Zi Xiao stood in front of him with a very scary grin on her face. Julong wasn't sure why, but he could feel that it was not a good thing, especially since she had just appeared in front of him merely a few seconds earlier.
"Master? Why are you grinning like that?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
She was rather expert at brushing such things off. Her grin had already disappeared and was replaced with a solemn look, one which Julong didn't buy.
"Today I received an invitation to be given to you about a pre-match press conference."
So that's why she was smiling like that. She really enjoyed pushing Julong into things he had no interest in.
"What a waste of time."
He turned around abruptly and tried to walk away, but was frozen in his spot momentarily.
"It's too late for that. I already accepted the invitation on your behalf."
He slowly looked over his shoulder at his Master. He had a sad look in his eyes. Just as he was going to practice Genesis Runes too...
"It's in half an hour. Just go do whatever it is you need to do to get ready."
"Yes, Master."
He slumped and slowly walked away. He looked very lethargic. He would no doubt have to change his attitude when he got to the conference, but he would allow himself to sulk for a little. He was still only 11 after all.
Despite all his sulking, he understood why there was a press conference, the upcoming fight was naturally very important since they were competing for some of the highest stakes in the Region. He brushed it off as he was confident he was going to win, not leaving to much need to think about it.
Moving toward the same room he had originally awoken in when he arrived in the Saint Domain, he just put on some refreshers. His robes were newly cleaned, and he had just done his hair earlier. Realistically, there was nothing else he could do aside from practising the Genesis Runes he was originally going to practice, just for not as long.
After some practice, he had learned to draw Grade 1 genesis Runes and was nearing the ability to draw Grade 2 Genesis Runes. In order to do so, one needed to be in the Intermediate Stage of the Illusory Realm, which was equivalent to the Middle Stage and Late Stage. Julong was only at the Early Stage however and would need to breakthrough. Despite this, he could tell that it wasn't very far off and he was quickly nearing the required breakthrough.
He quickly took a jade tablet and brush from one of the drawers in his room and activated his Divine Spirit. He was going to attempt to draw a Grade 2 Genesis Rune known as Heavenly Wind Storm. It was essentially a Genesis Rune which when activated caused a powerful gale of wind to blow around and damage its target.
His Spirit glowed brighter than ever as put all of his concentration into the first stroke. A line made from his spirit appeared, slowly having light contortions. This would be the first of many.
He kept going one after the other until he hit one of the last lines, where he felt his spirit stagnate. His whole body froze. This hadn't happened before. Generally, he could finish the Genesis Rune, it would just not be able to activate.
Was this his Breakthrough?
He looked inside of his Spirit and saw a layer of solid-looking matter forming. It was missing only a small bit of substance to its complete form, and he would need to finish its construction if he wanted to Breakthrough.
This was how the Spirit grew. By condensing and refining itself into solid matter.
His body didn't move, as his Spirit didn't allow him to. Instead, he focused on the Genesis Qi around him and allowed it to flood into his spirit at an alarming pace where he began refining it into the final bit of solid matter.
It took only 100 breaths for him to finish constructing the final bit of matter, and when it was finally complete, the whole room exploded into blue light.
Finally able to move his body again, he looked down at the rune he was drawing. It was no longer having light contortions and was a solid bright light. He smiled at this, he had really broken through to the Intermediate Stage.
He finished his original stroke, then completed the remaining few. Once done, Julong could feel the power inside of it even without activating it. If he was able to draw such a rune on his body it would be extremely beneficial.
"Julong, it's time to leave."
Zi Xiao appeared in front of him once more. She was expecting him to be standing in front of her, but he wasn't. She looked down instead, spotting his sitting figure. She studied what he was doing momentarily.
"Yes, Master."
He put the Jade piece and brush to the side and slowly stood up, stretching as he went. That's when Zi Xiao was properly able to identify what he had drawn.
"That's a Grade 2 Genesis Rune. You must have broken through to the Middle Stage. Congratulations!"
"Thanks, but I can't expand upon my breakthrough yet."
He was obviously referring to having to attend the press conference. Zi Xiao giggled at him. He would have plenty of time later, he just really didn't want to go.
She waved her hand and a spacial tear opened up leading into what appeared to be a dressing room?
"Come on. It starts in a few minutes."
He nodded and stepped forward, slowly moving into the spacial tear. At least this was a way to grow his reputation.