Chapter 235: A Huge Breakthrough
The lands within the White Star Radiance sect began to rumble as a powerful energy suddenly erupted without warning. Most individuals still inside the sect froze in shock as an intense flow of power surged through every corner of the domain.
Erica's child flame clone paused in dilemma before sighing and leaving the laboratory she had secluded herself in. She rushed toward Christy's location, only to cross paths with Shia, who was also sprinting in the same direction, though she nearly stumbled upon seeing a small child version of Erica.
"Umm… who might you, wait. Lady Erica?" Shia said with doubt.
"…Yes yes, it's me. No time to explain. What exactly is going on?!" Erica said, redirecting the topic away from her odd form.
"I'm not sure myself. I'm heading to Lady Christy to find out," Shia replied, quickly matching Erica's urgency.
"Such a great aura. Could it be a new ability? An intrusion? A breakthrough of some kind? We'll find out soon."
The two reached the library only to find it empty. Both halted in confusion.
"Straight to the temple. I'm almost certain she went there," Erica said sharply, and Shia followed.
They pushed through the building until they reached the massive fourth floor where the temple was located. Ahead of them was Christy, radiating her full power as she pushed toward the staircase. When she sensed movement behind her, she glanced back.
"Shia, stay there. Eri, eh? Eri, is that you? Putting that aside, can you even help me in that state?" Christy asked, uncertain.
"Don't worry, Chrissy. I can help just fine. Honestly, this clone might make it even easier," Erica said with intrigue as she dashed forward, slipping through the crushing pressure with surprising ease. She reached Christy in moments, leaving Christy stunned before pushing that confusion aside.
"Let's go as far as we can. The closer we get to the top, the better I can peer into the sect with my Kokon Tengan," Christy said as she and Erica synchronized their energy and pushed upward.
The rumbling intensified across the sect until the trembling began to follow a rhythm, releasing an aura filled with life and nature.
"…Even without peering, I can tell this is an elf's breakthrough. No matter how I look at it, could it be that Shay has done it?!" Christy exclaimed, eyes widening.
"Ehhh, Shay?! Are you saying she actually…?" Erica replied with equal surprise.
…
In a hidden building shaped like a giant tree, three individuals sat together, two with crimson vampiric eyes and the third a royal fanged elf. All three stared toward Shayleaf's secluded location with barely contained excitement.
"This is unreal. Hahaha! The heavens favor our fanged elf tribe. Breaking through this quickly is absurd for anyone, and judging from this aura, this isn't an ordinary breakthrough. An Apex Mortal Lord!" the elf royal said joyfully.
The other two nodded, smiling silently. All three were Middle Staged Mortal Lords who rarely moved unless absolutely necessary. Following orders from Golden tier experts was beneath them, but an Apex Mortal Lord was something else entirely.
Apex Mortal Lords were those who pushed their cultivation method to near-perfection shortly after breaking past Gold tier 5.
"I'll spread the word immediately. This will raise our tribe's standing within the sect by a large margin."
He pulled out his talisman and transmitted the news, even before Shayleaf's breakthrough finished.
…
Inside a command room on the massive battlefield surrounding the Old Blue Star Sect Grave lands, Aeloria's eyes widened as she received the earth-shattering report. The Grand Fae alliance members around her were similarly stunned.
"Princess Shayleaf is breaking through into the Mortal Shedding Realm? So quickly?!" an expert exclaimed.
"Hahahaha. As expected of my Shayshay. Even that uncle said she's likely becoming an Apex Mortal Lord. Something you only just barely missed achieving, Aeloria, and you're already a powerful Early Stage Mortal Lord," Jewleaf said smugly.
Aeloria didn't even retort. She was too delighted, swaying with excitement in a way completely uncharacteristic of her usual serious and seductive composure. Beside her, Seraphiel's expression also brightened.
"Everything is unfolding just as foretold. Since leaving the Fae region and that small world, many of our tribesmen have achieved breakthroughs and awakenings, but none remotely as quickly as Lady Shayleaf. And this is happening at the perfect time. According to Vice Sect Leader Heavens Star Eyes, it's an excellent opportunity for our armies are about to begin the counter invasion," Aeloria said with a grin.
"Then we shouldn't delay. Envoy Joe-Pine says the moment to strike is nearly here," another expert replied with a sharp tone.
…
Back inside the Pocket Dimension, within the White Star Radiance inner sect.
Shayleaf glowed with a magnificent blend of green and gold light as waves of power poured into her body. As time progressed, a crimson radiance merged with the others until three colored lights fully coalesced around her form.
Foggy light-green vapors surged across the ground. Behind her, a small green, red, and gold avatar shaped like a tree emerged. At first bare, it slowly began sprouting leaves.
Three hours passed.
The energy finally began to settle. The avatar had grown into a small, fully bloomed tree with red and green leaves and a gold trunk. Once it reached its peak, the avatar burst into radiant light, merging into Shayleaf's body and flooding straight into her dantian.
Her eyes flew open, releasing a low, resonating roar.
"Hehehe, I've done it! Ah, let me warn Sister Chrissy and the others real quick before I unleashed my powerful seed. Hmm, alright. I should be able to upgrade my primary doll!"
…
"Shay. So you really broke throu—eh?!" Christy began speaking to the Shayleaf doll that appeared from her spatial bag, right before it erupted into glowing green light and evolved into a far more lifelike form.
"Annnnd done. Hehehe. Sorry for worrying you guys. Eh? Eri? Why are you a little kid?" Shayleaf chirped before noticing Erica's clone.
"It's a clone. I'll explain later. More importantly, congratulations, Shay," Erica said warmly.
"Right. Congratulations on your breakthrough. To think you would surpass even me and Gege this quickly is incredible. And you're not just an Early Stage Mortal Lord. You're an Apex Early Stage Mortal Lord. That means your path up to late stage will be far easier, but it also means that there will be people targeting you whether enemies or perhaps jealous so called allies. Your Mortal Core is extremely valuable for cultivation…" Christy said, thoughtful.
"Ah, I don't think I'll have to worry too much. You all will help me if anything happens anyway, But forget that. The seed! I'm about to transform our entire sect with the Great Tree Creation Art at a level I couldn't use before. It'll help Brother Elly by cutting this land off from the Pocket Dimension and greatly boosting our defenses!" Shayleaf said excitedly.
"Is that true?! Then of course, go ahead Shay," Christy said with shining eyes.
"I'm eager to see the result. Let's begin," Erica added with equal excitement.