Strange runes lit up on the floor in a circle around Mei Liling and Ah Chun's feet. One by one the runes by their feet started to lite up. When the last rune lit up a stream of light surrounded the two before growing extremely bright forcing Ah Chun to close her eyes. When she opened them again they seemed to be in a dark cave. You could hear the sound of water dripping off the stalagmites on the ceiling to the cave floor. Off in the distance, you could see a faint light and a cool breeze coming in from that direction. Ah Chun figured that that must be the exit to the outside.
"Ok! Let us go Chun'er. Stay close by me. We should be in the inner section of the forest. With Chun'er's current strength you can only fight around a ranked three demonic beast. But it is still too early for you to be fighting any kind of beast right now. Mother will teach you how to fight properly in the coming days. " Mei Liling pulled Ah Chun along as they made their way out of the cave.
"Un!" Ah Chun Smiled and nodded her head.
The two walked out of the cave and into the sunlight. Ah Chun had to shield her eyes from the bright sun until they adjusted to the brightness. Off in the distance, you could hear the calls of demonic beasts. You could even see a few off in the distance watching them as the two walked through the forest. At first, this scared Ah Chun but Mei Liling told Ah Chun that she was sending out her Spiritual Pressure to ward off any demonic beast that would think to come near. Ah Chun was in awe as she thought how her new mother was very, very strong.
The two of them were walking very leisurely through the forest as if they were out on a picnic. If this was seen by any of the villagers they would think that the two of them had a death wish. They were inside the inner zone of the forest! Just one demonic beast from here could kill everyone within the village twice over.
As they walked, Mei Liling told Ah Chun more of what being an immortal cultivator was like. Mei Liling explained that with every major breakthrough an immortal cultivator's life span will be extended by an amount each time. When one reaches Qi Gathering their lifespan is increased by one hundred years. At the Qi Condensation realm, your lifespan is increased by five hundred years more.
"Mother since Chun'er is in the Qi Condensation realm. Does that mean that Chun'er will not die for six hundred years?" Ah Chun asked, her big round eyes were looking up at Mei Liling.
"Un! That is right!" Seeing those big round eyes looking up at her. Mei Liling couldn't help but smile.
Mei Liling went on to explain that due to their lifespans being longer. That immortal cultivator's age very slowly. Until one ascends and becomes a true immortal. Only then will the aging process stop. On this point, Ah Chun was a little sad due to the fact that she would look like a little kid for a long time. Hearing Ah Chun's complaint Mei Liling couldn't help but laugh. She even pinched Ah Chun's pouting cheeks.
"Don't be sad Chun'er. This just means you will have extra time to grow. One major thing you have to remember is that being an immortal cultivator is a dangerous path. Usually, a person will not get their meridians opened and bones reforged at such a young age. Normally a cultivator from a cultivating family would have started with Qi Perception. They would start this process of trying to perceive the Spiritual Qi In the air when they are around ten years old. Then once they are able to perceive the Spiritual Qi they will then open their meridians and reforge their bones. Normal cultivators do not normally get into Qi Gathering realm until they hit fifteen years of age.
The Qi Perception stage is just the basics of learning to perceive Spiritual Qi. But you bypassed this stage and even skipped a realm altogether. So you have done what would normally take an average person twenty to thirty years to accomplish in an astonishing amount of time. Mother is very proud of you." Mei Liling released her hand from Ah Chun's cheeks and gave her a big hug.
"Un! Chun'er understands Mother. It gives Chun'er more time to spend with Mother." Ah Chun said while wrapping her little arms around Mei Liling's waist. Hugging Mei Liling back.
"That's right. Mother also wants more time to spend with her cute daughter." Mei Liling said as she stroked the top of Ah Chun's head.
The two continued walking and Mei Liling started to explain what to expect in the coming days. Mei Liling had already planned out a training schedule for Ah Chun to follow. From morning till noon Mei Liling will have Ah Chun learn different martial arts styles. This includes how to fight with fists and weapons. From noon to evening Ah Chun will be going through body tempering training. This is a series of harsh exercises to train her body to be both flexible and strong. This is all in order to increase Ah Chun's survivability. The more tempered her body is the more she will be able to withstand attacks from other cultivators. And when night time hits Ah Chun will undergo the last portion of her training for the day which is to cultivate till the sun comes up.
As an immortal cultivator, the need to eat and drink or even sleep is no longer needed once you hit the Qi Condensation realm. Just by cultivating at night one will feel more refreshed than if they had slept the whole night. Being released from the mortal bonds that would hold a cultivator back and fill their bodies with impurities is a major part of being an immortal cultivator.
As they talked they had finally reached the forest entrance. Ah Chun led the way to her dilapidated hut. When they reached the hut, Mei Liling felt pity for Ah Chun. Seeing how the poor girl had to live in such a broken-down hut. It was so bad that Mei Liling started to tear up.
That was until Ah Chun told Mei Liling what had happened when her birth mother died. On how the village chief kicked her out of her home and forced her to live in this hut. It was either move to the hut or be sold off to a slave trader. At this point, Mei Liling went from tearing up to seething with rage but as they were talking an all to familiar voice could be heard from behind them.