Chapter 544: Time Has Passed

Xue Wei had accepted that he needed a certain opportunity to break through, but upon thinking of this, he could not help but frown.

"I understand the theory behind the breakthrough to the King rank, but I just completed a rather intense fight against this ghost. How come that was not enough to trigger the promotion?"

Xue Wei could not help but ask, as he wanted to understand the whole situation. He did not think that Lan had lied to him, only that some things had not been explained yet, so he patiently waited for everything to come to light.

Lan nodded his head approvingly as he noticed the confusion on Xue Wei's face. "It is not that the battle was not good enough to trigger your breakthrough; it is just that you were not ready for a natural breakthrough.

"I said before that the more Qi you gather, the stronger your foundations when breaking into the King rank will be. Many will feel that they cannot enhance their strength more while gathering Qi, and they will realize that if they wish to do so, then it would be possible to be promoted.

"However, this is actually a premature promotion. They will not automatically trigger the body's recreation, but will instead try and force this change to happen.

"This forced promotion is possible only if the cultivator knows how to do it. The more Qi they have gathered, the smoother and easier it will be to trigger it, and even if you do not forcefully ask the body to trigger the changes, it will do so when you have gathered enough Qi, and go through a battle.

"So, right now, you should focus on refining as much Qi as you can. You should not try and fight before you have filled your body to the brim with Qi, as you might accidentally trigger the breakthrough."

Xue Wei nodded his head as he felt that what Lan said made sense.

While fighting against the young-looking ghost, he had indeed not felt any changes to his body. Even so, he could not say that it was impossible for him to force a breakthrough if he wished to do so, as he had no intention of trying.

Although he did not know what differences it would make for his future achievements if he forcefully triggered the breakthrough, he could guess that it would not benefit him in any way, and as such, he was willing to continue refining Qi as Lan had asked him to.

"I guess we will have to avoid sparring and fighting for some time then," Xue Wei said with a smirk on his face. He understood what Lan meant. If he had enough Qi, even the slightest signs of battle might trigger his promotion, but if he could find a relaxed and safe environment, then he could build the strongest foundation possible.

Looking around at the surroundings, the smile on Xue Wei's face deepened. He had found the perfect place to cultivate. Here, he would be protected by the branch leader and his ghosts, and after what happened just before, he did not fear that anyone would interrupt him.

Lan seemed to have understood his thoughts, and he also coiled his body upon the table, looking very relaxed as he yawned.

"I am going to continue to unravel my seal. You just focus on refining Qi; when you have enough, and are at the point where nothing more will assist your foundation, then we can have a sparring match, and I can guarantee that your breakthrough will be smooth."

Lan felt smug as he looked at Xue Wei, who could not help but smile while shaking his head in amusement. This snake was revered and respected throughout the entire world, but when he was in front of his friends, there was a part of him that resembled a mischievous young boy who had never grown up.

Lan had also explained his life to Xue Wei. One had to admit that the two of them were significantly different from one another; even their upbringing was different.

Lan had grown up in a loving family. His father had adored his mother; he had many siblings, and their family ties were good. All of them were talented, and their advance in the world of cultivation had been so simple that they felt as if nothing could stop them.

This smooth journey had not managed to temper Lan's personality, and he ended up missing the most important things in protecting his beloved. After her departure from the world of the living, the previously sunny and innocent young man had vanished, as if he had grown up overnight.

It was not before now that he dared show some of his childishness once more. It was not before meeting Xue Wei that he found out that things were not either black or white. He was able to be both the innocent and childish Lan from his past, but still act mature and stable when needed.

One of the things that Li Zhiqing had liked about him was his unspoiled personality. While he could be arrogant and ruthless from time to time, it was more like a child throwing a tantrum, and he only harmed those who had caused him severe damage.

If he had found her before meeting Xue Wei, he might not have been able to reunite with her due to his personality changes, but now he realized that the delicate balance was what he needed.

Knowing this, he could not help but feel somewhat expectant of meeting Li Zhiqing again. He knew that she was no longer the same as before either. She had been living in the Ghost Realm for so many years, and it was natural that she had been fighting for survival all these years, so she could no longer be as gentle as before.

However, just like Lan, the time had changed, and so had they. It was impossible to stay the same after thousands of years had passed by.