The conversation shifted to matters of cultivation and training, the atmosphere in the room now lighter and filled with a renewed sense of purpose and camaraderie.
The bond between master and disciple had grown stronger, forged through shared secrets and mutual respect.
The master-disciple duo continued to talk late into the night. Sect Master Lian Hua finally ended their session after noticing Kai Ren's growing fatigue.
"I believe that's enough for today," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "Get some rest, and meet me tomorrow outside your abode. Be ready for training."
"Okay, Master. Yawn, I will do as you say," Kai Ren replied, his words trailing off into a yawn as his eyes were half-closed with exhaustion.
Watching Kai Ren struggle to stay awake, Lian Hua couldn't help but chuckle softly. "What a silly child,"
she muttered affectionately, a tender smile playing on her lips as she gently brushed a lock of hair from his face. She lingered momentarily, taking in the peaceful expression that had settled on his features before quietly leaving his villa.
Kai Ren barely made it to his bed before succumbing to the overwhelming exhaustion. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out like a light, slipping into a deep, dreamless sleep that enveloped him like a cocoon.
He slept soundly for over sixteen hours, his body and mind gratefully accepting the much-needed rest.
When he finally awoke, the morning light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over his room. Kai Ren blinked groggily, rubbing his eyes as he tried to shake off the remnants of sleep.
The first thought that pierced through the fog in his mind was Azarion's advice. Driven by urgency and determination, he said, "Elder, how do I solidify my foundation as you mentioned?"
"To solidify your foundation," Azarion began, his celestial voice resonating with an otherworldly calm.
"You need to continually envelop the spiritual Qi inside your body with the Qi you absorb from the atmosphere until you can no longer continue. This process requires patience and precision."
"You must ensure that you do not make a breakthrough during this practice, or you will encounter difficulties later in your journey."
Kai Ren listened intently, feeling the weight of Azarion's words. The task sounded daunting, but he knew it was crucial for his progress. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the rigorous training ahead.
After Kai Ren calmed his mind, he sat cross-legged and began reciting the Celestial Genesis technique. His breathing steadied, and he could feel the ambient Qi around him responding to his call.
As he started cultivating, instead of letting the natural Qi roam freely within his body, he consciously guided it toward his own spiritual Qi, directing it to envelop and condense, making it more potent and powerful.
The process required intense focus, but Kai Ren could sense the immediate benefits. After the first cycle, he felt the spiritual Qi within him becoming denser, and his body felt more robust and more resilient.
Encouraged by this progress, he continued the process, following Azarion's instructions. With each repetition, he felt his foundation growing more stable and his spiritual Qi more concentrated.
He pushed himself, maintaining his focus and determination for four hours straight. By the end, he had reached his limit; the natural Qi could no longer compress his spiritual Qi any further.
His body was drenched in sweat, and his head throbbed painfully as if it might burst. Despite the exhaustion, a sense of accomplishment washed over him.
After finishing his cultivation session, Kai Ren eased his sore muscles with a warm bath, soothing his exhausted body.
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Yet, despite the relief, his head continued to throb from the intense focus of his practice, so he did not break through to the high-level Qi practitioner realm, a risk he couldn't afford to take.
Feeling the weight of exhaustion settling upon him like a heavy blanket, Kai Ren stumbled to his bed again.
He knew he needed rest, even if only for a few hours. As he drifted asleep, the ache in his head dulled, and he welcomed the darkness that enveloped him.
Four hours later, a persistent knocking roused Kai Ren from his slumber. Blinking blearily, he stumbled to the door and swung it open to find his Master standing there, a look of mild amusement on her face.
"It's morning already?" Kai Ren muttered, his voice heavy with sleepiness.
"Yes, it's morning," Lian Hua replied with a chuckle. "And why are you so sleepy? Get ready. We need to start your training."
Kai Ren couldn't suppress a groan at the thought of another round of training. Despite his desire to sink back into the comforting depths of sleep, the burning determination to avenge his sister propelled him forward.
