Karl felt the spiritual energy in the air, directing it toward his abdomen.
Despite the strangeness of the spiritual energy, which kept flooding his body without him having to do anything, Karl didn’t panic.
He was used to it.
He closed his eyes and watched as the spiritual energy filled him to the brim.
He knew it was time to create the third spiritual crystal.
A Foundation Level cultivator would have nine spiritual crystals before they could advance to the Earth Level.
Karl looked forward to the day he would meet this requirement.
However, right now, he knew he had to focus on building the third one, which would directly elevate him to the third rank of cultivator.
The cooling yet slightly painful sensation of the spiritual energy coursing through his veins was something he was used to.
Nonetheless, Karl found himself fascinated by the way the energy moved within him.
The spiritual energy flooded down his abdomen.
However, instead of reaching toward the two crystals in preparation for the third one, it directly attacked the black mass on the other side.
Karl’s body trembled.
“Wait.
That’s my child!”
He screamed out and opened his eyes, trying to cut off the connection with the spiritual energy.
But something had gone wrong.
Even with his eyes open, Karl could still feel the energy pouring into him in waves.
It didn’t stop.
Instead, it increased significantly.
Howling sounds rang around him as the thick spiritual energy pierced through his pores, moving toward the black mass in huge waves.
Karl panicked.
He shook his head repeatedly, trying to do something.
Anything at all.
He couldn’t let his child be in danger.
He couldn’t let his child get hurt.
But he was helpless.
Somehow, he felt like his butt was rooted in place.
He couldn’t even stand up.
He looked around, fear gripping his heart violently.
Within his stomach, the black mass was constantly bombarded by the immense spiritual energy.
It was chaotic.
It looked more like the spiritual energy was trying everything to eradicate the black mass.
The black mass scattered several times and reformed again.
Yet, the spiritual energy continued.
Karl paled.
He opened his mouth to scream, but somehow, he couldn’t.
The black mass scattered for the umpteenth time, but this time, it didn’t reform like it had been doing.
Instead, it scattered around Karl’s stomach, covering the flood of spiritual energy.
Then…
it began devouring it.
Karl felt his body trembling as the black mass hungrily devoured the spiritual energy.
The air thickened.
The flood of spiritual energy increased in the air, entering Karl’s body without reserve.
If anyone was near, then they’d be shocked by the way Karl was attracting the spiritual energy.
Well, no one was there, and Karl was about to lose his mind in fear.
Time passed this way.
Then, it scattered again, covering the two spiritual crystals in Karl’s abdomen.
Karl’s body stiffened.
Was the child about to devour the crystal, too?
If that happened, wouldn’t he become a cripple?
He tightened his fingers and closed his eyes, doing nothing to stop the black mass.
The black mass completely swallowed the spiritual crystals, and for once, Karl felt incredibly weak.
He felt so weak that he almost tumbled over even while sitting on the ground.
Sweat dampened his forehead, and he gasped weakly.
The black mass made a howling sound.
Then…
Pop!
Three crystals came out of it, dropping toward Karl’s abdomen.
This time, they were a lot bigger than before.
Deeper in color, too.
Strength returned to Karl’s body.
Yet, he didn’t feel any more relaxed.
He closed his eyes tightly, silently watching as the black mass devoured spiritual energy for a while longer before it moved toward its earlier corner.
It slowly settled down.
However, the change wasn’t over.
The color began to change.
From the initial black to pure white.
Then, silver.
Black again.
Then, Gold.
Without any proper form, the golden energy rested in Karl’s abdomen and no longer made any movement.
Karl opened his eyes.
He pressed a hand to his chest and gasped for a long time.
Closing his eyes again, he realized that the spiritual energy had stopped pouring into his body.
Also, where the two spiritual crystals were supposed to be, there were now three.
He stared at the three spiritual crystals with confusion in his heart.
“Did the baby cultivate for me?”
How else would he directly reach the third rank without even properly doing it himself?
Karl was confused.
More than that, he was scared.
After confirming that nothing was wrong with his body and the baby also seemed fine…
well, forgetting the fact that it suddenly turned golden, Karl opened his eyes and stood up from the ground.
He gave one last glance to the courtyard and walked away.
He wanted to consolidate his level.
He wanted to train so he could continue advancing, but he knew there was something more important for him to do right now.
He couldn’t wait.
He really couldn’t wait at all.
“Lord,” Rai called.
Karl raised his head to see the young man running over.
You’ve…” Rai paused.
His eyes suddenly widened.
“Wait, Lord, you’ve advanced to the peak of the third rank???”
The shock in his voice was discernible.
“How?
How did you do it?”
Karl raised a brow at him.
“Didn’t I advance this way the last time, too?” Though the baby was the one who did this for him, Karl hadn’t told Rai, so he didn’t understand why he was so shocked.
He had advanced to the peak the last time, too, and he wasn’t this shocked.
Rai shook his head.
“No, Lord.
This…”
He smiled brightly.
“You’re really a prodigy.
Congratulations, Lord.”
“You know, I’ve never heard of someone advancing so fast in just a few days.
You even advanced from the peak of the second rank to the peak of the third rank within two hours.”
“No.
When I left two hours ago, you were still training.”
“Lord…”
Karl walked past him.
His eyes remained fixed on the road as he hurriedly walked away.
No one had any idea whether he heard Rai or not.
However, whatever Rai had to say wasn’t his business for now.
“I’m going to the academy.”
He said, remembering that Varek had warned him to always inform others before leaving home.
“Oh?
Okay.
I’ll come with you.”
Karl paused.
“Come with me?”
Rai nodded.
“Yes, Lord.”
He laughed.
“I can protect you alright, Lord.”
“You can?” Karl didn’t believe him.
Even after he started cultivating, he had never felt any energy from Karl.
He looked more like an ordinary person with no cultivation at all.
How could he protect him?
Rai chuckled.
“Don’t worry, Lord.
I’m at the Undying Level.”
Karl froze.
It’s my first time writing a cultivation book, so please bear with this newbie Daoist!
I’ll do my best to bring you all a beautiful story, an amazing cultivation journey, and a grand world for us to explore together.
[winks] Please leave your thoughts in the comments and support this sweet author all the way!
This newbie Daoist is so happy!