivation. Furthermore, Kai is known as an impotent man. This was too sudden.

"Elder Nan, even I did not dare believe it at first but, I have no reason to lie. The chief will arrive here and you can confirm it yourselves." Wu Chen calmly said.

"T-That's true. Sigh." Nan An finally gave up on this matter. Just like what Wu Chen mentioned, he can simply check it himself.

The others followed suit and minded their own business. They had to report here and receive orders from the young chief.

Even Wu Chun was surprised but his shock had less magnitude as he knew of his nephew's perfect wood affinity. The only mystery for him was how his nephew cultivated and managed to advance 2 levels in 10 days. Wu Chun just shrugged this off. If his Nephew does not say it, he would still not ask. Everyone should have their secrets.

Soon, Zhou Kai and Zhou Mei arrived.

The old Zhou Mei opened the door for Kai and let him in first before entering herself. Zhou Kai did not mind. Maybe this was what Mei wanted.

Everyone stood up and cupped their fists and bowed to greet Kai. "Greetings to the Chief."

Kai waved his hands to let them sit back again. "Thank you for your attendance." Kai said as he also sat. His seat was at the end of the room where he could see everyone. Zhou Mei just stood behind him with her emotionless smile.

"Let's begin." Kai said. He did not know why everyone was gawking at him but he just let it slide. 'Maybe I'm too handsome?'

Unbeknownst to him, they were all racking their brains of how he could possibly advance by 2 levels. Their eyes shone with awe. 'Its true!' Now, everyone's doubts just vanished into thin air. Maybe the chief was really a hidden talent? Now that they think about it, he now had wood affinity even though he had none before.

Kai and his uncles mentioned his affinity when he tested everyone's affinity. It was to gain his subjects' trust and favor as well as their respect.

Only Ning and Zhou Mei had no glimmer in their eyes. Ning had no background and as such, she does not know the weight of Kai's achievement. As for Zhou Mei, maybe she just did not care or did she expect this?

Just like that, the meeting took place and everyone had their own reports and concerns.

"Chief, we have finished the transactions regarding the wood elemental crystals. All thanks to Elder Wu Chen's guidance. The profit…" Bei Shu narrated her report. As the family head, she was one of the Bei family members that went to Earth Snake Town. This was the first trip and she should naturally be the one to go.

Her mission was rather important. Selling such valuable resources should be taken seriously. She and Elder Wu Chen agreed to sell the low-grade wood crystals to different shops and stalls in small numbers. They were still a small business. By doing this, they would not attract too much attention and thus, have peaceful transactions. Once they get big, they would sell in bulk and enter the fray. All this was thanks to Bei Shu's past experience as a small-time merchant.

She also was not sure why the Chief sold off wood affinity crystals when he had wood affinity himself. She just shrugged this thought off her mind.

"Me and my Xifang family had just finished assigning the territories of each family. We also started the reclamation of the usable resources left by the deserters. We also…" Xifang Yi went on and on about her family's contribution.

Iron Beast Village was like a mole that stood out on a fair face. They were alone in the southern outskirts as the only surviving village. As such, the village's potential was huge.

"Nan family have managed to forage ample amounts of ingredients and herbs for the winter. We have assorted the seeds to be planted in spring."

"I Ren Huang and my brother Ren Zhong together with our members have managed to hunt some meat and fish. There had been some mishaps but nothing too major. What we just need are some tools for…" Hunters should have some traps and other hunting tools to succeed in hunts. They can't just run after rabbits or fight bare handed. They need an advantage over their prey. Humans were given brains and high comprehension ability. Only a fool would choose to fight on equal terms.