Seven gates for one's ascension.

Qi cultivation is an ancient practice that aims to steal spiritual qi from the world for one's own use.

But since tens of thousands of years ago, all cultivation techniques and manuals have been lost. Well... maybe just until Alonn's opening of the seven books.

Each book details the cultivation method to open seven gates for one's ascension. There are three mortal gates, the heart gate and three spiritual gates.

Mortal Gate – Root Realm: It is the first step on the path to ascension, and the first of the mortal gates. All living beings are naturally born in this Realm. To advance to the next Realm, the cultivator needs to gradually unite the three vital energies.

Two of the vital energies are already present within each living being, which are physical energy and mental energy. The third vital energy is spiritual Qi, which does not exist naturally within the practitioner's body, and needs to be "stolen" from the world.

By achieving perfect union and balance between the three vital energies, within the practitioner's body True Qi is then created, and the amount of this energy that one's can store is determined by the level of training of the three vital energies.

The stronger a cultivator's physical and mental energy, the more spiritual qi he can absorb from the world around him, and as a result he can store more True Qi within himself.

After finally reaching the peak of this realm, the practitioner can then open one of the seven gates that connect the Dantian <–> the cultivator's body <–> the outside world. With that, the amount of True Qi that the cultivator can store inside himself increases exponentially, and he gains the ability to use techniques with True Qi.

This gate is located near the groin of the cultivator. Furthermore, with the Root Gate open wide, the cultivator can finally move on to the second mortal gate, the Sacral Realm.

Alonn was carefully digesting the knowledge acquired, while thinking about the credibility of it.

It's true that books turning to ash so suddenly is not normal, but that does not mean that this cultivation technique is real. He needs to test it himself!

Furthermore, this is simply too convenient to be a mere coincidence, right? Shortly after the return of spiritual qi to the world was announced, Alonn conveniently found a cultivation technique...

'First of all, I need to eat,' Alonn thought and got up from his chair.

Having acquired a fit body, Alonn can no longer keep without eating for long periods of time as before.

After going down the stairs, Alonn went straight to the kitchen. It was already nineteen hours, and this is usually the time they have dinner.

"Mother? Father?" Alonn called the names of his parents when he did not see them in the kitchen.

'How strange, they don't tend to be late for dinner,' Alonn thought.

Suddenly, Alonn realized that there was a letter on the dining table.

—Son, sorry but we aren't going to have dinner together today. Your father and I have urgent matters to attend to, but I believe you can take care of yourself now. Do not try to look for us, because this will be a terrible waste of time for you. Try to find a good wife and try to live a calm and happy life, this is what we wish for you, even in turbulent times. May the world bless you, my son.

"...", having read the letter, Alonn did not know how to react.

What kinds of issues are these that they decided to leave their own son behind without even a proper farewell?

And what does the last part of the letter mean, why does it look like they will never meet again?

Alonn was paralyzed for a long time, and even he didn't know what to feel.

Suddenly, the letter that Alonn was holding turned to ashes in an instant, leaving Alonn dumbfounded.

'How similar...' Alonn wondered if the cultivation technique he had got was also something left by his parents. But remembering the note supposedly left by the author of the books, Alonn was in doubt.

For a long time, Alonn stayed in the kitchen wondering what he was supposed to do from now on. Should he look for his own parents?

After a period of time, Alonn went up the stairs and went to his parents' room.

'Maybe there is something left from them here.'

After looking for a long time, the only thing that Alonn did was another letter.

—Son, if you found this letter it means that your mother did not discover it first. First of all, I'm sorry for not saying goodbye to you properly, but I just had no choice since your mother was so afraid of a formal farewell. The reason I write this letter hidden from your mother is to tell you something she didn't want you to know... We will probably never see each other again, and maybe we are already dead by the time you read this letter. Moreover, you have an older brother who is the one trying to kill us. His name is Magnar, and he is thirty years older than you. And no, this is not a lie. Your mom and I are actually over a hundred years old, although we still look young for certain reasons.

—We tried to hide from him and his uncles, but unfortunately he found us. To keep you safe, we have no choice but to run away and leave you behind. Remember that from now on, the fewer people who know that you are our son, the better. Your brother is extremely powerful and he is not someone you can confront.

—Thats it, Son. I hope you can live a long and happy life. Remember to always exercise, that technique that I taught you was not something I learned in the army, instead it is something much more valuable than what you can imagine. If you train regularly, maybe one day you will be able to understand the mysteries in it. May the world bless you, brat.

When Alonn finished reading, he watched the letter carefully, but it did not turn to ashes like the other. He then hide the letter in his bedroom, in the wardrobe's secret compartment.

After taking a deep breath, Alonn left the house with a head full of confused thoughts.

