Lu Yao suddenly remembered that Xue Mo never explained how cultivators know how much energy they need to advance in realm, and she decided that now was as good a time as any to inquire.
"Oh, that. You don't know, but everyone is different. I will tell you about this when the time is ripe, but for now, you only need to breakthrough when you feel like you have reached your limit."
Understanding that she wasn't ready for this information now, Lu Yao concentrated on advancing as the real work would start then.
Two weeks passed by in that manner. Xue Mo and Lu Yao would spend all their time in meditation cultivating. Other than that, Xue Mo would go from time to time to bring food, water, and other necessities to replenish themselves.
At that moment, in a secluded hut sat two beings. Lu Yao was constantly absorbing True Arch Energy. She seemed to be on the verge of advancing, with another strand of energy entering her, Lu Yao's aura suddenly spiked. She advanced.
"Congratulations," A happy, filled voice said from the side. "Although you are not the same race as me and you don't have as much experience, you are nonetheless a true genius."
Xue Mo wasn't praising in vain. Lu Yao was truly everything he said she was. She wasn't as monstrous as him since he had both the experience of his previous life and the aid of his body. Yet, Lu Yao, although special, didn't have the experience, which made her journey harder as she experienced everything for the first time.
However, she still took only two weeks to become a level two True Arch Condensation cultivator.
"I feel like my energy purity is still not as high as yours," Lu Yao felt both her energy and his and compared. Xue Mo had already broken through a week before her, which is why she wasn't as excited as she should be.
"Yao," Xue Mo's tone turned serious and caught her attention. "Believe me when I say that you are one of the greatest if not the greatest talent in the history of cultivation."
"Yet, you still advanced before me." Xue Mo didn't refute that and explained, "sigh. Although that's true, as you know, I have lived for a long time and spent almost all my time cultivating. On top of that, I created my new body, especially for cultivation. Yet, you don't have my experience nor as good a body as mine, and you achieved almost similar speed. How can you complain!"
Xue Mo sounded frustrated to make her drop the subject. He wasn't mad at Lu Yao for her progress; instead, he was happy. She was his partner and someone he cared about; on top of that, they would spend a long time together, maybe even forever. So, Lu Yao's progress made him happy for her, as that would mean they wouldn't be miles apart in cultivation realms and be able to help each other when the time comes.
Lu Yao fell for Xue Mo's fake guilt trip and shut up. Changing the subject, she asked, "should we start the mission now?"
Xue Mo nodded his head, and with that, they left the hut silently. It took them four days of traveling to arrive at the capital of the Udanem Kingdom, Danem. It was apparent that these people liked weird names.
***
"Wow, is that the Udanem Royal castle where the king and the royals live?" A little black-haired boy that looked about 12 years old exclaimed loudly.
"Yes, that it is. There lives our king, one of the strongest people in the world." A stall owner that was near him answered the little boy. The man's voice exuded pride and reverence.
"It's even more amazing then," the boy muttered, but the man still heard him.
"How so?"
"If the king is so strong to be labeled as one of the strongest people, then he will soon be able to become a Magic Grandmaster and leave the world to a higher one!"
When the stall owner heard that, he stiffened. He hadn't thought of this possibility. If the king left them, what would happen to him and the other commoners.
"Is there any way for me to meet the great king?" The boy's question sounded innocent and curious. The man didn't see how suspicious it was for the boy to ask this.
"If meeting the king was so easy, then he wouldn't be the king. If anyone even tried getting close to the castle, these guards on the side would immediately attack."
The boy noticed the shiver in the man's voice. 'It seems that I won't get more info from this,' the boy thought.
"Mister, I just remembered where my mom is. I got to go. Bye!" The man till now hadn't noticed how weird the situation was and returned to selling his kabab.
A few blocks away in a secluded ally, a small white fox jumped from a roof and landed in the little boy's hand. "How was it?" Lu Yao asked.
The boy's demeanor changed as he replied, "it's useless we have to go in using the old ways?"
Hearing what Xue Mo, who shapeshifted into a boy, said, Lu Yao got interested. "What old ways?"
"We will sneak inside, of course," his voice was sarcastic, and he had a mockery filled eyes.
'Damn it, I fell for it,' Lu Yao grudgingly thought. Xue Mo always gave sarcastic remarks in unexpected times, so she always falls for them.
She learned from her lesson and didn't retort as she knew he would humiliate her more, 'I will get back at you someday!' She solemnly vowed.
People were passing by them, but as if they couldn't see them, they kept walking. Xue Mo and Lu Yao discussed some more before making a plan.
***
While Xue Mo and Lu Yao were busy with these miscellaneous things, back in the Assassination Academy, Myzer and Hiari were busying themselves with an order that they got from Xue Mo before he left.
He found out that these two had hidden talents in formations and alchemy. So, he gave them a mission to absorb all the knowledge that the Academy had in these fields. If they finished in time and their talents were greater than he expected, he offered them a peek at some of the things that Hesroth had.
"How's your progress Hiari?" Myzer had gotten more coolheaded these days. His mind was clear, and he felt more intelligent. His huge body seemed more inclined towards forging, yet he had a great talent in alchemy. This helped him concentrate and become calmer.
"I am doing great. I almost know everything in part one of the books Master gave!" Hiari had also changed. He had stopped being arrogant and thinker and become more of an enthusiastic researcher type.
"We still have to work harder for Master!" They both exclaimed in unison. After hearing what they said, they both laughed, "Hahahaha."
"So, why did you call me here?" Hiari asked Myzer, regaining his usual arrogant visage. Although he changed, some habits are hard to kill.
"It's simple, I want us to become stronger, only then can we..." Myzer approached Hiari's ear and whispered. He made him widen his eyes, start pondering before getting excited.
"If your plan worked, we would become extremely helpful for Master!" Hiari said with a quivering voice.