Chapter 3: Origin King & A Friend
Several weeks went by while cultivating. Lei Jin's Cultivation had advanced to the 2nd order Saint King. And had nurtured his own eye technique. The Rainbow Eye of Truth. It allowed him to see many things. And while active his eyesight was able to see about as well as an Emperor Realm. He thought that his master would be less upset with him if he had made some progress before returning.
He got up and cleaned himself off before lowering the restriction around the place. It was time for him to leave. No more staying in such a hateful place. Yes, they fought the Ink Clan. But to treat a lone child like that was simply unforgivable.
Lei Jin was ready to head back. So he opened the door to leave for good. He noticed that the woman who had been making buns was standing there. As if she had been waiting for him to come out.
"Young man, are you planning to do it?" The 8th order asked him.
"Senior, this one will return to Azure Void Pass. Even if this was my master's order to come here. Insulting my parents is too much." Lei Jin said. He cupped his hands to show some respect. After all, this woman had not been the one to say such hateful despicable words.
"That's a shame. You seemed to want to eat those buns. But what happened to your parents? Shouldn't they be here with you?" She asked. She knew a child would be coming. She didn't know that this child's parents were no longer alive. At worst she thought maybe some heavy injuries.
The little girl in the red dress was watching this encounter. Lei Jin knew this. She naturally couldn't hide from him with her cultivation.
Lei Jin raised his left hand up and clenched his hand into a small fist. "My parents are always with me. Along with my martial aunt and uncles." He said.
This 8th order knew that this place was not a paradise but still for it to take his parents before he had a chance to grow. Truly not a good thing. She knew now just how much those words must have hurt earlier. Had they had the same cultivation Lei Jin likely would have rag dolled the guy. But how could he? The difference in cultivation was so vast one could say it was an impossible comparison. After all, even peak emperor realms wouldn't be able to do those things.
"You're daughter is lucky, she still has a mother. I'm going home now. Where I remember the feeling of my mothers hugs and fathers head pats." Lei Jin said, holding back the tears.
The girl in the red dress ran out. "No, you can't leave! Tell him he has to stay here and play with me, mother." The girl said.
The 8th rank grimaced slightly in her mind. And her heart ached slightly. The Old Ancestor just called her mother. Wasn't the Old Ancestor a 9th rank? How could she bear this for now? But she kept her composure. "That's right you should stay and make friends. My daughter here has been alone. I try to do my best and spend time with her but I feel I may be slacking. Why don't you spend time with her while you're here? Going back to your Pass now wouldn't be a good thing." She said, Convincingly.
She slowly pulled him in for a hug. Something she wasn't sure she would be able to replicate. But she felt that she should try to. A way to show sincerity.
Lei Jin was too confused to understand what was happening. He was being hugged? But it wasn't the same. It could never compare to how he felt in his own mothers arms. But the comfort of this hug was enough to calm him down a little.
"No one can say what will happen in the future. You should make a friend your age. My daughter is a nice girl. And I'll make sure both of you can eat as many steamed buns as you'd like." The 8th order said.
This hug now felt similar to his marital aunts. She would always treat him to snacks whenever they would return from missions. "Okay, I'll stay. But that guy's mouth doesn't open about my parents. Ever." Lei Jin said crying and hugging back.
"No fair! I wanna hug too!" The little girl in red said. Running in and cozying up. "After, let's go eat steamed buns, Together!" The girl said, happily smiling.
"Alright, I'll stay. Let's go eat some buns." Lei Jin said, snuggling up. He hadn't had a friend his age before. Maybe this could be a good thing.
The days passed and throughout the market place people could see the 2 kids running around and playing. Occasionally Lei Jin would be cultivating in his home. He had been advancing his understanding of the Dao. And had reached the Origin Returning realm. The heavenly tribulation was gigantic. And surpassed all reason, of what it meant to promote in the standard realms of cultivation.
Still Lei Jin had more time here. And enjoyed playing with the girl. He only knew that she had a nickname, "smiles". So he would call her that. It was funny to him since it was accurate.
After a whole year passed Lei Jin had fully comprehended the mysteries of Domain and had another promotion coming up. This time though he was taken into Wu Qing's universe world. To avoid a panic or the sudden deployment of the Ink Clan.
Lei Jin's promotion was larger, more powerful and lasted so much longer.
"Well how is Azure Voids pillar Disciple? Is anything going wrong?" The others asked as they looked at him.
"Oh, I think he is going to be just fine. But I'm going into seclusion after this." Wu Qing said to the others.
"What? Are you going to advance to the 9th order?" The woman asked.
"No, but having him promoted inside my Universe world like this is equivalent to refining several dozen sets of rank 5 resources. It will take a little bit of time to stabilize this." Wu Qing said.
"How many dozens?" Smiles asked.
"Many of them. Enough that it could be comparable to a few rank 6 sets." Wu Qing said thoughtfully.
The days passed and Lei Jin's promotion was not just successful. But it was an amazing feeling. He had spent a little extra time next to the universe pillar Wu Qing had. Which gave him many fruitful insights. It was time though and Wu Qing brought him out.
