Chapter 40: Training in the Mystic Realm
"Ugh!"
On the rough ground of the Mystic Realm, lay the tired Fu Yang. It had been a week since he became stuck in this Mystic Realm, training under this Guardian.
He was like a yarn ball being played with by a cat in front of this Dragon Clone. No matter how much strength he exerted in his attacks on the Dragon, he would immediately be sent flying backward, crashing into the ground.
He really stood no chance at all, but if he stopped here and did nothing... a greater torture would befall him: the Mental Torture.
"That's no good! How do you expect to become the rightful owner of this Mystic Realm if you can't even defeat someone with equal strength?"
Fu Yang knew he wasn't invincible. He was average among the other geniuses. He didn't stand a chance as soon as he encountered someone monstrous.
'Sigh, I wonder how the kids are doing?'
This time he didn't need to worry about being late for the promised date of his return. He just missed them every passing days.
The Guardian reversed the flow of time and even made some changes. Now, spending a week in this Mystic Realm was only equivalent to an hour in the outside world.
As for Ming Ze? Honestly, Fu Yang didn't bother to know anything about him. But the Guardian told him that he was in a place deemed as paradise for Elves. As long as Ming Ze was okay, he didn't need to know more about his well-being.
Lying on the ground, Fu Yang didn't immediately stand up and attack the Dragon again. He was going to rest for as long as he needed, until the Guardian called his name again.
Although this wasn't the first time he had undergone hellish training, this training didn't only focus on physical improvement but also mental strength.
He believed that the mental torture was worse than the physical. The Guardian would put him in a white room and give him countless cultivation books to memorize.
Even though he could memorize things faster as a Nascent Realm, he still didn't like the fact that he would need to sit down and read at least ten books in one sitting.
'This is pure torture. I want to go back home. I don't want to stay here anymore.'
"Fu Yang, it seems like you're tired. Do you want to sit down?"
No matter how benevolent the voice of the Guardian was as he offered him a seat, Fu Yang still stood up, showing his enthusiastic self.
"Guardian, don't worry about me. I can still go for another round with your dragon clone."
Truthfully, reading didn't require much physical strength and it was far easier. But it was the pressure he needed to endure while reading.
With the Guardian supervising him as he read books, he needed to survive under the immense pressure coming from the Guardian. As he was mentally drained, it slowly took a toll on his body, even affecting his soul, making him more tired and affected than the physical training.
At least wounds could heal quickly, but damage to the soul required time.
During this week, he complained about this to the Guardian, but the Guardian always replied that it was for his own betterment.
But how could this improve him if he was going to be damaged by the pressure?
That's why he would spend most of his time dragging out the physical training, so the mental torture could be shortened.
As he was constantly defeated by the Dragon Clone, the Guardian couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"That's not good! How come you didn't improve even after a week?"
Looking at the frustrated Guardian, Fu Yang knew that he had messed up big time. He wasn't a genius who could have a breakthrough under constant pressure.
He was just an ordinary one. Besides, how could he improve if none of his disciples had an Aptitude Value of more than 70?
"I think we're just wasting time, Guardian. The cultivation book, 'Be a Good Master and Cultivate,' requires a disciple with an Aptitude Value of more than 70. Currently, I don't have one..."
Hearing Fu Yang's words, the Guardian couldn't believe it. They were truly wasting time here. What was the point of training if he couldn't even improve his cultivation realm?
"You don't have an appropriate disciple yet? Sigh, I guess you can only train mentally..."
The Guardian's words left Fu Yang in shock...
They weren't going to train physically anymore...?
Was his nightmare going to happen every day from now on?
"Guardian... I think I can still improve myself through physical training—"
"Nope. That's going to be useless. Just train your mentality for now."
Fu Yang resigned himself to his fate, knowing that protesting against the Guardian's decision would be futile. He had to endure the mental torture and push himself to the limits of his sanity.
'If this continues, I'm going to hate reading books from now on.'
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Fu Yang's routine became monotonous and grueling.
Every day, he would sit in the white room, surrounded by stacks of cultivation novels, and immerse himself in their pages.
The Guardian would monitor his progress, occasionally throwing in challenging questions or quizzes to test his comprehension.
Fu Yang's mind became a whirlpool of information, swirling with cultivation techniques, profound insights, and the histories of countless legendary cultivators. He struggled to retain it all, his head throbbing with the strain.
But amidst the mental exhaustion, a strange resilience began to form within Fu Yang. His mind adapted to the pressure, his focus sharpened, and he developed a deep appetite for knowledge.
The more he read, the faster he absorbed information. It was as if his mental faculties were evolving, expanding beyond their previous limits.
The Guardian noticed the change in Fu Yang. Though still concerned about his lack of progress in his realm, he couldn't deny the improvement in Fu Yang's mental fortitude. It was a glimmer of hope amidst the seemingly endless torment.
"After you read these last books, I guess you could get out and train with your disciples. Just come back again when you're ready. I still haven't told you anything about this Mystic Realm. Also, take this."
The Guardian gave him a rolled paper. As Fu Yang unwrapped the paper to see its contents, he was confused at what it was.
But before he could ask for more information, the Guardian already started talking.
"This Mystic Realm is just one of the 18 Mystic Realm out there. These map can lead you to the next one. Though, you can't enter before you could even pass the trial of this Mystic Realm."
The words of the Guardian further confused him. "What do you mean?"
He wanted to get more answers.
"There are other 18 Mystic Realms for you to conquer in order to become the true Absolute Master, otherwise you are just a fake."
Hearing the last words of the Guardian, Fu Yang's frown deepened.
'So I'm not the owner yet...'
With a snap of his finger, his Dragon Clone became smaller. It was now a foot size.
"Take this Little Dragon with you, it has half of my power so anyone below King Realm shouldn't be able to harm you."
The little Dragon flew at the side of Fu Yang and sat on his shoulder.
After that, the Guardian took a Spatial Ring.
"I'm also giving you this, although you already memorized most of the books... you still need to re-read them in order to further increase your understanding about them."
The words of the Guardian left Fu Yang dumbfounded... He was giving him all the books he memorized?
So he memorized things for nothing again?
What's the point of memorizing if he could get all the books? He could just check them out everytime he needed them...
But now... he spent months inside this Mystic Realm for nothing!
Although Fu Yang had many complains buried inside of him, he didn't get his temper control him.
He couldn't just anger the Guardian. If he did, he may become dead!
Plastering a plastic smile, he took the ring and put it in on one of his fingers.
"Tha-Thank you very much Guardian..."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone