Second Time

Chapter 10 - Core Formation

Shao Yue and Ren Meili broke though to the Ninth Stage around the same time. After three months, the former paid a visit to the elders to make an announcement.

"You're going to give lessons again?"

The elders didn't bother hiding the excitement in their voices.

"They'll be a bit different," Shao Yue said. "I'll only give eight, but these lessons won't have a time limit and will all be private. One per week for two months. However, they're only available to people who have been at Resonance Realm Ninth Stage for at least one year, and the topic of each lesson will be Core Formation."

The elder that Shao Yue had helped reach the Nascent Soul Realm leaned forward. "So, you're saying you will help eight people break through to the Core Formation Realm?"

"Elder is correct," Shao Yue confirmed with a nod. "I'll also help Senior Brother Hu Shan and Senior Sister Ren Meili break through separately from those eight, because I like them."

The elder nodded. "If you can help them break through first, it would greatly increase the demand of those quotas."

"Senior Sister needs more time, but I'll help Senior Brother soon," Shao Yue replied. "I'll leave the rest to the elders. Perhaps you should also spread the word to other Sects."

The elders paused a bit, not sure if they wanted to help their rivals gain power.

"And since my goal isn't wealth this time, all the proceeds can go to the sect."

Greed quickly overtook any thoughts of future danger. A Core Condensing Pill would cost as much as a small sect's yearly income, so how much would these quotas that gave the same effect without any of the drawbacks go for? They might gain a decade's worth of income from those quotas!

"If not wealth, why are you offering them?"

"Practice," Shao Yue answered simply.

Even though she had formed a Core once before, she instinctively felt that forming one from vital essence would be far more difficult. She wanted to try out some things in pursuit of perfection before risking her own body.

After they finished up the discussions, Shao Yue sought out Hu Shan and invited him to her courtyard for a lesson. Nobody in the sect would turn down such an invitation, so he readily agreed.

She guided him through the process using the most orthodox method, the same one she had used to break through thousands of years prior. She needed to see the baseline again with her tyrannical perception to spot any potential flaws. For the quotas, she'd start experimenting.

The breakthrough went off without a hitch and gave Shao Yue lots to think about.

"Senior Brother Hu, welcome to the Core Formation Realm."

"I don't know how I'm ever going to repay you for this one!"

Shao Yue smiled. "Just spread the word that I helped you and made it easy."

"Of course!"

After he left, she stretched her arms out over her head. "So much for laying low."

She'd decided to head directly to the mainland, so her reputation on the island didn't matter as much. She had confidence in her ability to deal with any troubles she encountered while travelling to a seaside city.

News of Hu Shan's breakthrough quickly spread. A week later, the sect sent out an announcement that they'd be auctioning off the eight quotas with a full refund guarantee if it didn't work.