บท 2: He Broke Through!
'Wha-what just... Happened...?'
As if he can't understand what just happened, the young man's entirety froze up. Just like a lagging computer, it hanged up because of an unknown large file received and went 'invisible'.
Below the 'Gold Saber's Cliff', that young man is currently lying down on the ground. Defenseless to everything, he tried to move his body with great difficulty but to no avail, he was left there lying down.
...*Breeze* ...*Breeze* ...*Shiver*
Feeling a cold wind breeze just passed by, the young man shivered subconsciously. With lacerated flesh wounds and few broken bones, the young man was left with no choice but to lie down on the ground.
...*ROAR*
Suddenly, the young man heard a large roar above him. Looking up with great effort, he saw three vague figures coming down from atop of the cliff. Two of them were people who he felt like he knew while the other one is a beast, a 'bloody Beast'.
The beast can't be recognized because of his bloodied appearance and a lot of lacerated flesh, broken scales and dismembered wings and claws. Although the beast can't be identified due to its almost distorted appearance like alien, it's strength cannot be denied.
"Xav! Hang in there bro!"
Because of the young man's serious condition, he didn't realized that one of the two people he was looking up earlier have already arrived beside him.
Looking at the person beside him with blurry vision, the young man named 'Xav' saw a handsome young man that is about 17-18 years old with gold hair and blue eyes. Wearing a yellow colored robe, he looked like a 'pretty boy' with his sickly looking body built.
"This idiot..."
When the young man with pretty boy appearance begun to examine 'Xav's' condition, he saw that Xav is currently holding a flower tightly within his hands. Seeing the flower, he felt guilt for Xav. After all, that flower was the reason why they came here in the first place.
Swallowing the guilt he felt, he convinced himself that he will surely compensate Xav for taking the flower.
He first took the flower from Xav and put it in his storage ring for safekeeping. Knowing that Xav risked his life on taking the flower, he made sure that Xav's effort won't be in vain on plucking it on the cliff. After that, he then begun to examine how worse is Xav's current condition.
"N-no, this is... This can't be happening! Xander! Xander! Let's get out here immediately!"
Seeing Xav's condition, he was alarmed and immediately called out Xander due to panic.
"Ha!? Can't you see I'm busy!?---"
Busy fighting with the 'bloody Beast', the young man named Xander wants to argue but he was suddenly interrupted by the 'pretty boy'.
"Xav's in critical condition! You blockhead! His meridian and profound veins are all broken!"
"WHAT!?"
Hearing the anxiousness of the 'pretty boy' and what happened to the young man lying on the ground, Xander then Immediately hit the cliff hardly with his fist to shake it off a bit.
...*Boom*
With Xander's punch on the cliff, a shockwave scattered and caused several medium sized boulders, hardened soil, and grains of sand fell from above.
...*Roar*
Seeing the falling boulders, hardened soil, and grains of sand, the 'bloody Beast' moved away from Xander. Because of it's serious and perilous condition, the beast decided to dodge 'anything' and 'everything' that can worsen it's condition.
Seeing the 'bloody Beast' fall back, Xander without a second to spare went to the other two people, gasping.
"...*Gasps* Oi Xerxes, how's Xavier?"
"Not good, the lights on his eyes are lost as if he is a puppet. Adding that he have several broken bones, few lacerated flesh and bruises all over his body.... his condition is worse than expected. I don't think Level 1 or even a Level 2 Healing Medicinal Pill can cure him at all."
Although Xav looked lifeless in the perspective of 'pretty boy', he is in fact just in deep thought. Thinking deeply on what just happened to him, he can't help but think of it over and over again.
"AH! If we only didn't invite him to get Heaven Cleansing Flower... Xav wouldn't---"
"Enough! Let's head back home immediately."
"Ho-home...? Bu-but---"
Hearing the word 'home', Xerxes was overwhelmed with fear. As the older ones, what excuse would they tell how did their 'younger' brother be in such a perilous condition? Who knows what wrath they will receive from their 'mother' when they reach home!
"No 'But'! Pick! Do you want to receive punishment from mother? Or leave Xavier as is?"
"Isn't that already obvious! Let's go home!"
Thinking of the given choices by Xander, Xerxes chose Xavier's well being. He then injected his own Mana to Xavier for keeping his life on stable.
"D*mn 'pretty boy'! If you already know the answer, then don't argue with me!"
Carrying Xavier at his back with extreme care, Xerxes immediately stood up and tried to get home as quickly as possible but---
...*ROAR*
--- the 'bloody Beast' have once again roared at them, as if declaring that they will not leave this place alive.
As one of the 'intelligent' creatures on this continent, it can't just let Xavier, Xander and Xerxes leave this place alive. After all, if news broke out that a creature like him is residing in this place, it knows that countless expert will come flocking to take it's life.
Seeing that the 'bloody Beast' doesn't have any thoughts of making them leave and thinking of Xavier's grave condition, Xander looked at the 'bloody Beast' with killing intent.
"Xerxes, ran away as far as possible. I'll use 'Baron's Might'."