Reluctantly, he readied himself and emerged from his quarters, steeling his resolve for the arduous session ahead.
Following Lian Hua's lead, Kai Ren trudged behind her, his steps heavy with fatigue.
It wasn't long before he realized they were venturing beyond the confines of the sect. Puzzled, he couldn't help but voice his question. "Master, doesn't this path lead outside the sect?"
Lian Hua's response was curt, her gaze fixed ahead as she spoke. "Indeed, it does. We must maintain discretion regarding our relationship within the sect."
Approaching the gates marking the sect's boundary, Kai Ren felt a peculiar energy enveloping him.
Lian Hua reassured him before he could fully grasp its nature, her voice cutting through his confusion. "Don't worry. I've cast a barrier around us. We won't be visible to others."
Relieved yet intrigued by his master's skill, Kai Ren braced himself for whatever lay beyond the sect's borders, determined to follow Lian Hua's lead no matter the challenge.
As they ventured further from the sect, Lian Hua suddenly halted, her gaze fixed sharply on Kai Ren.
Without warning, she launched into an attack, completely catching Kai Ren off guard. The force of the blow sent him hurtling through the air, his mouth filling with the metallic taste of blood as he struggled to regain his bearings.
Once he managed to steady himself, Kai Ren heard his master's voice cutting through the ringing in his ears. "Combat Rule number one," Lian Hua declared sternly, her words carrying the weight of experience, "never let your guard down, even in the presence of allies."
Gasping for breath, Kai Ren absorbed the lesson.
The sting of the attack served as a harsh reminder of the dangers that lurked beyond the sect's safety. While he was complementing all of this, his master attacked again, hurling him through the air once more.
"Combat rule number two," Lian Hua's voice pierced Kai Ren's thoughts once more, "never doze off before your enemies. They won't wait for you to complete your thoughts."
Struggling to push aside the drowsiness that threatened to overwhelm him, Kai Ren let out a groan of frustration. "Master, can't you go a little easier on me? I'm still new to combat," he protested weakly.
But Lian Hua's response was firm, her tone uncompromising.
"Will your enemy go easier on you just because you lack experience? No," she retorted sharply.
"The world is not sunshine and rainbows, Disciple Kai. The strong prey on the weak, plain and simple. Nobody will care how much of a genius you are if you lack the power to protect yourself."
The harsh reality of her words struck Kai Ren like a physical blow, a sobering reminder of their world's unforgiving nature.
"Come at me with all you've got,"
Lian Hua's voice echoed in Kai Ren's ears once more, igniting a spark of determination within him. Fatigue weighed heavily on his limbs, but the prospect of ending the gruelling training session early spurred him forward.
He yearned for nothing more than the sweet relief of sleep.
Without hesitation, Kai Ren assumed a makeshift battle stance and launched himself at his master, his movements fueled by sheer determination.
Yet, despite his best efforts, he was swiftly repelled, sent flying backwards with each attempt.
"Again!" Kai Ren shouted, his voice tinged with frustration as he hurled himself at Lian Hua again. But with each successive attack, he was met with the same outcome, his blows easily deflected by his master's skilled defence.
The cycle repeated until Kai Ren's body could no longer withstand the punishment. Collapsing to the ground, he grimaced in pain as Lian Hua approached, offering him a Grade 3 healing pill.
"Take this," she instructed, her voice softened by a hint of sympathy. "It will restore your strength and prepare you for another round."
As Kai Ren swallowed the pill, a wave of despair washed over him. His initial vigour had faded, replaced by a sense of hopelessness. Despite his initial determination, the reality of his inability to land a single hit on his master weighed heavily on him.
With each failed attempt, Kai Ren's resolve wavered, the enormity of his task threatening to overwhelm him. But beneath the despair, a flicker of determination remained, fueled by the memory of his sister's fate.
He knew that to achieve his goal of revenge, he would need to endure far greater pain than this. And so, gritting his teeth, he pushed himself to his feet, steeling himself for the trials ahead.