Heifeng Jiansui was sitting upon an icy jadestone prayer stupa, listening to Nineorigin’s lecture. Her words were like falling light, illuminating the boundless Dao to him. Nineorigin was skilled at teaching, and her skill had aided her well in establishing the strongest, most mysterious sect of the era.

“Over the past two months, I explained the laws and principles of Devouring, Fate and World to you. I have taught you all that I have comprehended, and you absorbed it all. Today, I taught you about the cultivation path of the era. Tell me what you learnt…” Nineorigin finished her lecture with this.

“The nine boundaries of cultivation are called Nine Transcensions in this era. They are Body Transformation, Life Desolation, Death Reversion, Samsara Revelation, Fate Separation, Pathway Divination, Dao Condensation, Mandate Consolidation and Stellar Ascension.” Heifeng Jiansui stated the cultivation levels calmly.

“They cultivate essence, energy and spirit together. There are 9 layers to every one of the nine boundaries. The naming of the layers is quite simplistic. Eg. First Layer Life Desolation. The progress while cultivating is denoted by five steps: early, low, mid, high, peak.

The 1st Layer of cultivation is special as the 9 layers are specifically named and divided further into 3 stages as well.” Nineorigin had specifically stated that the Body Transformation stage was more complicated so that a good foundation could be established.

Describing the Body Transformation boundary took some time. But simply put it was as follows:

Transformation

Layer

Stage

Body-Mind Transformations

(1) Physique

Body Tempering

Innate Awakening

Blood-drop Refinement

(2) Dantian

Origin Pass

Qihai

Violet Palace

(3) Battle Spirit

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Three Seas Transformations

(4) Sea of Consciousness

Spirit Spring

Spirit Lake

Spirit Sea

(5) Sea of Blood

Blood Spring

Blood Lake

Blood Sea

(6) Sea of Energy

Qi Spring

Qi Lake

Qi Sea

Law-Heart Transformations

(7) Law Intention

Law Intent

Principle Transform

Dao Fusion

(8) Bone Inscription

Bone Scripts

Marrow Runes

Blood Symbols

(9) Daoheart

Book and Sword

Lustrous Daoheart

One-Origin Transformation

Hearing Heifeng Jiansui’s explanation, Nineorigin nodded. “You made a good job summarizing. Now that I have taught you everything you needed to know, you can complete your Ancestral Trial with ease and return.”

“You are sending me off just like that? Okay, then. After I return, I’ll teach you my Quintessence Sword.” Saying this, Heifeng Jiansui rose from the prayer stupa he was sitting on and stretched.

“Only a week or so is left for your trial. You can prepare or you can rest, whatever you prefer. For now, I’ll return you to your home, the Black Phoenix Imperial Palace.” Saying this, a teleportation portal opened up.

After waving goodbye to Nineorigin, Heifeng Jiansui stepped into it, leaving the Nineyuan Heavenly Gate that he had resided in for the past two months.

+++

The Black Phoenix Imperial Palace.

Heifeng Jiansui sent the past years of his life here until he was allotted his fiefdom the Ninebless Phoenix Isle. After that, his time spent here reduced.

In the throne room, the Black Phoenix Emperor and Chanlong Yue, his Empress were sitting on two thrones placed side by side. Two months ago a rift opened up in space, carrying along a letter stating that Heifeng Jiansui was at his Master’s side, learning from him in preparation for the trials. This master was an Elder at the very least so Heifeng Jiansui’s position in the Nineyuan Heavenly Gate was greater than a Successor Disciple.

The Nineyuan Heavenly Gate was the strongest, most mysterious sect in this era. Having a connection to it was always welcome. And when this ‘connection’ was a Successor Disciple who would become an Elder at the least, having true power in the sect…

Well, there was a great celebration. The Black Phoenix Clan of the Fire Supreme World had sent its congratulations as well, something that was truly rare. They would certainly communicate more in the future.

Today, another rift opened up. Out of it walked the Clan’s prodigal son. Wearing the same clothes that he had left with, he did not seem to be the same man. His eyes had changed and the aura of the Heavenly Dao radiated from him.

