[A/N:
Hi... I just came to say that I'm really stupid... Well, I wanted to let you know that I changed the name of the first realm of cultivation to Energy Absorption because I originally thought that grading/gradering was similar to absorption—and I was mistaken. So, sorry about that... I hope you'll like this chapter.
That's all for now. Bye!]
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Two Hours Later….
Lying on the grass, both Vivian and Evan were utterly exhausted from the intense training session funded by David. They both gasped for air, their chests rising and falling heavily. Despite the overwhelming fatigue, Vivian forced her lips to part, her voice barely escaping as she spoke towards David. "Huuu... How much longer?... Huuu..." Her large brown eyes were struggling to stay open, and her words came out in a strained, breathless tone. Evan, on the other hand, was in a similar state, though slightly better off. Unlike Vivian, who was physically weaker, he lay still on the grass, trying to regain his strength.
Hearing her words, David, who was still focused on his own training, finally tore his attention away and turned toward the exhausted pair lying on the ground. A small smirk formed on his lips as he walked over to them. "You know…" he began, crouching down beside them. "After today… you'll start… practical training… instead of just technical exercises," he said, tilting his head slightly while flashing them a broad, mischievous grin.
The moment his words registered, Vivian's face paled as a thought screamed in her mind"They're trying to kill me! I never signed up for this!" She knew that David wouldn't accept refusal, yet she still refused to accept her fate. Desperately, she searched for an excuse—anything that would get her out of this situation. Her large brown eyes, already on the verge of breaking down, darted around in panic until, suddenly, an idea struck her. Her eyes widened, and she shouted,
"That's not fair! You're a cultivator, and we're not…! Besides, you're older!" she exclaimed, hoping that her protest would be enough to change his mind. However, before she could gauge David's reaction, a voice cut through the air, making her turn her head toward the source of the sound.
"Vivian… don't embarrass yourself…" Evan's tired voice carried a hint of amusement as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. A small, weary smile played on his lips.
Vivian frowned, still unwilling to accept the situation. "What are you talking about? I'm right!" she protested, her voice rising slightly in desperation.
Evan simply shook his head before replying in a calm yet knowing tone, "You do realize… David hasn't even been using cultivation, right?"
At his words, Vivian's eyes widened in pure shock. Her gaze snapped to David, who stood there with nothing but an amused smirk on his face.
.........….
As they walked along the path leading home, David and Evan made their way back alone. Vivian had already gone home earlier, too drained to continue.
"Evan… how are you feeling?" David asked, a hint of concern flickering across his face as he turned to look at his younger brother.
Evan, slightly surprised by the question, turned his head toward David. "Why do you ask?" he questioned, curiosity lacing his voice.
David sighed before answering, "You know… before, you used to faint a lot, and our parents never figured out why… even now, they still don't know the cause. And yet, here I am, putting you through some pretty harsh training..." His voice carried a mix of concern and guilt.
Hearing his brother's words, Evan grinned widely. "I'm fine, see?" he declared confidently, pointing at himself with his thumb.
David observed him for a moment before smiling in relief.
.........….
Several Hours Later
Evan once again walked along the familiar path, heading towards the Spirit Tree atop the hill. As he strolled, his gaze drifted to his status screen.
[STATUS]
[NAME: EVAN SOL]
[RACE: HUMAN]
[BLOODLINE: Sun Dragon (Unawakened)]
[AGE: 9 years / 3 months / 22 days]
[LIFE SPAN: 79 years / 6 months / 19 days]
[CULTIVATION: Energy Absorption Realm [6]]
[BODY: Initiate Universal Body]
[GRADE: |Top|Low|]
[...]
[SPIRIT ROOT: ELEMENTAL]
[GRADE: |Grand|Mid|]
[...]
"Hmmm… It's been 16 days since my reincarnation… and I'm already at Energy Absorption Realm [6]..." he muttered to himself, satisfaction evident in his tone. "I feel like I'll break through to [7] soon… but it'll still take a little more time..." He paused for a moment before estimating, "Maybe around four to six more hours of cultivation, and I'll reach [7]."
Shifting his focus, he spoke aloud, "System."
[Yes?] A robotic voice immediately responded.
"How does my strength scale within the Energy Absorption Realm?" he asked curiously, eager to see if his sword training had made any difference.
[Answering… The Host's strength currently scales at the mid-point of Energy Absorption Realm sub-stage 7.]
Hearing this, a grin spread across Evan's face. "Awesome!" he shouted excitedly. However, moments later, his expression shifted, and a different kind of smile—one filled with anticipation—curled on his lips. "In that case… I can finally test my strength..." With those words, he quickened his pace, transitioning from a walk to a sprint, heading towards the forest where he could find spirit beasts to challenge and spirit plants to collect.