As someone who have confronted the 'bloody Beast' earlier, Xander knew that he is not a match to this beast. Unless, he uses his trump card, 'Baron's Might''.
"No! That's not an option!"
Hearing the phrase 'Baron's Might', Xerxes immediately denied the idea of using it. Knowing the consequences of using a higher level of skill than it's own, he doesn't want Xander to receive such grave condition as well.
Xavier's current condition is already enough to make him panic, how much more if he add Xander!?
For someone who spent most his time indoors because of alchemy, he is not used to see the danger of taking the medicinal herbs by Xavier and Xander.
Seeing that the 'bloody Beast' is cautiously 'walking' towards them, Both of them were tensed up. Xander then subconsciously looked at Xavier as if he want to hear his opinion in this situation.
Like a General and a Soldier, Xander's eyes looked at Xavier who is in deep thought as if he wants to seek permission to use 'Baron's Might'.
'If Xavier is only conscious---' is what both Xander and Xerxes thought.
...*Break*
Suddenly, Xerxes felt something broke. With his Mana injected to Xavier, he felt the sudden transformation within Xavier.
'He-he... He broke through!? Doesn't that mean... Xavier is now First Degree of Vessel Fortification Stage!?'
------
In an unknown spacious space with countless stars gliterring everywhere, Xavier suddenly found himself at the center of it.
Deep in thought of what just happened to him, he was shocked to see that he suddenly found himself here in this place.
With a lot of questions within his mind, he felt like all of what is currently happening to him are all dreams.
He was already confused earlier on the memory he received but forget it later as if it was nothing like a passerby and now... He suddenly found himself in a place of nowhere!? Just what is happening to him!?
To help him calm himself, he tried to think of his life from the very start.
Xavier, one of the adopted child of Hannah Walker.
Living in a small village called Spring Valley, he lived a normal life. Unlike his 'unrelated by blood brothers', Xander and Xerxes, both of them chose to leave the house and begun their journey.
Because Xander and Xerxes have 'qualifications' to cultivate 'Mana', they left home and enrolled to an academy nearby. As for Xavier, he was left behind because of his 'lack' of 'qualifications'.
Star Spirit, the main bases of a person if he is qualified to cultivate 'Mana'. Star Spirits are an inborn type of spirit. They differentiate if an individual would stay being a normal mortal or progress further.
Star Spirits are ranked based on their colors. From lowest to highest, they are green, cyan, blue, purple, red, orange and then gold.
Green Star Spirit can absorb ten percent efficiency of 'Mana'.
Cyan Star Spirit can Absorb twenty percent efficiency of 'Mana'.
Blue Star Spirit can Absorb forty percent efficiency of 'Mana'.
Purple Star Spirit can Absorb sixty percent efficiency of 'Mana'.
Red Star Spirit can Absorb seventy percent efficiency of 'Mana'.
Orange Star Spirit can Absorb eighty percent efficiency of 'Mana'.
Gold Star Spirit can Absorb ninety percent efficiency of 'Mana'.
As for the least qualifications to cultivate 'Mana' and enroll in an academy, an individual ahould at least have Star Spirit with cyan color. After all, if an individual can't absorb the mana with at least twenty percent efficiency, that person will undergo a very tough life.
Given an example of two glutton, who do you think can eat a lot of food if one of them has a superior digestion while the other is mediocre?
Of course, the answer is obvious, it is the glutton who have a superior digestion. After all, he can eat once again after digesting the food he ate.
As for the other one, it will take him time to digest his food before he could eat more.
Continuing, If both glutton were given 1,000,000 variety of foods, who do you think will finish it all faster...?
The one with a superior digestion? Or the mediocre one?
Of course, the answer is obvious once again.
Now, for the main point, will the glutton with mediocre digestion continue to eat the remaining food even though the competition is already done...?
If he continues, is it worth it...?
A mortals life is short, therefore, if that glutton continues to eat the remaining food, he is already wasting his time. After all, would you use most of your time in life 'eating'...? Don't you have 'anything' to do...?
And so, Cyan Star Spirit became the wall differentiating the common mortals and mortals who progress further.
Born with neither of all the above Star Spirits, Xavier was elated at first when he was a child. After all, born with Gray Star Spirit, he felt 'unique' when compared to everyone else but... his elation fell down like a heavy Boulder thrown at a cliff.
When Xavier knew that his 'Unique' Gray Star Spirit is really 'Unique' in another perspective, he felt gloomy at that time. After all, his Gray Star Spirit can only absorb 'one' percent efficiency of Mana. At that point, Xavier knew that being 'Unique' is not a good thing.
When the nearby children heard his Star Spirit, he unknowingly already put a distance towards everyone because of mocking he received. Somewhere on lines that he is less than a trash or close to it.
From that day on, he studied every knowledge he could acquire. Thinking that if he couldn't rely on his Star Spirit in cultivating Mana, then he will look for other ways. Sadly, until now, he didn't find any method of substitution.
Everytime Xavier looked at his weakly adoptive mother, his determination to cultivate Mana is intensified.