After he alighted and the rift closed behind him, Heifeng Jiansui was immediately met by his Father, the Emperor and his mother. Both of them looked as if millennia had passed rather than 2 months.

“The court in adjourned for today!” The Emperor’s voice commanded those in the room to return and they obeyed, until only him, Chanlong Yue and Heifeng Jiansui were in the room.

“Heh, I told you that I’ll try and get you in the Nineyuan Heavenly Gate as an Outer Disciple, but you returned as a Successor Disciple instead… You are still capable of surprising me, dear son.” The Emperor looked fondly at his son.

Seeing his parents after so many days, a strange feeling filled Heifeng Jiansui’s heart. Could it be homesickness?

Thinking of his poor farmer parents from his previous life, Heifeng Jiansui accompanied the two of his current life. He never got the change to repay them, so he might as well repay his debt in his current life…

+++

“So your female master has been advising you for a long time. She only took the opportunity to officially take you as a disciple after the coming-of-age battle.” The Emperor summarized the entire story Heifeng Jiansui had told him. The story was half-lie, half-truth and had many omissions. Even so, it was entirely believable and both his parents bought it.

“So there is a week left. Are you planning on returning to your fiefdom?” Heifeng Jiansui’s mother guessed his intentions.

“Yes… Also, I was given the opportunity to recommend a quota of people as Inner Disciples and a person as a Core Disciple. I will be sending my maids and Xingmei to fill those quotas.” In truth, Xingmei’s ‘core disciple’ position was only a ruse to hide her absence when she would accompany Jiansui to the Black Phoenix Trials!

As for the allotments for his maids, this was something he discussed with Nineorigin. He could send a hundred disciples and have all of them allotted Successor disciples, but to keep the illusion that Heifeng Jiansui’s master was an Elder, the number and position was lower. Of course, something like ‘the maids were exceptionally talented and thus promoted to Core Disciples’ was possible as well…

“By the way, the Black Phoenix Clan’s headquarters gave some gifts while leaving a list of some particularly talented disciples that might be suited to joining the Nineyuan Sect. Since we couldn’t decline the gifts, could you…”

“My Earth Dragon Clan had some talents as well, could you…”

As expected, two requests coming from sheepish voices came.

“I will ask my master if he can allow it. Don’t hold out too much hope…” A few days later, Heifeng Jiansui would communicate that there were only 12 posts remaining and a grand tournament would occur among the Black Phoenix clansmen in the Fire Supreme World. Of course, this would remain unknown to Jiansui…

After some small talk Heifeng Jiansui parted from his parents, leaving for his fiefdom, the Ninebless Phoenix Isle.

+++

In the mobile estate that Heifeng Jiansui had turned into a house for his maids, Qinglan Weiwei and the four maids were sitting together on mat which had a five pointed star upon it. Five elemental energy circulated, nourishing all of them and providing them with insights.

Qinglan Weiwei had barely broken through to Law Intent, the first stage of the Law Intention Layer, the 7th Layer of Body Transformation. With this, she could spearhead their group cultivation by using the Five Color Star Formation, something Heifeng Jiansui had left the group.

Heifeng Jiansui entered the room, watching them cultivate without breaking them out of their concentration. As such, when they arose from their cultivation to find their master waiting on them, their embarrassment couldn’t be put to words.

“It’s been only 2 months since we parted. Your cultivation has risen a lot during this time.” Heifeng Jiansui praised them as he spoke. While Qinglan Weiwei’s cultivation was the highest, the others weren’t far behind.

Hearing his words, the maids only kneeled and banged their heads thrice on the ground, self-punishing themselves for their disrespect to their master. Heifeng Jiansui waved his hand, signaling them to rise up.

“Haha, you don’t have to act so formal with me. A week from now, I will be departing for my trial. It will take a indefinite amount of time, so this will be our last interaction in a while…” Saying this, Heifeng Jiansui spent a few hours with his maids before leaving to meet the girls he had hidden away in the Ninebless Sect’s secret grounds.

The girls didn’t know that this would be their last encounter with their young master in quite a while…