Exiting the lecture hall, Li Tian's mind buzzed with the newfound understanding he had gained during the lecture. He couldn't wait to retreat to his cultivation cave and process all the information. The notification he had received earlier lingered in the back of his mind, but he pushed it aside for now.
As he stepped into his cave, Li Tian immediately activated the system. Although he had received a notification during the lecture, he couldn't afford to be distracted at the time. The anticipation built up inside him, eager to discover what awaited him.
*Ding!*
"The host has taken another step toward the supreme throne and has successfully awakened his dao heart. Reward: 30% increase in comprehension ability."
Li Tian was taken aback by the message. The words filled him with a mix of shock and joy. The dao heart—something he thought only higher-level cultivators could obtain—had awakened within him. It suddenly made sense why he had felt a radiant light in his chest earlier. Though many thoughts raced through his mind, one thing was certain: this was a fortuitous turn of events.
The increase in his comprehension ability left him astounded. He couldn't even fathom the benefits it would bring him. Understanding and grasping dao and techniques would now require half the effort but yield twice the reward. It was an incredible boon.
As he received the reward, a cool sensation spread throughout his body, soothing him. He felt as though a veil had been lifted from his eyes, allowing him to perceive and comprehend the world on a deeper level than ever before. His understanding of his movement technique skyrocketed, prompting him to immediately enter seclusion to further cultivate his newfound insights.
Unbeknownst to Li Tian, his reputation within the sect had soared to new heights. Powerful individuals had taken notice of his remarkable progress, sensing the awakening of his dao heart. Many sought to become his disciples, but Li Tian remained oblivious to their presence, completely focused on his cultivation.
Whispers filled the sect, with some believing he was a young sage and others speculating that he was the reincarnation of a mighty figure. Li Tian paid no mind to the rumors, choosing to ignore the noise. At the end of each month, the system rewarded him as usual, providing him and his subordinates with valuable cultivation resources. Occasionally, he would even receive treasures and artifacts, a testament to his rapid progress.
Over a month had passed since his last class, and now it was time for him to attend another lecture. Li Tian opened his eyes and made his way to the lecture hall. During his seclusion, his cultivation had surged at a terrifying rate, bypassing multiple levels to reach the eighth level of the core realm. He had become a golden core expert.
As he entered the hall, he surveyed his students, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. Today, he decided to shake things up by organizing a battle competition to test their combat prowess. Furthermore, he announced that such competitions would become a regular occurrence, taking place every three months.
He tantalized them with promises of great rewards for the top rankers. The first-place winner would receive a staggering 500 foundation Qi pills, the second-place winner 300 pills, and the third-place winner 100 pills. Even those who ranked from fourth to tenth would still receive 50 pills each.
It was worth noting that the sect only provided 10 foundation Qi pills per month to each disciple. The rewards Li Tian offered were an astronomical amount of wealth and resources that others would kill for.
The class erupted into an uproar, determination shining in their eyes. Everyone now had their sights set on claiming the first place or at least securing a spot in the top ten. Those who made it to the top three would become overnight millionaires.
They couldn't help but wonder how wealthy Li Tian must be to dole out such a fortune for a mere class evaluation.
The competition commenced, and after a full day of intense battles, a winner emerged—a shy-looking girl who couldn't hide her joy when Li Tian handed her the promised rewards. The recipients beamed with delight as they received the pills.
Li Tian addressed them, his voice firm and resolute. He warned them that if anyone dared to forcibly take their rewards, they should inform him immediately. In this world, a person's wealth could be their downfall, but if they had his backing, they would be safe. As long as they possessed something he had given them or had earned through their own strength, no one had the right to take it away.
With those words, Li Tian turned to the remaining ninety students. He spoke of the harsh reality of the cultivation world—only the strong reaped the benefits. He explained that if they desired the rewards, they should grow stronger and seize them with their own strength.
Having delivered his message, Li Tian left without even glancing back. The news of the class spread throughout the sect, once again putting Li Tian in the spotlight. Everyone marveled at his wealth and generosity.
In the following days,Li Tian found himself visited by numerous elders seeking to establish a friendship with him. However, he knew that accepting their friendship would likely lead to being entangled in the internal factions of the sect. He maintained a cautious distance, neither accepting nor rejecting their advances.
Through the information he had gathered, Li Tian learned that the sect master of the Purple Peak Sect held a 300-year term of leadership. Twenty-five years before their term ended, they would choose a successor from among the legacy disciples. It was during those final 25 years that the sect master would pass on their knowledge and train the chosen successor to become a competent leader.
Although the sect master's decision would be based on strength and contributions, rallying power and support played a crucial role as well. Different factions had already formed, each supporting a different legacy disciple. The disciples fought openly and in secret, vying for influence within the sect. The ultimate goal was to secure their candidate's victory, as it promised great benefits in the future.
At present, Li Tian had no interest in getting involved in these matters. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that sooner or later, he would be drawn into the conflict. The struggle for power and influence was an inevitable part of the sect's dynamics, and it seemed likely that he would have a role to play in it.