About 1 month has passed since Zeldris came into the sect.
The month has been brutal. Purely because of one man. His master, the blue eyed demon, full name Hong Sui.
When Zeldris learned of his moniker, he thought it apt. His training regime is truly hellish.
A mistake could easily cost your life. A lapse of attention could get you killed. And being distracted means death.
Either way, Zeldris is more impressed by his fellow disciples under Hong. They have been here longer than Zeldris himself and have yet to perish. Even though it's exceedingly easy to do so...
Ironically with all this danger of death, him and his fellow disciples have yet to actually fight. They have just done several different types of training, aside from actual combat.
As Zeldris meditates, wisps of red aura start to eminate off of him. He is in deep focus, reaching to his depths to refine all the energy inside him.
With a small effect, these wisps, akin to red candle flames, suddenly burn downwards and disperse along the ground.
He opens his eyes, coming out of deep focus. Looking around, regaining awareness of his surroundings.
"With this, I've officially reached tier 2." He muses, looking at his hands. Zeldris has now become a full tier 2, low stage aura expert. The speed of his progress is insane. Eclipsing everyone inside the Wudan sect.
Aura cultivation is done in two stages. One is the cultivation of aura itself. Which is basically gathering a type of natural energy within yourself.
The 2nd stage is refining it and honing it. This process includes taking the aura within yourself and making it more powerful. Making it your own.
As for reaching tier 2 aura expert, nothing changed in his physical appearance. His aura has become much stronger now. So much so that it manifests outside his body, when using it, in the form of small wisps.
That's the trait of reaching tier 2... Having aura powerful enough that it manifests outside your body when using it.
In terms of strenght, while he had the strength of a full grown man, when he was tier 1 and as a child. Now at tier 2, he has superhuman strength.
Still one must reiterate the speed of his progress. It's absolutely unheard of to become a tier 2 aura expert, when one hadn't even started a month ago.
When starting from scratch, normal people can reach tier 2 in about a year and a half, or two years. While talented people can do it just under 1 year. A heaven defying talent still takes 5-6 months. Hence the significance of Zeldris's ridiculous speed...
Zeldris raises from the ground and stretches his stiff limbs. Deciding to stop training for today.
Each day, after the training by their master and the maintenance duties the disciples have to perform. They are given free time, until bedtime.
Most days all disciples, including Zeldris, spend this time training. However today Zeldris decides to explore around a bit, in celebration of officially reaching tier 2.
He sneakily leaves the housing complex. No one has neither allowed them to leave, nor disallowed them to do so. But Zeldris considers not finding out and leaves while no one is looking.
Once he's out of that stifling place, he walks around the sect. Seeing many housing complexes similar to his. But also ones grander and bigger.
After exploring for a bit, Zeldris decides to visit the apple tree again.
About half a month ago, when he first came out to explore, he found this mysterious apple tree. It exists in some sort of sub dimension. Though Zeldris doesn't know if it's correct, he only assumed it's a sub dimension based on his knowledge of cultivation movies.
All he knows is, he bravely walked into a thick mist and the scenery changed once he came out the other side. With the tree waiting for him...
So he casually treads the same path. Ending up back near an apple tree.
The gloomy, gray weather of the mountain instantly changes into a sunny one. Clear of any clouds.
The apple tree itself seems to be in the middle of a field. The green field of grass is curved by mist on all sides. Making it seem like this patch of land is hovering in a cloud.
Without care, Zeldris leisurely walks over to the tree and jumps up. Reaching up to the branches of the apple tree and quickly grabbing two apples.
"Hmm. These things are so sweet." A small smile on his face, he gets to devouring the apples immediately.
*Nom* *Nom*
*Nom* *Nom*
Finishing the apples in a quick succession, he turns to the tree, in order to get some more. But as he turns, he discovers a young girl in front of him. Giving him a jump scare, that he barely manages to supress.
"Hello." She speaks. Her expression a mix of intrigue and indifference.
Zeldris has to look up a bit, as the girl is around half a head taller than him. However her status as a child is still very prominent, as her cuteness has yet to turn into beauty. The cute little girl, has black eyes and long black hair, like many people in this sect.
"Hello." Zeldris responds in a neutral fashion.
"Who are you?" She asks.
"My name is Zeldris."
"What are you doing here?" She asks.
Instead of answering, Zeldris tilts his head a bit, staring at her. Then he walks around her and grabs another apple by jumping. Leaving the girl hanging.
"What are you doing? Why don't you answer me?" The girl gazes at him, remaining completely emotionless. She's not offended. Her questions are asked purely out of curiosity.
"Why would I answer a person with no manners. I introduced myself, yet you completely forgot to introduce yourself back." Zeldris edjucates the little girl. He takes a bite out of his apple, completely content. He looks so satisfied and serene, that the girl falls into silence, captivated.
"..My name is Wu Mei. Now you can answer me." She speaks, after a small pause. Following his teachings.
