There was no point in thinking about the Myriad Energies Technique creator at the moment. So Krune spent the rest of his time checking his foundation and the new Sun. After confirming that he was okay, he moved back to where Yusa had gone through the Heavenly Tribulation. Sure enough, she was able to overcome the trial without much difficulty.
"How is it? Is your Core Formation okay?"
Yusa nodded and then said.
"There was no problem. I was able even to use five bolts of lightning to temper my body and Core. It was only one less than Shinja. Both the Core in the foundation and my dantian as a whole are a lot bigger now. And I can finally understand what Shinja meant by feeling the connection with the soul inside your Golden Core. It's like there are two of me now, and it's quite weird."
Ao then asked Krune how things were on his side.
"Pretty good, it went like this..."
Krune then explained everything that happened, leaving only Light Spirits existence out. He talked about his Sun and the 'mysterious energy.' that he got from that refinement. Krune couldn't tell them that it was Chaos Energy since someone at his level shouldn't know it to start with.
Shinja was quite impressed with that. She also has a Universe Foundation, but she doesn't know much about it, just like Krune in the past. She paid special attention to the whole explanation.
Ao looked at Krune and couldn't help but comment.
"So you finally caught up to me, I wonder if you are going to become a Core Formation Realm before me."
Krune just laughed. He knows that Ao's cultivation was progressing pretty good as well. Besides, Krune wouldn't be able to get a lot of Chaos Energy anytime soon, so their cultivation will probably progress at the same pace from now on.
Mile looked at them and said.
"Alright. Now that Yusa's trial is over and Krune was able to finish his work, we should go back to the headquarters."
Everyone agreed with her and went back. After they arrived, Mile went to report to Bary how things had gone, while the rest went back to their own things. Yusa had just broken through, so she would need some time to stabilize her cultivation now. Meanwhile, Ao went back to the training room to continue his sword training. Shinja immediately hugged Cassy like a toy and left with Lofa, who had stayed behind. As for Krune, he had to go to the Alchemist Hall to get his new badge.
Just as he arrived at the Hall, the attendant immediately recognized him. Krune was then guided to another room to wait for the Hall Master. It didn't take long, though. Keny arrived a few minutes later, and one could see the new Five Stars Alchemist Badge on his hand.
"Sorry for making you wait. Here is your new badge. We have already registered you in the Divine Alchemist Alliance as well, so your badge should be recognized at the Divine Path Sect and any other planet if you require it."
Krune was surprised.
"The badges issued by the Alchemist Alliance of our Makui Planet can be used in other planets?"
Keny nodded and then said.
"It's the same for all planets controlled by the big four. They all have alchemist guilds and alliances. So a bigger existence like the Divine Path Sect must regulate and keep them connected. It would be too inconvenient if you had to go through an Alchemist Test every time you arrive at a new planet, so that's where the Divine Alchemist Alliance takes part."
Krune nodded, it made sense after all. Keny also commented.
"Our Makui Planet Alchemist Guild isn't the only one. The same can be said to the other side occupations, and they all work the same way as us. So it would be best if you register your other side occupation badges just in case."
Krune agreed with his idea and bid his farewell to Keny. After that, he had some time to spare, so he paid a visit to the Formations Hall and Blacksmith Hall. They also know about Krune and applied for a register in their own alliances for Krune. He then left his two badges behind and was told to come back the next day, just like the Alchemist Hall.
The next day, Krune received a message from Arlan telling him that he finished creating his first Spiritual Energy Meridian. He then went to the training room and found that Ao was there too. But that was good, he could have the both of them spar a bit for him to check Arlan's Elemental Control Condition. After hearing Krune's request, Ao's eyes immediately lit up.
"Haha! Great! I've been bored to death in the last few days. The previous Core Formation Instructor had already left, so I didn't have anyone to practice with."
Arlan also laughed.
"You were not the only one. Even though I knew that focusing on the Spiritual Energy Meridians was for my own good, I couldn't help but feel itchy all over. Now that I have one, I guess I can trash you quite easily."
Ao, of course, immediately invited Arlan to the arena for him to try that. Krune just observed by the side, it is good that they are both excited. The mood of a cultivator can also affect their performance, after all. It is just that Krue had to wait a lot for them to finish their fight. Every time that he wanted to say something, they would start another spar straight away. In the end, Krune had to enter the arena himself and beat down the two idiots for them to finally pay attention to him.
