On the next morning, Ling Xiao went to his father's room. He saw an old man who had the appearance of someone middle-aged. He had silver hair and was wearing azure-white cloth."Ling Xiao, he is your Grand Teacher," his father told Ling Xiao from the side.
Ling Xiao bent over to bow to his Grand Teacher.
"Ling Xiao, I will be your guide for a few days," Tian Xian said in a calm tone. "But it is quite inadequate here. Let's go to the training hall." With this, he came forward, caught Ling Xiao's arm, and disappeared.
They appeared in a large, quiet hall. The floor of this hall was covered with a carpet, and the surrounding walls were lined with many different shapes of swords, shields, katanas, knives, and many more weapons.
"I know you are impatient to roam outside the palace, but be patient," Tian Xian told him. "Danger is lurking everywhere in the outer world. If you go unprepared, it will only bring harm to your life." Tian Xian said this with a smile and a somewhat deep tone, seeing Ling Xiao's childish, impatient expression.
Ling Xiao only nodded.
"You achieved a breakthrough to the 1-star Qi Refinement Stage by directly jumping from the previous stage, do you know? It will imbalance your cultivation!"
"I know. I read that in a book, but I was so eager to breakthrough! I could not control myself," Ling Xiao said in an embarrassed tone, hanging his head.
"Forget that. If you want to become a true cultivator, patience is the only key," Tian Xian paused. "You imbalanced your foundation. Although it is a minor flaws but to become a true cultivator you need to fix all your flaws."
"Is there any way to fix it grand teacher ?" Ling Xiao told.
"Yes it is very easy. You need to take break for few days to master your current stage. Although it is quite harder then your previous stage."
"Now, let's start today's session. Get seated." He also sat on the floor, facing Ling Xiao.
"Today, I will guide you about the cultivation stages and their essences," Tian Xian said. He paused, then asked a question: "Do you know the essence of the Body Refinement Stage?"
"Doesn't it just an early cultivation stage? Does it even have greater importance?" Ling Xiao asked with a confused expression.
"Yes. In this universe, everything has a greater meaning behind it," Tian Xian explained. "We cultivate to gain power. But to hold that power, our body has to be powerful enough. Without that, our body itself will be an obstruction on our cultivation path." Tian Xian spoke in an experienced tone.
"Was that the reason behind my 'Mortal' grade talent?" Ling Xiao suddenly asked, excited as if he had solved a huge mystery.
"Hahaha, I have to disappoint you. That was not the reason; it was a natural gift," Tian Xian replied. Seeing Ling Xiao's disappointed face, he comforted him, "So what if you have 'Mortal' grade talent? Hard work is the thing that bridges that gap for you."
Tian Xian continued, "The next stage, where you currently are, is the Qi Refinement Stage. In this stage, you first gain the power to project Qi to attack others. The Qi you absorb from the air will be refined and stored in your core, which is present in your inner space."
"The next stage is the Conscious Stage. In this stage, you fill your soul for the first time. It is a very crucial stage because instability here means you will injure your own soul, which will also affect your soul power."
"Now, do you understand why those three stages are known as the core of the cultivation journey?" Tian Xian asked in the same tone.
Ling Xiao only nodded.
"The Earth Realm. In this Xuan planet, it can be called true cultivation. In this stage, you can stand in space, but you can start flew in space after you reach the Heaven Realm..." Tian Xian took a few hours to tell Ling Xiao a few things about the cultivation stages up to the Earth Realm. "For now, the Heaven Realm and Supreme Realm are like you reaching your hand to grab stars."
It was dark outside. "Now, you go to rest," Tian Xian said. He stood up and disappeared, and Ling Xiao also left the hall with a tired face.
Over the next day,
Tian Xian stood in crossed arm watching Ling Xiao straggle to draw out Qi from his body.
"Dont straggle let them flow naturally from your core, it will not exhort your phycial strength but your mental strength" Tian Xian told. Few hours passed, Ling Xiao finally draw a needle shape but not entirely. As Ling Xiao about to rejoice, but suddenly a crack appeared in that needle and scattered all around. With this Ling Xiao distressed.
Tian Xian only smiled ear to ear. With this the day passed with Ling Xiao's straggle.
On the third day,
With a swasing sound a small blade pierces through the chest of a wooden dummy.
"You completed initial mastery of Raging Blade skill, it is quite impressive" Tian Xian complimented.
On the fourth day.
"Today, I will not give you any guidance but some advice to gain greater experience from your journey," Tian Xian said in his usual tone.
"First, when you roam outside of the palace, your defense is at its lowest. Many people have ulterior motives and are ill-disposed towards the Ling Dynasty. They can target you. To prevent all this, you need to hide your identity such that no one can guess who you are."
"Secondly, collect all necessary items like medicinal pills and weapons."
"Thirdly, and most important, do not miss your medicine," Tian Xian told him in a very unusual, serious tone, looking directly into Ling Xiao's eyes. After seeing Ling Xiao's look of understanding, Tian Xian returned to his usual self. "Hahaha, now enjoy your freedom!"
With this, Ling Xiao respectfully bowed, turned, and left. After waiting for a few minutes, Tian Xian also disappeared.
Ling Xiao quickly went to the medicinal hall to collect all the medicines as he was advised. He collected healing pills, poison antidotes, and many more pills. After that, he went to the treasure hall, but on the way, he met his father. Ling Sha brought Ling Xiao to his room and gave him a sword as a gift. Next, Ling Xiao spent a few minutes receiving advice from his father. At last, his father also strongly told him 'not to miss his disease pills'. After that, Ling Xiao left.
Next, Ling Xiao went to meet his first teacher, General Leo. How could he forget General Leo? In this place, no one was his friend except General Leo. He saw General Leo discussing something with some elders. After seeing Prince Ling Xiao, General Leo ended his conversation, and Ling Xiao came forward to tell him everything. As a General, he wished the Prince well-being and gave him a token. He told him, "If you come to any life and death situation, destroy the token. I will immediately sense your location and come forward".
Finally, Ling Xiao left and came to his room. Meeting everyone had already taken the whole day, and it was now afternoon. He got into his bed but could not sleep due to his excitement. After all, all that hard work brought fruit; he finally got freedom. He kept thinking of many things. After a few hours of much thinking, he fell asleep.
On the next morning,
Tian Xian watched a kid wearing a black ordinary robe and long black hair tied up at the back of his head leave the palace. Tian Xian was standing at the balcony of the palace. "Is it alright to let him leave the palace?" From behind Tian Xian, a familiar voice asked the question. It was none other than Ling Sha.
"Could you have forever kept him in the palace? Isn't it good for him to gain outer exposure?" With this question, Ling Sha stopped asking any other questions because he also knew he could not stop his destiny.