Meditation realm? I finally made a breakthrough?!
I felt so happy. With the increase in my cultivation, even the feeling of hunger had been completely curbed. Despite not having breakfast due to my waking up late, the hunger that had accompanied me all through class had totally been knocked out. With this, I was confident of staying two days without worrying about any food.
Observing myself, I realised that the rich aura was the symbol of the Meditation realm, so I nodded in satisfaction. I was yet to observe the basic changes in my body and meridians, but that could always wait until next time.
I immediately reined in my cultivation before Jessica could notice anything. I had to continue living a low profile life or I'd just bring unnecessary problems on myself.
"Hey, what's up?" Jessica asked as I met her and we walked outside Class 192.
"Nothing serious," I waved it off. She wasn't quite an inquisitive person so lost every interest in furthering the conversation on that line. We then spoke casually on other stuffs. I summoned Roy with a single jerk of my mind, and he swooshed down before us in no time.
Straight to the school cafeteria!
* * *
The school cafeteria was a large hall spanning over three hundred metres in width. Scattered across this hall were students, some still in their uniforms, while others in plain wears.
At the moment, Jessica and I were just concluding our meal of red buns. They were just the sweetest I'd ever tasted.
As we spoke, two shadows were cast over our desks. Raising our heads up, we were more than surprised to see Xueyi and Jaded.
"Hey, classmates," Jaded said with a straight face.
Jessica just waved a hand while stuffing her mouth full, while I muttered, "Hey guys."
They took two seats, uninvited. Arching my brows in suspicion, I asked, "What's up?"
Jaded cracked his voice, a sign that he'd be doing the talking, quickly restraining Xueyi.
"Xueyi told me you have a bloodline stronger than the Innate Poison bloodline, so we're both thinking it'd be cool if you registered in both the Poison Guild and the Beast Guild."
I stared at Xueyi in surprise.
'She's not making friends, she's searching for new members — grrr!'
"Wow, that sounds like a good idea," I suddenly heard Jessica say. Then she added, "You'll be a Gifted cultivator of two professions!"
Jaded and Xueyi nodded — still in their dry, unreadable expressions. If not for their different facial characteristics, one could think they were both siblings.
"Nah-ah. Last I checked, Poison Masters die young. And that's old news," I said, not buying this.
Jaded eyes dilated, Jessica almost choked, while Xueyi simply said, "Never thought she'd be this much a coward."
If eyes could strangle, then Xueyi's neck would have broken from the gaze I shot her.
By the way, I was still much angry about how she walked out on us, earlier, even though she had no reason to wait for us.
"I'll think about it," I said to no one in particular, rising to go out.
"Hey, wait for me!" Jessica screamed behind me, causing an involuntary chuckle from me, and spoiling the vibes I was trying to set. "How do you expect me to get to the Thaumaturgy Guild with these tiny legs of mine?"
"Come on already!" I replied, refusing to turn around. "I've also got the Beast Guild to head to."
The rest of the day went well. After dropping Jessica at the Thaumaturgy Guild, I headed straight for the Beast Guild where I got registered and attended my first class.
Unlike the Tower of Cultivation, the Beast Guild was only six stories tall, each floor according to one's ranks. There was also a Book Collection Vault on each large floor. As a 1-star beast tamer, I clipped my badge on my uniform and gained access to the first floor. There was also a beast knowledge class where we learnt the basic abilities of savage beasts at the 1-star level, ranging from Cultivation Deciphering to Transcendent Mortal realm. Nothing out of place.
As I stepped out from the doors of the Beast Guild, exhilarated, I suddenly felt a tap on the back of my right shoulder. I turned around impulsively only to meet a dashing pair of eyes below a head full of golden hair.
"Anthony!" I screamed in pleasant surprise.
It was none other than the librarian at the Book Collection Vault of the Beast Hall of the Desolate Grounds city. I almost forgot he also took the exam alongside me!
It's been two days since I arrived the academy, and the first time I was meeting someone familiar.
"Hey Stephanie! I was surprised to see you here, but not so surprised since we're both beast tamers." His ebony eyes pierced into mine making me blush slightly.
We spoke for a while until he observed me and said, "I just made a breakthrough to Transcendent Mortal realm intermediate stage."
"Wow, that's great. That's just a step away from the pinnacle. Congratulations!" I cheered.
He ran his hand through his hair, shyly.
"Let's do something, shall we?"
I raised my eyes to look at his expecting eyes, wondering what he had in mind.
He quickly explained himself. "Since I made a breakthrough, I've yet to test out my strength... so, I think the best way to do so is to observe my running speed."
My eyes lit up. That was a brilliant idea. Although he didn't know, I also was curious to see the advancement and development of my body as a result of my own breakthrough to Meditation realm.
"Okay, I'm cool with it."
"Last time I saw you at the finale of the examination, you'd made a breakthrough to Transcendent Mortal realm pinnacle stage, so there shouldn't be much a gap between us. We'll race from here to the Tower of Cultivation then back to Dormitory A where we'll depart," he proposed.
My mouth fell ajar. Did he really understand what he was saying.
Noticing my expression, he laughed out and patted my shoulder.
"That's nothing to us, cultivators, remember? Okay, fine, if you don't believe me, we'll run to the Tower of Cultivation then stop there and see if there's still some energy left in you."
I nodded, silently, going through the details of the streets as I could remember it from an aerial view. After going through the paths in my head, I finally looked at Anthony and told him I was ready.
Anthony began counting, "We'll start in three, two, one, now!"
He swooshed past me in a jiffy. A smirk formed on my face. Then I muttered to myself.
"What you don't know, Tony, is that I'm no longer in the Transcendent Mortal realm stage."
I unreined my cultivation realm, concentration much energy on my right leg, causing cracks underneath it, as I exploded forth with a thundering impact.
Just that single step was enough to outrun Anthony. But I wasn't one to look down on him, just in case he still had some tricks up his sleeves. I kept on running with all my gathered strength.
Anthony looked over his head as I swung myself over him and beyond, saliva dripping involuntarily.
"That's not the might of Transcendent Mortal realm pinnacle stage! That's Meditation realm! How can I fricking meet up with that?!" he screamed from behind me.
I didn't even bother looking back. Using the Eccentric Heavens cultivation technique I'd just learnt, I was able to reinstate any exhausted spiritual energy I lost while running. Hence, I had enough of true essence bubbling inside my dantian and waiting for its exhaustion, eagerly.
Five minutes later, I arrived before the Tower of Cultivation. Turning around, I noticed a tiny dot, through the Eye of Insight, making its way over from the distance. Of course, it was none other than the breathless Anthony already regretting his decision.