Drake was now 7 he had long since opened all his meridians. However once he reached low mortal grade 9 he had almost been perpetually stuck. He had made minimal progress, because his dantian was a black hole all the spirit ki he had absorbed was like a drop of water in the ocean and the world ki he had absorbed to strengthen his body was like water in the desert. It seemed like like no amount would satisfy his dantian or body. His body was stronger then his spirit pool but only because his spirit pool actually exerted force on his body non stop.
This wasn't to say that Drake was weak or couldn't cultivate in fact he was using a gold technique for both his body and spirit ki. techniques went from common, uncommon, earth, iron, silver, gold and then diamond. Only a few powerful clans and the royalty had diamond techniques. Drake had been lucky to have been born in such a powerful clan.
"Drake where are you?" Elder Neim had entered the courtyard where drake was. He soon found him in the cross legged position cultivating as usual. This kid, I wish all the kids in the clan worked as hard as him. "Drake in three days time you'll be enrolled in the Solgard Academy of Fire and Earth." This was the best academy in all of Solgard it was said that kids who enrolled here were easily some of the most talented in the country. Most went on to have important positions whether that was in the royal court or the military.
"Thank you grandpa, I'll finally get to go out and see the city as well as I may finally get to get past this block I have." Drake had long since lost the excitement of starting cultivating as he had already been doing it his whole life. Now he was just frustrated because of his slow advancement.
"With your talent and comprehension once you pass this block I'm sure your progress will be like an avalanche rolling down hill and no one will be able to surpass your speed." Elder Neim tried to console Drake. Drake's slow progress had been a blessing in disguise. Now Elder Neim and Elder Drake could pass Drake off as a prodigy instead of a god born in human form. This made the clans a little safer in regards to the more powerful clans who might have acted out of fear if Drake had continued to advance so quickly.
"Here are your uniforms and books, the uniform must be worn whenever you go to the academy is has a spiritual indicator allowing you to pass into the academy." Drake looked at the uniform it looked like one of the uniforms from the military schools on earth. It had straight looking pants and and a full sleeve button up jacket, each button seemed to be a lotus flower made of gold. However the books were ones he had already read and comprehended they were only beginner books, as he already cultivated gold techniques he really didn't need them.
"Are these books only ones I need, I've long since understood them. Won't there be any new information?" Drake was hopeful that the academy would have something to help him.
"There is of course better info there but you'll have to earn that although our clan doesn't need to participate in the entrance exams our clan members still have to rely on themselves once they enter the academy grounds to access the higher level techniques. However I believe the academy only has gold grade techniques. However there is also the department of development, many student go to this path to see if they can upgrade there own techniques on there own. Most fail however." Elder Neim replied.
"Drake where are you?" Elder Drake had just arrived and asked the identical question Elder Neim had. Upon seeing Elder Neim he shook his head. "Let me guess you already brought his books and uniforms?" Elder Neim just nodded. "Well looks like you'll have four uniforms then." The uniforms couldn't be returned as they were tuned to each individual student.
Drake laughed these two they never talked to each other before they did things, Drake guessed it was because both were leaders in their own right and weren't really concerned about others opinions.
"Grandpa Drake, Grandpa Neim was just telling me I'd have to earn better information myself, which would be the quickest way?" Drake wanted to be as prepared as possible.
"Well getting one of the higher level teachers to take you on as a disciple never hurts, but that is exceedingly hard as most of them only take disciples from those without status who are exceedingly talented and show immense promise in the exams." Elder Drake immediately replied. This was because it would be easier to gain merit from said kids achievements if they were successful in life making them look like better teachers. Where as kids from powerful clans already had a solid foundation and a better education.
"Oh when are the exams can I take them?" This shocked both of his grandpa's. This kid really does work to hard they both thought.
"Well they are tomorrow," Elder Neim replied.
"Can I go?" Drake thought with his talent he would still have a chance. This could be his chance he was pretty sure that he was stronger then most of the kids that would be going, but where he really shined was on his comprehension. In all of Solgard the amount of kids who could cultivate gold techniques could probably counted on one's fingers.
"It's alright with me as long as it's alright with you." Elder Neim said to Elder Drake.
"I guess, but you'll need to be careful in the battle portion you are abnormally strong and on top of that you already created your own spell, there is probably no other kid in all of Solgard who has done this. Maybe no kid in all of Solfolon has achieved this." Solfolon was the name of the royal family and most of the medium size cities had Sol in the name and the country was the country of Solfolon.
"You'll need a weapon for the battle portion, have you given any thought as to what you would like to practice. I know you have been focusing on your cultivation, but maybe you can't advance because you've been to focused. Maybe what you need is to breakthrough in other areas to give you a better understanding of your block." Elder Drake said. Elder Drake and Elder Neim both hoped he would follow them in their given weapon choices.
Elder Neim used a staff made of Black Star Jade ore which weighed 1000 kilograms. All his techniques had been integrated into his own style which had become the Almeidies Staff style. The style is a comprised of many basics that have been perfected with a few exceptional skills. Elder Neim's dantian represents the earth spirit and as such he has extreme strength and defense. He had use his earth world ki to develop the Earth Shatter Strike, which borrows the power of Earth quakes whether or not he hits his opponent or not devestation isn't far behind.
Elder Drake is a hand to hand specialist and proficient in close combat as well, do to his dantian representing the Fire Dragon he also had overwhelming strength and defense he also possesses a dragon like body. He likes to use two main spells that he has developed which is Dragons breath which can devastate a large area with fire and The Star of Fire which is a star like prison which can envelop his enemies and burn them to a crisp.
"So what would you like," Said Elder Drake.
Drake had read plenty of cultivation novels in his previous life so he knew most cultivators used the sword, but he felt that with his strength that would be a waste. "I would like to learn the war hammer, I think this would be the best use of my strength." Both Elders smiled and nodded. They set off to each of their respective library's to get the highest level techniques for Drake knowing that he would be able to understand them and put them into practice. In a short amount of time.