Wang Lin, ever mindful of the necessity for tranquility in his path towards rekindling the flame of existence and returning to the Alliance Starfield, adopted a mantle of unassuming quietude amidst the bustling world of Ran Yun Star. Yet, this quietude was not to be mistaken for the meekness of a novice, bending under the winds of adversity.

True quietude, as Wang Lin understood it, was to stand unwavering in the face of recognition, to observe the world with a detached gaze, and to remain untangled in the web of worldly affairs. This deliberate aloofness, when wielded correctly, could weave an invisible shroud of power around him, deterring even Ran Yun Star’s apex predators from daring to challenge his presence.

This was the result Wang Lin sought. His footsteps echoed softly as he returned to his abode in the city’s northern reaches. The youth beneath the stone outcropping remained in meditative repose, a testament to his diligence. As Wang Lin approached, the youth’s eyes snapped open, and he issued a terse command, “Halt!” Wang Lin paused, regarding him with a neutral expression.

“Do you comprehend the most esteemed virtue in cultivation? I shall enlighten you: it is diligence!” The youth declared, fixing Wang Lin with a stern gaze. “Though your talent may be wanting, with persistent effort, improvement is attainable. I have stood sentinel at this sanctuary for countless seasons, witnessing cultivators rise to the pinnacle of the Spirit Transformation stage. Never have they abandoned their meditative practice at dawn as you do, wandering aimlessly. Your talent is wanting, and your diligence must compensate. Otherwise, you shall never attain the Nascent Soul! ” The lecture elicited a wry smile from Wang Lin.

The youth softened his tone slightly, his eyes losing some of their initial contempt. “Do not misunderstand me, I do not look down upon you,” he continued. “Remember, in the world of cultivation, you must first hold yourself in esteem before others will grant you respect. The spiritual energy here is denser than outside the city walls. If you seize this opportunity to isolate yourself from worldly distractions for several decades, you might yet achieve the Nascent Soul. Perhaps then, within your family, you might command a position of authority, such as I possess.”

Wang Lin stroked his nose. In his early days of cultivation, those he encountered were marked by deceit and selfishness. This genuine counsel, offered without ulterior motive, was a rarity. In his more powerful years, however, nobody would have ever dared to say such a thing in front of him.

Even his late master, Duntian, did not have the chance to impart him with many life lessons before his passing.

Thus, being scolded by the youth filled Wang Lin with strange emotion. He nodded.

The youth’s expression softened further, though it remained serious. “If you harbor questions regarding cultivation, feel free to seek my guidance. Remember this above all: lack of talent is not a curse, but rather laziness and apathy are. We, who tread the path of cultivation, defy the very heavens. The spirit cannot falter, nor can the body slacken. Otherwise, how shall we succeed in this celestial defiance? Now, return inside, and resume your meditation.” Any who knew Wang Lin would gape in disbelief. He smiled wryly and took one last glance at the youthful sentry as he passed by the entrance. The youth’s frail frame appeared disproportionate within the large robe. A breeze ruffled a few stray hairs from the youth’s bun, and they were brushed back behind the ear.

Catching Wang Lin’s glance, the youth turned his head and glared at Wang Lin before disregarding him once more.

This youth was a woman, disguised as a man with a simple spell. Wang Lin saw through this charade long ago. But he did not seek to know her true face.

Within the confines of the dwelling, Wang Lin assumed a meditative posture. With a wave of his hand, a thousand spirit jades materialized and settled around him. He formed hand seals, casting luminous symbols upon the jade, instantly drawing the ambient spiritual energy and sealing it within his circle. He closed his eyes, commencing his breathwork. Wisps of pure energy flowed into him, circulating within.

Three days passed. Wang Lin’s eyes opened, and the thousand jades that had encircled him shattered into dust. As his eyes swept across the room, a look of frustration flashed across them. “The jades are still not enough. The Spirit Severing stage is far more demanding than the Nascent Soul. Even with the 200,000 jades the Sun family gave me, it is still not enough to reach the middle stage, let alone the later stages, the perfect stage, or even the Yin-Yang Realm!” He frowned, struggling to understand. Spirit jades were already rare, and they were vital for any cultivator above the Nascent Soul to cultivate. How could there possibly be enough to go around?

