Chapter 29: Earthly Spirit Realm.

Haru came too and was lay down on the couch in the living room of Zen's house. His head felt like it was throbbing. He reached up and held his head in his hands. "What happened?" He whispered before shuffling over to sit up.

running footsteps came from the doorway. "Oh, Thank goodness you are okay! I didn't know what to think when I found you lying out there! What happened to you?" Zen came charging in. Haru looked down at his hand. He was still holding the Qi refining pill. That's right I was trying to make a pill... But then? He suddenly remembered. That's right I actually succeded! He was lost in thought thinking about what had happened to him.

He looked up and saw Zen looking down, He was expecting an answer. "Um, I must have just passed out due to exhaustion. I'm sorry I didn't mean to worry you."

Zen looked back at him for a moment and then sighed. "That is a relief. I thought I was going to have to call your mom if you slept for any longer." Any longer? Just how long have I been out? He then pulled out his phone and checked the time. 12:42 pm. Only a few hours huh? He then looked back after something caught his eye. It was now Tuesday! I was out for more than twenty-four hours!? How is that possible? I must have been out of Qi right?

The phoenix. Is it okay? Haru closed his eyes and entered his soul ocean. A screech of excitement echoed out as the Phoenix flew around happily. Thank god it's okay. He then opened his eyes again to see Zen still stood there.

"Haru. Is everything okay? You looked worried for a second." Haru stood up and walked to the doorway. "I'm all good. Just a little hungry." He laughed before walking to the kitchen. "Good I was just about to make some lunch." Zen followed behind into the kitchen.

Haru and Zen ate dinner together before Zen had to leave to go to the office. Something had happened he seemed serious as his driver came to pick him up. "I wonder what that was about?" Haru thought before He made his way back upstairs. "So I go to my first Chinese school tomorrow? I hope my Chinese is good enough for everyone to understand me." He spoke his thought aloud before he sat down on his bed and crossed his legs. He entered his soul ocean to check on the phoenix once again.

As he entered he heard the sound of something speeding towards him. He turned around to see the Phoenix heading straight for him. He ducked down as it flew off into the clouds once again. He looked around for a few minutes. He turned to face the floating rock where the deadly looking mansion resided. I wonder where Li Jun and Lao are? That was when he heard a noise behind him.

"You called?" Li Jun said as they appeared from seemingly nowhere. "Wait. How do you guys do that?" He said as he turned to see they had joined him inside his soul ocean. "Well, this is your subconscious mind this whole place is created by your soul all you need to do is think about us and we will here it. We are both bound to the dragon emperor ring so as long as you wear the ring we can enter here if you call for us." Lao explained as Li Jun nodded his head in agreement.

"Is that so? Then what is the purpose of this soul ocean? What is it for?" Haru asked. "I have never really thought about it. I guess to think. Or maybe cultivate more efficiently? Whilst you are in here time flows three times slower than it does on the outside. So in theory one hour of cultivating in here is the same as three hours on the outside. And not to mention your soul will purify Qi from the outside before it enters here. Although the Qi on this planet is very weak if you are in here then it will be one hundred times purer. You should probably cultivate in here from now on if you want to get stronger as fast as possible." Li Jun explained with Lao nodding in agreement this time.

"Is that so? Can you guys tell me when it's morning on the outside? I want to cultivate all night! I want to see the upper realms as soon as possible. From what you two have described to me it is unlike anything I could experience here." Haru said as he began to sit down. "Of course, And if you carry on with this passion of yours you will get there really soon. Just focus on cultivating." Li Jun said as Haru closed his eyes. Lao set up another sound barrier around Haru so he couldn't be distracted by anything.

Haru sat cultivating for what felt like days. The Qi slowly flowed towards him and filled him with power before reaching a climax. Haru felt the hairs on his body rise as a static shock hit his body. He ignored the feeling and carried on cultivating past his breakthrough. If he wanted to get to the upper realms he had to ignore this little distraction and carry on. He had broken through the spirit core realm entering the early stage of the earthly spirit realm. His power was now at least four times stronger than it was previously not to mention the boost to his power from returning to origin already. He didn't know how important this was but he felt strong.

He was finally starting to feel like he was gaining strength from cultivating. He had managed to get himself to the middle stage of the earthly spirit realm before Li Jun interrupted him by projecting his voice inside of Haru's head. "It's morning."

Haru opened his eyes leaving his soul ocean and then feeling his phone vibrate. He looked down. Why is Zen calling? He thought before answering the call. "Hello?" He asked to the silence on the other side. "Oh, So you are finally awake? I have called you fifteen times! How did you sleep through that?" Zen shouted as all of the people around him began to stare. He looked around and waved his hand signaling them all to get back to work.

"Oh, sorry I must have left my phone on silent. You said I would start school today right? Did you get any news from the school?" Haru asked as he began to get up from the bed whilst stretching his limbs out. "Oh, Did I forget to tell you? They got everything through faster you were supposed to start yesterday actually but I sent them a message I figured you would need the rest. Are you feeling any better today? I couldn't come home last night I'm still stuck at the office."

"Yeah, I feel a lot better today thanks. Is everything okay on your end?" He asked Zen as the sound of chattering could be heard through the phone. "Yes, Everything is okay. One of my accountants reported one of the employees was taking money for themselves so we are just combing through all the records to build up a report to file to the police. But I'm glad to hear you are feeling better today. I will have my driver pick you up in an hour so get ready."

"Wait, Is there a school uniform or dress code I should be worried about?" Haru asked in a panic before Zen could hang up. "Dress code? I don't think so. Just wear whatever you want to. It shouldn't matter too much. Is that everything?" He asked with his finger ready on the little red circle.

"Yeah, That's everything thanks Zen," Haru said before ending the call. "That little brat! I wanted to be the one to end the call!" Zen shouted out in anger. "What are you looking at? Get back to work!"

Haru began to get ready for school throwing whatever clothes he could find on the bed before taking a shower. He came out and got dressed before going down to check on Xue. She was still asleep on the floor in the living room. Haru tried to walk past quietly so he wouldn't wake her. But it was no use. Her ears perked up as she turned to look at him.

"Damn it," Haru said before Xue ran over and jumped on him. "I get it. I get it good morning to you too." He said as they both walked into the kitchen. Haru made some cereal for himself and then filled up Xue's bowl. They both ate in the kitchen before moving to the living room to watch TV. Haru sat on the couch with Xue lay next to him before hearing a car horn outside. That must be the driver he thought before switching off the TV and all of the lights.

"I have to go now Xue. Be good whilst I'm gone." Xue barked in response as Haru left the house, locked the door, and then got into the car waiting for him outside.