Chapter 5: Rise in cultivation
Someplace very far away
"Hmm, I didn't know that his comprehension rate is this high."
"Neither did I."
"He chose a good one."
"Let us see; it's not even a month since our champions have embarked on their journey. We have to wait until the end to see who among the eight fares better."
---
One month later
Erik opened his eyes, filled with insight. He gave an aura of an experienced scholar at that moment. If not for his youthful appearance, everyone would undoubtedly make that mistake.
[Host, it's a month since you started on your comprehension. You should check your stats.]
--
Name: Erik
Age: 16
Body physique: Ethereal Divine Body Level-1
Bloodline: Ethereal Divine Monarch (Awakened 0.1%)
Cultivation: Novice Realm Level 1
Cultivation technique: Ethereal Divine Cultivation (Comprehension 7.2%)
Skills: None
Spiritual Source Points: 8/10
--
"Wait, didn't you say it might take a month for me to reach 0.5%, but it shows that it is already at 7.2%".
[Hmm, it seems your comprehension rate is outstanding, I say better than anyone. No wonder your eyes seemed full of insight. You almost had your first enlightenment.]
"What do you mean by almost had my first enlightenment?"
[Hmm, to put in common words, when you are almost at the next realm, the thing you need to break into the next realm.]
"Oh, I think I understand."
[Good because even I have no idea how to break it into simpler words. Now you should go and eat; it has been a month since you ate.]
"Doesn't a cultivator live without eating anything?"
[Who said it? Whoever it is, they are stupid. Every life form needs food to eat. You should know that any mortal can live even without food or water for days. It depends on that particular person's energy reserves. Cultivators have a lot of reserves in their bodies and, as an added advantage, control over their consumption rate. So they can last for longer than mortals.]
"So that's how it is."
[Yes, now stop wasting time and go eat until your stomach is full. After that, cultivate until you reach Novice Realm's third level. Remember this, once you reach the third level, you should immediately stop cultivating and put effort into comprehending the technique if time permits.]
"Okay."
Ding
--
Quest:- Reach Novice Realm Level-3 and pass the assessment.
Time Limit: 2 months
Reward: one low-grade spirit essence pill
--
"Wait, what is that?"
[Uh, congrats, Host, it looks like the system issued your first quest, and there is quite a reward for you.]
"What is a spirit essence pill?"
[Basically, an essence pill increases the quality and quantity of spiritual energy in a realm. Though it is a low-grade pill, it's still beneficial since you are only in the Novice realm.]
"What do you mean?"
[Hmm, let's take two cultivators at the Novice realm first level. They both have a maximum limit of ten points. Let's say that one of them consumes a spirit essence pill; the maximum limit of that person increases to eleven points. The limit increase depends on several factors such as the grade of the pill, bloodline, body physique, realm they are in, and so on. Not only that, but the spiritual energy stored will also be purer than the one who didn't consume.]
"If so, every cultivator consumes it, and I won't have many advantages."
[If only it is possible to do so, everyone will. These pills are rare since the ingredients required are rare, and the process fails ninety percent of the time. Even when there is a success, they most likely end up Inferior-grade or low-grade.]
"My reward is also a low-grade one."
[Yes, it is, but this is only your first quest. So stop being a cry baby and have some hope that you'll get better rewards in the future. Now go complete the quest, or you'll lose everything you wanted to achieve in this life.]
Erik nodded in agreement; even though he had a lot of questions, this wasn't the time for that. He can ask more after he passes the assessment.
Erik wanted to go out to the restaurant nearby to have a meal. He checked his points, and they were too low. Saving the points means nothing if you leave the sect. They are worthless outside, though one can exchange them for mortal currency.
Most recruits who fail to reach the requirements to continue in the sect leave without exchanging. It would be too shameful to be there more than necessary.
So Erik paid for two months of rent for the room and brought beast meat with all of the remaining points. He swallowed a lot of food since eating beast meat increases one's spiritual energy; most cultivators eat plenty of beast meat before cultivating.
He ate what is typically consumed by ten people in a day. Once, he used to save points while buying food to use on spirit stones that have a higher chance of increasing one's cultivation levels. Now he does have that luxury anymore; he has to place all the bets on one thing.
---
Inside Sect Master's room
"Sect master, I have confirmed that the event only occurred here in our city with my informers. There were no signs of it anywhere. Though people could see from afar, we are its center", reported the Grand Elder.
Hearing that, every Elder in the room shivered. There is only one thought occupying everyone's mind, What is that strange occurrence that happened a month ago.
"Sect Master, what have you decided?" asked the Grand Elder.
"Is it true that you are canceling the Outer Sect and Inner Court tournament?" asked another Elder.
When the other elders heard that, they started to voice their opinions. Some said it's better to cancel it this year; some wanted to postpone it, while others said canceling or postponing may cause unintended damage.
"Enough, I know what everyone is thinking about. Whatever happened that day scared the shit out of everyone in the city. We need to prepare for whatever is to come; we need more strong cultivators. So I decided that both the tournaments will be held at the same time, three months after assessment", declared the sect master.
The word of a sect master inside his sect is akin to that of a king in his kingdom.
Once the sect master decided, everyone nodded in agreement. What he spoke is true; there is a need for several strong cultivators if a calamity occurs. It's not like they have a choice.
---
One month later
It has been almost a month, and Erik finally achieved his goal for the assessment.
[Hmm, you already reached the third level in a month. Congrats on breaking through two levels in a month.]
"Thank you…hmm…Sorry, I never asked your name," said Erik, slightly embarrassed.
[Hmm, a name? I don't have a name. You should give me one since I'm assisting you.]
"I was never good at names. My mother always used to say that a name defines you as much as you define yourself."
[Your mother sounds smart. Maybe, for now, we should postpone the naming ceremony. We should leisurely talk about names at a later date.]
"Good, that's what I think we should do."
[Now, as I said before, higher comprehension is better for cultivating quickly. The spiritual energy you absorb will be much purer than before when you cultivate it after achieving higher comprehension.]
"Okay, since I already crossed the third level, I can become an outer sect disciple. So for the next month, I meditate on comprehending the cultivation technique."
With that, he sat down and started to comprehend more of the technique.
--
Name: Erik
Age: 16
Body physique: Ethereal Divine Body Level-1
Bloodline: Ethereal Divine Monarch (Awakened 0.1%)
Cultivation: Novice Realm Level 3
Cultivation technique: Ethereal Divine Cultivation (Comprehension 7.2%)
Skills: None
Spiritual Source Points: 150/500
--
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