The shameless Lucian now had only one thing on his mind: Cultivate and become stronger as quickly as possible.
Since Otherworldly Beasts could enter the city, it meant that the city was not completely safe. Relying on others was never as good as relying on himself. Only by becoming stronger could he face whatever unknown dangers might come his way.
As for face and dignity...
Sorry, Lucian had been too shallow before.
Being a kept man was actually pretty great!
After helping Grandma settle her luggage in her room, Lucian became curious about the Sterling Family’s Cultivation room.
He immediately turned to Evelyn.
"Evelyn, take me to your Family’s Cultivation room. I’m really curious to see what a Spiritual Energy concentration of at least twenty times feels like."
Evelyn didn’t say anything more and simply led him downstairs to the basement.
The Cultivation room was enormous.
It contained all kinds of weapons—swords, spears, staffs, clubs, and more, along with various strength-training equipment. There were also several advanced mechanical devices that Lucian couldn’t even begin to understand.
The moment Lucian felt the incredibly rich Spiritual Energy filling the room, he suddenly had the urge to stay here and Cultivate forever.
"How is it? Not bad, right?" Evelyn asked.
"Not bad? This is absolutely perfect!"
The conditions here were simply too good.
Lucian couldn’t help looking at Evelyn, then pointed at himself with a hopeful expression.
"Are you sure I can really Cultivate here?"
"Of course. It’s not like this is anything precious. And My father is actually a generous man. He won’t mind."
Evelyn shrugged indifferently.
"Besides, my father will be back soon. You can ask him yourself when you see him."
...
"Magnus is back! Perfect timing. Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner."
Selene greeted Magnus with a warm smile as he walked through the main entrance.
Magnus’s imposing figure soon appeared inside the mansion.
Lucian, however, barely noticed.
His attention was fixed on the news playing on the massive 100-inch television.
"According to recent reports, several Otherworldly Beasts have breached the city’s defensive perimeter and entered the remote Wilderness. The Martial Artist Association has dispatched Martial Artists to track them down and eliminate them. Citizens are advised to remain vigilant and prioritize their safety when traveling.
"With the college entrance examination approaching, cultist activity has also increased. Westford City has recently come under attack by cultists. All citizens are urged to remain alert and take necessary precautions."
As the college entrance examination drew closer, these people had started causing trouble.
Lucian’s expression turned serious. Otherworldly Beasts and cultists both loved targeting human Geniuses. Martial Soul awakeners were among their prime targets.
Although Lucian had kept the true nature of his Talent hidden, he was still a D-Rank Martial Soul awakener on the surface. And with Evelyn possessing an S-Rank Talent, she was bound to be one of their most valuable targets.
Evelyn was certainly strong, but even the strongest person could let their guard down. Accidents could happen at any time.
A sense of urgency suddenly gripped Lucian.
He had to become stronger, fast.
"Dinner’s ready! Come eat!"
Selene’s voice came from the dining room, interrupting Lucian’s thoughts.
At the dining table, which could easily seat twenty people, Lucian stared at the lavish spread before him.
His stomach immediately growled.
Ever since he had started Cultivating, his appetite seemed to have become bottomless.
Lucian couldn’t help wondering—
When would this endless hunger finally stop?
Magnus, having changed and freshened up, also joined them at the dining table and took the seat at the head.
The moment his imposing presence filled the dining room, Lucian instinctively straightened his back.
There was no mistaking it—Evelyn’s father was clearly a man of great authority.
Magnus glanced at Lucian, who was sitting stiffly across from him.
You little brat. I have know you better than you think.
Lucian didn’t know Magnus very well, but Magnus had known about him for years.
"I’m Magnus Sterling, Evelyn’s father."
He looked at Lucian and Grandma with a calm smile.
"Aunty, Lucian, don’t feel like guests here. Evelyn has already told me about your situation, so you’re welcome to stay as long as you like."
Magnus’s tone was straightforward.
"Things have been a little unsettled lately, but the Sterling Family can guarantee your safety. You don’t need to worry."
He knew exactly what Lucian was concerned about and addressed it directly without wasting any time.
