novelraw Chapter 202 - 201 - Lightning Express
Chapter 202 - 201 - Lightning Express
The once full auditorium was now only filled with those benefiting from Lind's teachings. The Head Elder was now visible as he seemed unable to stop smiling. It had been little progress the first week, but at the end of 1 month, there was startling progress.
Now only had he passed on the basics of Forging and elixir creation to his students, their progress in cultivation had leapt forward by leaps and bounds! What made it more unbelievable was that aside from their own pills or testing approved elixirs themselves, there was hardly any comprehension that the Academy expected.
The normal path was to cultivate Qi and temper the cores to each tier. Stabilize the new tier and begin to slowly digest the new level of Soul Arts. It was also necessary to check the progress of the body and harmonize the body and cultivation. For those that also tempered their bodies, they had to begin to prepare the next stage of their training.
Lind Frey turned it all on their heads!
His understanding of the elements at the Soul Realm was sublime. He also seemed able to help temper bodies in highly efficient methods that put most body techniques to shame. The most remarkable part was Lind hid nothing from observers of what he was doing, he only hid what the students were doing.
The formation was far beyond anything Milton could conceive and was clearly a gift or a plate found in a Ruin somewhere. The Relic he had been trapped in was a possibility, but its nature from the rumors did not seem to match such a function.
Milton was sad the time was coming to an end. If Lind taught full time at the Lotus Academy, its prestige would sky rocket across the whole world!
Of course, the resources consumed were immense but Lind fronted the cost. Despite his grim declaration of owing him, the man never imposed more than the use of the students and the auditorium.
"You have all done very well. I am very pleased with your dedication and hard work. You all know that this is only the beginning, though, right?" Lind's words hardly impacted the smile of the students around them. Many had reached higher tiers far faster than anything they dreamed of and now had a worthy profession to be invested in!
The news had long reached the clans, sects, and other powers of what had happened at the Lotus Academy. For the students still in the auditorium, they were already getting more resources sent as well as promises of further compensation. A few were from small clans but were being openly courted for favor.
The heads of the various powers were also overjoyed at Lind Frey teaching their inheritors so much without a single thing being asked, although some of the more savvy members kept in mind the conflict with Altair looming over their heads.
"Master Frey, is there no way you could stay to keep teaching us?" Jolene had become sort of the de facto leader of the group but he smiled warmly at her question as he bowed to them all.
"It is not as much help as you think. The 3 I trained with the Heavenly Maidens asked me much the same but as each of us have different cultivation journeys, so too are each of us in need of pursuing your own path in these professions. Some of you need assistance, some do not. Some have grasped aspects of essence even I do not yet understand." His words made them suddenly understand.
He could open the door but the path he walked they could not follow. They had to make their own!
"If you get stuck, please feel free to reach out to the Head Elder. He can reach me directly but I cannot promise the answer will be helpful. The work will be all up to you." Fey was beaming in the background at him. It was so much better seeing her Big Brother happy. She had finished what he asked long ago and confirmed the formation was still working. She did not know why he wanted it working but it did not really matter.
"Head Elder, please escort these fine pupils to their dorms. I see most of them need to face testing for Inner and Core student in many cases." His words only warmed their hearts more but Milton frowned. Why did Lind not escort them back? He sent out his senses and was not totally surprised at what he found.
"No problem and thank you, Master Frey, for hosting this wonderful event for the students. We are forever in your debt." Milton meant every word but Lind's face went cold as he looked at the Head Elder. The unspoken words were clear.
No one in this place could ever claim a debt from Lind Frey. He would take care of innocents, but anyone else was purely on their own.
The many students bowed and followed both Jolene, who was now a tier 8, and the Head Elder out of the auditorium. Lind was a little melancholy as he watched them go. Their lives would not be as glorious as they imagined but his message had been sent loud and clear.
"Are you going to come out, or must I have my disciple bring you out?" Lind spoke to the open air but then a black robed young man with sandy blonde hair came out. His blue eyes looked coldy at Lind but there were no words spoken yet.
He walked slowly down the auditorium steps until he was at eye level to Lind Frey. Even his arrogance would not make Liu stand above a Stone Tier.
"Your Highness has a strange way of teaching. You exclude your people yet claim to come for our throne?" Liu was bordering on insult but he seemingly told the truth. Fey had to restrain a desire to cut him in half as Lind made no reaction except for looking down.
Suddenly his shoulders shook and then a sound came out of him that sounded like laughter but it was far from amusement. It sounded like he found the world funny as it tried to kill him kind of laughter.
"I 'claim' to come for the throne? Tell me, can one claim to come for something thrust on them? Can one claim something held over their head for 5 years no matter where they went? Tell me, Liu of the Ba Family?" Shock flooded the youth's face as he did not think he was known to Lind Frey. He actually nearly stumbled back as if taking a blow.
