For three grueling years, General Leo had been the shadow and guide to Ling Xiao's lonely cultivation path. The General was the constant one, who would patiently dissect and resolve every blockage, every flaw in a difficult technique.
'Six months'. Ling Xiao clenched his fists until the knuckles were white. Had the Emperor forgotten him? Was he so insignificant that he wasn't worth a moment of his mentor's time? The thought brought a deeper ache than any physical practice: the familiar sting of his father's distance. The Emperor was the supreme ruler, a righteous man whose imperial works and duty bound him before his own blood. Impartiality—that cold, necessary virtue was the true burden of the throne. 'Let them aspire to the Imperial Seal',Ling Xiao thought bitterly. None know the cost.
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He was standing in front of the Imperial Library. It was about twenty thousand square meters huge, made of Jade marble, and a huge gate with "Imperial Library" written on it, illuminating a royal aura.
He stepped inside the library. Thousands of books were placed on shelves arranged in rows. Numerous type of cultivation technique, alchemy formula, and martial skill—including rarer cultivation techniques those were hardly available in the outside world ,were like regular resources here.
After passing several shelves, he picked up a book, drifting Leaf Step. The description read: "The user makes their body as light as a falling leaf, allowing them to glide over water or thin snow without leaving a trace."'It sounds good, but it's not compatible with my sword skills,' he thought.
"Prince Xiao, are you looking for speed skills?" From behind, an aged man came over, wearing a white robe. His eyes were deeply profound, not from fighting, but from accumulating the knowledge of a thousand books. He was the librarian, Elder Wang.
"Greetings, Elder," Ling Xiao respectfully bowed to him. "I am finding some speed skills that suit my sword skills." Despite his having lower talent than his big brother, every elder was impartial between them.
"Hmm, you'd better search on the upper floor," Elder Wang told him.
"Thank you, Elder," he bowed and turned towards the stairs. The library was divided into three categories. Where he had been standing was the Lower Category, where all palace members were permitted to enter. Next was the Middle Category, where only main palace members like elders could enter. And finally, the Higher Category, where only main family members were allowed.
Standing in front of a wall, Ling Xiao took out a golden-colored token. It was the token only direct family descendants possessed. He placed it in a hidden chamber, and an invisible door opened, revealing a quiet space. There were not thousands of books, but a few hundreds, and all were rare resources. Dust on every shelf proved this chamber had not been opened for a long time.
He started searching through a few books: Wind Embrace Technique, description: "The user is embraced by the wind, allowing them to glide". Shadowless Wind Steps, description: "Moving so fast that no shadow is cast." 'It sounds so strong,' he thought.
With the flick of the pages, he started to view the inner content. It was divided into three steps: Step 1—Ghost Flicker Steps, Step 2—Looming Phantom Thread, and Step 3—True Shadowless Wind.
'Hmm, it's good,' he thought. After reading all the content, he put it in his storage ring. "But it is not convenient to practice here; I must go outside of the palace," a look of determination appeared on his face. "I must break through into the Qi Refinement Stage."
In this world, cultivation stages were divided into Body Refinement Stage, Qi Refinement Stage, Conscious Stage, Earth Realm, Heaven Realm, and Supreme Realm. Every stage was further divided into one to nine stars. Between every stage, there was an immense power difference, and every stage had its own difficulties. Only after reaching the Earth Realm could one call himself a true cultivator, whereas the earlier stages were merely the beginning of the cultivation journey. He was not allowed to step out of the imperial palace by the Emperor until reaching the Qi Refinement Stage. Thinking that, he left the library.
In his own study room.
He was sitting in a cross-legged position, drenched in sweat. For the past two days, he had practiced non-stop, but to no avail.
"It's been so hard, even with medicinal pills. Is this the difference between 'A' grade talent and 'B' grade talent?" Thinking that, he sighed. 'Oh, big brother, have you already reached the Conscious Stage? After all, you are 'A' grade.'
Suddenly, an image flashed in his mind, making him smile. 'A peerless beauty, her face and smile are not just beautiful, they're pure. Her snow-white skin makes her like a fairy descending from heaven. Her innocent, clear eyes could make anyone fall for her.'
