The boys suck in a cold breath. Franklin questions, “really? It doesn’t look dangerous.”

  “Yeah, there won’t even be anything to bury or soul to reincarnate,” Elanor confirms with a nod.

  “Wow,” the boys say in wonderment.

  “We’ll be that strong too in the future!” Roy exclaims.

  Elanor frowns and glares at the bush on the hill and transmits, “See, this is why you shouldn’t teach people whose potential is gone. They will only feel despair when they learn the truth.”

  John sighs and responds, “Even if you say that… We’ve already talked about this. They won’t survive in this place if they don’t cultivate.”

  Elanor rubs her head in frustration, and then with a swipe of her hand, she shatters the solid energy she’d created. She looks at the boys and shakes her head, causing her long blond hair to fly about. “Listen, you shouldn’t compare yourselves to others. It’ll only lead to pain. After all, you are all far too old to start cultivating.”

  The boys look at each other with perturbed expressions. They are still kids, after all. How can they be too old? Franklin then asks, “We’re still pretty young, though, right?”

  Anna sighs behind him as she climbs to her feet. She walks behind him and puts her hands on his shoulders comfortingly. “It’s true. I’m sorry I couldn’t provide you the correct upbringing,” Anna laments.

  Franklin looks over his shoulder at his distressed mother and says, “all the adults are cultivating, so I don’t think we should be too old. I’m only thirteen. How can it be too old?”

  John ruffles his branches, remembering his youthful struggles. He then sends his voice out, “it has to do with potential. If you’re a genius, you enter the foundation stage before five. If you are skilled, you should reach it around five. Reaching the foundation stage by eight is average. Beyond that, and you’ll be sent away by your clan or forced to be a servant.”

  “How can you tell potential by age?” Louis rejects, “There are plenty of people who only show skill when they grow older.”

  Elanor shakes her head and reaches out towards Louis. An unseen force latches on to him, pulling him over. Elanor drapes herself on his shoulder and says, “Listen, kid, potential has nothing to do with skill.”

  Louis struggles to throw off his captor to no avail and asks, “then what is it?”

  John steps in to answer, “did you know that Elanor here is around the same age as Anna here?”

  “What really?” the children exclaim in surprise.

  Donna pulls on Elanor’s dress while looking up with wide eyes, “Big sis bully old?”

  Elanor’s face freezes before she lifts the little girl with one arm. “Look here. I’m not old. I’m shining with youth, got it!” she lectures.

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  “Un,” Donna nods.

  John continues his explanation, “she’s not wrong. When did you enter the foundation stage?”

  “You shouldn’t compare yourself to me. How many times do I have to say it?” Elanor responds with embarrassment, “but alright, it’s your fault for asking. I was born in the foundation stage. I had an entire eon of a large clan’s wealth put into me before my birth, though. My mom says if she were any weaker, I would have ripped out of her stomach like beasts of old,” she giggles.

  John begins to sweat. He’d thought she’d be some scion based on how she acts but never to this extent. “Indeed, that is a bit extreme, isn’t it? But this will demonstrate what potential is even more distinctly. The word potential, when used in reference to cultivation, is based on the locked-in age. As you all know, cultivation extends your life. It’s also well known that youths learn better and their body develops during this period. The thing you might not know is that cultivating actually makes you age slower.”

  Franklin looks at the full-bodied Elanor. While she doesn’t look as old as his mom, she definitely looks like she’s aging correctly. Elanor smiles at the boy, eyeing her up, and again says, “You shouldn’t compare yourself to me.”

  “That’s right. Her clan is well known for body manipulation. Even in my time, you couldn’t trust what you see. I would guess without body modifications. You wouldn’t look much older than our little Donna there?” John adds.

  Once again, everyone is blown away, their jaws hitting the floor. Elanor jumps out and shows off her body. “Perhaps, but I’m fully functional! It’s just too bad no one can handle me,” she jokes with a wink.

  “Ahem, The point is that the higher the cultivation realm you can reach during this growing period, the better,” John explains, “You will have a body that is better able to utilize energy, and you’ll have a better understanding of it in general. As an example of someone without skill in a clan, I didn’t reach foundation until nine. After that, I ended up devoting my life to gardening. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but I suggest this route for all of you. If you find a path you want to follow, it won’t be so depressing to know you won’t soar into the heavens.”

  Anna claps her hands together and says, “alright, everyone is tired. You all shouldn’t worry about the future and run home to wash up for lunch.” With that said, they all break up to help with lunch.

  Later that evening, Anna climbs the hill to visit John. As she nears him, she bows slightly.

  “Come and sit,” he says while patting the ground near him with a branch. Anna nods and sits next to John. He then asks, “What brings you here?”

  Anna brings her long legs up to her chest and leans her chin on her kneecaps as she looks out at the setting sun. “Is there truly no future for the kids?” she asks quietly.

  “Some of them have talent Laurel if she survives, has a good chance of being picked up for her diviner's eyes. Donna is still young and will probably reach the foundation stage in a year or two. She also seems to have an affinity with the demonic beasts, so her future as a beast tamer is pretty good. But I guess you're most worried about your son…” John pauses and considers, “it’s hard to say honestly. He is too old, but the future is not certain.” He then shakes his leaves, “Know that for someone like Elanor, being the most powerful is something she takes pride in. For her to not be strong is the same as not existing. She has a lot riding on her. Not reaching the heavens for these children doesn’t mean not having a future. Too many get stuck on that idea and thus miss out on opportunities and new paths!”

  Anna takes in the bush’s words as she watches the orange sun burn on the horizon. “Being strong is important for the emerald family too. Perhaps my next child will be like Elanor and soar in the heavens?” she whispers to herself. “How strong is that woman anyway?”

  “Elanor? I don’t know to be honest. When we first met, she was just a basic lower six cultivator, and now she appears to be a lower six advance cultivator. However, I think she must still be hiding her true strength. So far, we’ve only seen her use physical strength. Even when she took on the tribulation lightning, all she did was throw her body in front of it,” John explains to Anna.