[A month later.]
Grim stood up.
"This aura isn't strong enough. I need to advance further."
At first, he marched ten meters further and tried body enhancement. As soon as he absorbed the aura, it started spreading everywhere inside his body and burned his body from the inside.
'Regeneration'
He tried to heal the injuries, but the rate of healing couldn't match up with the rate of injury.
"Dammit."
He canceled the process.
"Jumping ten meters at a time is too much for me. I'll try five meters next."
He fell back to the distance of 95 meters and started the body enhancement process.
***
Another side of the world, Martial Alliance HQ
Zhao Jing was busy with the paper works in his room.
Suddenly, an elder made a hasty entrance.
The elder reported. "Alliance leader, the people from the cities under the "Spring' sect are about to arrive. What should we do?"
Zhao Jing replied. "Arrange accommodations for the disciples and instructors within the outer region of the territory. Let instructors have some privileges. But, let the disciples fend for themselves. Allow them to take missions and support themselves."
The elder asked. "Alliance leader, what about the normal citizens?"
Zhao Jing replied. "We don't have enough space for everyone. Let them settle around the edges of our territory, and assign the instructors to patrol their settlements for their safety. That's the least we can do."
"Yes, Alliance leader."
The elder wanted to comment on something, but he gave up and left.
***
Martial Alliance Entrance.
Most of the people from Aran City arrived safely at the entrance
They wanted to enter the alliance but were stopped by the guards.
Soon, an elder made his way and made an announcement.
"The alliance leader has decided to let the disciples and the instructors settle within the outer region of the alliance. Meanwhile, the citizens can settle around the edges of the alliance territory......."
Before he could continue his speech, a riot broke out. The guards took immediate action and clamped down on the protestors causing the situation to calm down.
The elder yelled. "At least let me finish before you start rioting."
He started detailing.
"There isn't enough space for everyone within. So, we had to make the hard decision of settling citizens around the edges. However, you don't have to worry about the safety. We will assign the instructors to patrol your settlements."
Most of the people went quiet. But, some of them voiced their opinion.
"Why are they getting different treatment than us?" They pointed at the disciples and the instructors.
The elder replied. "I think you already know the answers."
The people went silent again.
They knew the answer, but they didn't want to accept the cruel reality. It was hard to swallow to pill for them.
Soon, the elder took the disciples and instructors inside.
Some of the disciples and the instructors tried to grant entry to their families and relatives by using their privilege. But they were firmly rejected.
The elder said. "Only those at dominion realm are allowed to take their families or relatives inside the alliance."
The information gave a sense of dread as well as motivation to the disciples and the instructors.
***
Martial Alliance, Outer-Region.
The instructors were given a single-room house for accommodation, while the disciples were given a room in the dormitory to settle in.
The instructors were handed fifty mid-grade spirit stones as a monthly allowance while the disciples had to earn themselves.
The elder left after he was done with the explanation.
Soon, everyone dispersed to their arranged accommodation as well.
***
Same Night.
The disciples gathered at the cafeteria for the dinner.
Gu Lan and Ren Dan were also present at the cafeteria. They were talking to each other while having food. Suddenly, two hooded men approached them.
Ren Dan cautiously asked. "Do you need something?"
One of them took the hood off.
"We meet again, brother Ren."
Ren Dan was taken aback because he knew the hooded person.
Ren Dan replied. "Indeed. We meet again, Brother Yuan Chang. It's good to see you alive."
"We were lucky."
The second man took off the hood.
Ren Dan bowed. "You are here as well, young master."
"You can just address me by my name. I'm no longer a young master." Meng Zhou replied with sadness.
Ren Dan apologized hastily. "I'm sorry, brother Meng Zhou."
Meng Zhou replied. "It's fine. It's not your fault."
The atmosphere turned gloomy. Yuan Chang could feel the gloomy atmosphere so he changed the topic.
"Where is junior brother Grim?"
Hearing his question, Gu Lan and Ren Dan's mood turned grim. (Haha get it?)
