Chapter 33: Intelligence

"You are very lucky, Martial son, had Hagen known that you are currently concentrating on comprehending the six bottlenecks of insight instead of cultivation the Seven Stages Of Bodily Refinement, she would have made you do nothing for a year's time, but trying to comprehend bottlenecks". Kartius chuckled.

Zax and his Master left the blue tower and headed to Laivien's valley.

"However, your actions are still in need of reprimanding". Kartius's tone changed to severe and his expression grew solemn. "You can ask Martial niece Zetsa to pass on a message for you, until you will comprehend the third bottleneck you are not permitted to leave little sister's valley".

Glancing over his shoulder and seeing Zax's dejected face, Kartius snorted and asked. "Am I clear?"

"Yes, Master". Zax felt awful. He sensed himself close to finding the third spark of insight, but how much close was hard to determine. It could take a day and it could take months. If it will happen to be the latter, he would have to spend a very long time in Laivien's valley, missing his time with Anet, the rest of his friends, his family and, most painful, his growing baby sister.

Still, Zax said nothing. Other than knowing that he brought this punishment on himself, now that he got it he was certain that his Master will not take his words back. So instead of thinking about the repercussions of his insubordination, he placed those depressing feelings aside in his sea of consciousness, to concentrate on his training.

"Master", the two entered the Essence Cave when Zax broke the silence. "Big brother Mes taught me about Cores while on the mission".

"Oh ... So you got to learn about the process of breaking through realms". Kartius patiently said, and quieted down, letting Zax continue talking.

"Yes". Zax nodded and then proceeded to tactfully narrate his thoughts about Ginlin's third realm Core.

"Martial son, your idea is both probable and, in this case, wishful thinking". Kartius dismissed Zax's belief that with the third realm Core, after his body fitness level would reach the Core Master realm, he could use it to quickly step to the third realm. "Cores are not as simple as Earth's Core, especially one such as Ginlin's. First of all, the mist energy inside of a Core, although purer than that of an Earth's Core, is not as raw. It was already cultivated by a mist refinement technique, and if it was a low grade technique, the foundation that you will build with the Core would be instable and can hinder future cultivation. No, to use a Core you cannot just absorbed it; you have to do what some experts who find a deposit of Earth's Cores are doing, refine the Core and absorb it as raw mist energy. The other thing is, if the Core possesses an attribute, like Ginlin's Core, which you are not comparable with, than no matter how much you will refine it, it would be hopeless and will remain unusable for you. Lastly, we still know nothing about the Black Core and the Earth's Core it modified in your dantian. It is best for you not to mess with things related to Qi or mist energy, until the day when either of the two will once more course through your channels".

Kartius's words were not harsh, yet the new knowledge he conveyed to Zax forced him to reduce his ambitions.

Zax sighed inwardly. He was not a hundred percent convinced that the third realm Core can help him reach fast to the third realm. But seventy percent, eighty percent convinced was enough to generate enough fate in it.

'At any rate, now I know that in the future I should either try to obtain a Core with dark attribute or without an attribute at all'. There was a silver lining, though, at least he gathered a better understanding they type of Cores that can be beneficial to him. 'It would be nice if I'll encounter an enemy of the household in the midst of his breakthrough to a new realm... '

...

Valgarel, Yellowtailed tribe.

Five weeks after the battle near the entrance to the second Savage Cave.

The central territory of the Yellowtailed tribe was situated inside a grassland cave with a handful of rivers.

The habitats of the member of the Yellowtailed tribe were in underground dens. Only the elders of the tribe and the tribe leader had their human like housing above ground as a sign of status.

Still, if some people were to go to the central territory of the Yellowtailed tribe, be it night or day, there would always be thousands of tribe members occupying themselves in different activities above ground.

Inside twenty meters tall tower in the shape of a pillar, within a circular chamber, three figures were sitting on stone chairs around a pentagon shaped stone table.

The tower was the Sovereign Hall of the Yellowtailed tribe, and the two old men and old woman currently in it were three of the tribe's five elders.

"Second elder, you wanted us three to gather here so we came, and now you sit quietly without even concerning yourself with ordering the servants to prepare servings for me and First elder?" A wrinkled old man with lemon skin tone and long white hair glowered as he leaned forward on his stone chair, while staring at the old woman, Second elder, who sat on her stone chair, with eyes closed as if sleeping.

Seeing that he does not get any response from Second elder, the old man snorted and turned to a servant girl who stood piously at the entrance to the chamber. "Hurry up and bring us drinks and something to nibble on". The old man ordered. The servant girl bowed and hastily left to arrange the three elders some refreshments and snacks.

"Second elder, please start, or at least explain me and Fourth elder to what are you waiting". The other old man with the unique features of a human form yellow fox, but with short white hair, asked of Second elder.

Cracking her eyes open right as a plate of three hot cups and five bowls with five different kinds of servings arrived, Second elder rubbed her thin lips and said. "First elder, Fourth elder, you two sit here with me. Showing a casual face and eating to feel your stomachs ... I truly am surprised to be the single one of us three elders who thinks a cause for a meeting has arisen". Second elder looked in discontent at the two other elders.

First elder rubbed the back of his head, pulling his hand from the bowl of fruits it was about to reach, emptily and straightening himself on his stone chair. With a sour face he asked. "It could not be IT again, Second elder, am I right?"

"You are most certainly wrong!" Second elder rebuked.

A flash of understanding appeared in Fourth elder's eyes. "I thought that we finished discussing it". He said, annoyed.

"The two of you take this matter too lightly. The tribe leader should have already returned. The time we suspected it would take him to find the fiery attribute liquid as long passed. We also did not receive updates from Third elder and Fifth elder who, along with four captains, escorted tribe leader!"