Within the Castle of the Ledal Empire, we assembled inside the ancient hall, where my family and some significant cultivators of the Empire gathered for Xu Zhi's Elements Qi Awakening ceremony. With success, Xu Zhi attained approval from two elements.
"Hahaha... you behave like a big brother," my mother remarked, acknowledging that I was taking on the role of a big brother rather than a little one.
"Mother Yu, I'm ready to call him Big Brother from now on because of how much he does to help us. No one can do it like him. Am I right?" Xu Zhi affirmed, turning to my mother and then asking my sisters for their agreement.
"Yeah, right." My sisters nodded in approval.
"Hahaha... Mother, I'm going back to my room, or they'll start again," I chuckled, announcing my departure.
"Stop teasing him, all of you." Stepmother Lie Ning directed my sisters to cease their teasing.
"We're not teasing him; we're telling the truth," Xu Ling insisted, clarifying their intentions.
"Sigh... Okay, mothers, I'm returning to my routine cultivation. See you later, and note that when you come today for cultivation, I'll teach you a good lesson." I sighed, bidding farewell to my mother with a smile. I then turned towards my sisters, giving them a warning.
They all giggled as I walked towards the training grounds, commencing my cultivation of Yang Qi from the Sun's rays until lunch. After the midday meal, I assisted my sisters.
Today, I decided to playfully treat my sisters as if I were angry, only to forgive them on the condition that any repeated antics would result in punishment. After assisting them in cultivation, I retreated to my room, took a bath, and welcomed my stepmother Long Xiu when she visited. We spent a few minutes conversing after our cultivation session.
Once she left, I locked the door, entered the Love of Goddesses treasure, and headed towards the Elemental Forces Area building.
"I already have approval from five elements; now I need three more," I mused.
"I have four hours in the real world until dinner, which means I have thirty-two hours inside the treasure. Hahaha..." I laughed aloud, calculating the time available for secret training and recognizing that time speed slowed again after breaking through to the next realm.
Upon entering the Elemental Forces Area building, my goal was clear: to attain approval from all elements.
Making my way into the Light Element Portal, I discovered a 30-foot-round platform in a cloud. The platform's floor radiated a bright light, and at its center, a floating seat beckoned.
Seating myself, I initiated training in the Light element, and as I began, a drizzle of light Qi enveloped my body.
'Ding'
An hour later, my opened eyes shone brightly with light as I gained approval from the Light element. Exiting the portal, I proceeded into the Nature Element portal. A breathtaking scene awaited me: lush greenery, trees, and a small river nestled between grand mountains, resembling a picturesque valley. Under a colossal tree, a floating seat invited me. Seating myself, I began training in the Nature element.
'Ding'
Engrossed in my training, green Qi gathered around me, similar to the Light element. After a few minutes, the green Qi started dissolving into my body. When an hour passed, I opened my eyes, rose from the floating seat, and exited the Nature Element portal.
Concerns about the Darkness element lingered in my mind.
"That Darkness element is usually associated with evil cultivators. I don't want to become one," I mused, eyeing the last portal.
"I already have the Light element within me, so I believe I shouldn't worry about turning into an evil cultivator. However, to effectively combat them in the future, I need to understand that element deeply," I decided, firming my resolve to gain approval from the Darkness element.
With determination, I stepped into the Darkness Element Portal. Inside, I found a small, dark room with only a floating seat at its center, barely visible to the naked eye.
Seated on the floating seat, I began training in the Darkness element. Dark Qi enveloped my body, but after a few minutes, I encountered difficulties as my body struggled to absorb it due to the instability caused by the interaction with other elements.
'Ding'
An hour later, I emerged from the Darkness element portal and made my way towards the exit, eager to leave the building.
"Hahaha... now I possess eight elements, making me the only one in this world with such mastery," I chuckled, expressing my joy.
Having gained approval from all eight elements, I exited the Elemental Forces Area building, pondering my next steps as I still had over twenty-eight hours remaining.
After a brief moment of contemplation, I opened the off-white color panel and delved into the notifications that had accumulated while I was immersed in my training.
