The Nine Stages

While walking, Shou kept moving his head, fascinated by everything. He looked every sign, every picture and every item, his eyes glimmering like starlight the whole time. The child looked at him silently before ignoring his actions. Si on the other hand wondered who the real kid between these two were.

"Hey, hey," Shou poked the kids cheek, "why are there so many shops here?"

The kid answered simply, "you are in the City of Extended Delight, what did you expect?"

"I don't know. I know nothing of this place."

"Why did you come here then," the child couldn't help rebut. For a single second, he wondered if rescuing that person was a good idea.

"Si, do you know anything?"

She answered similarly, "[shakes head], all the information I know is provided by the system to you. I only knew the name of this city," she continued, but never mind that, we don't have any time to find out, you still have to finish the Sub-Quest."

A clear window appeared in front of him:

[Quest: First steps

Description: As a potential ruler, Host needs stimulus in his life, for death of boredom is the worst death by far! Find something that entertains Host! Time limit: 24 days.

Reward: Not clarified yet.]

"Do you see that? 6 days already passed," Si shouted at him to hurry. It was almost a week, and they simply could not think of any interesting matter.

She really was anxious. Normally, the Host would do anything to fulfill the Quests, as doing so would only give benefits. Most of the time, the rewards were something the Hosts could not pass on, while the punishments dealt would dissuade them from complaining. However, these methods clearly did not work on someone like Shou.

"Sniff," she sobbed quietly.

"Then do you have anything you would like to do? I am fine with anything."

"Then, then, I want to earn lots of money," Si immediately replied. "And really fast too!" She had heard from her seniors that these Quests were the most lucrative and thus easy for beginners. If she was successful, leaving her name in the annals wasn't just a dream anymore. The more she thought about it, the happier she got. The girl immersed herself in her fantasy, forgetting that as a system, it was her job to grant wishes, not the other way around.

"Would you like me to rob someone then? How would earning money be easy?"

"That's not what I me—"

"Hey, watch out what you say," the child unknowingly interrupted Si (which had made her sad again) and reprimanded Shou. "If someone heard you, we would immediately be arrested!"

"Just from the words 'rob'?" Shou's eyes opened wide. "This must be the safest city in the entire world then."

"It's not like that," the child replied. Afterward, there was a short pause, because the child was contemplating hard on whether to elaborate. In the end, with a long sigh, the child continued, "A few months ago, the Emperor apparently had fallen ill. He's been weak for a long time actually, but now it has gotten really bad. Because of that, many old enemies resurfaced. The Lord of this city made sure to go extra hard on any suspicious individuals. My dad told me that so many have been arrested, the prisons must be practically bursting by now."

"Hmm," Shou tilted his head around, "that sounds reasonable. But somehow, I feel there's something missing in the story."

"Actually, I have a question too."

"Sure, what is it?"

The boy opened his mouth. "Are you a boy or a girl?"

"..."

"Haha, this kid is hilarious, ask him if he needs a system!" Si laughed loudly, loud enough for her stomach to cramp—though she didn't have one. For her, seeing Shou fall in silence was a liberating feeling.

Shou grabbed the boys head. He still gently smiled, but there seemed to be a cold shadow draped over his eyes. "Of course, I am male," he answered and tightened his grip.

Unperturbed, the boy continued walking. "Oh."

While rummaging through the boys hair, Shou soon realized something. "You have spiritual Qi running through you?"

The child looked back and said, "Doesn't anyone?"

"Is that so? Then what stage are you," Shou asked.

"My cultivation has reached the 'Compassion' level."

Shou squinted his eyes and nodded solemnly. "I have no idea what that means."

He had learned through hardships, as times changed, so did certain definitions for cultivation stages. The end would be the same—all toward the eternal Dao—but that didn't mean there weren't different ways to reach it.

Shou stared at the sky, lamenting the vicissitudes of life. Si, seeing that, only rolled her eyes. 'Why is he suddenly pretending to be some kind of great master?'

Next, a green window popped up in front of Shou.

[The road of human cultivation comprises of 9 stages: Mortal Fortification, Spirit Ascension, Longevity Lord, True Sovereign, Vessel Crystallization, Formless Creation, Divine Destruction, Nirvana Transcendent.

The last realm, the Realm of Everlasting, possesses three different names.

Void Sage, Celestial Spirit, Solitary Immortal.

Every realm is further divided in stages. The Compassion stage is a stage in the Mortal Fortification Realm.

The Mortal Fortification Realm consists of Mortals that have just begun the path to immortality. Before they can become a cultivator, and condense Qi Essence, they will have to fortify their mind in three stages: First Compassion, Then Frugality, and lastly Humility. Overcoming these three trials, they shed their 'worldly desires' and enter a short period of Oneness; the optimal time for breaking through and truly starting cultivating from the Spirit Ascension Realm. Work hard, Host!]

"Si, you are really convenient."

"Do not use the word 'convenient' to describe a Lady, please," Si commented.

Shou read what was written and exclaimed, "So that is how it is."

He realized that the last four realms had stayed the same, while everything else changed. What especially surprised him was the first stage, if it could even be called one. He remembered, before he left the world to live as a mortal, all cultivators started at what was now known as the Spirit Ascension Realm. Still, at that time, the spiritual energy was a lot stronger. In this age, having an extra step might not be too bad. "However, Si you are wrong," Shou frowned slightly, "Judging from your guide, the cultivation system should have 12 levels."

"Huh, what are you talking about," Si replied. She felt like he had just said something of utmost importance, but she couldn't pinpoint it. Hence, she urged him to repeat himself.

But he was already distracted by the lights again.

"Big bro," the child asked, "if I am correct, you are a mortal, right? You possess no Qi, even I can feel that."

"Why do you think so, I could also have such a high realm that you can't see through me."

The child shook his head. "You wouldn't have to run from the guards then."

"True enough."

"Hehe," Si laughed, "normally, you would want to be young and with a high realm, but you are the exact opposite—ancient but still mortal."

Shou, hearing her words, gritted his teeth. "Damn, even Buddha retaliates after offended thrice! What will you do if I stop doing the Quests?"

"Huh," Si screamed, "why are you mad at me but not him? Don't you think you are being unfair, where's the equality? [stomps ground]!"

Shou only glared into the sky.

"I am sorry [orz]."

The boy hat been watching Shou's antics the whole time, but he decided not to say anything out of courtesy. Instead, he stopped in front of a shop and said, "We have arrived."