"So those are all the 3 initial realms, any questions?" Asked Da Yu calmly.
With the amount of information given by her, Yao Tian had to take a moment to remember them by heart.
These kinds of details about realms weren't something available in any of the books he read before.
Up until now, he held no knowledge of the Immortal world. He didn't even know the existence of realms and their different stages.
Just the first realm has been a major obstacle for normal people like him, according to Da Yu. He would have to find a way to support his brother in his cultivation in the future.
"What are the other realms?" Asked Yao Tian curiously
A slight smile appeared on Da Yu's face, making her seem even more beautiful to others eyes but scary in Yao Tian's mind.
"If you want to find out more, you have got to get used to acquiring information on your own. And you should also focus on first achieving the 'Body Reinforcement Realm' rather than dreaming about things out of your reach."
'At least I asked.' Thought Yao Tian.
He already concluded that reaching the first level wouldn't be easy.
Thinking about the higher realms would only damper his motivation.
But there was still one thing he was wondering. Why did Song Shou call him here?
After all, his friend was also a cultivator and he could have informed him of all of these facts during the journey.
Was it to offer his respect to Da Yu?
Song Shou, who was quiet for the most part, finally spoke. "Yao Tian, before you arrived, Lady Yu graciously agreed upon giving us the resources for our journey. These materials will be of great importance to us, so please offer your gratitude to her." He said with a serious tone.
It was obvious that he tried his best to get on the good side of Lady Yu. Yao Tian wondered if this woman was stronger than Song Shou.
He might not know the difference in strength between realms but the guy defeated the strongest person he ever knew, his father.
So to Yao Tian, his friend can be indeed considered very powerful.
"This junior offers his sincerest thanks to lady Yu for her generous offerings. I swear that my brother and I will certainly return the favour in the future."
Yao Tian was very proud of his formal speech. He was glad that he had spent so much time with the seniors, otherwise, he knew that he would look as if he displeases her with his lack of manner. And that was the last thing he ever wanted to happen.
"Oh, it is nothing to worry about. I just had some spare pills that would have just been wasted on me. Helping out a potential fellow cultivator is the least I could do."
To be honest, Da Yu wouldn't even acknowledge Song Shou if Yao Tian was not involved.
She had her reason.
Her interest in Yao Tian actually stemmed from his father, Yao Tai. She had a suspicion that his father was born with a special physique.
The tournament more than confirmed her thoughts.
Anyone born with such rare bodies are known as having a 'Divine constitution. Something as rare as a Phoenix feather and a Qilin's horn.
If any of the great sects or organizations, even obtained an indication that there is a mortal born with a divine Constitution of any kind. They would spare no effort at taking in that person.
Out of a billion cultivators, only 1 would be born with a Divine Constitution, and currently, there were only 3 people with such bodies known in the entire Buxiu world.
But unfortunately, Yao Tai was already in his middle years. He was already far too late to start cultivating and his gift was more than likely fading away without him nurturing it since childhood.
Yao Tian and Yao Bao were special cases. She already inquired about the boys and her friends all gave her all the information concerning these two.
Especially Yao Tian, who was known to seldom get tired and was already as strong as an average adult.
That wouldn't be enough to prove that the boy was born with a 'Divine Constitution'. But with his father having one, the boy should at least be born with some special abilities.
If her theory was indeed correct, after the affinity test in Redwood Town, she could easily convince the boy to join her sect.
With a flick of her wrist, she sent 2 pouches towards Yao Tian and 1 towards Song Shou.
"In each of these pouches there lies a handful of low-grade Qi pills, 10 to be accurate. Be sure to use them wisely before your assessment in Redwood Town."
Thanking her again, both Yao Tian and Song Shou were dismissed by Da Yu.
After the boys were gone, the same girl who lead Yao Tian to her office politely entered.
"I have gathered the report that you've requested Sister Yu." Announced Mei Zhen.
"Anything interesting about the family?"
"Unfortunately we could not gather much about the Yao lineage. Yao Tai was the first to appear in this village. He never mentioned to anyone about his past life. Most assume that his family died by the hands of the wild beasts." Dutifully narrated Mei Zhen.
"Now that's interesting, is he related to any of the celestials?" Wondered Da Yu
Hesitant to reply Mei Zhen gave her own opinion, "I don't think this is the case, Sister Yu, this region is too far and remote for any members of the celestials family to interfere."
"Yes...you are probably right. But still, a Divine constitution to appear in such a place...this has got to mean something."
"I think that Sister Yu is thinking too deeply into this matter, they are just simple mortals it's very possible they got lucky with a minor constitution."
"..."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
After leaving the establishment, they gathered at the centre of the village where everyone awaited them.
There was a wooden carriage in the middle of the crowd, capable of transporting 5 people with no issue. The carriage was attached to a Redskined horse, a widely used beast for pulling heaving things at long distances.
