Cultivation Realms

The sun hung high in the sky, bathing the village in its warm rays, slowly evaporating the water pooled in countless corners.

The muddy streets were surprisingly empty this morning, a rare sight in the overpopulated village that was never quiet during the day.

Yet, if someone stopped to listen closely, they wouldn't just hear the tweeting of birds or the rustling of trees swaying in the breeze.

Instead, they would hear something entirely unexpected.

***

At the age of seven, individuals had the chance to take the martial arts talent test, which involved three different phases. By the end of these tests, their talent grade would be revealed, determining how quickly they could advance in their cultivation.

Talent grades were divided into four categories: bottom grade, low grade, intermediate grade, and high grade. These grades determined whether a person would remain a commoner or rise to the status of a martial arts master, revered by countless people across the continent.

The test itself measured how well one performed in each of the three phases, designed by the first expert to reach the Holy Realm cultivation level on this continent—Garuda, the Holy Father of Martial Arts.

A middle-aged man with short black hair, dressed in high-quality black martial arts attire, addressed the crowd gathered in the spacious room, large enough to accommodate a thousand people.

For cultivation realms...

Before the middle-aged man could continue his explanation, a young boy seated in the first row abruptly raised his hand, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"Oh, someone wasn't taught how children should behave," the man thought, his gaze narrowing in irritation. He glanced at the number on the boy's chair and flipped open the book lying on his desk.

Chair number 1, Yone Danci, son of David Danci.

As he read the boy's profile, a bead of sweat formed on his forehead. He quickly wiped it away before anyone could notice, forcing a smile before addressing Yone and allowing him to speak.

But as Yone's words came, the man's veins bulged in anger, and for a brief moment, he almost lost control, tempted to strike the boy down.

"You've said a lot of unnecessary things, yet you haven't mentioned anything about cultivation realms—which is far more important to me. Is there a reason for that?" Yone asked, his ears perking up, awaiting the response.

"I was literally about to get into that before you interrupted me, you damn spoiled brat," Thomas thought, his eyes turning bloodshot as he struggled to control his anger.

Since this adventurer association branch had been established, no one had ever interrupted his lecture—especially when he wasn't even obligated to give one.

If Thomas hadn't known better, with all of Yone's information laid out in front of him, he would have thought the boy was there just to mock him.

Thomas shot a quick glance at the white-haired man sitting on a sofa at the back of the room, observing everything in silence, before refocusing and answering in a calm tone.

"Yes, well... as for the cultivation realms, they're divided into four: Foundation Establishment Realm, Qi Condensation Realm, Bone Tempering Realm, and the Holy Realm. Each of these is further divided into nine layers, from the 1st to the 9th."

Yone listened carefully, taking in every word.

He hadn't been formally educated on cultivation realms, so he needed an experienced person like Thomas to explain it. For now, the information satisfied him, though he still felt it wasn't quite enough.

At this moment, Yone only knew the basics. He wanted to ask more questions to gain a deeper understanding, but he hesitated. He knew delving too far into martial arts before turning twenty could provoke his mother's anger, and that would only lead to trouble at home.

' Well, things can become troublesome if I ask too much so I'll try to make it reasonable as much.' Yone thought with annoyance.

His eyes flashed with a demonic glee as he thought about all these restrictions preventing him from getting stronger.

' I'll have to take care of this situation as soon as possible,' He uttered as he thought about the system, instantly, a blue panel materialized in front of him.

Host: Yone Danci.

Cultivation Realm: None.

Cultivation Method: Devour - Unknown Grade.

Mystical Talents: None.

Inventory Items: None.

Missions Available: Extract an amber out of your first corpse.

After Yone's first interaction with the system, he quickly grasped its workings, which, to his surprise, weren't complicated at all.

What truly caught his attention was the mission displayed at the end of the panel. He wasn't sure if it was the mention of amber or the devour cultivation method that intrigued him, but one thing was certain:

He wouldn't wait long to test it.

"That amber extraction is my only chance to get stronger right now. I have to start using it!" His eyes flashed with a ruthlessness that none of the hundred or so children sitting around him could match.

Luckily for Yone, no one seemed to notice his intense gaze, as they remained focused on the middle-aged man who was explaining more about the tests.

"Your boy is quite the interesting one, Sir David," remarked an old man with a long white mustache and flowing hair, sipping his tea. "Or perhaps it's more accurate to say he's far more curious than any normal child?"

He chuckled lightly after finishing his words.

"Hahaha, you know how kids are Daniel, their bottomless thirst for knowledge is something each of us has experienced before," David replied with a faint smile.

Daniel, the lord of Stream Village gave him a side look before adding in a calm tone.

" Don't you know about that saying David," He carassed his long mustache seemingly thinking about something before he continued," Oh yes, I remember it now, you should excuse my old memory friend."

"No worries, old friend. So, what's that example you mentioned?" David asked, his hand gripping the cup of tea as he took a small sip.

"It goes like this: A curious cat will always find a way to get itself killed."

Bam!

The cup in David's hands shattered into dust the moment the old man finished speaking, a faint red light flashing briefly in David's eyes.