The initial days at the Divine Star Sect were remarkably tranquil. Aside from the challenges posed by Kuang Dao and his companions at the outset, once Ye Tian emerged victorious and gained renown within the inner sect, no one dared to disturb him again.
Prince Thirteen, Lin Fei, and the others, relying on Ye Tian, quietly remained in the inner sect to cultivate.
All of them possessed extraordinary talents, and with the spirit stones won from gambling, coupled with the rich spiritual energy of the Divine Star Sect, their cultivation levels soared rapidly during this period.
Three months later, Ye Tian finally broke through the bottleneck of the third level of Martial Spirit, advancing to the fourth level, significantly enhancing his strength once more.
However, Ye Tian did not halt his cultivation; he still had ample spirit stones, sufficient for him to ascend to the fifth level of Martial Spirit.
In addition to Ye Tian's progress, the others were not lagging behind either. Among them, Meng Shiyun reached the pinnacle of the sixth level of Martial Spirit, on the verge of breaking through to the seventh level. In terms of cultivation alone, she was the highest among them, advancing at a pace that rivaled Ye Tian's.
Prince Thirteen and Lin Fei also ascended to the second level of Martial Spirit, while Yun Shuiyao stepped into the third level. They all made progress, but such rapid advancement was primarily due to the abundance of spirit stones.
Spirit stones are crucial resources for martial artists; those lacking innate talent can rely on them to advance, while those with exceptional gifts can utilize them to accelerate their training, much like Ye Tian and Meng Shiyun.
It must be said that Ye Tian and his companions were incredibly fortunate to have won a substantial amount of spirit stones during that gambling episode.
Otherwise, ordinary inner disciples receive only one spirit stone per month, totaling a mere twelve in a year. To accumulate over three hundred stones would take more than twenty years.
Of course, most disciples could earn contribution points through tasks, which they could then exchange for spirit stones at the treasure hall.
Nevertheless, even that would require several years.
Thus, ordinary inner disciples could not fully leverage spirit stones for their cultivation, as such a burden would be unbearable for them.
Consequently, combined with their formidable talents, it is only natural that Ye Tian and his companions could enhance their strength so significantly in a short time.
…
On this day, a momentous event transpired within the inner sect, sending ripples throughout the entire Divine Star Sect.
The news of Meng Shiyun's ascension to the seventh level of Martial Spirit spread, stirring the higher-ups of the sect. Even the reclusive sect master emerged from seclusion to accept Meng Shiyun as a personal disciple.
Instantly, the entire Divine Star Sect was abuzz, with countless disciples filled with envy and jealousy.
The sect master was a mysterious figure, rarely involved in sect affairs, spending most of the time in seclusion. To date, he had only taken on one disciple, Wan Yunxia, who ranked second among the true disciples, and with Meng Shiyun now, there were merely two.
It is easy to imagine that being the sect master's disciple would grant her resources far beyond those available to ordinary inner disciples, especially with the master's personal guidance…
Even Ye Tian could not help but gaze at Meng Shiyun with a mixture of envy and jealousy.
That day, they gathered to send Meng Shiyun off, as she would soon ascend to the highest peak for her training, where the spiritual energy was even more concentrated, and with the sect master's guidance, her cultivation would surely progress rapidly.
"Congratulations!" Ye Tian raised his cup with a warm smile directed at Meng Shiyun, though he was internally astonished. He had not anticipated that Meng Shiyun would become the sect master's personal disciple, and alongside Wan Yunxia, they would be like sisters. If Wan Yunxia were to return in the future, this connection could help fulfill Liu Yunfei's request.
"Thank you!" Meng Shiyun remained veiled, concealing her expression, yet her clear eyes sparkled with joy. She looked at Ye Tian, a hint of competitive spirit emerging as she softly declared, "Having been overshadowed by you, this 'freak,' I finally see a glimmer of hope. In the upcoming inner sect competition over a year from now, I will surely defeat you."
There was no doubt that with the sect master as her mentor, Meng Shiyun's cultivation would surge. Just look at how even ordinary inner disciples were elated to have a black-robed elder as their teacher.
"Haha, Ye Shidi, it seems you have found yourself a rival. How does it feel to be under pressure?" Prince Thirteen teased.
"Indeed, it is somewhat," Ye Tian replied with a glimmer in his eyes, followed by a light chuckle.
Lin Fei, standing nearby, defended him, exclaiming, "Not necessarily! You have seen Ye Tian's training speed; for Meng Shijie to surpass him, a mere year won't suffice."
"True, I never intended to surpass him; I only wish to close the gap. I have that much confidence," Meng Shiyun humbly stated.
"Go for it, Meng Shijie! I wholeheartedly support you in surpassing this 'freak,' and it would be splendid if you could give him a good thrashing during the inner sect competition!" Yun Shuiyao exclaimed, raising her small fists and laughing heartily.
"Yun Shijie, I don't recall having wronged you in any way," Ye Tian replied, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
"I simply find you displeasing; what of it?" Yun Shuiyao retorted, turning to glare at Ye Tian with wide eyes, her indignation palpable.
Ye Tian could only smile wryly, recalling the saying: "Only women and petty men are hard to nurture."
The ancients certainly did not deceive me!
