Chapter 119: Footprints in the Snow
The road stretched out before us, a winding path bordered by thick forests and rolling hills. The decision to bypass Crescent Bay City was a simple one—time was precious, and the journey back to my village was long enough without unnecessary detours. Besides, the thought of dealing with the city’s bustling streets and watchful eyes didn’t exactly thrill me. So, Lan Sheng and I stuck to the quieter path, our cart trundling steadily along.
He sat beside me, his usual easygoing demeanor making the journey feel less daunting. We’d been chatting since we left the sect, mostly about my recent advancements.
“You know,” Lan Sheng said, breaking the comfortable silence, “what you’ve done with your qi reserves is pretty impressive. It’s not every day someone raises their level to that of a second-class disciple after just one elixir.”
I shrugged, trying to play it off. “The beast cores did most of the heavy lifting.”
Lan Sheng chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re too modest, Kai. Sure, the beast cores were potent, but not just anyone could have absorbed that power without some serious consequences. Your reserves are comparable to those of a second-class disciple, and Tianyi? She’s at a rank that rivals a sect elder. That’s nothing short of remarkable.”
“When you put it like that... I suppose it is pretty crazy. I wonder what would've happened had I drunk the whole thing myself.”
He grinned, leaning back against the cart’s wooden seat. “Let me put it this way: We had a senior disciple in our sect who took an elixir just like yours. His qi surged, his power grew, and for a brief moment, he was the strongest in the sect.”
My interest was piqued. “What happened to him?”
The man's expression turned grave, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “He exploded.”