17 A Frog's Climb 2

He earned one-eighth of a level from ending the life of the rabbit, and the task gave him enough to reach the halfway point of level 8. The next task would be easier to complete than ending a living things life. Have a Stat Total of 250, at that time he had a stat total of 196.

With his physical might at that point, he could wipe the floor with many, his focus and intensive training caused him to get a fever and he was out for two months. As his fever slowly whittled to a crawl and then ended as if it never existed Caelums stats received an unexpected increase.

His constitution stat had increased by 8, and his agility by 1. It had likely to do with him growing taller, even with his immobility for two months. When Caelum was able to move again he dialed back on the training so he would not be out of commission for two months, again. Caelum considered using the weights that remained under his crib during this time but he decided against it he had a bit of time left.

Ten months of training later, Caelum accomplished the Stat Total of 250.

He noticed something odd also, there were some question marks where his high-grade circuitry used to be, he had to check out why it was like that soon.

His stats looked like this at the time he completed that task on the last day of the second year of training.

[ Strength: 107 > 130 ]

[ Constitution: 36 > 44 ]

[ Agility: 17 > 20 ]

[ Perception: 11 > 15 ]

[ Intelligence: 10 > 15 ]

[ Charm: 16 > 18 ]

[ Luck: 7]

[ Regality: 1 ]

He at that time had at last reached level 9!

And his next task completed itself the moment that it appeared: Have a Stat Average of 25. The task that followed was Visit the Old Man's Cultivation Store and get your Roots Checked. This was wonderful, he had an incentive to find an answer as to why his circuitry was like it was.

Caelum asked to go there for his birthday reward. It seemed that all orphans got rewards on their birthday. Caelum was surprised it took him that long to figure it out. Their new gifts made it easy to tell.

More than likely it was to make up for the lack of quality that was present in the orphanage. They did not get much, and to keep them happy they could not be frugal at least one day of the year.

He was allowed to leave after his blindfold was put on and Vaile held his hand to ensure that he did not get lost. With such a certainty they headed towards the town, towards the Old Man's Cultivation Store.

Vaile waited outside while Caelum took care of the business that was inside.

When he entered the store once he was allowed to go there the noise of the door opening drew attention to himself as he entered. The eyes of the old man met Caelums and a brief smile painted the old man's face.

"Hey... almost didn't recognize you. Caelum it has been a while."

The old man almost seemed ecstatic about the young mans huge change.

"Yeah, I want to have my roots checked again if you could it would be awesome."

"Why, while your change is fantastic, why? it would not have changed."

Caelum made gestures with his hands in an attempt to relax the old man as he spoke. "Just want to make sure everything is fine."

"Just don't tell anyone I did," The old man lead Caelum into the back.

When he left the formation this time around the orbs that surrounded the complicated formation cracked after they turned orange.

The old man gasped as the orb changed from emerald green to orange.

He examined the orb closely, then looked at the formation. "Eh..." The old man was now sweating.

"He does..." The old man continued muttering things that Caelum could almost be picked up with his increased perception but still failed to.

Moments later he lead Caelum out of the back room. His expression no longer in thought, he looked almost reverent of Caelum.

"Junior..." Before the old man continued to speak he paused, his thoughts becoming coherent.

"You should when your older join a sect, you really should. Any sect would work extremely hard to accommodate your talent."

"Is it different Mr. Shopkeep?" Caelum understood that it was, but he lacked any specifics.

"No need to call me Shopkeep you may call me Tian." Tian's expression kind and gentle.

"Then I will oblige, Mr. Tian, the orb just went orange there is no need to be so polite to me."

"As a kindness, I will let you know so you won't be taken advantage of, anyone would just not tell you a damn thing. I will if you grow the monsters older than me will fear you and that would be kinda fun and if I am your friend why would I fear that."

Taking a breath Tian spoke again.

"You have Exalted Circuitry."

The task completed itself and he reached level 9 from the task. The task had also gave him enough fame to reach the next prestige rank.

"Mr.Tian, whats that? You make it seem amazing." Caelum had no idea what Exalted Circuitry was.

"Its when your circuitry makes you require less effort to breakthrough. It took me 2 years to reach the first cultivation level of cultivation."

Tian gulped and spoke.

"For you, if you wanted to you could without any real effort do so in a month and if you did decide to cultivation diligently, a week."

"Holy fuck!" Those Enrichment Serums did him a world of favors when it came to his talent.

"Holy fuck is right, many are envious of such talented youth that is why they kill them before they can sprout."

"Thank you for telling me." Caelums words came from his heart.

"Thank you for being kind to this old man." He bowed slightly while his powerful aura was there it was much less hostile.

"It's just manners." He did understand his words with him having read about arrogant young masters who walk the streets just looking for trouble.

"Which many arrogant youngsters don't have." Tian reminded.

"Do be careful who you let know." Caelum insisted.

"I won't tell a soul, now go I am sure Miss Vailes is waiting for you." Caelum left after he said leaving behind parting words.

"Thanks again." Like that he exited the shop.

He could not hear his words but Tian spoke one last phrase that carried itself into the wind.

"A real... Exalt Variant."

On the way back in front of the orphanage after they looked around she asked him one question and it was the question that he would be careful to answer, the words of the wise are heeded for a reason.

Caelum decided upon an answer that suited this situation that would appease Vaile.

"I will tell you when it is time."

"Haha, a surprise it will be if you won't speak of it I won't ask. You are working tirelessly I can hold off on getting an answer. Just keep working hard."

"And here, do not spend it all in one place." Caelum took the money from Vaile and put it in his pocket.

He thanked her for the money and they returned to the orphanage - his blindfold on then off once they arrived back at the orphanage.

Caelum loved to see himself progress, he did but even he needed a break once in a while from all the training and to actually talk to someone instead of him doing all the talking.