After walking the streets of the capital for a long time, Alonn stopped in front of a tavern, after hesitating for a moment he then opened the door and entered.

Inside the cave, many elves talked, laughed and drank everywhere. Some played a card game and others were simply leaning on the side watching.

"Give me a dose of Rok,' Alonn told the bartender as he sat on a seat in front of the bar counter.

"Well, we have a new face here. Who are you?" The bartender asked while preparing the dose of Rok for Alonn

"My name is Alonn," the young elf answered with weak smile.

"...Here's it is," The bartender put a glass with Rok in front of Alonn.

Without thinking too much, Alonn drank all the Rok with a single sip.

"Hoho, you don't look happy. Whatever is your problem, be sure that the drinks in this humble tavern are at your disposal! Hahaha," the bartender said while pouring more Rok for Alonn.

"..." Alonn was silent, with only a small weak smile.

After a while, a young elf woman sat next to Alonn and asked the bartender for a drink.

After exchanging short glances with the woman, Alonn found her strangely familiar, where had he seen her before?

"Well, you changed quite a bit since the last time I saw you. Then, did you like the book?", she said with a smile and then drank all the Rok in a single sip, just like Alonn.

"Ah, it's you!" Alone exclaimed as he remembered. She was that woman who works in the bookstore where the books of 'Chronicles of a forgotten world' had been sold.

"Hehe, did you remember now?" she smiled.

"Well, we never talked so... did you really hope me to remeber you?" Alonn said while drinking.

"Heh, you don't seem to be a gentleman. Moreover, I recognized you," she said with a playfull look.

Alonn was planning on being silent, but then he remembered something important.

"Can I ask you a question?" Alonn said and turned to look at the woman.

"Go ahead."

"Can I... see the author of 'Chronicles of a forgotten world'?" Alonn asked with something in his mind.

"Huh!?" the woman didn't seem to expect this kind of question and looked at Alonn strangely before asking, "Why do you want to see the author?"

"This... It's something important," Alonn said while thinking about the books turning to ash, as well as his mother's letter.

The woman looked deeply into Alonn's eyes for a moment before replying: "Sorry, but I can't help you."

Alonn clenched his fists and said, "Listen, I will do whatever you ask me to do if you help me, whether it's giving all my money or even forging something for you."

"Hoh? Are you a smith?" the woman asked a bit surprised.

"What's so special about it? I'm a elf," Alonn said with a smile.

"From the look you gave to books when you went to my bookstore, I thought you were a teacher or an inventor," she said.

"Cough cough, so? Will you help me?"

"..." the woman was silent, tapping her index finger on the bar counter several times.

Perhaps because of the drink, but Alonn found the thinking appearance of the woman somewhat attractive. She has blonde hair that reaches to her waist as well as bright green eyes, and looks no more than thirty years old.

"Currently... There is something I really need. If you can get this for me, I will help you," the woman said and looked at Alonn.

Seeing the woman's serious expression, Alonn took a deep breath and asked, "What do you want?"

The woman smiled and motioned with her finger for Alonn to approach.

After getting close enough to feel the woman's breath, Alonn heard her murmur in his ear, "A spiritual beast core."

Upon hearing this, Alonn felt infinite thunders in his mind. What do she mean by spiritual beast core? This is simply asking him to kill a spiritual beast. According to the legends, the core is the most precious material of a spiritual beast, with countless possible uses!

Even if spiritual qi has returned to the world and new spiritual beasts begin to emerge, that does not mean that it will be simple to kill one.

"Can you get it for me?" the woman asked with narrowed eyes.

Alonn then understood, that woman is just teasing him.

Alonn twisted the corners of his mouth and then put some coins on the bar counter before leaving.

"My name is Elia, come to my bookstore if you ever find a spiritual beast core! hahaha," the woman shouted just before Alonn exits the tavern.

"Sigh..." Alonn sighed as he considered the possibility that he might have to fight a spiritual beast.

Currently, the only possible clue that could lead him to his parents is the author of the books, who used some kind of magic or trick on the books similar to the one Meria used on the letter.

As he returned home, Alonn wondered if he should join the army. Ronn served in the army many years ago, perhaps he left some clue behind.

Upon arriving home, Alonn took a deep breath and murmured: "First of all, I need to check... if this cultivation technique is the real deal!"

Thinking about it, Alonn ate a stew of meat and vegetables that Meria had left ready in the kitchen and put on the training long pants he usually wears.

After arriving at the hanging garden at the top of the tree, Alonn observed the bright moon in the sky and the stars for a long time.

"Father, mother. I dont have grand aspirations, nor any obligations to anyone but you. Even if it ends up costing me everything I have, I will find you. I may not be able to help you right now, but I will do my best from now on!"