[
Light element Qi detected
Elements Status: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Lightning, Light.
Elemental Qi Space changed Level 5 to Level 6
]
[
Nature element Qi detected
Elements Status: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Lightning, Light, Nature
Elemental Qi Space changed Level 6 to Level 7
]
[
Darkness element Qi detected
Elements Status: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Lightning, Light, Nature, Darkness
Elemental Qi Space changed Level 7 to Level 8
]
After reviewing the notifications, my attention shifted towards the Herbs Garden. I was curious to explore the place where I could cultivate and harvest herbs for various purposes.
As I arrived at the Herbs Garden, a 5000 sq. ft. area was unlocked before me, designated for planting and gardening herbs. Additionally, a Level 1 growth array was already in place to expedite the herb-growing process.
Contemplating what to plant, I summoned different types of herb seeds into my hands. These seeds represented the full spectrum of herbs I possessed. With a wave of my hand, I began planting and tending to the herbs, investing two hours in the process before considering my next destination.
Shortly after, I approached a red-colored tower-like building. Standing before its sizable door, I observed the inscription at the top: 'Techniques Tower.'
My next objective involved exploring and acquiring the best techniques for all elements within Elemental Qi spaces. This approach not only contributed to my cultivation but also increased the success rate of mastering techniques when practiced in environments matching their elemental affinity.
Upon entering the Techniques Tower, I encountered a well-organized arrangement, reminiscent of the library. Scrolls neatly filled the racks, mirroring the meticulous organization found in the library. A table with chairs stood on the left side of the entry door, while stairs on the right hinted at inaccessible floors, likely unlocked with further cultivation.
Though only the first floor was accessible to me, I approached the table and examined the map for this level. After marking all the locations, I proceeded to the racks to explore and find suitable techniques.
After a brief walk, I reached the Earth element section. Each rack held a list of techniques, making it easy to navigate and identify what I was seeking. As I perused the names and descriptions of the techniques, I focused on finding the best defensive or strengthening technique, recognizing that Earth element techniques were well-suited for such purposes. I intended to choose a technique that aligned with my current needs, keeping in mind that I could explore and learn more in the future.
After a thorough search through all the racks, I marked several techniques that seemed promising. However, I knew I needed only one for now. Comparing them, and considering the pros and cons, I made my decision within a few seconds. From the Earth element section, I picked the technique that best suited my current needs.
Moving on to the Fire element section, I repeated the process. Since Fire was ideal for offense, I selected the best attacking technique. This pattern continued as I explored the Light, Wind, Water, Lightning, Nature, and Darkness sections, carefully choosing the most suitable technique from each.
The entire process consumed more than two hours. After finalizing my choices, I didn't leave the building. Instead, I headed towards the Yin & Yang section. Having decided to cultivate along that Path in the future, I sought a few techniques to pave the way for my upcoming journey.
Arriving at the Yin & Yang section, I perused the list of techniques related to this particular path. After a few minutes of searching, I marked several techniques that caught my interest. Each technique had its unique benefits, making the selection challenging. However, within seconds, I settled on five Yin & Yang Path techniques.
My next destination was the Alchemy section. There, I sought techniques for refining pills to initiate my journey into alchemy. Once I secured the necessary knowledge, I exited the building and made my way to the house for some much-needed rest.
Exhausted from nearly eight hours of intense training, gardening, and technique exploration, sleepiness overcame me. Upon reaching the room within the 'LOG' (Love of Goddesses) treasure, I lay on the bed and swiftly fell into a deep sleep.
After a refreshing seven hours of sleep, I woke up feeling rejuvenated and hungry. Following a bath, I summoned a handful of fruits from my stored collection and began to eat. Once my stomach was satisfied, I made my way directly to the Elemental Qi Spaces building.
Upon reaching the building, I noticed its similarity to the Elemental Forces Area. Confused for a moment, I double-checked the exterior, confirming that it was indeed the Elemental Qi Spaces building.
Entering the structure, I headed towards the Earth element portal. Upon entering, the familiar scene greeted me, reminiscent of when I gained approval from the Earth element. However, a notable difference here was the palpable thickness of Qi power in the room.