Early in the morning, when everyone was still asleep, Lin Xin was reading the books he got from the academy.
It seems to me that there are multiple cultivation realms...Body tempering, Qi refining, Foundation establishment, Golden core, and Nascent soul.
This is the knowledge my clan has about the realms, I suspect that there are higher realms not mentioned here for some reason, could be that they have no information, but that seems rather unlikely.
Anyway since I woke up this early, I might as well do some morning exercise and try cultivating to see my current power.
After engaging in physical exercise for about an hour or so, Lin Xin felt that he was nearing his limit, giving him an idea about how long he can go for.
He has now decided to try cultivation, he sat beneath the tree in the courtyard, he felt his Qi flow inside of him, yet he couldn't control it or use it efficiently yet, it was clear to him that he had much to learn in this path.
He opens his eyes again and looks at the sky above him.
It seems that the sun is finally rising. The sky in this world is way more beautiful then my real world, the stars, the clouds, they look so perfect that I could spend my entire night just gazing at them.
I don't have time to waste now. I better prepare for my lectures again today, not that I pay much attention to them....
With that, he got ready to leave at the usual time, waiting for his friends by the gate, who seemed impressed that he was already ready when they arrived.
Greetings senior, I didn't expect you to be already awake this early, I'm impressed!
The other one just nodded with approval.
Lin Xin began walking, they soon followed him without asking any questions.
They arrived 5 minutes before the class began, Lin Xin silently witnessed everyone slowly filling up the seats, but his mind was drifting off into sleep again.
He didn't understand why this happened everytime he went to the lecture, but there wasn't much he could do, it felt too overpowering for him.
And just like that, he fell into a deep slumber again, resting his head on the desk before him, he gradually felt something different this time when he was asleep, he felt a different voice than his speaking, instructing him.
Lin Xin.
The voice said his name, he didn't know who's voice was that, but it felt soothing, he could listen to it all day.
There is much to do, you have to visit me, I'm waiting for you.
And just like that, his dream came to an end this time, it didn't last long but it left a mark on him, who was that who spoke to him? What did it want from him?? Those were questions he had no answer to.
As he finally raised his head again, he heard his senior discussing his plan to make all the class split into groups of two to research the clan's history and present their findings to him by the end of that week, Lin Xin was annoyed, he didn't want anything to do with others yet, his seclusion served as a great way to understand himself and the world around him better, being forced to work with others will only hinder his progress.
He had nothing to do but listen to the orders, but he didn't know who he should find as his teammate, he planned to not seek anyone and approach his senior at the end of the day telling him that he couldn't find anyone, and that he was planning to finish his assignment by himself.
It wasn't long before he was interrupted by someone tapping his shoulder, it was none other than the female junior he talked to yesterday, Wu Yutong.
Hello Lin Xin, if you don't mind it....can you become my teammate in this assignment? I promise to do my part and help you as much as I can!
The timing was perfect, he had a reason to talk to her already, and she approached him on her own, he planned to use this chance to ask her a few questions about her origin.
However, he couldn't change his cold expression that remained on his face, he always seemed indifferent, yet he decided to speak this time.
I have no reason to refuse you, try preparing the required materials for our research and approaching me again later today, or you could visit me at home if you want.
She blushed at his final words...his home??? Alone together?? She didn't understand if he had any ulterior motives, but she wanted this to happen so she immediately nodded and left in a hurry.
Lin Xin looked at her leaving, he watched her for a few seconds before looking elsewhere, he noticed someone in the academy that looked suspicious, there was something off about him that he couldn't pinpoint.
There was something troubling him, the voice he heard earlier in his sleep urging him to find her, he didn't know what that was or why it needed him in particular.
A few hours later, Wu Yutong returned with the materials he asked for, she opened her mouth to speak.
Lin Xin...I brought the things you asked for, do you think we can finish this here in the academy? We only have one hour left before we're supposed to go home....
He looked at her, and noticed that she wanted a certain answer from him, but due to a shift in his plans, he needed to finish this as fast as possible and return to his own work, he was planning to visit the plains to the north and uncover the secret of the location the beggar told him about yesterday.
Without speaking much he opened one of the books she got, and started writing on the scroll, his speed surprised her, she didn't expect him to be that skilled.
In just below an hour, he wrote over 3000 words about the clan and their history, he believed this will get the senior off his back for now, he had better things to do.
He handed the scroll to her and got up to leave, but she stopped him before he could.
Senior....Why are you avoiding me so much? I want to talk to you for once...yet you always ignore me and keep to yourself, everyone is spreading rumours about you in the academy, they say you're not a genius and that you say nothing to avoid embarrassing yourself against the other apprentices, are you just going to remain silent?
Let them speak all they want, those fools mean nothing to me, it does appear you agree with them as well judging from your tone.
N-No! I could never agree with them, I saw your skill with my own eyes, how could you say that?
