Three years passed and in this time, Li Tian had managed to reach the ninth level of the core realm.
He had also managed to comprehend his first divine ability.
Thanks to his new level of comprehension, he had cultivated his movement technique, the first level of the dragon god nine steps, rising waves-departing winds to complete mastery and his speed had been increased to a terrifying degree.
His yin-yang heavenly eyes had already reached level 1 and he was very close to comprehending its first ability.
In the arts of rune inscription, he had made great strides. The inscription of runes can be divided into different proficiency levels from one to nine.
As of now he had already reached the peak in rank three rune inscription and could inscribe all runes of this level in a very short time.
Today he sat in a room in his cultivation cave where he had reserved specifically for rune inscription. A brush could be seen in his had and a canvas Infront of him. He sat there cross-legged and eyes closed as he tried to compose himself and gather his thoughts as much as possible.
It has been more than half a year since he reached proficiency in rank three runes, however during this time, no matter how he tried he had failed in rank four runes.
Since he started studying runes, this is the first time he had such a block.
He was not in a rush however because on the path of rune inscription, rank four runes were a representation of change. This change was qualitative in terms of the essence of the rune. Its requirements of the rune master were also steep as the soul had to be very powerful for one to be able to inscribe such a rune.
Li had realised that the reason he did not succeed in the past was due to his soul force not being enough but everytime he inscribe it and failed, he felt pain deep within the recesses of his being and when he tried later he would make more progress than he had before.
He came to the conclusion that due to this he was unintentionally strengthening his soul. At his level he couldn't sense his soul but he still received its benefits.
This way to train the soul required great will and not everyone could endure such pain.
Soon he opened his eyes and placed the brush on the canvas as he started drawing. This drawing was very peculiar as overall it was just a symbol however it was formed from many other smaller markings and images as it gradually took form.
The smaller images seem to be interconnected in a mysterious way and their positions felt right as though they existed to strengthen one another.
After sometime sweat could be seen rolling down Li Tian's head which showed the work that is being put in to come to draw the rune.
He had no idea if he would succeed or fail again this time but from his progress he felt as though he had reached the minimum requirement of the soul to achieve success in the rune.
Three hours soon passed before he made the last stroke. He felt dizzy as all his soul force had been used to barely succeed in drawing this rune.
He looked at the rune.and smiled. He was very proud of this accomplishment. The rune was a flame rune and Li Tian was very eager to test it.
He placed his finger tip on the rune and infused a little bit of Qi from his finger into the rune.
It lit up with a red brilliance. The temperature of the room gradually increased as a flaming bird rose up from the rune. Its appearance was arrogant and unrestrained as the flames on its body gradually increased. The temperature was already at a terrifying degree as the floor itself began to turn red. The formations within the room began to melt.
Li Tian wasted no time, despite the dizziness he still jumped out of the room with speed.
Boom!
An explosion went off. Li Tian had only just left the room when it exploded so he was not injured.
I infused only a little wisp of Qi. Granted that my Qi is far stronger than the ordinary cultivators, still what would happen is I infused much Qi into it?
Such power, even a rebirth expert would be burnt to nothingness if they are unlucky enough to be entangled with these flames.
The weakness is the time it takes to inscribe it and the drain on the soul power. In battle I will have only one chance to draw it and given that it takes hours, which expert will wait for me to finish drawing it. I would have already been killed a thousand times over. Just as these thoughts were running through Li Tian's mind,
A woman walked up from behind Li Tian wearing a slightly revealing dress, her hair was still wet indicating she was bathing. He face was very beautiful and her aura enchanting. She had been attracted by the commotion made by the explosion.
This almost naked woman was Xia Yanru. Li Tian had already sensed her but was not surprised in the slightest.
It is unknown when but they had started sleeping together in the past three years.
Was it a success?, she inquired as she was well aware that Li Tian had been struggling with this particular rune for a long time now.
Despite the obvious increase in soul strength he still felt fatigued and looking at Xia Yanru now a glint flashed past his eyes as a crafty smile could be seen at the corner of his mouth.
He pulled her towards the bed chamber with some coaxing and echoing laughter as they both went to rest.
During his time spent with her, he had come to know her identity and got a better understanding of the hierarchy of the sect.
There were outer elders like Li Tian, inner elders like elder Chen, core elders and then there were the inheritance elders who were in-charge of atleast one of the sect inheritances and were responsible for ensuring and promoting it.
They were extremely powerful and amongst them was Xia Hongjun, the eight inheritance elder and Xia Yanru's father.
He was the newest inheritance elder and being the eight mean that the sect had eight inheritances which they had promoted throughout the generations.
Above these elders was the sect master and above him were the grand elders.
He also came to understand that her elder brother was a legacy disciple known as Blazing sun prince.