The transition from the peak stage of Rank one to the initial stage of Rank two was not merely a matter of accumulating essence. It was a qualitative transformation, a breaking of mortal limits. The primeval sea of silver-white essence had to be compressed and purified until it underwent a metamorphosis, turning into the light red essence of a Rank two Gu Master.
This process was fraught with peril. A forceful breakthrough could shatter the aperture, crippling the cultivator for life.
Meng Ru sat before the essence spring, his mind a tranquil sea. He was not rushing. He had spent three days solidifying his foundation after reaching the peak stage, polishing his control over his primeval essence until it moved with the precision of a master calligrapher's brush.
'The barrier between realms is a law of nature,' his thoughts flowed, clear and cold. 'Attacking it with brute force is like a moth flying into a flame—a low-probability, high-cost endeavor. The key is resonance. To break the barrier, one must create a resonance that destabilizes it from within, creating a momentary weakness to exploit.'
He was contemplating the various methods—using a specific breakthrough Gu, finding a location where the dao marks were in a state of natural conflict, or creating a controlled explosion of essence within his own aperture—when the stone blocking the grotto entrance rumbled aside.
Feng Yin strode in, his presence filling the grotto. His sharp eyes scanned Meng Ru, and a flicker of approval, almost imperceptible, crossed his face.
"Peak stage. Foundation solid. Good," he said, his words clipped and efficient. "You have not wasted my investment."
Meng Ru rose and gave a perfunctory bow. "Master."
"The timeline was aggressive. Your progress is satisfactory," Feng Yin continued, getting straight to the point. "But now comes the true hurdle. A breakthrough is a test of foundation and control. I will provide you with two options."
He placed two items on the stone ledge. The first was a fiery red, crystalline Gu worm that pulsed with heat. The second was a small, unassuming jade slip.
"The 'Breakthrough Gu'," Feng Yin said, pointing to the red worm. "A brute-force method. It will detonate a portion of your primeval sea, using the resulting force to shatter the realm barrier. It is fast, with a seven-in-ten chance of success. However, it will invariably cause minor, hairline fractures in your aperture wall. Damage that will become a hidden danger in your future cultivation."
His gaze then shifted to the jade slip. "This contains the 'Water and Fire Resonance Art'. A control technique. It teaches you to split your primeval essence into two opposing forces and have them clash at a specific point on your aperture wall. The resulting resonance will weaken the barrier, allowing for a smooth breakthrough. The chance of success is lower—perhaps five in ten for a novice—but if successful, it leaves no hidden damage. In fact, it purifies the aperture."
He looked at Meng Ru, his expression unreadable. "The choice is yours. A swift but flawed path, or a difficult but perfect one."
Meng Ru's eyes did not even flicker towards the Breakthrough Gu. He picked up the jade slip. For him, there was no choice. A flawed foundation was unacceptable.
'A five in ten chance for a novice,' he calculated. 'But my control is not that of a novice. The probability of my success is closer to eight parts in ten. The superior option is clear.'
"I will use the Resonance Art," Meng Ru stated.
A slow, grim smile touched Feng Yin's lips. "I expected as much. A blade that seeks perfection must not be chipped at the start."
He paused, the smile fading, replaced by a shadow of seriousness. "You should know, your 'perfect' path is already attracting unwanted attention. My decision to take you as a personal disciple has not gone unnoticed."
Meng Ru listened, his expression unchanging, but his mind was alert, absorbing the new data.
"Elder Bai has been making inquiries," Feng Yin's voice dropped, taking on a conspiratorial tone. "He is my long-time rival in the sect. A petty, suspicious man who cannot stand to see others gain an advantage. He believes your sudden rise is unnatural, that I have discovered some hidden treasure or inheritance and am keeping it for myself."
This was the factional ripple. The shadowed scheme. Elder Bai was not just suspicious of Feng Yin; he was suspicious of the asset Feng Yin had acquired.
"He does not know the truth of your talent," Feng Yin continued. "And we will keep it that way. To him, and to the rest of the sect, you are merely a lucky boy who stumbled into my favor. But he will watch you. He will place obstacles in your path, test you, hoping to expose a weakness or uncover a secret. Your journey through the inner sect will not be peaceful."
Feng Yin was not just warning him; he was assessing his reaction. He wanted to see if his new blade would show fear, or hesitation.
Meng Ru showed neither. He simply processed the information. Elder Bai was now a known variable. A hostile agent. An obstacle.
"A dog that barks is less dangerous than one that waits in silence," Meng Ru replied, his voice flat. "His attention is an inconvenience, but a predictable one. It can be managed."
Feng Yin's eyes widened slightly. The boy had not only understood the threat but had already categorized it, dismissed it as a manageable problem. There was no fear, only cold, logical assessment.
"Indeed," Feng Yin said, his confidence in his gamble soaring. "Manage it, then. Succeed in your breakthrough. The stronger you are, the more my investment is worth, and the less the barking of old dogs will matter."
With that, he turned and left, the stone sealing the grotto behind him.
Meng Ru stood alone in the jade light, the jade slip held loosely in his hand. His path forward was no longer just a blazing trail of cultivation. It was now shadowed by the schemes of others.
But to him, it made little difference. A shadow was just a place where the light was temporarily blocked. It could be navigated, manipulated, and ultimately, left behind in the darkness.