"Qing Yue, are you also missing me?" He fell deep in thought.
Qing Yue was the daughter of Qing Xuan, the great ruler of the Northern Continent, and was also the childhood friend of Prince Ling Xiao. She often visited the capital city of the Central Continent on many occasions with Emperor Xuan. It was a widespread belief between the two continents that the two emperors were old friends from their youths. They even had the same teacher. It was also rumored that they were going to establish a family through the marriage of their children, but no one knew the truth of the news.
A deep frown appeared on his face. "So what if the rumors are true or false? I must break through faster. She must not think i am burden of her. If I stuck forever in this stage how am I going to stand beside her?" Thinking that, he clenched his knuckles in frustration.
'No, time is pressing me, I need to concentrate'.
Another day passed with the same fruitless effect as previous days.
At the fourth day, it began like a normal day with familiar aches Ling Xiao trying to accumulate Qi to flowing with maridians and forming core but his meridians were so thin that he felt it impossible. The feeling of forever doomed in this stage was surrounding him. But with unwavering determination he kept repeating his practice with clenched fist. It is so tight that a drop of blood was coming out from his knuckles.
Time passes,
this time a strange thing happened. With the passing time, a dark aura slowly surrounding his body, but Ling Xiao was deep in his cultivation, slowly accumulating Qi from the air around and flowing it into his meridians. But outside he was like devouring Qi around the air. There was no change in his expression. Outside, the dark aura grew denser and denser, completely replacing his pure aura. Dense, destructive energy was spreading through the air. Qi around the air was rapidly devoured into his body. But he was not aware of himself and nor idea about time.
Within a second, his meridians were filled with Qi, and he began to refine it. With this, he started to channel the Qi into his abdomen area, slowly forming a core of concentrated, pure Qi. But outside, his dark aura grew more suffocating and destructive.
If a outsider would saw his breakthrough he would compare Ling Xiao as a monster. Because for a genius person having 'A' grade talent take atleast a hour to breakthrough in this stage. But how prince Ling Xiao just breakthrough within a minute ? And the answer is. It is not normal.
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Far away, in the main palace balcony, two people were playing chess. One man, wearing a white robe, emitted a powerful, dominating, yet noble aura. Although his age was quite high, from his appearance, he only looked to be in his thirties. He was the Great Emperor of the Central Continent.
On the other side of the chess table was a man wearing an azure-white robe, emanating an aura that was neither fierce nor dominating, but one of profound stillness, like a calm river. His long silver hair floated with the air. A single glance into his eyes could seem to see through people's souls. "Checkmate," he spoke in a calm voice, like an enchantment. He was the royal teacher, Tian Xian.
Suddenly, they sensed something and turned towards Ling Xiao's study room. "That's not right," a deep look of concern appeared on the Emperor's face. He couldn't help but look towards his teacher.
"The time has not arrived yet. We have to wait until he breaks through to the Earth Realm, at least. We must not be in rush; it involves the very existence of all beings," Tian Xian told him in a calm tone, deep in his thoughts . No one could see through his thoughts, not even the Emperor himself.
He left his seat, and with a slight ripple of space, he disappeared like an illusion. Seeing that, the Emperor merely sighed to himself, and he also left.
The next moment, Tian Xian appeared in an unknown place. From a single glance at the surroundings, it was clear that it was not a royal palace, but an ancient cave with many ancient scriptures and pictures carved into the walls. The Qi in the area was nowhere comparable to the royal palace; it was so dense that a breakthrough in cultivation in this place would be like drinking water.
On a rough-hewn stone pedestal, centered within a dimly lit cave, stood a macabre hourglass. Its unknown metal frame, dark and ancient, was carved with intricate, almost forgotten runes that seemed to writhe in the flickering torchlight. Instead of sand, a crimson liquid, perhaps real blood, dripped from the upper bulb to the lower. At this moment, only two blood drops had fallen.
Seeing this, Tian Xian's face grew grave.