Aotian descended down the wooden stairs with his face red like a tomato. He had noticed his step aunt peeping on him and Cui Long. He was honestly scared. This aunt of his was named Mei Ling. She was a ruthless figure at the Body and soul tempering realm. She was currently tempering her soul.
As the name suggests, the first 5 heaven stage of this realm requires one to temper the body while the latter stages tempered the soul.
The cultivation realms of the Martial Grotto heaven consist of the following
•Spiritual Qi awakening
•Qi Refining realm
•Body and soul tempering realm
•Core Formation realm
•Essence seal realm
•Void Shattering realm
•Heaven merging
The first realm, spiritual Qi awakening, requires one awaken his upper dantian and form his spiritual body. It is this same spiritual body that enables one to absorb spiritual Qi from heaven and Earth. Spiritual Qi is the foundation of all Cultivators and ones spirit is the guide to absorp it. This creates a scenario where heaven seals the spirit of all beings before birth.
For one to awaken his spirit one must put his spirit under spiritual pressure for it to retaliate against the heavenly daos and break it's seals.After all, at the end of the day, the spirit belongs to oneself.
Ling Aotian sat next to his step Aunt after giving a light bow.
"You look pleasing to the eye today Aotian, are you ready for your awakening? "
'oh so we are pretending that you never saw us? Fine I'll play that game with you Aunt! ' Aotian thought.
"Aah Yes dear Aunt, I'm ready to take over my Father's business. "
"Really? Don't you want to be groomed by the Family? Don't you have ambition? You will never make it in business if you lack such a quality . " Said his Aunt sternly, as if testing how he will react.
His aunt was no fool. She had been the first to notice his abrupt change of behavior despite Aotian's efforts to stay under the radar. She had looked after him ever since her brother- in -law passed during a family mission five years ago. This was enough time to know every little bit of behaviour. From hot headed to calm? That was too great a change. How could she, a woman who manages hundreds of businesses in this city dominated by men not notice?
She was meticulous and ruthless. The kind that doesn't give second chances and likes to hide like a sheep to kill a tiger. Her meticulous nature allowed her to sore and it was this nature that made her come to a terrifying conclusion.
'Was Aotian hiding his true self all that time ?was he disguising like a sheep to kill a tiger? If I had coveted his inheritance , would I be the tiger he hunts ?
These questions then we're all backed up today by his actions. She had at first been shocked when she heard moans at dawn.She had even thought that Aotian was dead and his body was possessed by an old monster, but that could not be true. Given her cultivation, she would have been first to notice abnormal spiritual fluctuations.
If only she knew how right she was !
"You of all people should know the benefits of knowing ones own limit. If one doesn't understand his own limits, how could he break through heaven's shackles? How could one even cultivate ? "
His aunt was further stunned. She had never lost so thoroughly. She was completely speechless and could not find words to retort.
Seeing her silent, Aotian took this opportunity to further lock her down.
"Will I be expecting your support my dear Aunt ? "
The room was silent. Mei Ling knew she had been caught. This question may sound straightforward but had many hidden agenda. Seeing through this, Mei Ling was further stunned. She realized there was only one answer and that terrified her.
That spoke volumes to someone like her. He had not even awakened his spirit yet !
"Yes. Have no worries after the spirit awakening, I Mei Ling will support you fully."
Aotian nodded then bowed as he left for the door heading to the spirit awakening ritual.
But as he left, Mei Ling's expression turned grim.
She realized that there was someone listening to their conversation in the dark. It was probably her rival within the Ling Family's inner court: Ling Youshi.
It was a silent war. Her rival probably thought that she had been secretly grooming Aotian as a hidden blade. One that she was using now that Aotian was awakening his spirit. They thought that the sudden change in behavior was Mei Ling giving him the green light.
How wrong they were! Ling Aotian had also noticed this rival. As he was already considering them in his plans.
"Cui Long? " Mei Ling Suddenly called.
"Yes.. miss Ling " he spoke in hesitation.
"Do you like Aotian? Or did he force you ? " She asked coldly.
"He..he didn't force me ."
"From now on you are his married concubine. Tend to him well.. You should also change the way you address him in public. Is that clear ? "
Cui Long was dazed, her beautifull round face blushing ever so slightly.
***
Over a hundred 16 year-old youths gathered in front of the Ling family pavilion ,which was located at the most western side of the City.It was a Stone building reaching 5 storeys having sharp tilted roofs.
Apart from being heavily guarded it looked like a normal family mansion. Before the pavilion was the square, and in the pavilion was a hall: the ritual site formation. An amalgamation of ancestral memorial tablets and talismans were present at the walls of the hall. They lit up ever so slightly.
This was the Ling Family authority centre.
"Good, some of you are punctual." Said an elder from the main family clearly directing his gaze towards Ling Aotian with a smile.
Not everyone appreciated that.
Among the crowd, Ling Yun, a proud youth from the main family frowned.He was the son of Mei Ling's rival and was ordered to take note of Aotian.
"What's that look for?" Asked a youth beside him.
"Hmph. That bastard Aotian, he's hiding something. He was a hot headed fool all these years, and now look at him. His eyes clearly lookdown on us! So arrogant ! "
The youth was startled and without even knowing, a seed of hatred had been planted. The youth, Ling Zhou was from the same faction as Ling Yun. He had also received orders to keep Aotian in his eyes. He was incenced and didn't really take orders seriously. But now..
