Gang Xin cultivated for a week straight. He did rest in between by sometimes going to the first level, and then sleeping there. However, he was mostly cultivating, with getting a sleep once every 3 days.
A normal person wouldn't be able to concentrate this much in a single duration. However, Gang Xin practiced as if he was soulless.
He neither felt the want to do other things, or rest. After all, the Undying Phoenix made him feel amazing.
Although it was slightly stinging and hurting every time, the feeling of nourishment that later came energized him.
Using this momentum, he had practiced until his time was nearing. He could've ascended some more, but he knew it wouldn't be much efficient. And honestly, not like there was a time limit to stay here anyways.
Until his punishment ended in 30 days and he came out, the clan didn't track how much time he spent. The only measure they had was the bracelet they gave. It absorbed the fire qi pollution, and depending on that, they counted the days.
Since they couldn't track it, he decided to stay the full month here.
And today, he finally had qualification to go to the next floor.
"Yes! Finally got through it!" Gang Xin felt the full sensation as the tendons of his body became more adapted to qi.
He had finally broken through! To 5 stars!
He was now a middle grade Form Fighter. Because he cultivated in the Undying Phoenix cultivation technique, the improvements he had were even more amazing.
'Time to check out the higher floors' Gang Xin thought as he ended his cultivation. And just as he sat on the floor to feel the changes inside his body, a person came.
"Yo" the pink haired boy that had been cultivating next to him came up. He had apparently noticed the changes and also stopped staying there.
Gang Xin took a look at him before nodding his head.
The guy was pretty handsome. Had a devilish beauty with sharp features. Would definitely reel the girls in.
"My name is Gang Si by the way. It seems we're the same age, yet I don't know such a genius' name. Care to tell me?" he said, very eloquently ordering his words.
"Gang Xin. I'm an orphan, you?" Gang Xin replied indifferently.
"Gang Xin, and an orphan eh... well, I'm not an orphan, but I think we can get along" he flashed a smile.
"I think we have some things to talk about... but first, should we head down?" Gang Si's face was becoming pinker. Right now, it was a faint pink, but he still had the expression of enduring something.
"Right, let's do that" Gang Xin nodded his head in agreement. Thinking about it, it might not be something bad to get affiliated with a person like this.
His gut instincts told him that it might be beneficial to him. This Gang Si, he was pretty smart, and seemed to be talented too.
Of course, that talent was probably nothing in front of Gang Xin.
Besides, he also had to get rest.
So, they went down. As they went down to the first floor, the pressure seemed to disappear by a lot. However, it was still a hard place to just be in.
"It sure is hard in here. But compared to the third floor, isn't it much better?" Gang Si asked.
"Actually, I don't feel it much" Gang Xin replied.
Afterward, they talked for awhile. This Gang Si, not just good with words, he was also the son of an elder in the clan.
As for what he did to get in here, he apparently stole one of the clan's precious cultivation resources. After getting caught, he ended up coming here. Apparently, his sentence is ending soon.
He was a useful person to keep in contact with. Thus, Gang Xin didn't mind using some time for him.
He told him about his talent, and after that, this Gang Si was really surprised. He asked a few questions, but Gang Xin faked naivety on most of them.
Then, they bade goodbyes before Gang Xin ascended.
This time, he was aiming for the 4th floor.
...
So, this is the 4th floor?
He practically saw no people here. However, seeing as his tolerance for fire had increased, he still felt he could ascend once more.
He went up.
Just as he was taking in the look of the fifth floor, he saw the view of that elder once again. That elder with beard and goatee, who had the belt signifying his elder status, and that dignified aura.
This time, the same thing happened. The moment he looked at him, the elder also seemed to notice him. He opened his eyes, and it showed clear surprise at the sight of him.
"What brings you here?" he opened his mouth, and asked, still in the meditating position. However, his eyes were not closed - it was directly staring at him. The eyes were glaring.
Hearing the question, Gang Xin bowed. He put down his head as he said "Esteemed elder, I am merely seeking higher cultivation"
He sounded very respectful, but his eyes did not show any sympathy.
"Oh? You can cultivate here?" he raised his eyebrows as he said in a very surprised tone.
"Yes elder. I think it is due to my fire talent" perhaps this old geezer might just kill him and take him apart for dissection. However, Gang Xin didn't believe that he would waste this talent.
Not to mention his old age, he was an elder of the clan. Of course that didn't limit the possible things he could do, but it was not nearly something to put the future of the clan away for.
Also, Gang Xin had a new power he could use to escape. He was sure this geezer wouldn't be able to notice it.
Right now, what he needed to do was to market himself as a genius who is destined to become a pillar of the clan in the future. By doing so, he could acquire more and more resources.
"Fire talent huh... how come I don't know about this?" his eyes were surprised. It also held an investigating purpose.
Such a genius... why wouldn't he hear of them? After all, that Yu family girl's reputation had spread to even the neighbouring cities.
"Elder you might not know but I have just recently awakened it. I was on the brink of life and death when it happened" Gang Xin wasn't lying.
He did 'awaken' the 'talent', and was also on the 'brink of life and death', just that he did die. The soul in this body was a new one, and the 'talent' here was the Undying Phoenix cultivation technique.
Because no physical copies of it existed, and the belief that the cultivation of this small place hasn't yet reached a high enough realm to search the mind, he didn't fear any investigation.
As for the process of the technique, well he just needed to hide it better.
"Interesting. What's your name?" the old man asked.
"Gang Xin, an orphan. Esteemed elder, may I ask about your name?" Gang Xin bowed again.
"You can call me Elder Wu" after hearing the reply, Gang Xin tried searching his mind for any clues to this, but he was unable to find it. He couldn't recall the name of Wu on any elder...
Thus, he deliberately showed confusion on his face, as the elder noticed it and said "They also call me grand elder"
"Oh!" Gang Xin's mouth opened up and he let out a surprised sound.
Grand Elder! The highest order within the clan!
They held even more power compared to the patriarch! However, they were usually in seclusion, and didn't bother with the affairs of the clan.
In the Gang Clan, there were 2 grand elders presently. However, one had rumors of deteriorating health, and even possible death, while the other, Elder Wu, was a household name in the city.
Even the large clans feared the man. After all, his story was a legend told inside the clan.
He had grown up all alone, and after hardship and hardship, suffering after suffering, he raised the falling Gang Clan up out of its ash.
"I didn't know I was looking at such an esteemed person, sir. Forgive my previous behaviour" due to the previous host's memories, Gang Xin even held some admiration within his heart as he heard the name.
He kowtowed, and banged his head 3 times into the torching floor. It looked very respectful from the outside, but the real reason Gang Xin did this was to knock himself out of the effects of the previous host's memories.
It almost felt like he was drunk, like losing control of his body and emotions suddenly.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The forehead had become bloodied, as the skin became redder and trickles of blood came out.
It seemed that after all, he had to check his memories again - carefully.