The Undying Immortal System

For several months, I followed the plan I had set up. Concoct pills from the bounty list for the sect, make a significant number of extra pills in my spare time for the elder, observe the other disciples in the sect, and cultivate enough to advance once a year.

After a few months of this, I broke through to Martial Master 5. When I did, I felt my mental state shift again. The pathways I had initially begun to feel when I reached Martial Master 4 had become stronger, and my thoughts flowed along them more naturally. I was still in complete control of the situation, though. If I wanted to, I could cut them off, but I allowed myself to use them to try and develop new perspectives.

The big question was, what should I do now? The strategy Deacon Liu had laid out for me was to ascend one step every year until I reached Martial Grandmaster. That would mean I reached Martial Master Peak at age 35, and I would have a maximum of five years to learn how to break through to Martial Grandmaster. Was five years enough time? It should be, but I had never attempted it before and knew nothing about that breakthrough. Shouldn’t I be giving myself more time?

Also, Elder Mu had stressed the importance of breaking through before reaching thirty, but under the deacon’s care, I would only be Martial Master 7 at that point. Was that acceptable? Even if it meant my mental state was slightly unstable, achieving the elder’s goal of Grandmaster by thirty should be a priority, but the deacon seemed to completely ignore it.

I cut off those thoughts and tried to return to my natural thought patterns. I felt a slight resistance when doing so, but I quickly got myself under control.

There was good reason to delay my cultivation to only advancing once a year, and I had agreed with the deacon when he proposed it. Rushing could easily lead to a weak foundation and poor mental state, but I was privy to information the deacon didn’t have.

I had several lifetimes worth of practice in cultivating as a Martial Master. Even if I continuously raised my cultivation base, I had little to worry about as far as creating a weak foundation. I knew how to create meridians well enough to push forward confidently. I wouldn’t need to rush at all to raise my level two or three times a year.

Also, my soul had been strengthened significantly over the years. I could easily handle mental pressure that would cripple most of the other disciples. If I was careful, and I assessed my mental state after each advancement, I should be able to cultivate more quickly than Deacon Liu believed I could.

Was it worth it to push for Grandmaster before thirty? Not if it damaged me in any way. Was it worth testing to see what my actual limits were? It should be.