Chương 31: New Development

After hearing Lin Yi's words, Xiao Jinse zipped around the pavilion happily. He smiled, seeing her gold-and-black form flashing through the room. Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz! She landed on his hair and buzzed.

"Hahaha, thank you, Jinse. I'm happy too!" Lin Yi replied to her congratulations. He stood up and walked outside." Let's go. We can drink another cup of tea before I report my breakthrough to the division." Lin Yi looked up at the sky and noticed that the sun had already started to sink. Hah. He let out a sigh of relief while looking at the stars that were quite alike to those of Earth.

He didn't know whether this world was similar to Earth or Earth was similar to this world, but this likeness couldn't be a coincidence; both worlds needed to have some connection. Lin Yi even found signs that this world and beyond might have a bigger backstory than he initially thought. It definitely was more than a typical Xianxia world. He shook his head and felt the pressure in his chest that had built up over these few years slowly dispersing. In the end, my dao heart is strong enough, huh.

Lin Yi styled himself as someone who was not shaken by outside influences, his heart mainly devoted to the pursuit of the dao, and if he one day fell off his path, he would do so without regret. His dao heart should not have been pressured by the first stage of cultivation. But despite all his hopes and wishes, his mental fortitude was not yet at this stage. He still had a great amount of room to grow.

He collected tea leaves from the Solitary Yang Bamboo and other necessities needed, and brewed tea for himself and Xiao Jinse. They enjoyed the flavor of Gentle Yang Bamboo together till nightfall. Lin Yi picked up his sect plate and sent a message to Yu Hua regarding his breakthrough to the third level of the Qi Condensation Realm. He thought not that he would receive a quick reply, as most elders were likely secluded in cultivation or in their private time. He would likely get a message back only the next day.

He patted Xiao Jinse and said his goodbye for the day.

"Sleep well, little queen." The queen bee rose towards him and snuggled his cheek. Bzzz. With a wide smile, he waved her away as she flew towards her beehive, and left towards his own sleeping quarters. The next morning, Lin Yi checked his sect plate. As he expected, he received a reply and was summoned to the Administrative Building of the Scripture Pavilion Division this afternoon. This is I did not see. He thought as he read the content. He was even exempted from today's sect-assigned duties.

This was highly unusual; he knew of only a few situations in which this would be the case. The abolishment of cultivation, as he underwent one four years ago, was one of them. He heard Xiao Jinse before he saw her. She came flying from afar and landed on his head, starting to play with his hair with her tiny, thin legs. Bzzz, bzzz. Lin Yi smiled while patting her above his head.

"A good morning to you as well." His attention came back to the message. After a few moments, he shook his head. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. There is no use thinking about it. I will just go this afternoon and learn what this is about. He made himself and his companion a morning tea, this time a strong variety, and after that they started their daily cultivation. He was free today, no reason to waste good time.

Deputy Division Master Yu sat behind her desk on her favorite royal-like chair. It was one of the few, or many in the opinion of others, luxurious things she allowed herself. She took the chair everywhere with her, be it in the small mansion back on her peak, or here in her new office. For about two and a half years, she had occupied the position of Deputy Master. Her Senior Sister Kayu successfully entered the realm of Dao Masters and established her foundation shortly before.

After a few weeks at the Inner Court, she returned and took up the duties of Division Master of the Scripture Pavilion Division, allowing its former master, the Perceiving Light Daoist, to retire. Deservedly. The former princess thought. The Dao Master held the position for decades, which slowed the advancement of his cultivation. Now, back at the ancestral and third-grade spirit vein, he might have a chance of entering the Golden Core Realm.

"Haaahhh!" She sighed and leaned back into her chair at the thought of her own cultivation. Of course, she would never tell anyone about her lousy posture and manner; she had her pride and image to protect. A princess, as she was, was not to be humiliated. Despite being burdened by her position, her cultivation still advanced to the peak of the ninth level four months ago. Her Myriad Flower Art had reached Grand Completion, and she could assail the Foundation Establishment Realm any time.

Naturally, it would be foolish to do so without a Foundation Establishment Pill to protect her in the event of failure, or further preparation. Furthermore, she still was more than half a decade away from reaching her decline of the Three Splendors. Her Myriad Flower Art, possessing some traits of a longevity art, allowed her a few more years to polish her foundation. With these years, she would pursue the profound peak of Qi Condensation, even with her minuscule chance of success.

Thinking of the tenth level, she remembered the disciple who brought her no small surprise, Lin Yi. Calculating the time, she thought he had to be already on his way. Yu Hua extended her senses beyond the Administration Building and the private division platform, leaving out the private domains of disciples and elders, towards the mountain. Soon she detected Disciple Lin, still some distance away, as he journeyed towards her location.

She informed herself about all division disciples, as it was her duty as former Elder and now Deputy Master, and Lin Yi was naturally among them. While he was not the first disciple of the Outer Court she knew of reaching for a perfect Golden Cauldron foundation, he was one of the few. Across the entire cultivation world, there was a saying about cultivating a perfect foundation. Those disciples, to pursue a greater foundation, who had the courage to forge their cultivation anew were to be respected.

Those who failed upon this path were not to be looked down upon. And those who succeeded by this calling were to be esteemed. The Charging Bull Sect followed this motto as well, and had no intention to restrict such a fine seedling. Lin Yi had the making of a Dao Master and would be treated as such. Time passed quickly for Yu Hua during her work, and soon the expected disciple stood in front of her office.

"Come in, Disciple Lin Yi." She waited not for him to knock, and as he entered the room, she gestured towards the stool on the other side of her desk.

"Sit."

"Deputy Master Yu." He clasped his hands and bowed slightly before following her instructions; not a proper, formal greeting like that of nobles and royalty, she noticed, but didn't press. They were, after all, not in her childhood home. She looked at him for a long time, examining. When he became slightly unsettled, she finally extended her hand towards him, her open palm pointing upward, and said.

"May I?" He looked at her for a few moments before she saw him realizing what she wanted.

"Of course." He nodded, but did not reach towards her hand. That was only natural; her own open hand was not an invitation to touch, but an additional form of request. Her divine sense left her Purple Mansion and infiltrated Lin Yi's spiritual body to inspect it. In mere instances, she verified his cultivation base. It is indeed as he said. She nodded in confirmation to herself, recalled her senses from him, and looked him in the eyes.

This time, there was a sense of respect, and even admiration; the latter she herself had not realized or even suppressed with her own pride.

"Grand Completion Locking Yang Nourishing Art."

"Perfect Minor Completion of the Classic of Qi Refinement." She waited for a moment before continuing.

"Congratulations, Disciple Lin Yi. Your accomplishment is worthy of great esteem." His eyes showed that he understood her word choice. Good. Thought the Deputy Division Master to herself. He is well read.

"Thank you, Deputy Master Yu." He hesitated a moment before asking a question.

"However, I do not exactly understand why I am here. I don't think a simple breakthrough warrants a direct conversation." Yu Hua realized, with understanding after thinking it through, that he did not know what a perfect foundation means in the cultivation world. Or he understood it, but didn't know the depths of an orthodox sect's inner workings, which was more likely.

"Ah, then another congratulation is in order, disciple." He looked even more confused at this point. She didn't keep him suspended.

"A Dao Master of the sect will soon escort you to the Inner Court." She saw him truly realize what she had just said. The surprise and shock at her words slowly gave way to excitement and joy on his face. She couldn't help herself and smirked inwardly.

"You, Disciple Lin Yi, will soon be an Inner Court Disciple!"