Another Cliche Cultivation Story

Feeling all the eyes in the room on her, Xia Lihua quietly released an aura of the Second Life Destruction realm before retracting it. 

Guo Xinyi and her disciple’s eyes looked on in shock as their jaws slightly dropped. 

Life Destruction!

From Xia Lihua’s appearance, they guessed that she was twenty-one or twenty-two years old at most. For someone this young to be in the Life Destruction realm? It's simply unheard of!

Of course, in the world of cultivation, appearances can be deceiving.

A gust of cold wind suddenly blew at the women in the room causing them to turn away. When they look back, they saw Guo Xinyi holding onto Xia Lihua’s wrist. 

A moment later, Guo Xinyi release her tight grip and a serious look appeared on her face while looking at Xia Lihua with disbelief.

She audibly gulped, and said, “You’re actually only twenty-three years old.”

Her statement caused the ladies in the room to gasp. Reaching the Second Life Destruction at twenty-three years old? What kind of genius is this?

Watching their reaction, Xia Lihua can't help but feel like she may have overdone it. But even though this wasn't her true age and cultivation, it was true that when she was in her early twenties, she had already stepped into the Life Destruction realm. 

So she wasn't faking it just to pretend to be a genius.

“Heaven Chosen…” Someone whispered.

Guo Xinyi noticed Xia Lihua’s confused face, she explained, “A Heaven Chosen or a Heaven Rank Chosen is a title that belongs to individuals that have unparalleled talent. There isn’t a clear definition, but usually, those who have broken through to Life Destruction before the age of thirty-five is someone classified as Heaven Chosen. In each of the top ten sects, there is one Heaven Chosen. However, to my knowledge, they all broke through no younger than thirty-three years old. The only exception is that person from Arcane Mountain who broke through at twenty-nine years old.”

Guo Xinyi looked at Xia Lihua and wondered which clan raised such a monster. 

Is there really a clan that can rival the top ten sects? She thought.

“Arcane Mountain..” Ji Xian silently muttered. This was not the first time that he heard this name being mentioned. His interest was piqued. In his heart, he has already marked it as a place that he must visit.

Guo Xinyi continued, “Bing Yi is currently at the Peak of the Crystal Realm, if she can break through within the next couple of years, she will be given the title of Heaven Chosen, becoming the second Heaven Chosen of Ardent Yin Sect.” 

She looked at Bing Yi dotingly.

“Master, I…” A nervous voice can be heard from Bing Yi, she lowered her head while her hands were balled tightly into fists, visibly shaking. 

She can feel the expectations from her Master but to break through into Life Destruction required more than just accumulation and luck. She wasn't sure if she can do it.

Guo Xinyi sighed seeing the expression on her beloved disciple, and said, “Bing Yi, no matter your decision, I will support you.”

“Cultivation is a long, arduous journey with a number of tribulations that prevents you from continuing your path. The Essence realm, for example, is where you will experience your first tribulation. If you are naturally blessed, then it shouldn't be hard for you to break through to Essence from Dantian. Thus, allowing you to officially walk the path of a Qi Cultivator. Those less fortunate will have to rely on an incredible amount of resources to cultivate an Internal World to become Body Cultivators. But the amount needed is so astronomical that you rarely see people take this path in the Lower World. That is why Body Cultivators are so rare. In the end, this all comes down to your luck.

Bing Yi nodded as she carefully listened, “Master, this is the first trial for cultivators, the trial of luck. If a person is born with incredible talent for cultivation, but cannot sense the True Essence of Heaven and Earth to break through to the Essence realm, then that person’s path has been cut off. Forever remaining in the Dantian realm. It is possible for that individual to become a Body Cultivator, but the cost to become one is not a small price. Of course, if someone was born with a silver spoon, then even if that someone was born unlucky, unable to sense the True Essence of Heaven and Earth, they will have the resources to take the other path.”

Guo Xinyi agreed, “Indeed, at the end of the day, all of us are here simply because we are lucky. The second tribulation is the Life Destruction realm. To break through to Life Destruction, you must put your life on the line. Your hopes, dreams, ambitions, and talent, will mean nothing if you fail. Not to mention, even if you succeed the first time, you’ll need to do it again and again.”

She paused, and with a soft gaze looked at Sect's disciples one by one. Some looked serious while others looked nervous.

“I’m not trying to scare any of you, but all of you must know that cultivation is not a game. We're going against the natural order, after all. To break through to the Holy realm, you must at least be at the Seventh Life Destruction. This means that you must put your life on the line seven times if you want to continue your path. One day, you will all have a choice to make, to continue the path or to stop. Whatever your decisions are, the Ardent Yin Sect will support you."

A tensed female disciple looked at Guo Xinyi, she asked, “Pavillion Master Guo, what is the highest Life Destruction one can achieve?”

“It should be nine. The highest should be Nine Life Destruction, otherwise known as Ninefalls. The number of people who have achieved this in history can be counted on one hand.”

“It.. should?” The female disciple caught onto Guo Xinyi’s unsure tone.

“Yes… the highest should be nine…”

Ji Xian and Xia Lihua exchanged glances and remained silent.

“It’s getting late, all of you return to your respective room and rest. It has been a long journey.”

Guo Xinyi sent the disciples away and only Ji Xian and Xia Lihua remained behind since the three of them are sharing the room.

“Sister Xia, I will head out for a while to visit the Lord of Solitude City.”

Guo Xinyi naturally ignored Ji Xian but just as she put one foot outside the door, she paused.

A confused expression appeared on her face.

 Xia Lihua’s identity is definitely not simple, would her clan only send out a servant at the Early Stage of the Crystal realm to accompany her?

Guo Xinyi silently releases her spiritual sense before retracting it a moment later with a frown on her face.

“Did you forget something, Senior Guo?”  

Xia Lihua’s voice came from behind interrupting her thoughts.

“Uh.. no.” Guo Xinyi turned to reply to Xia Lihua. Her gaze briefly stopped on Ji Xian. Finally, she shook her head and left.

“Looks like she is on to you.” Xia Lihua smiled.

"Maybe." Ji Xian shrugged. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter since he was just finding ways to entertain himself.