Zeldris is a bit suprised by this girls mannerisms. She feels carefree, but supremely prideful. Speaking with a distinct indifference only the strong have. Most kids like this would be offended, by having been ignored. This girl is completely indifferent to it.
"Can't you see that I'm in the middle of a meal? Are you, perhaps, a dumbass? " Zeldris just sighs in disappointment.
He is purpesfully provoking her, to test her.
However he's not necessarily speaking out of turn. His initial impression of the girl is a bit negative. She feels rather simple, or naive would be the better word.
Zeldris looks at her up and down. 'She must get blessings when puberty comes, otherwise she is doomed.'
The girl's expression becomes a bit irritated. The boy in front of her is very impudent. "I am not a dumbass. This place is off limits for common disciples. You should leave." She speaks in the same kind of indifferent tone, yet she's obviously looking down on him.
*Sigh* "You really are slow. Don't you know it was the sect master himself who invited me to this sect?" Zeldris looks down on her and speaks, as if explaining the simplest things. Not being bothered by her disrespect.
"What? Is that true?" The girl asks, suprised.
"You realize where we are right?" Zeldris starts to explain something, in a very calm tone.
"The Wudan sect..." Wu Mei answers immediately. Becoming very invested in this conversation.
"Exactly. And you know what kind of sect this is, don't you..." Zeldris looks at her like she better answer yes, or he'll look down on her even more.
"Of course I do." She nods and answers like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Then continues her answer with a palpable sense of pride. "The Wudan sect is the best sect in the world. Responsible for creating the strongest Aura experts under the heavens."
"You are exactly right. It seems you are very smart." Zeldris praises her. Making the girl smile slightly.
"So with that said, do you really think I would trespass into a forbidden place, in the best, most secure sect in the world?" He asks.
Wu Mei frowns her cute little eyebrows in thought. 'Now that he puts it like that, it wouldn't make any sense for him to be here, unless he was permitted to.'
"Oh. OK, I understand." She finally comes to an understanding.
Zeldris looks at the girl and nods in satisfaction. Honestly he has no idea what this place is and if it's forbidden or not. He just famoosed the girl into thinking he is. This little girl is very naive...
"So what do you want?" Zeldris asks with a bother. Now that he tricked Wu Mei into believing him, he no longer cares about talking to her.
"I just wanted to know who you were. I came to eat apples as well." She gives an innocent answer.
"OK." Zeldris responds and turns away. Focusing on his own matters.
The girl takes an apple and starts eating. Her gaze is kept on Zeldris the whole time. He ignores her completely though.
After a while, Wu Mei once more opens her mouth. "How do you have red eyes."
Seemingly not hearing her, Zeldris stares into the distance. Deep in thought.
"Hey..." She finally pokes him in the shoulder, to get his attention.
"What?" He asks in annoyance.
"I said, why are your eyes red?"
"Why are your eyes black?" Zeldris counters.
"Huh? What kind of question is that?" Wu Mei asks, dumbfounded.
"Exactly." He says, adding something else with a quick thought. "How could I just tell you my secrets? Everything in this world has value. And my secrets are especially deep and valuable."
The girl looks at him with a strange expression. "Why would your secrets be valuable. You're just a boy in the second tier."
"Have you ever seen anyone else with red eyes?" Zeldris ignores her doubting expression and adds instead.
"No..." She responds.
"Then how could you know anything about me? Are you some kind of pshychic?" He asks in a stern tone.
"Well, no..." She looks at him with a blank face. As expected, there is something wrong with this girl...
"The world is big and wide. Even the smartest people in the world don't know everything. Knowledge is power. Do you now understand how impudent it is to demand I explain my secrets, deeper than the ocean, to you for free." Zeldris is speaking like he's doing a huge favour to Wu Mei for educating her. All of his words delivered with utmost seriousness.
Honestly he's cringing a bit at the absolute bullshit coming out of this mouth. Any normal person would see through him, yet the girl takes him seriously...
"Then... Can you tell me one of your secrets in exchange for this?" Wu Mei suddenly pulls out an orb of some kind.
"What is it?" Zeldria asks.
"It's an elite grade body tempering pill. When you swallow it, it will make your body much stronger." She answers.
"Hmm..." He takes the small orb and examines it carefully.
It looks like an orb...
"Alright. I will tell you the secret behind my red eyes, in exchange for this." He says, pocketing the orb. He then looks at Wu Mei with as seriously as he possibly can.
"But I need you to swear for secrecy. As even though this secret is one of my simpler ones. It is still paramount you don't tell it to anyone." He explains.
"I swear on the name of my Wu family." She points to her heart.
"Very good. Then..." Zeldris praises and starts to explain his secret behind his red eyes.
In reality, there is no secret. He's pulling all of this out of his ass, reciting the plots of different movies he's seen, mixed together.
Zeldris scams the little girl without feeling a shred of guilt...