Learning Divine Rank Skill

Yuan, Lily, and their mother Anna were nestled together on a large bed in a fairly spacious room, holding each other tightly. 

Time seemed to slip away as they lost track of the minutes, overwhelmed by the emotions of Anna's miraculous recovery. Though it was only a temporary solution, the three of them found solace in this moment.

"Let's stop for now; it's almost lunchtime... In the meantime, help Mom get used to walking again! We'll have a special meal together in the dining room today, something to celebrate this occasion," Lily suggested, quickly leaving the room to make the arrangements.

Once his sister had gone, Yuan focused on assisting his mother in regaining her ability to walk. At first, Anna struggled to find her balance, resembling a baby taking their first steps. But with each attempt, she grew steadier until she could stand on her own without support.

"Now that you can stand properly, Mom, why don't you try walking by yourself?" Yuan suggested, eager to witness his mother's progress while recognizing the need for him to begin his own cultivation after witnessing the miracle of the pill.

"Alright! Let me give it a try," Anna responded, cautiously moving her leg and taking her first step in a very long time. Encouraged, she attempted a second step but found herself losing balance and on the verge of falling.

"Mom! Be careful!" Yuan quickly grabbed her waist, preventing her from hitting the ground. "Don't rush things; take your time and get accustomed to it thoroughly first."

Silence fell between them as they held each other, their faces mere inches apart. The words Yuan had intended to speak were stuck on his tongue as he pressed his face against his mother's. Their lips were just moments away from touching, their breaths mingling in the air. In that instant, they both hesitated.

'This is my son and nothing more. Stay calm. But why is my heart beating so fast? I must admit, he is quite handsome,' Anna's thoughts raced as she couldn't help but notice Yuan's brown eyes, now tinged with a subtle golden hue. With every passing second, her heartbeat quickened.

Meanwhile, Yuan found himself captivated by his mother's gaze, unable to tear his eyes away. They remained motionless, oblivious to their surroundings, lost in each other's eyes.

Tap! Tap!

"Mom! Someone is coming!" Yuan's words snapped them back to reality as they heard approaching footsteps outside the room.

"Huh? Ah, yes..." Anna exclaimed, her face flushed red, as she took a step back, creating distance between them.

"From now on, Mom, we should be more cautious," Yuan explained, his face slightly blushing. In his previous life, he had never been close to a woman and had died a virgin.

"Umm," Anna simply nodded, turning her head aside.

Unable to meet each other's gaze directly, the uncomfortable tension hung between them.

Click! The door swung open, revealing a stunning woman in her late twenties. Emma, dressed as a maid, entered the room with grace and elegance. Yuan recognized her immediately from his memories. 

Emma had been part of their family for over 20 years, even before the birth of Lily and Yuan. She had been brought out of the slums by Anna at the age of nine and raised as her own.

Emma froze in her tracks upon seeing Anna and Yuan standing there, radiating with excellent health. Tears welled up in Anna's eyes.

"Mistress? You have truly recovered! I thought Young Miss was playing a prank on me. But it's real! Mistress, I am overjoyed for you," Emma exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. She had prayed tirelessly for Anna's healing, but all her prayers had seemed in vain. Witnessing Anna standing on her own overwhelmed her with emotion.

"I appreciate it, Emma. However, my healing is only temporary, so there is little reason to celebrate. Anyway, is lunch ready yet? It has been a while since I had a satisfying meal," Anna expressed her anticipation for a hearty lunch. 

She had grown tired of the monotonous flavor of oatmeal, which had been her only option for so long.

"Well, I almost forgot why I came here in the first place... Young master and mistress, the meal has been prepared. Please come down as soon as possible before it gets cold," Emma replied, a peculiar smile gracing her face.

Anna nodded. "You go ahead; we'll be there in a minute." Emma made a small bow towards Anna and exited the room.

As Emma spoke with Anna, Yuan couldn't help but notice peculiar traits. Emma's tongue was long and forked like that of a snake. Her eyes had a yellow, snake-like hue, and her ears were slightly more pointed than a human's. 

It became clear to Yuan that Emma was a member of the snake tribe of the beastman race. How else could he explain her snake-like tongue and yellow eyes?

"Let's have lunch together while it's still hot, so we don't keep them waiting," Yuan suggested, supporting his mother's gait by holding her hand.

Anna's face flushed, and her heartbeat quickened as Yuan took her hand, but she did not reject the gesture.

'Calm down, there is nothing between us. He is just helping me walk properly!' Anna tried to reassure herself as they slowly left the room.

As they made their way to the dining room, Anna carefully observed every corner of the house. With each step, she grew more confident in walking on her own, albeit slowly. Yuan closely followed, keeping a watchful eye on her progress.