On the driver's seat sat Yao Bao, who kept waving at Yao Tian to hurry up. Beside the carriage was Yao Tai who was doing his best not to cry but failed miserably.
*Sniff* *Sniff*
"My boys have already grown up so much, they are already going outside to explore the world and become true men. I couldn't be more proud of you two!" Said Yao Tai who proceeded to bear hug both of his kids and almost crushed them in the process.
After calming down, his father Yao Tian noticed that their village chief had a broken expression on his face.
"Are you okay, Chief Lao?" Said Yao Tian after deciding to go find out why Chief Lao was so down.
*sigh*
Sighing for a bit, Chief Lao looked deeply at Yao Tian. After his son told him that he would sever all connections with his family and village, he felt like a failure. Did he raise Song Shou without love? Had he gone wrong somewhere? He couldn't find the answer, but he still had hope, with the Yao brothers.
"Listen, little Tian, no matter how hard your journey will be, no matter how many enemies you make, remember that we will always be here to welcome you home and protect you as well. We are a family, after all." With those last words uttered by the Chief did Yao Tian and the others left the village.
As they passed the gates, Yao Tian took a last look behind to see everyone's face one last time.
His father who raised him who was currently crying, Chief Lao who had always been like a grandfather towards him, and Yao Bao.
Old man Jing and his constant complaining, grandma Bai, who partials thought him about medicines and so many more old familiar faces slowly vanishing the further the carriage travelled.
He couldn't help but think to himself how things have changed so quickly. One moment he was a regular farm boy, and here he was travelling to become a cultivator.
He hoped not to regret his decision in the future.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The carriage has been travelling for 7 hours straight through the Jade Forest. They had left the village early in the morning so that they could make the farthest distance before the sun went down.
"Are we there yet? " Said, Yao Bao
"..."
"Are we there yet? " He repeated.
"..."
"Are we there yet?" And again...
"Yao Bao, I told you before we left that it would take us at least 10 days to reach Redwood Town. Be like your big brother and focus on training already!" Replied Song Shou with anger.
It was clear that Yao Bao's constant talking and questions slowly got on his nerves. So he had to find a way to distract him for a long time by pointing out what Yao Tian was doing.
Indeed Yao Tian was in fact not sitting in the carriage, but rather running along with it instead.
Sweat drenched his clothes, his breathing was haggard, his hair was damp and messy with sweat too, and worst of all, his lungs and legs felt as if they were on fire!
'It hurts! It really hurts! Running is the worst!'
He was quite the stamina freak like his father back in the village, but running at such a quick pace for hours would knock out anyone. He could confidently say that he had never experienced true exhaustion, until today.
According to Song Shou, he had to induce tiny fractures in his muscles by training hard so that when he ingested the Qi pill, his body would absorb it faster and also accelerate his progress.
"Hey there, buddy! Have you seen any dogs around here? Because I swear, I keep hearing one." Said Song Shou cheekily.
*Huff!* *Huff!* "Sh-Shut your damn mou-mouth before I make you!" Retorted Yao Tian angrily.
No matter how many years passed by, Song Shou remained the same jerk of a friend that he, sometimes, wanted to punch in the face.
"Hahahaha! You will first have to reach the pinnacle of the 'Body Reinforcement Realm' if you even want to land a hit on me. Anyways, I have good news! The sun is nearly down, so we will have to set up camp soon and let our horses rest for the day." Finally, he could rest!
The group found a small clearing with a slopping cliff nearby. Song Shou and Yao Bao set up the tents and created a small campfire to stay warm for the night and ward off any wild predators.
Yao Tian couldn't help them, he could barely even stand, so he remained lying down on the ground catching up his breath.
He then remembered that he had to take this opportunity to consume a Qi Pill to maximize its effect.
So with all of his might and a few bone-cracking sounds, he barely managed to get up in a cross-legged sitting form.
He took one of the 10 pills he had and popped it into his mouth.
*Wooooosh*
He felt all of a sudden as if he had been gently placed into a cold spring. All the heat he was experiencing slowly dissipated, leaving behind a cool yet warm feeling in his body.
His muscle pain was slowly going away, and his exhausted state was being replaced with what seemed like an endless amount of energy.
After a few minutes of consuming the pill, he felt refreshed and somehow even stronger than before. Yao Tian couldn't believe that such a magical effect could even exist.
With these pills, he could never get tired and also continually grow stronger at the same time!
"Amazing, isn't it? Even I was speechless by the effect of the pill when I first consumed it. But don't get used to it as the stronger you grow, and the more you consume, the less effective it will become." Said Song Shou after taking a seat beside him.
Before Yao Tian could even answer him, a loud sound suddenly rattled his eardrums out of nowhere.
*RAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!*