"Hahaha…"
Prince Thirteen and Lin Fei burst into laughter, while Meng Shiyun gently smiled, her beautiful eyes brimming with mirth.
…
A day later.
Meng Shiyun has departed.
This prodigy, endowed with a green martial soul and a belief in surpassing Ye Tian, ascended to the summit of the sect's mountain.
Perhaps a year from now, when she reappears before Ye Tian and the others, she will be unimaginably powerful.
With her absence, life for Ye Tian and his companions became even more tranquil; their days were consumed by relentless cultivation, and even Yun Shuiyao, usually carefree, found herself striving harder than ever.
Clearly, although they did not voice it, a sense of discontent lingered in their hearts.
Meng Shiyun's progress had always been swift, and with her recent mentorship under the sect master, she would likely leave them far behind in no time.
Ye Tian's talent was indeed extraordinary, making it entirely natural for him to distance himself from them.
Reflecting on their initial entry into the Divine Star Sect, it was not long before they found themselves overshadowed by Ye Tian and Meng Shiyun. Prince Thirteen, Lin Fei, and Yun Shuiyao were filled with a sense of frustration. Even though they understood their talents paled in comparison to Ye Tian and Meng Shiyun, they were determined to muster their resolve and cultivate fiercely.
…
As the ancients said: "In the mountains, there are no cycles of years; one is unaware of the passage of time amidst the cold."
In the blink of an eye, six months had elapsed.
On this day, Ye Tian let out a resounding cry as he rose from the palace, a terrifying aura erupting from him and sweeping outward in all directions.
Prince Thirteen, Lin Fei, and Yun Shuiyao, who were meditating at the palace entrance, felt the palace tremble violently, jolting them from their cultivation.
"What an astonishing surge of energy! This guy has finally ascended to the fifth level of Martial Spirit!"
The three were utterly astonished.
Now, Ye Tian's cultivation had far surpassed theirs; his true strength could likely subdue them with a mere hand.
"What a freak!" Yun Shuiyao exclaimed, her cheeks puffed with indignation. She had just advanced to the fourth level of Martial Spirit, while Ye Tian had already reached the fifth.
Prince Thirteen and Lin Fei were equally speechless; they were still at the third level of Martial Spirit. Remembering how they had once stood on equal footing with Ye Tian, they now found themselves two levels behind, an unmistakable testament to his extraordinary talent.
As they pondered these thoughts, the palace doors suddenly swung open, and a young man clad in a blue starry robe emerged.
It was Ye Tian. As Prince Thirteen and the others looked up, they were met with a pair of piercing eyes that radiated an intimidating presence. His gaze, as fierce as the blazing sun, nearly blinded them.
Fortunately, it was not long before the intensity in Ye Tian's eyes faded, revealing a more serene demeanor.
"Well done; you have all made significant progress over the past six months," Ye Tian remarked, casting a glance at Lin Fei and the others, and nodding with a smile.
"How disheartening!" Yun Shuiyao rolled her eyes and pouted.
Ye Tian chuckled lightly at her response.
Prince Thirteen turned to Ye Tian and said, "You emerged at just the right moment. The year has passed, and according to the rules, we can no longer remain in the sect to cultivate in peace. What are your plans?"
"Accepting missions!" Ye Tian's gaze flickered as he spoke calmly. His spirit stones had been depleted, and he had reached another bottleneck in his cultivation. Remaining at the Divine Star Sect held little value for him; only by venturing out for training could he achieve greater breakthroughs.
"And you all?"
Ye Tian then inquired of Prince Thirteen and the others.
Lin Fei replied first, "Recently, I became a disciple of a black-robed elder. He has facilitated my connections, allowing me to continue cultivating within the Divine Star Sect."
"Me too!" chimed in Yun Shuiyao.
In truth, given their talents, black-robed elders had sought to take them in as disciples upon their initial entry into the inner sect. However, their pride had led them to aspire to be mentored by a silver-robed elder, resulting in their rejection.
Regrettably, the silver-robed elder had deemed them unworthy, and now, as the year drew to a close, they found themselves compelled to seek guidance from a black-robed elder.
"That is for the best; your cultivation levels are too low, and undertaking missions could be perilous. Although black-robed elders may not compare to silver-robed ones, they possess sufficient cultivation to guide you. Focus on your training," Ye Tian affirmed, nodding in agreement before turning to Prince Thirteen.
Prince Thirteen appeared relaxed as he replied, "I can only consider myself a half-disciple of the Divine Star Sect, as I am the son of the South Forest King and hold a semi-official status. My father has made arrangements with the sect, so I do not need to undertake any missions. However, he has sent me a letter, asking me to return home, and I was waiting for your emergence to bid you farewell."
"Understood." Ye Tian nodded, reassured by Prince Thirteen's situation. After all, they were in South Forest County, and even if the Hundred Poisons Sect opposed the Divine Star Sect, they would not dare to target Prince Thirteen unless they sought rebellion.
"Then let us reconvene at the inner sect competition," Ye Tian said with a smile.
"Let us strive together!"
"At that time, we shall astonish those veteran disciples and show them how we newcomers can turn the tide."
"Ye Tian, you must secure a place in the top ten of the Divine Star Rankings; I have faith in you."
The group erupted into laughter, filled with reluctance as they parted ways.