"Good, it's always a good idea to take a break when you can…" Yang Kai spoke in a teaching tone but stopped when he sensed a confused anger coming from me. "Oh, I see. Maybe that's not the right way to put it… Don't put the lives of those still on the battlefield on your conscience, they are not your responsibility. Rather it is their responsibility to ensure you and the next generation have enough time to grow up to end this fight." He continued, not surprised in the slightest. I did grow ridiculously strong at an absolutely blinding speed.
"I understand all that well enough, father. But it doesn't make it any easier after feeling the pressure from those elements…" I said exhaling a deep breath, then it hit me. "Father, I think I've got a way around the waste of that Ink Giant Spirit God. Actually I have a few ideas. I know I'm going to be stronger than a Giant Spirit God once I break through. So as long as the one that was sealed away is enough…" I smirked. "The one on the battlefield should be enough to push me into the 9th rank without question." I explained.
"Ahahaha, see there's nothing to worry about. Come let's head back. I'm sure Smiles will have some advice for you." Yang Kai laughed, wrapping arm over my shoulders.
"Hmm, perhaps you're right, father. I haven't experienced the full breakthrough yet and she's the only one here who has directly promoted to the high ranks. Even if it ends up being lacking in some way, it's best to learn what I can from it." I said, rubbing my chin. "Alright then, let's go." I said with a nod and then we disappeared.
~ High Heaven Palace ~
"So that's how you do your vanishing technique. It's a bit different from mine but much the same principle… Interesting." Yang Kai said after we arrived back in the sect on Star Boundary.
"It's nothing too special. Just a little trick I learned while still on the battlefield. I only had to adjust it slightly for everyday use, I don't want to cause damage to others after all." I chuckled, scratching my cheek.
Su Yan, smiles and several others were here, including my wives who seemed to be learning a few things about their cultivation from my many mothers. This time, it wasn't just about dual cultivation though. Largely a result of Zhao Ya, looking overly pouty as she was forced to stay on her knees and explain herself to Su Yan. Something about how if Zhao Ya understands the Phoenix Clan culture, she should also learn punishments in a similar way. Though it wasn't too clear.
"Oh, wow. Leiji you've refined all the elements up through water already, impressive." Smiles said, clearly able to tell at a glance which elements had been refined.
"If you can see that… Then you should be able to see why I had to stop. That is apart from the upcoming arrivals." I replied, still a little hurt that I couldn't finish the cycle.
"Pfft, don't worry about breaking through too much. Remember we allotted you over a hundred years. Even so, if it ended up taking longer I'm sure the others would understand." Smiles giggled a little. "We all understand the steep climb from great Emperor to high rank, extremely well. Perhaps…" She continued.
"I'd love to hear all about it, Mother Smiles. Whenever you've got the time. After the intensity I felt from the earth element… Well, It already exceeded the limits of what all direct 6th ranks had described. And even some of those supreme elders talking about their break through from 7th to 8th." I said, saluting respectfully.
Smiles was confused for a moment until Su Yan whispered what was clearly a ton of information to her. Which only shook her even more.
"So, how about now then? I'm not sure how much help it will be, but I'm not doing anything else right now. And I think it would be great to spend some time with you son." Smiles suggested with a smile.
I took the lotus position, which revealed to everyone that I wasn't standing on the ground to begin with. Which made them a bit curious.
"Forgive me, but there are still a few things that need to work themselves out naturally. And I don't want to cause Star Boundary any rapid advancement without her being mentally prepared." I said, noticing the curious looks on others' faces.
"Very well then, Leiji, Son, tell me have you isolated what it is that's causing the magnification of difficulty to go up?" Smiles asked.
Yang Kai chuckled, and turned to Zhao Ya. "I'll leave you to discuss. I have to train my disciples for a while. Come and get me if anything happens. Leiji has worked hard enough for a while." He said, all but dragging Zhao Ya out of the room.
"Mistress! Help me, Master is going to hurt me!" Zhao Ya panicked.
"Do your very best in training, Zhao Ya. When you're done, come back and see me to continue your punishment." Su Yan smirked with a giggle.
"Wah! Let me do it now, please mistress!" Zhao Ya begged with beady eyes.
Everyone in the room just chuckled and made a pfft sound as they laughed in their own unique way.
"Oh my, she's in for it this time." Su Yan sighed with a smile then turned to focus on me. "You think that those who stole energy from your baptism caused a disturbance and now you need more energy to create the same result." She said, indicating she heard everything already. "Sister Smiles, please do what you can to help Leiji." She asked.
"Oh, don't worry, I will do my best to help him. And now I know where to start." Smiles giggled. "Let's begin…" She continued, diving into an overly detailed explanation of exactly what she went through breaking through to the 7th rank directly. "And now, for you to experience the same feeling, I'll end it if it's too much." She said, pointing a finger at me.
A tiny beam of energy made contact with me and then completely dissipated. It was as if nothing happened to me at all.
"Hmm, I guess breaking through to the 8th rank directly really is a completely different level of power. You're like an immovable object and unstoppable force wrapped up in one." Smiles said with a curious look as she relaxed once again.