After the ceremony, Xu Ziyan is now officially part of the Outer Court. The second day, she gathered all her belongings and left the inst.i.tute to go to the Outer Court.

Every person all had their separate residences, albeit a little small. Xu Ziyan cleaned up her new room and sat on the bed, thinking. Even though her cultivation base was higher than anyone in the Outer Court, however, her foundations were not necessarily better, in fact, it may even be worse. Also, everybody else started practicing from when they were three, while she only just started cultivating a couple months ago.

She took from her pouch the different types of rouge powder that she had bought. She wrapped them up with paper into a parcel and then brought it outside. In the neighboring residence, there was another girl. She wanted to go there to see her and maybe be able to have a little chat with her.

Who knew that what made Xu Ziyan so unable to decide whether to laugh or cry, was that the neighboring girl was extremely cold. The rouge powder that Xu Ziyan had brought was taken from her without even a word of thanks. She and Xu Ziyan only talked for a little bit, but when Xu Ziyan attempted to ask about cultivation, the girl avoided the topic and wasn’t willing to talk with her about it. Xu Ziyan could only leave and then return to her room.

“Ai…” Xu Ziyan sighed deeply and shook her head thinking: ‘Looks like the people in this world are very reclusive. They aren’t willing to talk to other people! If I had known earlier, then I wouldn’t have given her the rouge powder to use!’

She retrieved her talisman paper, talisman brush and ink bottle and set them on the table. She lifted her brush, calmed her heart, and circulated the energy of her second level of the Qi Refining layer cultivation base. The spiritual energy within her body entered the brush. Very quickly, the talisman was drawn.

Xu Ziyan put down her pen and then carefully observed the talisman in her hand.  Xu Ziyan was overjoyed. Her skills in talismans had broken through the first degree and she now had the ability of a second degree talisman expert. She cautiously placed this second degree Water Lightning talisman back in her pouch. Then, she make some other first degree talismans to finish the daily quota given to her by the clan.

She obviously wouldn’t want the clan to know that she was able to make second degree talismans. If a weak person was too rich, it wouldn’t be a good thing. In the same way, if a person with a weak cultivation base had extraordinarily good talisman making skills, like Xu Ziyan, it also wouldn’t be a good thing.

At this time, Xu Ziyan heard people knocking on the door. ‘Who’s outside?’ Xu Ziyan quickly placed everything on the table back into her pouch. She then straightened her clothes and walked toward the door.

When she opened the door, she saw the four fellow students who were in the same cla.s.s as her in the inst.i.tute. These three males and one female were the ones who had looked at her disdain a couple days back. Xu Ziyan froze. She didn’t know their purpose for coming to her residence. However, if they came, then they should still be counted as guests. Xu Ziyan invited them into her room, however they rejected as they lightly smiled. The female, who was called Xu Li said: “ Ziyan, we were all of the same cla.s.s back in the inst.i.tute and we have now entered the Outer Court together. Why don’t we all go to a restaurant together to celebrate?”

The four people’s expressions were no longer haughty like they had been back then, rather they showed expressions of eagerness. Xu Ziyan immediately brightened. She originally was never familiar with the family’s situation. She wanted to talk to her neighbor, but they had ignored her. Now that she had someone who invited her to talk to them, why would she reject it?

They all knew each other’s names. The three males were Xu Tieniu, Xu Ling, and Xu Dezhi. As they all were of the same cla.s.s, they naturally were very familiar with each other and they talked loudly and raucously with fervor.

“Ziyan, you are really amazing. Ten days ago, you were only at the 4th level of the Houtian realm. Who would have known that you’ve suddenly reached the 6th level of the Houtian realm. How do you cultivate?” Xu Li couldn’t help but ask a question that she had held in for a long time. Xu Ziyan smiled bitterly.  She had thought about this question for a long time but didn’t know how to answer it. Now that she had been asked this question, she could only say: “ Maybe the spiritual energy acc.u.mulated from being suppressed and when it was suddenly released, accidentally got me to break through to the sixth level.”

The four all pursed their lips: ‘ Accidentally? How come I have never been so accidental in this type of way?’

Looking at the disbelief on the four of their faces, Xu Ziyan smiled bitterly again: “I know this situation is a little strange, but I don’t really know how it happened. This is the first time it has ever happened and I was even shocked.”

The other people looked at Xu Ziyan’s expressions and felt that she wasn’t lying. They looked at each other and finally, Xu Tieniu said: “It Ziyan said so then it definitely is so. Everybody, don’t randomly guess anymore.”

The other three all felt a little embarra.s.sed and became slightly depressed. However, they were all 15 years old and so they very quickly forgot the occurrence earlier and again began chatting happily.

The five arrived on the main street of the capital, and chose a restaurant called “Zhuo Hong Fei.” They entered a room on the second floor. Being that they are young and are good friends, they didn’t courtesy and randomly sat down on a seat on the table*. They ordered some food and then began chatting again.

