Sera was very punctual and she did not miss her schedule. Lyren had invited her inside and she was now seated on the opposite side of the table.
"Claire, can you give us some privacy?" Lyren asked and Sera nodded. She had come with one of the stage eight girls and she nodded at her to leave too.
Claire would have protested but she nodded too and left. She did not want to pry into matters concerning the academy deeply. She locked the door and sat in meditative position at the pond.
"Young Master, nice to meet you," Sera greeted with false meekness. Lyren could not help but smile. Someone was totally holding a grudge.
"I wonder when I said I had no cultivation. It was your inability to read me that led to your assumptions that I have no cultivation. I only said I was a commoner and you even confirmed my identity. Didn't you?"
Lyren did not hold back and did not reply to her greetings. He wanted the conversation to continue from the previous day.
"I guess you are right. We are incompetent. I should have known back then when you sensed the breakthrough before any of us.
"That was a red flag I ignored and I assumed it was a danger sense you had developed in your times in the wilderness alone. You really are a formidable young master," Sera replied and she seemed to enjoy calling him young master. That pouting face he made was a reaction that made her feel superior.
"So, you are now going to be a core disciple. I wonder when I am going to get my rewards… at least something to keep me going forward…"
Lyren said scratching his chin and Sera only shook her head. He only meant business when it came to her.
"I will be receiving the rewards during the entrance ceremony. You are to receive them after you are officially a student of our academy. But in advance, here is a small payment for your appearance yesterday."
She said as she handed him a small pill bottle which Lyren took and when he opened it the medicinal scent in it easily made his core thump almost as though it was asking for it immediately.
"Do not use it now or any time soon, it is a pill that could help you get to the next stage. I am talking about reaching the ninth stage. It is a pill with 60% purity which the academy gives to the number one student every year.
"Consider it advance payment. I shall be giving you 50% of the rewards as this pill is worth more," Sera said and he realized that this was the major reason she had come here.
"Okay. I accept it but why must I not use the pill right now?" Lyren asked and when sera heard his question, she had a frown as she began her long explanation.
"Pills will reduce in their effect the more you continue to use them. One you have taken a pill it will be impossible for the second time to have similar effect and so on until pills have no effects on you.
"This can only be broken by taking a pill o higher purity and the process continues. Pills reduce in purity the stronger it is and 60% is the best pill of this level.
"I want you to use it when breaking into the ninth stage after you are unable to increase your cultivation anymore. I advise that you don't depend too much on pills so that your body doesn't get accustomed to them.
" That was how I was able to reach the eighth stage quickly and used the pill to break through to the ninth stage. Currently, these pills are of no use to me anymore so I am giving this to you," Sera gave her insights and Lyren was silent as he digested them.
Lyren easily realized several things and the body getting used to a pill was a huge blow. That explained why people advanced slowly.
He had cultivated in the ruins by depending on atmospheric Elyria up to the seventh stage and he had already taken his first pill while he was exhausted.
He could not help but feel bitter because he was certain that Claire did not know this information. He could not blame her though as he had definitely increased his Elyria concentration.
He found out that it was impossible to get 60% pure pills and the fact Sera was giving him one was proof of her sincerity. He was going to follow her instructions and only use it when advancing to the ninth stage.
"What else should I know about cultivation?" Lyren could not help but ask. It appeared getting pro tips was going to save him a lot of time. "I hear that James is in seclusion. It's the core, right?"
"Yeah…" Sera pulled a long face and Lyren could not help but be confused.
"Beast cores can also be used to cultivate but I didn't know that James was that desperate to take the number two spot that he would use a beast core to advance.
"Not all beast cores can be used to advance because all of them contains impurities which begin as miscellaneous but as they stockpile, they begin slowing down your talent and reach your peak quickly.
"Many hunters have been unable to advance because of this reason and they are already past their prime. So, I wouldn't advice you use beast cores to advance.
You are smart and you can't take such risks. You also have the talent so you shouldn't waste it by using beast cores to advance." Sera did not hold back in her insights.
Lyren had his horizons widened and he realized that his cultivation options kept decreasing but safety before speed. The fact Sera went out of her way to tell him all this had helped him a lot.
He also realized that this was the reason she had said she was not interested in the beast core. She really took her future seriously and so did he value his own which was why he was even more grateful.
"You are actually a lifesaver. I don't think they teach this in the academy, right?" Lyren asked and Sera's long silence was more than enough to answer the question.
"You are right. It's not like the academy does not care but the fact that the students don't care. It reached a point the academy stopped teaching this and just let them do as they want.
"It has reached a point only a few don't use the beast cores and pills. But do not be discouraged. There are many ways to advance you know…" Sera paused when she saw Lyren was in deep thoughts.
"What ways?" Lyren asked as he was paying more attention that he appeared he was not paying it.
"There are treasures, herbs, fruits and more that can be used to cultivate but their inadequacy has resulted in competition such that students gave up on them.
"You don't get them from money but from missions. This is what the second realm does to the students. It becomes more difficult to advance the more you increase your realm. Anyways, I will also be advancing soon," Sera replied and there was pride when she spoke those words.
"But you cannot because you will not be able to participate in the academy ranking competition…" Lyren said and it was amazing how his brain seemed to connect these small strands to weave the truth.
"You really are sharp. I didn't expect that you could know about the competition this soon…"
"I hear things…" Lyren let his words hung in the air as a smile formed on his lips. "I will be participating too, you know. Pray I don't beat you. I don't plan on coming second to anyone."
"Is that a threat or a challenge?" Sera asked and Lyren's smile just broadened. He could tell that he was not going to spend a lot of time in the eighth stage. By then, he was going to be able to fight on the same footing.
"I think you should take it as threat and you should just advance. Don't waste your time on such an endeavor." Lyren said seriously this time and Sera looked at him with a complex gaze.
He was already challenging her number one position before he even joined the academy.
"So, you are telling me to run away?" she asked and Lyren grinned.
"That is not a bad idea by the way. You could advance and save your position as number one or wait for me to kick you out…"
Sera laughed as she had heard a joke of her life. She was being looked down upon and threatened by a kid two stages below her.
"You ought to work harder if that is your goal.
You only have four months if you want to defeat me. Do you think that that is enough?" She asked and Lyren's grin did not fade.
Four months was a very long time to be stuck in one stage.
He knew that with the necessary resources, three months was the maximum he could take.
He was going to dethrone her for sure!