Chapter 47: The Training Begins/New Patriarch

The next day came quickly, Jacob awoke with a languid yawn, stretching his arms wide and looking around the clearing.

Xenia was already awake, she was folding her clothes when she noticed the boy had woken up. "Good morning, young master Jacob." She said, smiling at him.

’That’s odd, she never used to add my name at the end of her greetings.’ Jacob thought briefly, then he replied, "Good morning, Xenia."

Then came a rumble, the ground began to shake and the loud bellows of a great beast could be heard.

"Good morning, Great Sage." They both chorused in unison, Jacob spoke in between yawns, as he still did not feel well rested, sleeping on the bare ground didn’t help much either.

"Jacob... Xenia.’ Shinzo said, his gazing switching between the both of them.

"It is time to begin your training."

"Wait, we don’t get at least two days res—" Jacob began to protest. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"There is no time, Jacob, the sooner you leave this forest, the better." Shinzo said, cutting him off.

Jacob remained silent, almost pouting as he did not like being cut off during his sentences. Xenia simply looked at him and snickered.

Shinzo continued, paying no mind to Jacob’s annoyance.

"Like all training sessions, we will begin with a traditional cultivation method, you must master oneness with self, control your Qi and guide your self to ascend into a new realm."

"Great Sage, if I may,’ Xenia spoke out.

"Yes, Xenia?"

"How long does this training typically last for?" She asked.

"Well, depending on your assimilation speed, it may last anywhere between two weeks to a month. Does this answer your question?"

"Yes, Great Sage."

"Good, let us begin."

The two of them got in a lotus position and closed their eyes, Xenia was no stranger to cultivation as she had done it every chance she had since they left the castle. However, she wasn’t as talented as Jacob, who, on the other hand had only cultivated a handful of times even while he was at the Ironfell castle.

As soon as Jacob closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he began his Qi circulation, a calm energy field instantly formed all around him.

He began to feel a sense of calmness and peace, the discomfort he felt due to lack of proper rest was gone now, replaced by pure relaxation.

The only thing that crossed his mind, was he actually enjoying traditional cultivation? Screw EXP! He joked.

<Host has received a breakthrough!>

<Host has ascended to King Celestial Realm>

’Hoo!’ The boy smiled as he received the notification, he could barely believe how fast the breakthroughs came, even earlier, he quickly realized that his clones could not cultivate as quickly as he could, which was why he was still on the Celestial realm at this time.

Although the Celestial realm was almost impossible for his age, he still worried that his growth would’ve been faster if he had cultivated the traditional way this whole time.

Well, no use crying over spilt milk.

Xenia, on the other hand was feeling a profound sense of tranquility, she steadied her breathing as the Qi flowed through her body naturally.

The Great Sage watched them both, his eyes widened as he noticed the amount of energy that resonated around Jacob, but he stayed quiet.

_ _ _

Back at the Ironfell Castle.

An old man sat in a great hall. The sun poured in through the large windows behind him, giving the room a golden glow, the man was pondering over a plethora of matters when another tall, younger man with long, flowing white hair and blue eyes, walked in.

"You sent for me, father." Rhoarin said, sitting down beside Alaric and looking at the man,

"Yes. Yes, Rhoarin, welcome." Alaric said, grumpily.

There was a short silence between the two men who were almost carbon copies of each other.

Rhoarin was the first to break the silence.

"Do you need something, father?" Rhoarin inquired, his face expressionless.

Alaric kept his gaze down at the table, his hands folded as he stayed silent, taking his time before responding to his son’s inquiry.

"I am currently plagued by a rather annoying issue, something I must attend to immediately. Therefore—" the old man said finally.

"What is the issue?"

"Rhoarin, I have prepared you for this all your life. It is time for you to take your rightful place as the Patriarch." Alaric said, placing a hand on Rhoarin’s shoulder.

"You still haven’t said what the issue is, father."

"I’m afraid I can not reveal that at this time, I just need to know that you are ready to take my place and that you trust me enough to reveal it in time." The old man had a serious look on his face.

"This is all so vague, if you can’t tell me what it is, then how can I be of assistance," Rhoarin was worried now.

"You do not have to be worried about me, you instead need to think of how to keep this family together, and look over the affairs of the castle. Your mother and I will leave the castle at once to handle the matter at hand. I know you will not disappoint me son." With that said, he tapped on Rhoarin’s shoulders, gave a fake smile which was immediately replaced by a serious expression.

"I—" Rhoarin started when Alaric stood up quickly and walked out, leaving him and his words.

Rhoarin sat there in disbelief and confusion, he knew Alaric as a very vague person but nothing could have prepared him for what he just heard, judging by the look on his father’s face, the matter must be very serious, maybe extremely dangerous, he only wished he could provide some assistance other than ruling the Ironfell castle as the new Patriarch.

’I don’t know what the issue is, but I have been given a responsibility, even if I can’t help father directly, I will do what I can to ensure that whatever it is will be properly handled.’ He mused inwardly.

With a newfound sense of responsibility, he stood up and looked outside the window, over the castle grounds.