A few days later and I was finally used to my new level of strength to the point I could fully suppress it in a way that wouldn't create any problems for Star Boundary. However, like my father, Yang Kai… My Dao Seals were both struggling to maintain themselves. So he and I were speaking in private.
"I had a similar issue, my dao seal had actually cracked. But in my case I didn't refine another high rank resource after that… Son, how long would it take you to rank up 1 by 1. The same way I did with this power of fate?" Yang Kai asked, preparing to suggest I refine a weaker resource.
I stopped and thought about it for a moment. "Father, While I may be freakishly fast in my cultivation speed, even I would struggle to reach the 7th rank, in the same amount of time as me reaching the 8th rank. Even if I was given an endless supply of resources." I explained.
"That's what I feared. You really will have to refine that 8th rank resource in the future." Yang Kai sighed worriedly. He could act this way because there was no one else around. "That's not even considering your thoughts about a 10th rank that has eluded the human race ever since." He added, with a slight slump.
"I knew it wasn't going to be easy. But even so I still must try to do it. I know that Ink is strong beyond measure. And that is not an exaggeration. Nothing less than absolute power will be enough. And a 9th rank can be matched and even defeated." I said,, attempting to alleviate Yang Kai's worries, he really does treat me as his own. I am his son. To him, it doesn't matter how or why, only that it is.
Yang Kai's eyes focused on me and he placed both hands on both of my shoulders. "Who exactly is it you're trying to make not worry about this." He asked, staring at me with a stern look in his eyes. "I know you're worried about yourself. Or have you forgotten our connection that lets me feel that? Being this close, do you think you can hide it from me?" He continued.
I was momentarily shocked, not that Yang Kai managed to sense my worries. No, it was the first time he was truly worried about me, before suffering near death. It was a touching feeling, one I wouldn't soon forget.
"Father, you're right, I am worried about this. But it's more that so much is riding on me. Should I fail… It would be a devastating blow to the army and to our allies. This is why I consulted you about my dao seals. So I want your honest opinion father, is it possible for me to still refine another 8th rank material or, should I prepare to find a way to supplement my dao seal's strength during my refinement and break through?" I asked, explaining myself in the process.
Yang Kai seemed to relax and then pulled me close and hugged me tight. "It doesn't matter what you decide to do, just don't go getting yourself killed. I might lose my mind if you were lost forever." He said as a single warm tear fell. "I'll make a promise to you now, no matter what you decide I'll do everything in my power to aid you. Though I'm not sure how to help you break through." He continued, releasing me and standing up.
"That's all you need to do, Father. Be there when I need help. But when I break through…" I said, looking at my hand, and made a fist and a slight jerking motion with my arm, in a confident manner. "I'll break through successfully on my own. I won't promise I can kill Ink after that. But I can promise I'll be strong enough to give him the beating of his life." I finished, my words a vow.
Yang Kai, looked at me wide eyed and then let out a bit of a chuckle. "Good, now… Let's make a program for your baby brothers and sisters to follow. They'll come into the world soon, and regardless of what happens, you should be a part of their lives for as long as they live." He said with a smirk.
"Then we best get to work, more than 70 training plans to go over. But I'm sure it will work out." I smiled, with a chuckle myself.
"Oh, and by the way. There are millions of hopeful people out there who wish to be your disciple. Since you were in seclusion I took the liberty of assigning the few disciples from the Void Temple, the ones who learned from the volumes you left behind, to begin vetting all of the potential. They were instructed to be extremely detailed in their reports. You can read them later to make a final decision on who you want to take in as a disciple." Yang Kai said, reminding me of the school I had planned for.
"That's right I did plan to open a school to teach my arts. They are much more complicated than normal ones after all. But, why are there so many people… No, you didn't do it already did you?" I asked, to which Yang Kai smirked and nodded. "Well that explains why there are so many… I guess. My abilities are basically perfect resistance to the ink force. I'd imagine every cultivator would want that." I said as I began to then change focus. "It'll be difficult, but if they can learn it… that would be a huge boon to our forces." I added rubbing my chin in contemplation.
"Best not to worry about it. Let's get started on those cultivation guides before they're born. It'll be any day now. I'm excited and nervous at the same time." Yang Kai said, pulling out a table and tons of scrolls.
So the two of us, father and son, worked on developing programs, or curriculum for what ended up being a few weeks. Then at the same time, the two of us received a message from Su Yan, through the connection between us… The day had come, and it seemed like all of my mothers had been in perfect sync, because they all went into labor at once.