Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, fifty years had passed.
In those fifty years, Tianfeng Prefecture had changed enormously. With a Saint Realm powerhouse stationed there, countless people hoped to establish residency in the prefecture.
The Wind Shadow Pavilion founded by Carl had become the trendsetter for the entire prefecture. It was a place countless prodigies dreamed of joining.
Over the past fifty years, the Wind Shadow Pavilion's rules had gradually taken shape. Those who had seen the disciples graduate from the Pavilion knew that although the requirements grew stricter every year, a large number of children still applied each year.
After all, when the Wind Shadow Pavilion was first established, many people had applied because of Carl's status as a Saint Realm powerhouse. As time passed, those who joined the Pavilion and completed their training proved its worth. Most couldn't reach Level 3 Warrior within ten years, but those who did and were promoted to Inner Disciple typically had the strength of a Level 6 Warrior by graduation.
A Level 6 Warrior was exceptional even in a prefecture. But what truly made the Wind Shadow Pavilion famous throughout Tianfeng Prefecture and beyond was one prodigy.
Ogliev was an unremarkable boy. His results in the Pavilion's entrance examination had been only slightly above average, but he had always been passionate about training. He passed the examination and joined the Wind Shadow Pavilion at nine, comprehended Battle Qi at twelve and reached Level 1 Warrior, attained Level 2 Warrior at fourteen, and reached Level 3 Warrior at seventeen.
In the eyes of the prefecture's Level 9 Warriors, someone with this kind of talent could reach Level 7 Warrior at best. Yet Ogliev, whose potential they had capped at Level 7, didn't reach that level until he was thirty-eight. After he became a Level 7 Warrior, however, Carl began giving him brief instruction once a year. From then on, Ogliev—whom the world had thought could never surpass Level 7—went on to become a Level 9 Warrior at forty-four.
Now, at forty-seven, Ogliev had reached the late stage of Level 9 Warrior and become Carl's foremost disciple.
Carl wasn't particularly affected by this. The Wind Shadow Pavilion had been established for fifty years, and he had never stopped supporting it. Outer Disciples received a basic allowance, while Inner Disciples were given every advantage to accelerate their training. As for anyone capable of reaching Level 7 Warrior, Carl would grant them Level 9 aptitude.
Those whom Carl granted Saint Realm aptitude, however, were all carefully selected. He didn't need to focus too much on talent; he valued their character and integrity more. Seven outstanding disciples had been taken on as Personal Disciples.
The foremost Personal Disciple, Ogliev, was resolute. His comprehension was ordinary, but his willpower was exceptional. No matter how difficult a training method was, as long as there was even the slightest chance, he would never give up easily. His perseverance was what had brought him from an ordinary beginning to where he stood today. For that reason, Carl had even granted him two Saint Realm-grade aptitude enhancements.
Anyone whose aptitude fell short of Saint Realm would be raised to that level. For those who already had Saint Realm aptitude, Carl would choose the best possible improvement from the next category. Fortunately, the improvements had turned out as he'd expected.
Ogliev's aptitude had improved in two areas: Battle Qi and Mental Power.
To Carl, those two improvements had been almost inevitable. After Ogliev gained Level 9 Warrior aptitude, his Battle Qi aptitude was already among the highest. And someone with such immense willpower couldn't have done so without formidable Mental Power. These enhancements had done more than improve those two aptitudes. Ogliev's comprehension, for instance, had also improved significantly after his Mental Power increased.
Even his physical strength would gradually rise to the level of a Level 6 Warrior as his body was nourished by Battle Qi. In Carl's eyes, Ogliev was already a Saint Realm Reserve.
The other six included several rising stars. Some had extraordinary natural talent, with at least high affinity for magic; others had exceptional character and integrity. Every one of Carl's Personal Disciples possessed at least one outstanding quality.
"Another lovely day, full of sunshine."
The top floor of the Wind Shadow Pavilion was where Carl had chosen to seclude himself. During the first decade or so, he had rarely left. In the years that followed, he had ventured out a few times now and then. By now, the Pavilion had undergone several improvements. What had once been used to select Outer Disciples with better aptitude had become a true stepping stone. Anyone who could pass the current entrance examination had the potential to become a Level 6 Warrior or the aptitude to become a Level 5 Mage.
Carl glanced at his points, which were still short of six figures, and sighed. They were enough to support two days of full-speed training. Although the points generated by his territory had increased substantially, its residents still hadn't reached an average strength of Level 5.
"Looks like I'll have to put physical training on hold for now."
Carl glanced over his attributes. As expected, the numbers didn't lie.
[Training: Peak Saint Realm (21,900/1,000,000) Wind Element (21,900/1,000,000)] [Ability: Primary Saint Body (21,900/5,000,000)]
"Too bad. With Battle Qi boosted by more than twenty thousand times, why has my strength barely increased?" Carl sighed.
Carl felt a little frustrated, but after thinking it over, he came around. Whether Battle Qi or the Mysteries, until they reached mastery, all the accumulation in between amounted to an increase in quantity.
"Given the current situation, Battle Qi can barely increase my strength anymore. To grow stronger, I'll have to focus on comprehending the Laws."
Carl understood this. Training wasn't a multiplication table. It wasn't as if Battle Qi multiplied by the Mysteries equaled final damage. Battle Qi could bring a fairly noticeable increase in strength below the Saint Realm, but once someone reached the Saint Realm, it couldn't keep up.
Battle Qi and the Mysteries were like the lower and higher stages of power. It was like how a full-power strike from someone in the Mid Saint Realm couldn't compare to a casual strike from someone at Peak Saint Realm. The difference was fundamental.
That was why, even though Carl had greatly increased his already-peak Battle Qi over the years, his strength still depended on how well he comprehended the Mysteries.
"Maybe there was something to my original idea after all."
Carl's understanding of the Mysteries was no longer superficial. It wasn't particularly deep, but he had at least developed some understanding.
"One-fiftieth of the way to mastery."
Carl narrowed his eyes, thinking of the short man from fifty years ago.
"His strength back then was probably about the same as mine."
His tone was uncertain, but the difference in their strength couldn't have been very great.
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