"It's still the same as it was in the past!" Anna exclaimed, turning to face the living room. Memories of Yuan and Lily's childhood playtime flooded her mind. She could vividly recall the joyful moments they had spent in this very space.

No portrait of Yuan and Lily's father adorned the walls. Anna had disliked him and was forced into marriage with Jacob due to his lineage as the third child of Count Blank's concubine. 

Because of this, after marrying Anna, he had left the Blank household and enlisted in the kingdom army as a high-ranking magic knight. However, just two months after Yuan's birth, he had tragically lost his life while defending a city from a beast tide.

Young Yuan had heard Anna's account of his father and stopped asking further questions, as he had never met him.

"Mom! You can explore the house later. Let's have our lunch first," Yuan suggested.

"Alright, dear. Let's go," Anna agreed, feeling her hunger grow. The two of them headed straight to the dining room.

Upon reaching the dining room, they found Lily and Emma waiting for them.

"Little brother, you two took your time!" Lily exclaimed, a hint of envy in her expression directed towards Yuan.

"Sigh! It's not his fault. It's my own limitations that caused us to be slow," Anna admitted, taking responsibility.

"I'm not blaming you at all, Mom! Sister Emma, could you please bring the food and join us?" Lily requested, addressing her mother and then turning to Emma.

Emma started serving food onto the table, while Yuan and the others took their seats. She placed an extra chair, prepared for someone to join them.

Once everyone had finished eating, Yuan, eager to pursue cultivation, was the first to finish.

"I'm done! I'll be in my room if you need anything... Mom, you should rest today. Your body is still weak after recovering," Yuan informed them before leaving the dining area.

"Young lady, I sense a change in the young master. He radiates maturity now. In my personal opinion, it's a positive development for everyone. Wouldn't you agree?" Emma remarked, cutting a piece of meat from her plate and casting a quick glance in Lily's direction.

"I suppose you could say that. It's the natural course of maturity for his age," Lily responded, acknowledging Emma's observation.

"Indeed! Children grow up so quickly. Unfortunately, I couldn't provide him with a proper childhood, but I'll do everything I can to support him now," Anna sighed, regretting the time lost due to her illness. She had vowed to herself to remain close to Yuan and offer her unwavering support.

"From now on, I'll also do my best to support him in every way possible. After all, I am his big sister," Lily declared, puffing her chest out a little with pride.

"You still behave like a child, my daughter, hahaha!" Anna chuckled, teasing Lily affectionately.

—

After returning to his bedroom, Yuan settled himself onto his bed, feeling relaxed. Despite his eagerness to cultivate for the first time, he didn't want to rush the process. He desired to experience the peacefulness of cultivating in real life.

"Hey, Nora! How long will the pill's effect last?" Yuan inquired, seeking information about the duration of the tier 3 healing pill he had given to his mother. He wanted to ensure that her condition remained stable until he obtained a cultivation technique for her.

[Naturally, the pill's effect typically lasts for an hour. However, since your mother is mortal, the effect will last for a day. Don't worry too much; just focus on beginning your cultivation. You can purchase a Divine-grade technique for your mother from the system shop,] Nora explained, providing insight into his mother's situation.

"Very well, I'll follow your instructions. Please, Nora, bring out the cultivation method," Yuan responded. Almost immediately, a golden-colored book materialized in his right hand.

Clasping the book in both hands, Yuan remarked, "So this is what skill books look like in real life. It's a strange sensation to hold it in my hands." The book's cover was adorned with numerous unfamiliar symbols, emitting a profound aura. Yuan felt as though he was in possession of something divine.

[Snap out of your trance, host. And start learning the technique right away!] Nora admonished him, noticing his distraction instead of focusing on the task at hand.

"Right, ohh!" Yuan jolted back to awareness upon hearing Nora's voice within his thoughts. He cautiously opened the book, revealing pages filled with a strange, symbolic language he couldn't comprehend.

Undeterred by his lack of understanding, Yuan persisted in reading the book. Closing his eyes unintentionally, he experienced a sensation akin to rejuvenation and relaxation, as if taking a refreshing shower on a hot day. It felt as though he was being hypnotized by something.

Gradually, the words on the pages began to make sense to him. Previously gibberish phrases transformed into comprehensible knowledge that flowed into his mind. This continued for nearly an hour until he was abruptly awakened by a sharp, female computerized voice.

[Ding! You have successfully learned Transcendent Heavenly Scripture!]

"Transcendent Heavenly Scripture?... Sounds quite grand!" Yuan exclaimed, his face lit up with a broad smile.