"Alright. Arlan needs to get used to his Spiritual Energy Meridians, Ao obviously had the advantage during all the spars, so take some time to understand it thoroughly. You have a Pure Yang Body, so it should give you an advantage in combat that Ao doesn't have. As for Ao, you are doing pretty much okay, it is evident that you got quite used to your meridians."
Krune then spent some time with Arlan and Ao talking about the Elemental Control. It's just that it was a lot less than the past. The further you go, the harder it is to improve. So there wasn't much that Krune could say to start with.
Krune left the two with their own training and went back to the Blacksmith Hall to take his badge back. On the way, he bumped on Lakin. He had quite a gloomy face, which made Krune quite helpless.
"Are you still thinking about the wisps back in the Rainbow Sect?"
Lakin was surprised to hear his master's voice, as he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. He then immediately replied.
"That's not it. I'm indeed sad about what happened, but I already overcame it."
That answer only made Krune puzzled, though.
"Then why the I-wish-to-die face?"
Lakin's face suddenly went red.
"This..."
Before he could even say something, someone laughed behind Krune and replied for that question in Lakin's place.
"Oh, it is just that Shinja had been monopolizing Cassy recently, so he isn't able to spend more time with her."
The one who talked was none other than Ruik. He had already arranged everything inside the Pocket Dimension, so he also started to come out to check the Mercenary Headquarters.
Lakin's red face now was even redder, just like a tomato.
Krune heard and started to laugh as well.
"So that's the case! No wonder, no wonder."
Krune then looked at Lakin and asked.
"Do you want me to ask Shinja to give you some time with her?"
Lakin immediately shook his head. He couldn't possibly accept such a disgraceful idea.
Ruik and Krune were laughing even more.
"That's good then. If you needed me for something like that, then would you even be worthy of Cassy?"
Ruik nodded.
"Wisps are also considered part of the demon beasts, and we demon beasts are always straight with our feelings. Put yourself together and go after Cassy. It is that simple."
Lakin heard their opinions and showed a determined face, he then bid Krune and Ruik a farewell and left straight away.
Krune couldn't help but remember Feifei. In the end, he still had a long way to go to repay her for that life-saving favor..
Krune then looked at Ruik and asked.
"How has your cultivation been going? Need me to take a look?"
Ruik shook his heads.
"No need, I'm not participating in the Divine Path Sect Entrance Exam anyway. So I'm not too much in a hurry like you guys. I will take it steady so that I can get a good grasp of my own abilities."
Krune nodded and didn't say anything else, they exchanged a few more words and then parted ways.
Krune finally arrived at the Blacksmith Hall, and Marcus came out with his new badge.
"Here, it's already registered in the Divine Blacksmith Alliance. It can also be accepted in the Divine Path Sect, and other planets in that are part of the alliance, just like your Alchemist one."
Krune took the badge and thanked him. After that, he went to the Formations Guild and received his Formations Master Badge as well.
Krune then returned to his room to cultivate. Thanks to the Chaos Energy, Krune's foundation was already stabilized in the 9th stage, so he only needed to accumulate Spiritual Energy now. He also kept his Elemental Source Energy that his Elemental Meridians could convert aside. He plans to use it during the Core Formation breakthrough.
Time passed, and the day to leave the Makui Planet finally arrived. Everyone who was participating in the Divine Path Sect Entrance Exam was already in front of Elder Loni's spaceship. There were also the representatives of each power that had a member participating. On the Mercenary Guild from Yule Continent side, surprisingly, Kassius Ruli was the one coming with them. (chapter 27 for those who can't remember)
"Bary asked me to keep one eye on you three. So I'm going with you during this Divine Path Sect Entrance Exam. I'm looking forward to your performance."
Although Kassius knows Krune, Shinja, Yusa, and Ao quite well, the same can't be said for the three of them. The only thing Krune knows is that this was the man who gave him a Four Stars Badge back then, which reminded him of some pretty unfortunate events. Ao and Yusa also knew Kassiu's identity only, but since it was Bary who sent him, it should be okay.
It turns out that he is at the Divine Soul Realm, just like Bary Casfiu, not to mention that Bary trusts him entirely. Bary and Kassius had been friends for over a hundred years, and they met each other even before Bary found Mile back then.
"As for Arlan, Tasier, and Lofa, the Mercenary Guilds of their continents are sending someone to take care of them."
Krune's group nodded and waited for elder Loni to open the spaceship.
