Martial Alliance HQ, Center of the continent.
The chief investigator returned after two days.
He entered the Alliance leader's room.
The room was designed like an office. It had a table, chairs, a bonsai tree, and heaps of paper on the table.
"So, what's the situation Kang Min?" asked the old man with silver hair, eyes, a white mustache, and a beard.
Kang Min replied. "The 'Frost' sect was wiped clean. Unfortunately, we found no survivors."
The alliance leader asked again. "Do you have any clue about the culprit?"
Kang Ming replied. "I don't know the identity of the culprit. But, I have a rough idea of where the culprit is from."
"Well, go on."
Kang Min replied. "We found the trail that beasts used. So, we followed the trail halfway and it led straight to the forbidden forest."
The alliance leader stroked his beard. "The forbidden forest. Why would they attack all of a sudden?"
Kang Min added:
"I don't know the reason. But, whoever attacked the sect was at least in the mid-dominion realm. The culprit was able to force Zhou Tai to use his forbidden skill, sacrificing himself in the process."
"A mid-dominion realm beast wiping out a sect all of a sudden? It seems far-fetched. There has to be someone pulling the string. I'll go and hold a meeting with the other two alliance leaders."
"Meanwhile, go and inform the remaining five sects about the situation. Warn them to steer clear of the forbidden forest."
The alliance leader left the building and held a meeting about the situation.
While Kang Ming went to the remaining five sects including the 'Spring' sect to deliver the message.
***
Beast Alliance HQ, Center of the continent.
Three men were seated.
"So what's the meeting about Zhao Jing?" asked the man with a barbarian-like appearance.
A thin man with a monocle replied. "You people from the beast alliance are always so impatient."
The barbarian-like man interjected. "At least we don't treat everything as money."
Soon, the two started to bicker.
Zhao Jing raised his voice, "That's enough."
"I'm here to brief you about the forbidden forest. Three days ago 'Frost' sect was wiped out. According to our investigation, the culprit is believed to be in the mid-dominion realm, and we assume the culprit is from the forbidden forest."
The barbarian-like man replied. "Hah. That's it? I thought it was something serious. Anyone of us can crush the culprit like an ant."
"I haven't finished my explanation yet, Tao Shun. I think someone is pulling the strings since the attack seemed too abrupt, and no one would risk offending us unless there is someone of our caliber backing it."
"A sudden emergence of a powerhouse. That's gonna be troublesome." muttered the man with a monocle.
Zhao Jing asked the man with a monocle. "What do you think Ren Ping?"
Ren Ping suggested. "This is a troublesome matter. At first, we should warn the subject sects. Then, we can wait for further development."
"I agree."
All three of them agreed and soon the world would come to know about the actions of the beasts from the forbidden forest.
***
Faith Academy.
Grim and the other disciples arrived after a month.
Soon, the news about Grim placing within the top ten spread all over the academy.
The peaceful life he once lived had turned upside down. Everywhere he went he would encounter disciples trying to suck up to him. So, he decided to seclude himself in his room.
One day, he decided to exit the room while concealed using 'Distort'.
Then, he went to the smithy.
"Wow, look who do we have here?" The blacksmith was surprised to see Grim.
"I need your help," said Grim.
"So, what help do you need?" asked the blacksmith.
Grim took out thunder wood and glaive blade and placed it on the table.
"Do you think you can make a pole for the glaive?"
The blacksmith inspected the thunder wood.
Hmm!
"It should be able to handle the weight of the glaive. Alright, I'll make the pole. But, it'll take at least half a year."
"Deal." Grim agreed immediately.
Afterward, he returned to the room.
"I have enough Qi to reach at least the peak-evolution realm."
Grim sat down and gulped liquid Qi. Then he began absorbing it and filling the crystals.
The continuous cultivation had enhanced his organs and veins causing his absorption efficiency to increase by a minuscule degree.
He was able to fully absorb the gulp (20 ml) of liquid Qi in four days.
***
Ten gulps (200 ml) and forty days later, he broke into the third level of the evolution realm.
