"To think he attained the 6th layer and even cultivated on the second floor of the pagoda, this is truly difficult to believe." Hong Li exclaimed with raised eyebrows, reading reports on recent events.
"With his talent, it's impossible for him to have such achievements in such a short amount of time, and even if he used Spirit Qi pills, at best, he could only reach the 4th layer before his body would be completely polluted."
While pondering, Hong Li picked up another report detailing Ye Mo's everyday life in the institute.
The report was very short, containing only a few sentences. Basically, all his time was spent cultivating behind closed doors. Whether it's in the pagoda or his own house, his days are used in cultivation with certain periods set in training to familiarize with his battle skills.
"He's extremely hardworking, almost obsessively. Other students of his age would only cultivate for a few hours a day at most and use the rest of the time to socialize and indulge in various activities. Even I didn't work this much in my youth, yet it still doesn't explain how he got these accomplishments. No matter how much he cultivates, he's only a rank 2 talent and can't progress this fast by himself."
The third report Hong Li read was about Ye Mo's cultivation technique.
"Hmm, the Black Vortex is among the best high-tier cultivation techniques in terms of speed we have in the institute. Paired with his powerful body, it's clearly a good choice, but this is still far from enough to explain his progress. Did he really get his hands on an Encompassing Washing Pill?" Hong Li was in thought.
On one hand, he was amazed by Ye Mo's performance in the pagoda, defeating cultivators two layers higher than yours was nothing short of astounding. However, contrary to others' shock, Hong Li wasn't really surprised by his victories.
Since the start, he has never stinted on praises towards Ye Mo's combat abilities. In front of a 5th layer body refining cultivator, Ye Mo was able to turn the tides with just his body and mortal martial arts alone, his instincts were superb while he was vicious and merciless. He was simply a born battle freak.
Someone like him, if he were well-nurtured and fought for the prestige of the Tiger Martial Institute, would be a real disaster for their enemies.
If not, why would the dean, one of the most powerful cultivators of Azure Water City, wish to take him as a disciple? In his life, the number of people he considered taking under his wing could be counted with the fingers of his hands.
Unfortunately, it was revealed he had only rank 2 talent and wouldn't go far in cultivation, even to this day, Hong Li felt it was a pity.
If Ye Mo could have such results with just body refining alone, he could only imagine how his battle strength would grow once he cultivates qi and gets his hands on some battle skills and indeed, he wasn't let down.
Hong Li was aged and knew well the difference between two layers in the late Qi Gathering Realm. Even taking into account body refining, an ordinary cultivator should only be able to fight one layer higher than himself at this point. Ye Mo defeating two cultivators at the 8th layer was a matter of the weak defeating the strong.
This was a talent for battle!
Opposite to his battle strength, what he was really suspicious about was Ye Mo's fast advancement in his cultivation.
"The kid definitely has a secret."
The goal of every martial artist was to advance smoothly through their cultivation and encounter the fewest difficulties possible during their journey.
Seeing a rank 2 talent like Ye Mo shatter common knowledge, people would at least be intrigued, but many would feel envy and greed burn their hearts, trying to unravel this mystery at all costs.
It was in everyone's nature to seek the best for themselves, if they couldn't find a way on their own, they would take it from someone else.
Hong Li, as a cultivator himself, was no different, but as a person in power for a long time, he had perfect control over his desires and would show nothing on the outside, looking at the big picture first before his own benefits.
Besides these, on his desk were other reports like Ye Mo's family background, but nothing useful could be learned from them, hence being cast aside.
At this time someone knocked on the door outside the room.
"Come in."
The door opened and Han Zhen Jun presented himself in front of Hong Li, "You called for me?"
"Yes, I want you to send a small team to investigate Ye Mo and find out how he progressed so fast." Hong Li said with a deep voice.
"I understand, it will be done. Should I personally involve myself, the investigation would be faster and lead to better results this way." Han Zhen Jun suggested, discerning his superior's train of thoughts.
He was an Inner Core realm expert himself, no matter how good a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator is at his field of work, it won't compare with him if he puts his mind to it.
"No!" Hong Li quickly said, "The year-end competition against the Sky and Golden Martial Institutes is nearing, I need you there to overview the preparations and make sure everything goes well."
Han Zhen Jun paused for a moment before he looked at Hong Li, "You know, if you really want to learn how he did it, we could still coerce him and force him to spit everything. He's just a junior after all, it wouldn't be difficult..."
Hong Li shook his head, retorting, "You have been supporting me without fault for quite some time now, however, your grasp of the situation is still too small. We are the righteous Tiger Martial Institute, which enforces fairness and promotes growth, not some kind of underworld organization that brutalizes its members at the slightest suspicion. Where would our reputation go, who would want to join our institute in the future, who would feel safe behind our walls? Only one incident is enough for the others to grow restless; students would leave us, while in the future, they would favor the Sky Martial Institute over ours."
"Moreover, we are operating under the Raging Saber Sect's name. Damaging our reputation with this kind of act is the same as damaging theirs, and we might lose their support."
He sighed before adding, "Everyone has their own secrets, I am just slightly interested to see if it could benefit the institute but not to the point where it could cloud my judgment, risking everything this easily."
"I understand, but since you're asking me, I guess you have heard the news of his feats in the pagoda?" Han Zhen Jun looked at Hong Li with a meaningful gaze.
Hong Li and Han Zhen Jun have been leading the Tiger Martial Institute for twenty years now and knew each other well.
His gaze shone as he immediately understood, "He reached the second floor with a 6th layer cultivation and defeated stronger cultivators, thus showing his own abilities. The institute's purpose is to raise elite cultivators and send them to the Raging Saber Sect, those who display talent or potential in any field, proving their own worth, are rewarded. Send someone to give him entry to the third floor of the towers."
Han Zhen Jun nodded then hesitated for a second before he asked, "Should we also prepare gold coins or some resources to offer, as it has been custom to do so in addition to the token?"
"This is not necessary, ultimately he's only a rank 2 talent and his potential is limited, this won't change no matter how much he struggles. The institute's resources, it's better to spend them on true geniuses like Shen Xue or Jin Hao Tian."
Hong Li stood up with a distant gaze and looked out of the window at the vibrant scenery.
"In this world, rank 0 means no talent for cultivation, a complete waste of time. Rank 1 if they cultivate diligently, can reach the peak of the Qi Gathering realm while a few of them could even breakthrough Foundation Establishment Realm with difficulty. Rank 2 like him, in their lifetime, can only attain the Foundation Establishment Realm and, in some rare cases, the Inner Core realm."
"As for rank 3, they can hope for the Inner Core Realm but would stop here, only with luck would a small percentage of them reach a higher realm. Rank 4 could go even beyond, while for Rank 5, their talent is limitless and only their determination will decide where they stop, in the case, of course, that they don't die prematurely."
"That's why, no matter how intelligent he is or how good he can fight, investing in Ye Mo is like trying to make a dog fly in the sky, no matter how much you nurture it, it has clear limitations defined from birth and is bound to run on the ground. Let the investigative team do their work and focus your attention on those rank 4 and 5 shining stars, they are the ones who will make their name resound under the heavens."
"Yes dean, your subordinate takes his leave." Han Zhen Jun quickly complied with a bow and left the room.