3 Unpleasant Memories

After continuously absorbing energy for what seemed to be about four days, his body had undergone a major change. Previously, he only had one part of him break through what he now thought would be a "shell." At the moment, he grew another part, and this time he seemed to be able to breathe even cleaner and cleaner air.

Still unable to see, over the past few days, he managed to get a feeling for his surroundings. His body felt the area around him and it was constantly growing deeper into the walls. He realized that a portion of him was underground. What he thought were walls actually turned out to be a dirt-like substance, meaning he had turned into something like a plant.

Unable to remember a portion of the events of the past, over these few days he mulled over his memories. Constantly he remembered something along the lines of a ghastly figure standing before him… laughing… he shuddered at the thought. However, he did remember what resembled a black wheel.

His body began to feel an uncomfortable pain… if you could call it that. Anytime he thought about his memory he always felt something weird as if he would be torn apart in that instant. It subsided when he stopped thinking about it, but at that moment he felt the ground tremble slightly.

Every so often, he would feel energy rain down upon him. He determined that this energy if he were to think like a plant, would be water— probably. Unable to see but only feel the strangely heavy liquid fall upon him, this was the only conclusion he could come up with. However, his entire body felt invigorated by this water as it was as rich as an emperor.

Sucking in the liquid, his lower body grew even further, growing stronger, longer, and sturdier. Despite his current size, beneath the earth laid an intricate system of what he felt to be roots, which is what mainly led him to believe he was a plant.

Unfortunately, he didn't know what kind of plant he was. He could be some sort of mythical herb being nurtured, or he could just be a soybean. Either way, he felt compelled to live. He had to speed up his growth as much as he could at the moment and hope that some sort of power would unlock within him.

Living just to die… he was nothing more than a pig! Be born to get fat, eat to get fat, get slaughtered to fatten others.

Although such thoughts were flowing in his mind, he still couldn't help but think that he was being watered by a being. Most probably it was a human. He could also feel a faint, yet distinct power that grew stronger every time he was watered just a short distance away.

If he wanted to be able to grow faster, would he be able to suck the power of the being close to him to grow at an even quicker rate?

Testing his theory, he willed one of his roots that were closest to the "human" to grow even closer to see if he can catch some of their essences that they were exuding.

Over these few days, he had attempted to move at every moment he was able to. Becoming a bit more proficient, he managed to finally be able to control the direction his roots grew.

Choosing the direction where the source of power was growing, he directed one of his roots there, for that's all he could manage at the moment.

Coming in close, he felt the faint power become even stronger. Stopping to prevent being discovered by this figure, he stopped and tried to sap energy if any.

Concentrating on that one root, he felt an overwhelming amount of power coming into contact with him.

"What is this?" Clearly shocked, he began to grow hungrier. "If I can harness this power, I might be able to grow to greater heights despite my current body!" Slowly increasing the amount so as to not alert the other party, he gained so much energy. It was as if he were pouring a sea into a cup!

His other roots took this opportunity to grow stronger and deeper. Pressing further down, his longest root was at an impressive 5 meters underground! For a plant his size, of course, this would not be normal.

If a plant could chuckle, you would hear this guy laughing as if he were crazy. "A genius… I truly am a genius!"

After a while, the "human" stopped whatever action it was to make them gain power. When they stopped, the plant, unfortunately, was unable to soothe his hunger.

"Wait!" He had wanted to say.

Unable to absorb energy as he once did, he began to ponder.

"Are my roots able to do that?" Inside of him, a strange feeling welled up inside. He felt something new about to burst from within. It was a feeling that was familiar to when he first sprouted a root, but this one was different. Its strength greatly surpassed that of the normal roots he had.

An excruciating pain flooded his mind and soul. His mind felt like it was splitting apart, his soul was no different.

Just then, a small root broke free. It held energy that was similar to what he had felt from the "human" earlier. Feeling exhausted, his mind collapsed into a frozen state.

…

Mountains of Arbor

Shortly after Yaila planted the seed, she watered it from the lake water. Cupping her hands, she let the water flow in. Carrying it back to where she had just planted the seed, she poured it all around.

"Ah! That's too much…" Accidentally pouring all of the water from her cupped hands onto the seed, she feared that she had drowned it. The water already seeped into the ground, so there was nothing she was able to do.

Sighing, she walked to a spot near her and began to cultivate.

In this world, cultivation was equivalent to a person's power. To every stage, there were four levels beneath, and there were a total of eight stages that anyone has ever managed to cultivate to. Cultivation also increased a person's lifespan by more than one hundred years and greatly improved one's body and mind.

The first two stages were considered to be the beginner stages.

First-stage, Mortal Awakening.