Still, when Magnus looked at the young man who had seemingly stolen his daughter’s heart, he couldn’t help feeling as though someone had snatched away his precious little princess.
Lucian could sense the faint displeasure in Magnus’s gaze. His body stiffened slightly, but he still mustered the courage to speak.
"Uncle Magnus, thank you for letting Grandma and me stay here. We’re sorry to trouble you."
"It’s nothing."
Magnus waved it off.
"You’re Evelyn’s friend, and this is hardly a burden. Besides, you once saved Evelyn’s life."
Grandma immediately stood up and bowed slightly.
"Family Head Magnus, thank you for everything you’ve done for Lucian. Because of your help back then, he was able to attend school in the city and study all the way through high school. I should be the one thanking you."
She smiled gratefully.
"And now you’re helping both of us again. Thank you for taking us in."
"Auty, there’s no need to be so polite. Lucian earned everything he has through his own hard work."
"That’s right, Aunty. You really don’t have to thank him so much."
Seeing the two of them continue thanking each other, Selene couldn’t help smiling as she interrupted.
"Come on, everyone, let’s not be so formal. Our two families were clearly meant to cross paths. Otherwise, how else would we have ended up meeting like this?"
"Yes, everyone, let’s eat. Aunty, Lucian, make yourselves at home and don’t worry about anything else."
"Come on, eat up!"
"Thank you, Aunt Selene. Thank you, Uncle Magnus. Then I’ll dig in!"
Lucian had originally planned to be a little more reserved, but the moment he felt his increasingly hungry stomach, all thoughts of manners vanished.
He immediately started eating.
"Yes, yes, don’t hold back. Eat as much as you like!"
...
The Sterling Family certainly lived up to its reputation as a powerful, wealthy Family.
The dining table was practically overflowing with dishes, and every single one was made with Otherworldly Beast meat.
Even Lucian, whose appetite had become frighteningly large since he began Cultivating, was stuffed to the point where he could barely move.
Of course, there was only one way to deal with a full stomach.
Cultivate!
Evelyn took Lucian back to the Cultivation room.
He sat down cross-legged and immediately began Cultivating.
Hmm?
In his bedroom, Magnus suddenly sensed the movement coming from the Cultivation room and glanced in that direction.
That’s quite a commotion!
The threat Lucian had felt earlier that day only intensified his desire to become stronger.
With the Cultivation room’s twentyfold Spiritual Energy concentration, he pushed himself to his limits.
Thanks to the Shadow Soldiers’ constant AFK Cultivation, Lucian had already completed 108 Complete Heavenly Cycles.
Yet nothing happened.
There was no sign of reaching a limit.
Lucian couldn’t help feeling puzzled.
The Complete Heavenly Cycle was supposed to consist of 108 cycles, so why hadn’t he reached his limit even after completing 108 of them?
Could it be because he was Cultivating three techniques simultaneously?
Or was it related to his S-Rank Talent?
Without a master to guide him, there were simply too many things he didn’t understand.
And these weren’t questions he could casually ask anyone.
He couldn’t exactly walk up to someone and say, "By the way, I’m already at my 109th Complete Heavenly Cycle. Is that normal?"
They’d probably think he was crazy.
He would have to find a way to ask about it discreetly tomorrow.
Since he could still Cultivate, there was no reason to stop. He would keep going and see just how far he could push himself.
Leaving the Shadow Soldiers to continue their AFK Cultivation, Lucian picked up a saber from the weapons rack.
It was time to practice the Blood Battle Saber Technique—the Martial Skill that his Shadow Soldiers had already cultivated to Minor Achievement.
Proficiency was still just proficiency.
Lucian still needed to familiarize himself with the saber. After all, he had never even held one before.
Yet the moment he gripped the saber, it felt strangely natural.
There was no awkwardness or unfamiliarity. It was almost as if the saber had always been an extension of his body.
Chop, hack, slash, cut, sweep, thrust...
One complete round wasn’t enough.
Lucian went through the sequence again.
Then again.
The Blood Battle Saber Technique was a straightforward saber technique designed for killing enemies. Its movements were simple and direct, yet its destructive power was far from ordinary.
It was easy to learn, but truly mastering it was another matter entirely.