Chapter 21: Seventh Rank
Chapter 21: Seventh Rank
Within the faculty building near the Martial Arts Field, there were two men dressed in embroidered clothes. They were looking at the young man standing on the stage. The young man on the stage was Claude Rayforth, the winner of the Inner Disciple Contest.
These two men were the most influential and part of the highest echelon in the Golden Avarice Academy. One of them was the Academy Headmaster. The other was the Second Elder.
"This young man has an exceptional talent. You did a good job recruiting him to your faction, Baron." The Academy Headmaster said.
Second Elder Baron Caldwell laughed with second-hand embarrassment. "I don't deserve your praise for this one, headmaster. The young man actually came to me and asked to pick him as a member of my faction. I had nothing to do with it."
"Ha ha! This young man is a very interesting fellow!" The headmaster let out a chuckle. "Well, regardless of how you picked him, he's still a talent worthy of being on your team. I can feel it. He'll be a valuable member" After pausing for a while, the headmaster continued, " That is, If you handle him well."
The Second Elder carefully listened to the headmaster's words. The headmaster's expression changed greatly as he revealed a bitter smile, "I always thought that you were the better candidate for the headmaster position, but it seems like the third elder isn't giving up. And he also seems to have more support behind him. If I could just hand over the power to you, I would've already done so. But I can't. My strength and influence has waned. I'm not as powerful anymore. There seems to be hidden powers at play, Baron. And they want me gone."
"If those clowns want to control the Academy, as long as I, Baron Caldwell, still have a breath in me, even if I turn into ash, I will not let them get their way." Second Elder's eyes had a resolute gleam that could easily inspire a sense of conviction in people.
"Good," The Headmaster inclined his head, and walked inside into the interior of the faculty hall, as he stated, "In order to do that, you have to take my position the right way; by forming a strong faction of inner disciples! One that can win the Golden Crown Tournament next year!"
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After leaving the Martial Arts Field, Claude returned to the Outer Hall Section to await the news. If there weren't any accidents, he would become an inner disciple today. What he needed to do was wait.
Claude then took a bath, and changed into a fresh set of clothes. Sitting in a crossed-legged position and shutting his eyes, he sank his consciousness into his body, as he began cultivating. He carefully inspected the power contained within his meridians. Once he did so, he was incomparably happy because this energy was even clearer, purer, and more tyrannical than before.
There was a maniacal expression on his face. This was his opportunity to finally break through to the seventh rank of the Earth Realm. He had gained a lot of insight from when he sparred with Garrett and Colton. The spiritual energy that had been formed inside his body from the fights he had was now thrice as dense. This spiritual energy, that was much stronger and denser than before, was slowly circulating in his body, boosting Claude's cultivating speed significantly.
He controlled this energy, making it flow out slowly through his meridians, then he pervaded his bones and muscles with it, tempering his body.
Claude patiently and unhurriedly advanced forward bit by bit, cultivating as he usually did, as the turbulent, river-like spiritual energy rushed into his dantian. At this moment they were glistening, and their luster was very bright. It was as though they were about to explode.
BOOM!
Just as Claude's strength was getting exhausted, he could sense an explosive feeling within his dantian that was becoming more and more intense, as the spiritual energy circulated nonstop in his body.
However, Claude did not feel any discomfort. This was more like he had been suppressed to the extreme and had finally obtained release.
The pores all over his body opened up and streams of impurities began flowing out, as the originally chaotic energy had become clear.
Finally, Claude stopped the flow of energy, and he slowly opened his eyes.
He had broken through to the Seventh Rank of the Earth Realm!
Finally! Claude smiled coldly as he inspected his body once again. He had done it! In just a few months of time, he had defeated the first ranked outer disciple, became an inner disciple and broke through to the seventh rank!
This was something that people only dreamed of achieving, and he had done it!
He then turned to look at the disgusting impurities on his entire body, he could not help but smile bitterly. Looks like he had to take another bath.