Second-stage, Spirit Holder.

The first stage is as it looks, a mortal awakening their ability to cultivate. The second stage was also straight-forward. They were able to utilize the spirit energy easier than the Mortal Awakening stage and also hold spirit energy within their body. However, they could not use it outside of their body.

The third and fourth stages were known as the intermediate stages.

Third-stage, Spirit Potential.

Fourth-stage, Blood Motion.

The third stage is when cultivators check their ability to harness the power of spirit energy as well as utilize the power in battle. The fourth stage is what most cultivators strive to reach the fastest. This is when your bloodline activates, granting you enormous and wild abilities. One rumor of an expert's bloodline ability was the ability to turn the seas upsidedown, causing massive storms and the destruction of the environment if he willed it. Another bloodline ability held the power to increase the cultivator's speed and power.

Of course, there was also a drawback to using their bloodline power. Every time they used it, the spirit energy within them would be consumed— the greater the bloodline power, the greater the consumption rate. If their spirit energy depleted, their power would then use their blood. Of course, if used too much, they would die.

The fifth and sixth stages were praised for being able to increase one's power compared to other cultivations significantly. These were called the advanced stages.

Fifth-stage, Martial Body.

Sixth-stage, Martial Spirit.

Cultivators at these stages were usually elders of a sect as it takes a large amount of time to get from the fourth stage to the fifth, and the fifth stage to the sixth. Those of the sixth stage are able to live for up to 400 years. The average age for the sixth stage is normally greater than 150 years.

The fifth stage, however, was crucial for one to attain if they wanted to live as a powerful being that could shake the planet. This stage granted one a powerful body, enhancing one's physical abilities. The sixth stage shook the skies. At this stage, your spirit energy storage would be formed. This is storage of spirit energy held a vast ocean of energy. You would also be able to form something known as a martial spirit, a being apart from you that you could control. Cultivators below stage six were unable to see this spirit, and even at the fifth stage, you could only feel a faint presence if you were looking.

Finally, the seventh and eighth stage. The profound stages.

Seventh-stage, Boundless Mind.

Eighth-stage, Limitless Master.

Not much is known about these profound stages. Only speculations of the seventh stage exist, theories like an expansion of your mind and martial spirit control. The eighth stage was something cultivators only ever fantasized about. This stage has rumored to be able to see through any attack and boosted the power of their bloodline ability to a frightening degree. In total, there were thought to only have been two cultivators to have ever reached the eighth stage.

Disciples of the Moral Timere Sect had a requirement to join, as do all sects. Their cultivation must be no less than first-stage Mortal Awakening level 3 at age twelve. Every year, sects from all over gather to the First City.

Unlike other cities with actual names, this city was known to have the first ever cultivator, hence the name, First City.

After gathering, they hold cultivator capacity tests to see the potential of each person and they were given a rating out of ten. A rating of seven out of ten was considered to be a genius, and any less than four weren't even looked at. One must know, to be able to join a sect, their cultivator capacity much reach at least five out of ten.

Yaila was well-known in the cultivator world, reaching a cultivator capacity level of eight! However, she had always neglected cultivating for reasons only she knew.

Remembering the words of her father, she had to cultivate to third-stage Spirit Potential level 3 in two months. If not, she would be banished from the sect and disowned by her father. Already at age nineteen, most cultivators her age would be at third-stage Spirit Potential level 4, but because she hardly ever cultivates she was currently at third-stage Spirit Potential level 1.

It was an absurd hurdle to jump, but because of her cultivation capacity, her father expected at least this much of her. At nine out of ten, they would become fourth-stage Blood Motion level 2 at nineteen, so her father decided that third-stage Spirit Potential level 3 would be sufficient to catch up to her peers.

And so, she kept cultivating despite the increasingly strict schedule of her father after her mother died.

The next day Yaila visited the hidden spot in the Mountains of Arbor, she had tried a slightly different technique of watering the plant. Before she came, she asked the cultivators that tended to spiritual herbs how they water plants. After much discussion, she finally managed to get a disciple to teach her how.

Without the proper tools, it would be hard, but it was unfortunate that she couldn't buy any. The spiritual herb tenders never give anything to outsiders. It was a miracle she was able to learn to properly water the seed.

Once again, when she arrived at the hidden area, she cupped her hands and let the water flow in. Then, she performed her technique with slow, yet loving hands.

The last wish her mother asked was to care for the seed, so how could she not put in any effort?

As she began to water the seed and think of her mother, her expression turned sorrowful but resolute. Like a mother, she cared for the seed as if it were a child.

While watering the seed, she felt the seed itself feeling at ease as she began to smile and continued watering.