The Celestial Realm was no more. Where would one obtain spirit jades in such quantities? Wang Lin pondered this question, one that had plagued him for many years.

“And to think, this is only the first step. The second must demand even more…” A terrible thought had occurred to him. “Or perhaps… second step cultivators do not use spirit jades. Perhaps there is another substitute.”

As he was thinking, he abruptly stood and glanced outside. Sun Qiming, the black robed elder of the Sun Clan, was respectfully waiting outside his door.

Wang Lin waved a hand, dispelling the formation that surrounded him. The elder hurried inside, suppressing his cultivation to the Golden Core stage. He smiled bitterly to himself as he entered the room.

“Senior, forgive my rudeness. I did not have a chance to introduce myself. My name is Sun Qiming, and I am the leader of the local Sun Clan branch. May I know your name?” The elder was extremely respectful, for he knew the person whom the Clan Patriarch had to visit in person was not to be trifled with. “Xu Mu.” Wang Lin said plainly.

“Senior Xu, 200,000 spirit jades have been sent over from the main branch. Please inspect them.” The elder respectfully produced a sack of holding. He sighed inwardly. The patriarch just gave 200,000 jades to another person! It was clear that Senior Xu was no ordinary person. Wang Lin took the sack, not bothering to check it. He trusted that the Spirit Severing Clan Patriarch would not stoop so low as to scam him for a few spirit stones.

The elder quickly said after handing over the sack, “Senior can rest easy. I have already instructed everyone not to speak of what happened that day. Not even I have seen you arrive here. If Senior wants to seclude himself, there are even better places in this city.” Wang Lin said calmly, “There is no need. You may leave.”

The elder hastily backed away. After hesitating for a moment, he said, “Senior, in seven days, the Ran Clan will be holding an auction at Treasure Uniting Pavillion. One of the items is a Grade Eight Sub-Divinity Pill…” Wang Lin’s eyes turned cold, cutting off the elder mid-sentence.

The room turned quiet, but the elder felt that each breath was as long as a year.

The silence became unbearable. He had been tasked by the main branch to test this newcomer, and Wang Lin’s reaction to the pill was his attempt to perform that duty. However, he had hoped that this Senior Xu had simply not caught on to his plan, and was merely curious about the pill. “Bring it.” Wang Lin said.

The elder’s face went white. He stared blankly at Wang Lin, but quickly took out a red tablet and gave it to Wang Lin. “This is the invitation to the auction.”

“You may leave,” Wang Lin closed his eyes.

The elder quickly left the building, breathing a huge sigh of relief. His clothes were drenched with sweat. Suddenly, Wang Lin’s cold voice appeared in his ears, “There will be no second time.”

The elder’s face was drained of all color. He respectfully bowed before disappearing in a gust of wind. When he reappeared, he was in a more remote part of the city. He wiped the sweat from his brow, realizing that his every thought was known.

He had been ordered to tempt Wang Lin with a Grade Eight pill. If he refused, then the main branch would simply leave the city. But now that the answer was known, he was filled with apprehension. “Grade Eight Pill…” Wang Lin said, looking down at the invitation.

Wang Lin was well-versed in the classification of pills, for he was the husband of Li Muwan, one of the greatest pill masters to ever exist. There were nine grades of pills, split into high, mid, and low. Grade Nine pills were known as God Pills. Grade Eight was a Sub-Divinity. Grade Seven was a Celestial Pill. The pill he used to form his Nascent Soul was a Grade Six Pill. “Pill grades are only something invented by later generations. Celestial and God Pills sound like great names, but they are nowhere close to real Celestial and God Pills. The difference is as large as Heaven and Earth.”

“Technically, Grade Nine Pills are the limit. Pills will be useless to second step cultivators, unless they are true celestial and god pills. But for now, this grade eight pill will have to do.” Wang Lin made a decision.

“That black-robed brat wouldn’t have the guts to test me with a pill. It must be that Spirit Severing cultivator behind the Sun Family. He can’t see through my cultivation, so he sent his minion to test me. If I was not tempted by the pill, then it would mean I have stepped into the second realm.” Wang Lin touched the sack that held 200,000 spirit jades, and brushed off the matter.