"Senior, thank you for allowing me to explore the mysteries of the universe pillar. This one's insight has grown." Lei Jin said. He stood there as a newly promoted 2nd Order Origin King.
His growth was nothing short of breathtaking. In the span of a week's time he had advanced a major and minor realm. However this was the moment where his progress would slow. Since no one explained the Origin Essence crystal to him. He absolutely needed this information.
"Yay, Jin'er is so cool. Now all you need to do is make you Origin Essence Crystal. Then you'll be able to step into the 3rd order!" Smiles said, hugging him.
These hugs were not simply just for emotional support. Smiles could heal faster just by being in contact with him.
"Lei Jin, Azure Void Pass sent along a message saying that you would naturally figure out the mysterious power of an Origin Essence Crystal. Your master said that should you reach this realm, that you should focus on cultivating your Dao. Begin your practice." Tang Qiu said, stroking his beard.
Lei Jin thought for a moment and then almost as if he had an epiphany he cupped his hands again. "This one will take his leave first. There are some things I must try." Lei Jin said, cupping his hands.
"No you can't leave me alone! I won't forgive you if you do this." Smiles said, pouting at Lei Jin.
"I need to work hard. And must advance to the 3rd order. If I need to make this Origin Essence Crystal. I can't play with you while I do this." Lei Jin said, trying to calm his only friend down.
"But… then I won't get to play with you! I wanna play and eat steamed buns." Smiles said, sparkling hers to beg Lei Jin for this.
"The sooner I advance the sooner I can avenge my parents and slaughter the Ink Clan. I will be going into seclusion. If I can't do it here then I'll go back and do it at Azure Void Pass." Lei Jin said, sternly. The previous method didn't work so this was all he could do or say.
"I don't wanna be alone so I'm going to stay with you then. No complaints. That way you can practice and I won't be alone." Smiles said. Causing everyone to gasp for 1 reason or another. "Mommy, I wanna get a whole bunch of Steamed buns and candy. I'll be staying with my friend." She said again.
All though they were incredibly reluctant the 8th orders complied quietly. Having prepared many of said items for the rather long seclusion. Though they certainly over prepared for it.
Lei Jin entered seclusion and focused his mind. He had specifically not told much about the Origin Essence Crystal because it was one of if not the most important things to a cultivator.
He spent his time in the middle of a room cross legged and steady breathing. The girl Smiles looked at him while she layed on her stomach and kicked her feet in the air gently back and forth. She supported her head with one hand and ate with the other.
Lei Jin's Cultivation was out of the ordinary. Not a single Origin King would even come close to comparing. Smiles knew this of course because she was really a 9th order Open Heaven. In fact the reason Lei Jin is here was simply because a message had been received about the enhanced healing effect he had. And considering the time frame of the old Ancestors healing at Yin-Yang pass. She would be cutting it close. Thus she requested this temporary aid. In exchange she would do what she could to help Lei Jin grow, and experience some things he wouldn't have gotten the chance to unless he went to the 3000 worlds. "He needs to see what the home my human race is fighting to defend. I hope we can get some arrangements made." Smiles thought to herself as her teeth sank into a steamed bun.
It was easy to preserve the state of an object for Lei Jin. He simply paused its flow of time. And a small token could be used to reverse its effect. A token that Smiles was all too pleased with admiring.
Lei Jin had been flaring his aura and reciting something that even smiles couldn't understand anything other than it had something to do with time. The hidden profundity in the scripture was beyond her comprehension. "So that's the pillar Disciple of Azure Void? Not bad. I wonder just how strong he will become in the future." Smiles thought while looking on.
The energy that filled the air began to change. The saint Qi he had was transforming. And his time principles were filling the whole restriction array.
Lei Jin's eyes were closed and his whole body was bathed in this time principles source Qi. His Origin Essence Crystal gradually forming and Condensing. This went on for a month. After which Lei Jin opened his eyes and was a 3rd order Origin King cultivator. He pulled out some more techniques and methods. Practicing all of them in short order to familiarize himself with his abilities.
He could tell his innate Rainbow Healing Light was drastically more powerful. "Smiles. You've been so patient. Thank you. I'm done now so the restriction will be lifted. I have to wait for my Qi to transform slowly before I can attempt another promotion." He said looking at the girl who had fallen asleep with a steamed bun in her mouth.
Lei Jin couldn't help but laugh as he took down the restriction. He pulled her up and carried her on his back. After he made his way to the bun shop. His new found speed and strength was something he could only slowly get used to. He was impressed by his own improvement. He made such massive leaps over just under 2 years.
Arriving at the shop the girl woke up and had to act innocent. "We're at the bun shop! Yay! Time to celebrate your achievement brother Lei!" Smiles said happily.
The two continued to play around from time to time. Although Lei Jin did have to take time to tend to his own cultivation he made some time to spend with Smiles. It was getting close to the time for Lei Jin's master to be coming out of seclusion.
Though there wasn't a time limit on when he needed to return. So he just waited. This place had given him a good friend his age. Although his cultivation quickly surpassed hers it was still someone his age.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone