Alexandros was forced to accept her offer under her sheer, overwhelming aura. Having accepted the boy emperor as her disciple, Mountain King made a few arrangements for the boy before leaving. She instructed that lessons would start the following day.
The boy emperor was then forced to rest until the next day.
---
The following day.
"What!? You do not have Teacher Wuzhi with you!?" Alexandros had not expected this.
Mountain King apathetically nodded her head and explained, "You and your other teacher were not attacked by us but instead by the Iron Rhino Tribe. It just happened that Biao was in the area completing an errand when he spotted the colour of your hair and rescued you from your kidnappers and brought you to me."
It was known to everyone that the Centinni Royal Family was blessed by the Sun, resulting in their golden-coloured hair. None of the other natives within the South Aislan Continent possessed this peculiar trait.
"Does that mean Teacher Wuzhi is captive in the Iron Rhino Tribe? Teacher! Please allow me this favour and rescue him!" pleaded Alexandros.
Mountain King was not amused by this request. Her voice turned unhappy as she said, "Have you not accepted me as your teacher now? Why must you be fixated on that guy? Forget him. It is not worth my effort to save some stranger."
"No! Teacher Wuzhi is precious to me! I owe him my life!! Please! You must help me with this one matter! I promise never to request anything else from you!!"
Mountain King denied his request once again, and this exchange repeated a few more times.
"Why won't you do this for me!?" Alexandros' eyes were bloodshot. "Aren't you the Mountain King who has united all the tribes!? Why can't you order the Iron Rhino Tribe to release my teacher!!"
"Enough!" Mountain King had finally had enough. She gazed at Alexandros with a gaze that threatened to kill and said, "I am the Mountain King and have the loyalty of a hundred tribes. However, that does not mean that I have the loyalties of all the tribes and that my will is absolute."
"The Iron Rhino Tribe is a large tribe that has yet to fall under my rule. Their size is more or less equal to my faction and is not to be underestimated. They are my enemies!"
Alexandros' face further paled at that fact. "Doesn't this mean that my teacher's life is in immense danger!?"
Mountain King impatiently waved her hand and answered. "It shouldn't be in any more danger than it already is. After all, the Iron Rhino Tribe do not know that I have taken you as my disciple, nor do they know that he is your other teacher."
She then exhaled heavily and looked directly into Alexandros' eyes. She then asked, "Do you wish to save him?"
"Yes!" Alexandros did not even think and immediately replied. With his immediate family having passed and the whereabouts of his elder sister unknown, Wuzhi was the only person who was closest to Alexandros. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the boy emperor considered him as his family.
Mountain King nodded her head at his declaration and said, "Alright. A month later, I will attack the Iron Rhino Tribe in a bid to bring it under my rule. You will join me and personally save your teacher."
"But by then it would already be too—!" Alexandros was interrupted by Mountain King. She sealed his mouth with his hands and said, "This is the most I will compromise. Understood?"
Alexandros was extremely unwilling. However, he knew from looking into Mountain King's eyes that she was being serious. His heart brimming with anxiety, he nodded his head.
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"I will consider bringing the attack forward if you manage to meet my standards sooner," she added.
Instantly, a fire seemed to be lit within Alexandros' eyes. He said nothing and only nodded his head once again.
Having settled this headache, Mountain King rubbed her forehead and eventually began her lessons.
"The first three ranks of cultivation are referred to as the 'Foundational Stages.' These levels are respectively split into Body, Mind, and Heart."
"The First Rank of Body is further divided into nine levels, and is referred to as the 'Nine Transformation.' These transformations proceed in this order; Blood Transformation, Bone Transformation, Flesh Transformation, Organ Transformation, Core Transformation, Meridian Transformation, Spirit Transformation, Heart Transformation, and finally, Life Transformation."
"Nine is considered as the perfect number underneath the heavens. Therefore, in order to construct the perfect foundation, one has to undergo all nine transformations. That said, a cultivator doesn't need to possess a perfect foundation."
"Traditionally, for a cultivator to reach Rank 4, they must have undergone at least 5 transformations. Rank 6 requires six transformations. Rank 7 requires seven, and so on. Only those who had undergone all nine transformations can even attempt to dream about the Sovereign Rank. However, just having a perfect foundation is not enough to become a Sovereign. Certain other conditions must also be met."
Mountain King looked a little forlorn when she said that.
"Anyway, you do not need to know all that. Currently, you are at the Fourth Transformation: Organ Transformation. Within the next three weeks, I want you to reach at least Sixth Transformation."
Even people with extraordinary fortune often stop after reaching Rank 6. To walk further down the path of cultivation, one requires a certain extraordinary character. From Mountain King's initial estimations, Alexandros only possessed the talent to reach Rank 6 in this life.
"The Second Rank of Mind is split into six steps and is called the 'Six Realms.' Here, the six realms are named as such; First Realm – Knowing Heaven, Second Realm – Discovering Self, Third Realm – Tread the Known, Fourth Realm – Learning Unknown, Fifth Realm – Exploring Unseen, and Sixth Realm – Establish Unreal."
"It is unknown which senior created this but there is a rhyme that helps us understand the Six Realms. It goes like this; 'Knowing the heavens and myself, I tread the known, learn the unknown, explore the unseen, and establish the unreal!' The names for reach realm were taken from this rhyme."
"Unlike Rank 1, which trains the body, Rank 2 focuses on the acquisition of knowledge. There is an old adage that goes, 'With knowledge comes power.' Therefore, the more knowledgeable a cultivator is, the stronger is their power. Never underestimate those who are learned!"
"Once again, it is not expected of every cultivator to cultivate all six realms. The majority of cultivators stop at the Third Realm. Also, unlike the previous rank, the difficulty in achieving each realm is akin to climbing a mountain in a single breath! It requires someone with unusual talent to reach the Fourth Realm and Fifth Realm. As for achieving the Sixth Realm, forget it! Only those with Sovereign-talent and those Stars can hope to achieve that realm."
"You… are peculiar. If what I'm sensing is correct, you are already at the Fourth Realm – Learning Unknown. How could this be? Your talent shouldn't be enough for you to reach this realm. Did you perchance run into some sort of heavenly fortune? Never mind, I'm not interested. Just continue doing whatever you are doing thus far. Having reached the Fourth Realm is more than sufficient for my expectations."
With a Star-level talent personally imparting a Supreme-level teaching, it would be odd for Alexandros to NOT reach the Fourth Realm. Just a mere chapter of 'Schemes and Strategies' was that great!
"Finally, the Third Rank: Heart. This rank is divided into three separate divisions. They are; Human Intent, Earth Intent, and Heaven Intent."
"As a teacher, there is nothing I can teach you regarding the Third Rank. This rank is solely dependent upon the cultivators themselves. All I can do for you is to share my experiences with you and help you experience more of the world. However far your progress will depend upon your heart."
"Judging from your aura, you have yet to form your Human Intent. I can only sense a vague embryonic form deep within your heart. Remember, of the three intents, Human Intent is the most important! Your Path will be decided the moment you complete forming your Human Intent."
"Earth Intent will help you solidify your foundation thus far and guard you against Heart Demons. One can continue improving and perfecting their foundation until the formation of the Earth Intent. However, once the Earth Intent is formed, a person's foundation is set and can no longer be improved!"
"Heaven Intent will decide how much power you can draw from the heavens and how far you can progress down the path of cultivation. It is unknown if there are other uses for Heaven Intent."
"Teacher, what sort of cultivation do you possess?" asked Alexandros.
A proud smile appeared on Mountain King's peerless face as she replied. "I am a Rank 8 [Beast Path] cultivator. I cultivate the [Phantasmal Beast Strength Technique]. My heart is the Heart of the Mountain Lion!"