After a while, the waiter brought up the ordered food. They all drank a gla.s.s of wine in celebration of entering the Outer Court. Xu Ling set down his wine cup and then looked at Xu Ziyan and asked: “Ziyan, did you eat a heavenly pill treasure?”

Everybody all curiously looked at Xu Ziyan. Xu Ziyan knew that they all still had suspicions about her sudden rise in cultivation, which was why Xu Ling would ask such a question. She lightly shook her head and softly said: “I didn’t.”

They all looked at Xu Ziyan’s clothes and could tell that she didn’t seem like someone with a lot of money and so they believed her words. On the continent, pills were extremely expensive and luxurious items. Even the Spirit pills that Xu Ziyan made could not be bought with money, but instead by spirit stones. Not only that, but a low-grade spirit stone could only buy one Spirit pill. The worth of spirit stones could not be calculated by using gold. Even if they wanted to use a lot of money, as long as the person was not a r.e.t.a.r.d, they would never pull out a spirit stone to use as currency.

“Ziyan, how long have you been cultivating for?” Xu Dezhi quietly asked. The gazes of all the other people landed on Xu Ziyan’s face. They all thought that Xu Dezhi’s question would answer their suspicions. If Xu Ziyan was like them and started cultivating from three years old, then her cultivation breakthrough would be highly suspicious, however, if Xu Ziyan only recently started cultivating, then that would mean her talent was good and that her cultivation breakthrough was nothing out of ordinary.

Looking at all their expressions, Xu Ziyan thought ‘If I tell them I had only recently started cultivating then they should think that I have good talent. In this way, wouldn’t they no longer be suspicious of me?’ Xu Ziyan knew her talent was good but not that amazing. The only reason she was able to break through the second level of the Qi Refining layer is largely because of the Spirit pills. On this continent, who could be like Xu Ziyan and eat pills in such abundance that it was similar to how one would eat candies? And so, Xu Ziyan hurriedly put on an embarra.s.sed expression and said: “ I lived in a far-away village. No one knew how to cultivate there. It was only until recently until I was brought out of the village by uncle when he found out that I could cultivate. And so, he taught me how to cultivate. Who would’ve known that I broke through to the fourth level of the Houtian realm. Two months ago when uncle personally came to my home to see me, he was excited when he discovered that I had the cultivation base at the fourth level of the Houtian realm. He immediately sent me into the clan and let me enter the inst.i.tute.”

“Did you just say that you only cultivated for a year?!” Xu Li’s eyes were open wide as she stared at Xu Ziyan in shock.

“You’re right. I cultivated for a year.” Xu Ziyan still kept her embarra.s.sed expression: “When I lived in the village, I didn’t understand anything and didn’t know that I could cultivate. I’m really ashamed…”

The four all had melancholic expressions as they called: “What ashamed?! You only cultivated for a year to get to the sixth layer of the Houtian realm. Are you still letting people live?”

Staring at their strange expressions, Xu Ziyan waved her hand. She worriedly asked: “Are you all alright?”

“We are not alright! Not alright at all! This is too shocking, how will you even let us live?!!”

“It- it isn’t that serious right?” Xu Ziyan stuttered.

“Not that serious?!” Xu Li stared at Xu Ziyan with wide eyes. She exaggeratedly grabbed Xu Ziyan’s shoulder and shouted: “Do you know at what time we started cultivating?”

Xu Ziyan shook her head.

“Three years old!” Xu Li held up three fingers and painfully said: “Three years old! At the age of three, all of us entered the clan to cultivate. Everyday, we only cultivated. We were afraid that we wouldn’t be able to break through the fifth level of the Houtian layer by the time we turned 15. We lived under constant pressure.”

Xu Li released Xu Ziyan’s shoulder and then had both hands stretching up towards the sky. She looked up and yelled: “My childhood! Ah… my childhood!”

Xu Ziyan laughed at Xu Li’s exaggerated performance. The other people all burst out laughing. However, their laughter still contained a hint of bitterness. It was inevitable. They worked so hard for 12 years and couldn’t even surpa.s.s someone who only cultivated for a year. Who wouldn’t be bitter?

When everybody finished laughing, Xu Ziyan curiously asked: “Xu Li, is my cultivation speed really that scary? Is there no one else that cultivates at the same speed as me?”

The room quieted. Finally, Xu Li softly said: “There is!”

Glossary:

Rouge powder – a powder than women apply (it is basically makeup)

Characters:

Xu Ziyan – the female MC | Currently at the second level of the Qi Refining layer

Xu Tieniu, Xu Ling, and Xu Dezhi – three of the 15-year-old males that were in Xu Ziyan’s cla.s.s | All at the fifth level of the Houtian realm

Xu Li – the 15-year-old female that was in Xu Ziyan’s cla.s.s | Currently at the fifth level of the Houtian realm.

Other Information: