The deep groove carved into the boulder remained long after the dust settled.
Kyle lowered his wooden sword, breathing heavily.
Sweat dripped from his forehead as he stared at the damage.
“…Was that really me?”
Elias slowly walked toward the boulder.
His fingers traced the smooth cut left by the mana slash.
For a brief moment…
His expression became unusually serious.
“A Mid-Level Rank One cultivator who has already reached the Fourth or Fifth Level of the Foundation Sword Art…”
“That’s the standard this strike has reached.”
“Yet Kyle has only comprehended the First Level.”
“His comprehension…”
“His mana purity…”
“And the amplification brought by his Space Element…”
“Together, they have produced a monster.”
He silently exhaled.
“Fortunately…”
“He doesn’t know.”
Kyle turned around.
“Master?”
Elias withdrew his hand from the boulder.
“You’ve officially stepped into the First Level of the Foundation Sword Art.”
Kyle’s face lit up.
“I did?”
“You did.”
A smile spread across Kyle’s face.
“So I mastered it?”
Elias immediately shook his head.
“No.”
“What you’ve reached…”
“…is merely the First Level.”
Kyle blinked.
“Merely?”
Elias nodded.
“Every technique possesses Nine Levels of Mastery.”
“The higher the level…”
“…the greater the power hidden within the technique.”
“When a technique reaches the Ninth Level…”
“…it evolves into an entirely stronger art.”
Kyle looked down at the wooden sword.
“So…”
“I’ve only taken the first step.”
“The very first.”
Elias turned toward him.
“And don’t become arrogant.”
Kyle smiled bitterly.
“I don’t think I’ll ever become arrogant with you around.”
“Hmph.”
The old man folded his arms.
“Good answer.”
Just then…
A familiar blue shimmer flashed before Kyle’s eyes.
His pupils contracted.
The world around him seemed to fade.
The translucent screen unfolded silently before him.
SPATIAL INTERFACE
Name: Kyle Veyrion
Element: Space
Mana Cultivation: Low Rank Level 1
Body Cultivation: Low Rank Level 1
Cultivation Technique
- Ninefold Heavenly Circuit
Combat Techniques
- Foundation Sword Art — Level 1
- Mana Guard — Level 1
Stats
- Strength: 24
- Agility: 23
- Constitution: 25
- Mana: 27
- Perception: 21
Kyle stared at the glowing screen.
“So…”
“It updates.”
The interface had changed.
His techniques had appeared.
Even his stats had increased.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
Without warning…
The blue screen dissolved into countless tiny particles before disappearing completely.
“What are you smiling about?”
Elias’ voice pulled him back.
Kyle hesitated for a split second.
“…Nothing.”
“Hm.”
The old man didn’t press further.
Instead…
He picked up a massive iron training vest from the corner of the room.
It landed before Kyle with a heavy THUD!
Kyle looked down.
Then back at Elias.
“…What’s this?”
“The next stage of your training.”
Kyle had a bad feeling.
“You’ve spent twenty days refining your mana.”
“You’ve forgotten something.”
Kyle frowned.
“What?”
Elias looked directly into his eyes.
“Balance.”
He pointed at Kyle’s chest.
“Your mana has improved rapidly.”
“But your body…”
“…is beginning to fall behind.”
Kyle looked confused.
“I’ve been training every day.”
“You’ve been exercising.”
Elias corrected.
“That isn’t the same as cultivating your body.”
He continued,
“A cultivator whose mana surpasses his physique becomes fragile.”
“A cultivator whose body surpasses his mana becomes crude.”
“The strongest cultivators…”
“…maintain balance between both paths.”
He kicked the iron vest toward Kyle.
“Wear it.”
Kyle picked it up.
The instant he lifted it…
His knees nearly buckled.
“…Master…”
“…How heavy is this thing?”
Elias smiled.
“You’ll find out.”
Kyle sighed deeply before forcing the vest over his shoulders.
The moment it settled…
His body sank several centimeters.
Every movement suddenly became difficult.
Elias nodded in satisfaction.
“Good.”
“The remaining ten days…”
“…belong to your body.”
Kyle swallowed.
For some reason…
He had a feeling those ten days would hurt far more than the previous twenty.
Kyle grunted as he forced himself to take another step.
The iron vest felt like a mountain pressing against his shoulders.
Every muscle in his body screamed in protest.
Seeing his expression, Elias spoke calmly.
“Don’t underestimate body cultivation.”
Kyle looked up, breathing heavily.
“I thought… body cultivation was mainly for becoming stronger.”
Elias shook his head.
“Strength is only one part of it.”
He folded his hands behind his back.
“Long before cultivation techniques existed…”
“…before humanity learned how to actively absorb mana…”
“…our ancestors only knew how to train.”
“They hunted.”
“They fought.”
“They pushed their bodies beyond their limits.”
“And without realizing it…”
“…their bodies began passively absorbing the mana scattered throughout the world.”
Kyle’s eyes widened.
“So body cultivation…”
“…was humanity’s first cultivation path?”
“It was.”
“Mana cultivation was developed later.”
“When humans learned to actively circulate mana instead of waiting for the body to absorb it naturally.”
Kyle nodded thoughtfully.
“So even while I’m training my body…”
“…I’m still absorbing mana?”
“You always are.”
Elias smiled faintly.
“Your body never stops.”
“As long as you’re moving…”
“As long as you’re pushing your limits…”
“It continuously absorbs the surrounding mana.”
He looked directly at Kyle.
“And because you’re practicing the Ninefold Heavenly Circuit…”
“…that process becomes even more effective.”
Kyle frowned.
“So I’m always cultivating?”
“Not efficiently.”
“But constantly.”
“And that’s because of the cultivation technique you’re practicing.”
Kyle tilted his head.
“The Ninefold Heavenly Circuit?”
“Yes.”
“It isn’t an ordinary cultivation technique.”
Kyle blinked.
“…What do you mean?”
Elias looked at him strangely.
“They haven’t taught you the grading system?”
Kyle shook his head.
“No.”
“My high school only taught us the basics.”
“Hmph
And the call theirselves one of the best schools in sector 8.”
“Then listen carefully.”
“In this world…”
“Every cultivation technique and combat skill is divided into grades.”
He raised one finger.
“Iron Grade.”
“The lowest.”
“Most ordinary cultivators spend their entire lives using Iron Grade techniques.”
A second finger.
“Bronze Grade.”
“Most academies treasure techniques of this grade.”
A third finger.
“Silver Grade.”
“Only powerful families and outstanding geniuses can normally obtain them.”
A fourth finger.
“Gold Grade.”
“Even Rank Nine cultivators would fight over one.”
Finally…
He raised his thumb.
“Diamond Grade.”
“The legendary grade.”
“Entire wars have been fought over Diamond Grade techniques.”
Kyle swallowed.
“So…”
“The Ninefold Heavenly Circuit…”
“It’s Diamond Grade?”
Elias laughed.
“If only.”
“It’s Gold Grade.”
Kyle’s eyes widened.
“Gold?”
“And even among Gold Grade techniques…”
“…it’s exceptional.”
He continued,
“Remember what I taught you.”
“Every technique has Nine Levels of Mastery.”
“When an Iron Grade technique reaches the Ninth Level…”
“…it evolves into Bronze Grade.”
“Bronze evolves into Silver.”
“Silver evolves into Gold.”
“And Gold…”
“…has the potential to evolve into Diamond.”
Kyle stared at the jade slip he had studied for nearly a month.
“So techniques can evolve…”
“They can.”
“That is why true experts value mastery over quantity.”
“A perfectly mastered Iron Grade technique can overpower a carelessly used Bronze Grade technique.”
Kyle slowly nodded.
“So one day…”
“…the Ninefold Heavenly Circuit may become a Diamond Grade cultivation technique.”
“If you can take it that far.”
Elias smiled.
“But that’s a story for the future.”
He pointed at Kyle’s chest.
“Now…”
“There’s another consequence of your dual breakthrough.”
“Your mana.”
“It isn’t just larger.”
“It’s purer.”
Kyle frowned.
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“It is.”
“But every blessing demands a price.”
He picked up two bottles from a nearby shelf.
One held clear spring water.
The other contained a thick golden liquid.
“If these two bottles hold the same amount…”
“…which weighs more?”
Kyle immediately answered.
“The golden one.”
“Exactly.”
“Your mana is like that.”
“Far denser.”
“Far purer.”
“So your body must accumulate far more mana before it can advance.”
“If an ordinary Low Rank Level One cultivator requires one hundred units of mana to reach the peak of the rank…”
“…you may require one hundred and fifty.”
“Perhaps even two hundred.”
Kyle let out a long sigh.
“So I’ll always cultivate slower than everyone else?”
Elias gave him a sharp look.
“Are you underestimating a Gold Grade technique?”
“If you were cultivating in the normal way by directly absorbing mana, intead of practicing skills you would already have entered rank 2 bypassing the mid and high rank.”
Kyle tightened the straps on the iron vest.
A determined smile slowly appeared on his face.
“Then I’ll just have to work harder.”
Elias nodded once.
“Good.”
“Now…”
“Run.”
Kyle looked at the enormous training field.
“…Can I complain first?”
“You already did.”
Kyle sighed.
“…Worth a try.”