Then, he began to familiarise himself with the new level. At first, he would exhaust his Qi using various abilities, then he would use a 'moonlight storm' to gather Qi from the surrounding.
He was done stabilizing his body after a week.
"I still have four and half months before the glaive becomes ready. I should be able to break through to the 5th level at that point."
While he was busy with the cultivation. The Spring sect had sent a decree to all three academies to forbid anyone from entering the forbidden forest.
It took Grim another 70 days and 15 gulps (300 ml) of liquid Qi to successfully break through level four. However, it had no change in his strength except for an increase in his Qi-holding capacity. He couldn't even imprint an extra element, unlike last time.
It took him a week to stabilize the new level. Afterward, he went to cultivation again.
***
120 days later.
"I have broken through the fifth level. How I'm only four levels away from the peak. Then, I can aim for the dominion realm as well."
His eyes would fill with anticipation every time he thought about the dominion realm.
Afterward, he stabilized his cultivation for a week. Then went to the smithy.
"Oh! You finally decided to show up." commented the blacksmith.
Grim replied in awkwardness. "Sorry. I was caught up with cultivation."
"Don't worry about it. Wait here. I'll bring the glaive."
The blacksmith went inside and brought something long covered by a cloth.
"Take a look."
The blacksmith removed the cloth.
Soon, Grim saw a majestic glaive. Its blade had been polished and sharpened causing it to reveal beautiful red color and patterns.
The pole was equally stunning with blue patterns engraved into the black wood causing the pattern to look vibrant. In addition, the patterns were giving off an electric aura.
Even he was mesmerized by the glaive.
The blacksmith encouraged him. "Go on. Give it a try."
Grim caught the pole of the Glaive. Suddenly, the aura spread to his entire body through his hands. But, it didn't cause him any harm instead it amplified his 'lightning' element by a small degree.
Then, he started swinging it. The balance felt just right unlike previously when he used it as a sword.
"Go somewhere else and practice." The blacksmith chased him away.
Grim offered to pay. But, the blacksmith refused any form of payment saying 'It's the least I can do for our star.'
Grim thanked him on his way out.
***
Unlike the spring sect, the academy didn't own any training rooms. So, Grim had to go out of the academy to practice.
He chose a barren area to practice.
He wielded the glaive and swung a few times. Then, he started injecting Qi with different elements into the weapon.
At first, he tried the 'water' element. Water would form around the blade's edges every time he swung it.
"Let's see if I can use abilities with the weapon."
'Water Blade'
Grim launched the 'water blade' using Glaive. To his surprise, the size of the blade had increased by 40% and attack power by 20%.
Then, he tried the 'fire' element. As earlier, a fire formed around the blade's edges every time he swung.
'Solar Wave'
Wave's size had increased by 40% and attack power by 20%.
He tried the 'earth' element out of curiosity. But, it was a failure.
"It seems only offensive abilities can be used."
Then, he tried the 'thunder' element. Small lightning bolts would be generated with every swing. Out of all the elements, 'lightning' had the most reaction with the glaive.
Grim thought. "It must be due to lightning wood."
'Storm'
The number of lightning bolts had increased by 40% and the size had gone up from a pen to a sausage.
Bam!
The impact turned the sand into glass.
Then, he tried using 'Toxin'. But, it was a failure too-as the toxin couldn't spread in the glaive.
Finally, it was time to test the pure strength.
'Vigor'
He strengthened the body up to 55x and swung. The swings raised some dust and left scratches on the ground.
Then he slashed at the ground.
Bam!
The attack had left 100 meters long, a meter wide, and 10 meters deep crevice.
"As expected of peak-evolution grade treasure. It was worth repairing it," said Grim with satisfaction.
"Now, that leaves only 'energy burst'."
It was the only ability that made Grim think before using it.
"The problem is, I can only use 'mend life' once a week. So, It's not worth wasting over curiosity."
So, Grim returned to the academy without testing 'energy burst'.
[Evo points left: 164,750]