.........…..
A Few Minutes Later
Evan raced through the forest, his sharp, almost snow-white eyes scanning his surroundings. Yet, despite his speed, he had yet to encounter a single spirit beast or a spirit plant. He skillfully maneuvered through the dense foliage, effortlessly dodging vines, branches, and large bushes as he pressed forward.
Just as frustration was beginning to set in, something in the air caught his attention. His eyes immediately locked onto the target, and a wide grin stretched across his face.
It was that bird—the very same one that had stolen his spirit plant before!
"Got you!" he shouted, pushing himself forward at full speed. Unlike their first encounter, where he had been too slow to catch up, this time was different. This time, he closed the distance in an instant, seizing the feathered thief before it even had a chance to react.
...............…
Through mountains and valleys, a dark speck flew across the sky. But if one were to take a closer look, they would see that this speck was not just a shadow, not just a fleeting blur—it was a person. Or rather, a woman. In this case, Livia.
Her face was twisted in fury, her eyes burning with hatred—or perhaps, fear.
She flew and flew, over mountains and valleys, seemingly without a destination. Her clothes fluttered wildly due to the sheer speed at which she moved, a speed beyond the comprehension of the human eye. She was moving far faster than the speed of sound.
Yet, despite her breathtaking velocity, one could still discern the rage contorting her features. Her lips parted as if she were speaking to herself.
"That damned bastard!" she screamed in frustration. "How dare he propose something like that…?!" Her voice carried a storm of anger as she recalled his words.
......
"How on earth do you have such an artifact?!" she had shouted at him in utter shock. Hearing her words, a smirk crept onto his face, replacing his previously composed expression.
"You see, Livia... I have my ways," he replied in a convincing tone. But he didn't stop there. "Besides... why do you care where I got such an artifact? Isn't your own life more important?" His smirk widened, testing her patience.
Livia clenched her fists, still fuming. His arrogance knew no bounds. Yet, she knew she had to learn more about this artifact.
"...You're right," she admitted grudgingly, though her voice was strained. The two men standing nearby simply observed the interaction, their curiosity piqued.
Loki's grin grew even wider at her response.
"See? Isn't it easier when you swallow your pride?" he teased. She gritted her teeth, struggling to keep her composure, but he wasn't finished yet.
"Now, let's get to business. The artifact I speak of—the Heaven Concealing Artifact—as its name suggests, allows one to hide their presence from almost anyone."
The moment he uttered its name, everyone in the room widened their eyes in disbelief.
Livia, thinking quickly, responded, "What do you want?" Her voice was sharp, knowing full well she might not like his answer.
Loki, hearing her swift reaction, replied in a flat tone, "Your life." His smirk never wavered.
"HUH?!"
She and everyone else in the room were momentarily stunned into silence. But almost instantly, Livia sprang up from the mat, her rage erupting.
"HOW DARE YOU PROPOSE SUCH A THING?!" she roared at him, veins bulging on her forehead. A surge of her energy exploded outward, pressing down on everything around her with crushing intensity. Yet, in the very next moment, her aura disappeared.
"We will meet again!" she spat before vanishing from the room in fury.
The two remaining men exchanged uncertain glances, then turned their heads toward Loki, who still bore his unbothered grin.
Feeling their eyes on him, he merely chuckled and said, "What?"
...…..
"That bastard... He will pay for this humiliation…! How dare he speak to me like that? To ME?!" Livia screamed, coming to an abrupt halt in midair. She hovered several kilometers above the earth, her face a twisted mask of fury and hatred—but also, fear.
Despite what she had told herself earlier—that her dignity was worth more than her life—she knew deep down that life without freedom was meaningless. That was why she had reacted the way she did.
Suddenly, a monstrous figure emerged on the horizon. Livia's rage flared even hotter.
"A worthless creature like you dares to stand in my way?!" she bellowed, swinging her arm. In an instant, a blade of Qi shot from her hand, cutting through the beast before it could even approach. Its body was split cleanly in two, blood spilling as the lifeless remains tumbled toward the earth below.
Watching its demise, Livia still fumed, but then—
Her eyes widened.
Before she could react, a swift slash cut through the air.
Her head was severed from her body in a single, fluid motion.
"Huh…?" It was the only sound she could make, shock frozen in her wide eyes. She had no time to comprehend what had happened.
Her lifeless body plummeted into the depths of the mountains below. The only thing left in the sky was her severed head—held tightly by the hair in the grip of a certain man. A twisted, maniacal grin stretched across his face.
"You see, Livia… you could have just accepted my offer," he mused, his smirk growing even wider.
"Perhaps then… you would have lived."
From her severed neck, blood dripped relentlessly into the abyss below.