Then stop bothering me and do as I said, give this to our instructor and say that we finished early due to our team work.
A-Alright....
He left the academy.
In the middle of the night, when everyone was asleep, he went out to journey towards the ruins to the north, it was a cold night, yet the fire in his heart kept him warm despite everything, he vowed to make the entire world submit to his power whether they like it or not.
But to reach his goals he needed to gain strength, uncovering the secrets about the voices that keep troubling him at night was one of the steps he had towards reaching his greater goal.
After what seemed like an eternity, he finally arrived at the location, what he saw before him was nothing out of the ordinary, everything seemed normal.
However, he felt two sources of power nearby, one was close to his power, another was on a whole other level.
He decided to continue forward, whether he succeeded or failed, he didn't care.
After taking a few steps, he heard a voice from behind him.
You there, what brings you here? The treasures inside are all mine!
Lin Xin turned his head back, it was the same person he saw in the academy earlier that had a suspicious aura, he brought a weapon with him this time, a sword, he was clearly preparing for a fight.
Not wasting anytime, Lin Xin decided to take the first move and attack first, he moved so fast the other person didn't even see it coming, a hard punch in the gut sent him to the ground.
However, he recovered quickly and retreated, he was now burning with anger, how could this weakling land a punch on him so easily?
How dare you....I, He Yifan, will punish you for this!
He moved in for a strike using the sword in his right hand, Lin Xin dodged, but he sustained an a minor injury in his hand in the process, he didn't give it any thought, he focused his entire attention on the opponent before him.
He wanted to finish this as quick as possible, looking around him for anything he could use to his advantage, he noticed a rusty sword.
He picked it up and prepared for his second attack.
What do you think you're doing with that? Trash like that wouldn't even leave a scratch on me!
Lin Xin ignored his words and moved forward to strike again, however, his opponent noticed this time, although he dodged the attack, he sustained a greater injury than Lin Xin, he had a wound in his stomach that was bleeding heavily, he felt his strength slowly fade, gradually he couldn't keep holding the sword in his hand, and dropped to his knees before Lin Xin.
Spare me...I didn't mean what I said earlier, I will even give you all the treasures I found!
Lin Xin remembered in the book the he read earlier today, that anything could be turned into pills to enhance cultivation, a thought began to form in his head....he looked at the person in front of him.
It seemed like he wasn't going to survive this injury either way, he decided to leave him there and comeback for him later to do his first experiment.
He turned back and threw the rusty sword he had back into the ground, and walked towards the inside of the temple, he felt the power behind fade slowly until it disappeared completely.
However, the one in front of him didn't, he knew something was lurking here but he couldn't confirm what it was.
After 5 minutes of exploration, he came across a chest that seemed placed in a wrong location, it's not supposed to be exposed to everyone like this, he assumed it was a trap, so he threw a rock he had in his pocket from the fight earlier, and just as he expected, once the rock touched the ground before the chest, the walls shot arrows from both directions, even he realized that if he was caught off guard, he wouldn't survive such an attack.
Just to make sure, he threw another one, but as he expected, nothing happened this time, so he took a few steps forward slowly, approaching the chest, until he was in front of it.
He opened it, he found some gold and jewelry, but most importantly, a suspicious device was in front of him, he didn't know what is its' purpose, but he took it with him, the ruins still were much bigger than this, there was more to discover.
He walked forward again in search of anything that could aid him, he felt the strong Qi slowly get closer, he knew he would have to confront it sooner or later, so he moved forward without hesitation.
Just as he stepped forward he felt his legs freeze in place, he couldn't move them even if he wanted to, then slowly a figure started to manifest itself in front of him.
It was weird, shaped like a woman, yet her face wasn't clear to him, he couldn't tell who it was.
Lin Xin, you came as I told you.
It all made sense to him now, the voice he heard earlier that day, it belonged to this person standing right in front of him.
Don't be afraid, I have a few things to tell you.
And what could that be?
You'll see by yourself, but first, you have to pass my challenge.
And just as she said that, the entire world around him started to distort, as if he was being transported into another dimension, yet he remained unbothered by it, he was ready to face whatever she prepared for him.
Just as he thought about where he could be, he heard the sound of something approaching him, its' footsteps were loud, it was clearly something big.
He turned his head and looked behind him, he was free from her grasp in this dimension, but the monster in front of him was bigger than he anticipated, he liked the challenge, however.
I shall defeat this monster if it means that you'll promise to aid me in my pursuit of strength.
I will certainly provide you with knowledge that others do not possess, but many others failed my challenge before you, I called you because I believe you have what it takes to win.
He kept looking at the monster in front of him, he wasn't bothered by how terrifying it looked, only by perseverance could he reach his goal, this insignificant creature wasn't going to stop him from doing what he wanted to do.
The creature in front of him released a thunderous roar that made the entire place shake from the pressure, clearly preparing to attack the person in front of him.