Yuan Chang was surprised by the sudden change.
He couldn't help but ask. "Is everything ok?"
Gu Lan gave a detail of the event that transpired with tears in her eyes. Ren Dan hugged her and consoled her.
Both Yuan Chang and Meng Zhou asked the same question in sync. "Your master agreed to it?"
Bother brother and sister nodded.
Yuan Chang and Meng Zhou found it hard to believe. But, the witnesses were in front of them.
So a question popped into their head. "Why would their master allow it?"
They wanted to visit Lou Xiang and ask about it. But, they gave up on the idea.
***
Gu Lan and Ren Dan were about to return after dinner. But, Yuan Chang stopped them.
"Brother Ren, why don't you guys join us in the mission from tomorrow?"
Ren Dan declined the offer. "Sorry brother Chang. We won't take the mission for some time."
Yuan Chang replied. "Brother Ren, you might not know. But, you have to earn points even for food. It was free for today because it's your first day here."
Ren smiled wryly. "Ok brother Chang, we'll be in your care."
Thus, a four-man party was formed.
***
Martial Alliance Entrance.
People from the Meadow Academy, and Oak Academy arrived two days later.
They were given the same treatment as the people from the faith academy.
The other two cities arrived a few weeks later.
They were given the same treatment. But, some of the arrogant ones caused trouble for the guards forcing the elder to step in.
The troublemakers were made an example by being exiled.
Thus, the subordinate cities of the 'Spring' sect were taken care of.
***
Fiery Highlands.
Grim was oblivious to all those things, neither did he care at the moment.
He was busy enhancing his body and improving his mastery.
It took him three months to reach the 90-meter mark and practice body enhancement without backlash. He could strengthen himself up to 70x now.
"I wonder if the effects of absorbing fiery aura from inside are different than the outside. Let's see."
Grim started advancing toward the gem.
He arrived at the 80-meter mark.
"I was here before I returned to the academy. Let's see how much I have improved."
He advanced a meter with every step he took.
80..79..78..77..76..75..74..73..72..71.....70
Huff! Huff! Huff!
He was at the 70-meter mark. The temperature at the location was around 1800° C( 3272° F)
"I can barely withstand the temperature, but I'm indeed at the 70-meter mark. Internal aura absorbtion is way better."
He quickly retreated to the 85-meter mark and started the body enhancement process.
***
Five months later.
"Success. I can further strengthen myself up to 75x."
"I could probably crush entry-dominion cultivators using only my physical strength."
'Aerial'
He appeared at the 70-meter mark. After he started advancing.
This time, he just hopped every five meters.
70....65.....60 meters
Hot..hot..hot..hot
He could feel the scalding hot aura pressing toward him.
His blood started boiling within a few seconds.
'Aerial'
He made a hasty retreat.
The copper melts at the temperature of 1084°C (1983°F). But, the temperature around the 60-meter mark was around 2300° C (4172°F), which was more than double the copper's melting point.
"Back to the training. I can't get complacent, and the faster I'm done here faster I can return to the martial alliance"
***
Eight Months Later.
Grim stood up. He was at the 70-meter mark.
'Vigor'
His muscles expanded by four times the original size. Now, he looked more like an ogre or troll than a human being.
But, appearance was little concern if he could get stronger.
"Haha. This feeling of unsurmountable strength is intoxicating." He punched the air.
Swoosh!
The punch created a vacuum around him for a second.
Then he advanced toward the gem.
He was able to endure the temperature of 2800° C(5072° F) for a few seconds at the 50-meter mark.
"It's not enough. I need to train faster. I have a feeling like something big is about to go down."
***
The Forbidden Forest.
In front of the cave.
The last griffin could be seen kneeling.
The silhouette asked. "Did you recover?"
The griffin replied. "Yes, supreme one."
Silhouette replied. "Very Well. Go and gather every beast within the forest. This time. I will be making an appearance personally."
"Yes, supreme one. It will be ready in a week."
The griffin was filled with excitement and anticipation.
[Evo points left: 1,244,750]