"How do you know me?" Fey smirked at the shaky quality to Liu's voice. She enjoyed seeing his haughty attitude taken down a peg.
"Know you? I do not know you, I only know your name, description, the number of siblings you had secretly killed, and oh yes, the number of women you have harmed in your short life." Real fear filled Liu's face but neither Fey nor Lind made a move. "You can relax, I won't kill you here. In fact, I can safely say I won't kill you."
The cold tone in Lind's voice made both Liu and Fey doubt the sincerity of his words, but as he made no move, the youth relaxed slightly.
"Then, your Highness, what exactly do you mean by excluding us, revenge?" There was no arrogance now, but Fey felt him trying to claw his way back up to it. Lind simply smiled and pointed at Liu's dantian.
The elements of earth and water appeared. It was not a terrible combination but it was limited. The natures conflicted but could combine for devastating Soul Arts and World Arts. What stunned them both was how easily Lind displayed what was in the boy's dantian.
"The problem with most of you at tier 7 of the Soul Realm is you have settled. It is not certain, but you have concluded your path. The pressure you felt was resistance to the flexing of your balance of elements. It means you would damage yourself if you tried to learn what I taught." Lind spoke only truth and enlightenment flooded Liu's face. It finally made sense to him!
"Are you saying we can't take a step back?" Lind shook his head at the obvious question.
"You can, but it would mean dispersing at least 1 maybe 2 tier of cultivation. Tell me, would you do it without knowing for certain it would work?" Liu looked conflicted but ultimately chose to continue as the display of his dantian dispersed.
"What about those that felt nothing?" Lind only smirked at the grasping of straws but he would reveal the truth.
"They are on the brink. Not solidified on their path yet but not too flexible either. They still had a chance and a few grasped it as you saw." It was true. The first week was only the 2 groups Lind called out while the ones who felt nothing could only watch but then a third of that group seemed to grasp something and began to cultivate.
The majority were elixir masters after that but 1 or 2 Forgers were found as well.
Out of the thousands at the Lotus Academy, only a little over 150 were elixir masters and only about 40 were Forgers. It was a testament to how rare they were. It also seemed like cultivation, the younger they were found, the better.
"Do you understand now? The race to get ahead of your rivals doomed you all. I did not have to lift a finger or even rig a test. Unlike what you have done for the last 2 years." Silvia suddenly appeared next to Lind with a beaming smile.
"I found what you said I would, Master Frey, thank you!" Liu looked in shock as he knew who the woman was. Her violet eyes stared daggers at him but she effused over Lind.
"I told you, of all people in the Lotus Empire, you owe me nothing. If anything, I feel like you can call me in the future if you need to." His tone was entirely different from when talking to Liu. It was cordial and even respectful to a degree of talking to an honored elder.
"I will not say I may not need that in the future, but I only ask you to help Astrella if she needs it. I know she had to deliver the news but she was hurt–" Lind held up his hand and smiled. He understood what she wanted to say and agreed. Her smile widened as she made a white jade appear that made Liu's blood run cold.
"Where did you get that?!" Lind smirked but let Silvia talk.
"We wondered how in the world you had such an extensive plan to keep not only your members in line but how to line them up against our kingdom. I found your spy!" Liu felt his blood stop moving altogether at those words. That was bad, very bad!
"I would love to stay and chat but I have an appointment to keep in the Southern District." Fey came towards him at his signal but Liu looked on in consternation as he pulled out a communication jade.
"Oh I would not bother telling the regiment I am coming. They will never be prepared for me. Lady Silivia, if you would be so kind as to exit the stage, it will not be safe here in a moment." Silvia bowed to him and hopped off the stage. "I know you think I have only made you stumble, but I have kept my anger in long enough. I am coming for Altair, right now!"
The sky suddenly rumbled with thunder as pressure built up beyond anything Silvia or Liu had ever felt in their lives! Lind and Fey were hardly bothered as they recognized the aura enshrouding them.
"Hold onto me tightly, little Fey. I am told this may be a bit bumpy." Fey smirked as she hugged her Big Brother to the point his ribs creaked. "Maybe not THAT hard!" His voice was a little hoarse but amused.
The clouds above suddenly split open as a vibrant lighting slammed onto the edges of the stage. It began to gather around Lind and Fey which made Liu smile wide. He thought the Heavens were on his side but then the cold smile of Lind Frey was clear through it all.
"Catch you later!" The lightning built up to a blinding flash and thunder made Liu's bones shake horribly with his organs until he blinked it away and saw the stage was empty. There was no sign of destruction at all so where did they go?!
"He just rode the lightning away!" Silivia was standing in awe before she faded from Liu's senses. He quickly tried to use his jade communication stone but it was not working. Why couldn't he reach their team in the Southern District?!
Just what was going to happen next?!