"Today is the awakening Ceremony; it is your life's great turning point. It is the day that shows your value to the family. Should you awaken your spirit, resources will be laid bare to you." Said elder Ling Wei.
"Follow me ."
He was the same Main branch elder that had put Aotian on the spot. He was burrly in build, having a white beard and grey hair.Despite his unruly air, he was excited today. That was because of his son: Ling Luo
Ling Luo was a genius of the sword dao. Having awakening his sword intent at the age of 10 and formed his sword Qi at the ate of fifteen. Ling Luo was this generation's Ling family's heavenly genius.
Fundermentally sword cultivators were a different breed compared to normal cultivators. They cultivated their intent, will and sharpness.Sword intent was their basic requirement with spiritual Qi was secondary.
Due to these factors, they were known to have the best offensive might.
" If only you knew..! " Chuckled Ling Aotian as he followed the other 16 year olds into a telepotation formation.
He stared at Ling Luo after suddenly having a bold idea.
"Should I groom him into my subordinates?"
Aotian considered it for a while before puting that thought off. For now , he had no ability to do so even if he wanted to.
Of course that is laying out his master attainment sword mastery out of the table. If he wanted,he could teach him a thing or two.
In mastery levels, Ling Luo could not even be considered an apprentice let alone a master. That is because ones sword intent has to reach a certain strength for one to advance. It is the same for each advancement upto master level that is. After that, each advancement of any arts depends on comprehension of the Dao path.
"Brother Luo, what grade of spirit do you thing you will get? " Asked a maiden among those flocking around Ling Luo.
"Gold grade " gasps could be heard from the disciples as if they couldnt imagine such a scenario.
The grades of the spirit are classified as Copper, Bronze,Silver, Gold,Violet, white and emerald green. These grades are also used to detamine pill grades, beast and devil cores and even weapons.
Each of the grades represents cultivation realms with Copper grade representing Spirit awakening realm, Bronze representing Qi refining realm and so on.
"What about you Ling Zhou ? What grade are you expecting..? Such conversations became common after coming out of the transportation formation. They were now waiting aimlessly for the elder's instructions.
They waited for an hour or so, until the Ling Family Patriach Ling Wei Ling descended atop a flying sword. The elders escorting them bowed, followed by the main branch disciple and finally the branch disciple. Ling Aotian being among the last to bow.
Behind the elders were the Body and soul tempering Elders known as core Elders, Mei Ling being among them.She eyed Ling Aotian for a fleeting moment before averting her gaze. But that was all it took for the Patriach to notice. He too eyed Ling Aotian with interest. Just what could a 16 year old do to interest Mei Ling ? That was his interest.
Cough ! Cough !
The Patriach had stared too much, to the point where all elders had their eye on Ling Aotian.
"Sooner than I expected." Spoke Ling Aotian in a barely audible voice. Mei Ling narrowed her eyes. How could she not hear that when her whole focus was on Aotian?
'Sooner than I expected? ' ' wait ! Did that mean he expected for me to put him on the spot ? Mei Ling had a lingering fear in her eyes. She finally now understood now. Ling Aotian knows about her routine and behaviours just as much as she thinks she knows him .
"Let the Spirit awakening ceremony begin! "
While she was overthinking, the Patriach waved his hands and four spirit beast corspses were out on the ground in a line. They represented,Copper, bronze silver and gold respectively.
"Ling Lei , Ling Zhou, Ling ping, Ling chen and Ling Luo. Begin your spirit awakening."
Declared a core elder on the left of the Patriach. I his hand was a sheet of paper with names arranged according to family achievement over the years.
One after another walked beside the spirit beast coapses, their spirits awakening due to the spiritual pressure exuding out of the coapses. Illusary bodies seemed to take shape as they walked. The further they walked the greater the pressure and the more substance one's spirit gained.
Of course not all awakened their spirit.Ling ping was the unlucky one, destined to be a mortal forever.
The test not only awakened the spirit but also tested the level of ones spirit. Ling Lei reached the silver grade while Ling Luo reached the gold grade as expected.The last two all got copper grade spirituality.
Later, groups of five then started their trial of awakening their spirituality. It was only after several hours did Ling Aotian's chance come.
Ling Aotian stepped forward to the testing line, countless gazes upon him. Ling Yun especially didn't even try to hide his contempt. The Patriach on the other hand looked at the non chalant Mei Ling with an interested gaze.
Step! Step!
Sound seem to dissipate and leave room only for his steps. An overwhelming Aura leaked from Aotian's spirit. It had yet to take shape but already exuded such an overbearing presence.
The Patriach's eyes glowed, his smile evident from ear to ear. Only to fade the next moment. Ling Aotian came to a stop. He couldn't take another step forward to the silver grade coarpse. The Patriach frowned.
"Did i see wrong? Or was my expectations too high because of Mei Ling ? "
On the other hand, Mei Ling's eyes could not hide her fear. She had noticed what happened.
'He's suppressing his spirit, why? Does he think a gold grade coarpse is not enough?' She pondered.
Aotian on the other hand was excited. His spirit had not lost its potency after merging with his younger self.It was just greatly sealed by heaven since it was a yuan spirit. One that taken physical form that is.
How could normal beast coarpses release these seals? And even if they could, he wouldn't dare to. He knew that heaven would not allow a spiritual Qi awakened realm cultivator to posses a yuan spirit that one only forms at the core formation realm.The heavens were envious. The heavens were impartial.. No the tribulation was impartial and Ling Aotian knew this better than most.
He retreated to his peers, giving a look towards his Aunt with a slight nod.