Knowing that his weakly adoptive mother is sick with some kind of incurable sickness, the only method that Xavier, Xander and Xerxes thought of is to acquire a Mythical Level 18 Medicinal Pill. With that in mind, Xander and Xerxes left home to cultivate and then look for such Mythic Medicinal Pill.
Because Xerxes thought of the worst case scenario that they might not find a Level 18 Mythic Medicinal Pill 'on time', he decided to become an alchemist instead.
Although the road of being an alchemist is a perilous road and the probability of increasing his rank in alchemy is difficult, he took it without hesitation for Hannah Walker, who adopted him and loved him.
As for Xander, because he knew that he isn't a smart type of individual but good at battle. He chose the normal path taken by all cultivators. Thinking that the higher his cultivation stage and battle prowess, the higher the chance to get a Mythic Level 18 Medicinal Pill through wide connections. After all, he knew that once a 'Problem' broke out between cultivators, the bigger and stronger his fists are, the better. Adding that time when he first saw Xavier mocked by everyone, he decided to use his strength to protect his 'family'.
Later on, he never thought that Xavier who was the slowest to progress would be the leading figure to the two of them.
Thinking and feeling that Xavier himself is the only 'unfilial adoptive' child of Hannah Walker, he did his best to look for another way. Studying, training and helping his adoptive mother everyday with daily house chores, he unknowingly and finally reached the threshold of First Degree of Vessel Fortification Stage.
Soon after that, Xander and Xerxes came back home to visit after five years of separation. After confirming and comforting Hannah Walker, their adoptive mother's well being, they talked about their experiences in these five years. After that, Xerxes invited Xavier to look for a certain flower named Heaven Cleansing Flower.
Eager to show off his improvement this five years to his elder brothers, he agreed. Just as expected by Xavier, Xander and Xerxes were shocked by his improvement. After all, Xavier's battle prowess, judgement, knowledge, tactic and even imagination is well above them!
Although Xander and Xerxes were shocked, it doesn't change the fact that they are stronger than Xavier... No, Xander is the only one stronger than Xavier. Although Xerxes have a higher cultivation than Xander and Xavier, his battle prowess is nowhere near to both of them.
And so, as the search for Heaven Cleansing Flower went on, Xavier found one at the Gold Saber's Cliff. With bad luck, a 'bloody Beast' passed by and attacked Xavier, causing him to fall from atop of the cliff.
'Wait... How did I survive from falling from Gold Saber's Cliff...?'
Realizing something absurd and out of place, Xavier doubted that situation. After all, the Gold Saber's Cliff is about 1000 meters above ground. With his 'current' strength, it's basically impossible to live on and able to ponder right now!
'And also... Those memories... Alicia and Master Xiaoxue... Why do I know this names but I don't know them!?
I, who was born elsewhere and live in this Village for sixteen years ever since I was a child... I don't recall having experience like having a master and a disciple!
Bu-but... why...? Why do I feel like I know Alicia and Master Xiaoxue in those memories but at the same time I don't know them!?'
Feeling like his mind is about to break, he crouched down while floating on the galaxy like spacious space with countless stars glittering.
"...*Yawn* Hm...? You've finally broken through Foundation Establishment Stage!?"
Suddenly out of nowhere, a 'heavenly seductive' voice of a woman was heard in this galaxy like space.
Startled by that enchanting voice, Xavier looked at the source of that voice. There, he was left speechless when he saw very beautiful woman. Although he didn't saw a lot of woman in 'this' life, he knows that the beauty that he is seeing now should be not any inferior to those top beauties he heard from the city.
About 24-25 years old, that beautiful woman stretched her body in a very lazy manner. Wearing a pitch black dress, long dark hair and crimson red eyes, she is both enchantingly seductive and dangerous with her every movement. Although she is beautiful with a beauty that can topple down nations, she gives off a dangerous aura around her.
Lying down atop of a very huge gate like tablet with 'IV' carved on it, that beautiful woman blinked her beautiful and seductive eyes at Xavier.
"Hm...? Wait a minute, it's not Foundation Establishment... In this world... Foundation Establishment should be equivalent to Level 10 Spirit master...? No, Spirit Realm Stage...? No, True Profound Stage...? No, Level 1 Earth Break Stage...? No, Hundred Sword Control Stage...? No, Divine Essence Stage...? No, Saint Stage...? No..."
As if she is in her own world, the beautiful woman kept mumbling something that Xavier can't understand.
Until she finally snapped out of something, she cried out annoyingly which made her look like a spoiled young married woman.
"AH! I've had enough! Why is the cultivation stages so different in every different worlds! Wait... Ah! I recall it now!---"
At the final moment, she looked at the young man gently with care and smiled. Seeing the smile of that beautiful woman, Xavier was enchanted as he froze in his place. Such beautiful and enchanting smile, Xavier can't believe that he just saw something so dazzling as if he is looking at the morning sunshine!
"Congratulations Xunxi...
Wait, your name now should be... Ah, yeah right...
Redo!
Congratulations Xavier, your now at First Degree of Vessel Fortification Stage.
Your 'fourth' life of cultivation shall start now."
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