Alaric’s body froze, as a wave of unfamiliar energy surged through him. It felt as though the System was peeling back the layers of his physical and subtle bodies, dissecting them with meticulous precision.

“What now?” Alaric muttered, a tinge of irritation creeping into his voice. He gritted his teeth as the sensation grew, then ebbed away just as suddenly as it began.

Scan complete. Status sheet updated.

The screen shimmered and reassembled itself before his eyes, displaying new details with an almost ceremonial gravitas:

Name - Alaric De Vermond.

Age - 12

Stats:

Strength - 18

Agility - 19

Vitality - 16

Mind - 23

Soul - 29

Titles:

* Ally of the System (Signature)

* Progenitor of Chakra Cultivation (Unique)

Chakra Cultivation Progression:

* Muladhara (Root Chakra): Purified (Partially Awakened)

* Swadhisthana (Sacral Chakra): Purified (Dormant)

* Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra): Purified (Dormant)

* Anahata (Heart Chakra): Purified (Dormant)

* Visuddha (Throat Chakra): Purified (Dormant)

* Ajna (Third Eye Chakra): Purified (Dormant)

* Sahasrara (Crown Chakra): Purified (Dormant)

Unused Experience Points: 713

System Rewards Granted:

* Cultivation Sanctuary

Alaric scanned the updated status sheet, his eyes lingering on the new title and its benefits.

Progenitor of Chakra Cultivation (Unique) - You have accomplished a feat unprecedented in Gaia - fully purifying all of your chakras before the age of 12. As the originator of this unique cultivation method, this title is bestowed upon you as a mark of your insight and merit. All your chakra cultivation efforts are boosted by 30%, and your affinity for chakra-based energies is significantly amplified.

A small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips. “Well, I guess that’s one way to recognize my efforts,” he muttered, already considering how best to leverage this newfound advantage in his cultivation journey.

Next, Alaric focused on the ‘Chakra Cultivation Progression’ section. As he scanned through the list of chakras, he couldn’t help but grin. If nothing else, the System had categorized the benefits and the functions of the chakras quite effectively.

However, he was amused to find the System listing the passive and active benefits of each chakra at their current stage — well, except for the last one.

This is too much to go through at once. Alaric yawned. I really need to sleep now. Alaric resolved to inspect each of the benefits in detail at a later date.

He assumed tomorrow would be an exciting day once he shared the news with his friends. Well, except for sharing the news about the chakra cultivation part.

The System had only warned him not to reveal information about his rebirth and The Anomaly. It didn’t forbid him from sharing his secrets of chakra cultivation. So, he was itching to share at least some guidance with his friends in order to improve their cultivation foundation.

I guess I could share the basics at least to enable them to purify their chakras.

However, there were two big problems with doing so. First, how would he go about sharing such detailed information about a completely different type of cultivation technique without arousing suspicion?

Perhaps, if he were a little older - a wandering adventurer or the disciple of some mysterious master - he could attribute the credit to the discovery of a cultivation manual in an ancient ruin or simply the teachings of his master.

Well, I need to join an academy once I turn 16. Perhaps I’ll chalk it up to some hidden cultivation manual I unearthed in the far corner of the library. Alaric chuckled at that thought.

As it stands now, it would be too suspicious and unbelievable.

Alaric clicked his tongue. The second problem was that each of his friends already had their own cultivation techniques. Practicing multiple cultivation techniques was not only more challenging but could also clash with each other, ruining the cultivation foundation.

He had no way of discerning how practicing chakra cultivation alongside other cultivation techniques - unknown to him in this new world - would complement or hinder each other.

Aside from that, they wouldn’t possess his innate advantage - his experience and knowledge from his previous life.

Alaric exhaled a sigh. His eyelids were growing heavy. I will figure something out…later. He closed his eyes. Cannot leave them behind too far.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

***

“Congratulations, mate.” Rowan playfully slapped Alaric’s back. “Now, you have finally ascended to the realm of cultivators,” he winked. Rowan was just as thrilled as Alaric at the news. Of course, all his friends, including Rowan, knew it was Alaric’s birthday, but hearing the news firsthand from Alaric made it real.

Gareth and George shook hands with Alaric, and all of them decided to lounge in a corner of the strategy hall while savoring their breakfast as usual. Eating breakfast together was another time that Alaric cherished every morning.

“What are your stats?” Gareth asked in between bites of his toast and sips of his fruit juice.

“I bet he has at least one or two stats in the double digits,” commented George.

“You guys have no idea…I believe all his stats are close to 20,” said Rowan.

Alaric simply shook his head as he chuckled. No need to keep them waiting in suspense any longer.

He mentally recited all his stats. All three of his friends had a different reaction.

Gareth wore a skeptical expression and said, “Come on, stop pulling our legs. Even I don't have any stats close to 30.”

George’s face displayed sheer astonishment. “I can understand having double-digit starting stats in strength, agility, and vitality, but mind and soul…” He shook his head. “How are they your highest stats?”

Only Rowan remained unfazed. In fact, he even smirked. “Well, you exceeded my expectations…like you always do.” He slapped Alaric on the back once again. “Typical Alaric.”

Alaric simply chuckled. On one hand, he relished the reactions of his friends. However, he realized that it would not be wise to reveal his stats so easily to others. A cultivator's stats were a personal matter, and they could either choose to disclose them or keep them private.

However, a teacher or their cultivation master could compel them to reveal their skills and stats to assess their progression.

Alaric shook his head. In his old life, he hadn’t forged many friendships. After that horrible incident in his village, he was reluctant to form any new bonds for fear of losing them again.

As he grew stronger, many people began respecting his power and him. However, there were few individuals he could genuinely call his friend. And, they didn’t derive joy from such simple things.

When did I become so carefree? When did I learn to savor such simple pleasures? For some reason, Alaric truly appreciated this moment. It wasn’t a grand achievement. He hadn’t saved a village from a monster horde attack, battled a demonic monster, or eradicated an evil cult.

However, he was proud of himself for befriending Rowan, George, and Gareth. A bubble of warmth blossomed in his chest. This is embarrassing; I have to cycle sacral chakra before anybody notices!

Alaric was used to pain, exhaustion, fear, anger, and more. These were emotions he had mastered and kept in check. He had to deal with such emotions frequently.

The emotion he was experiencing now - being accepted and loved - was rare. So, he was somewhat unprepared for it. Years of chakra training to control my emotions and I’m losing my grip over it for such a simple reason.

“Come on, let’s celebrate...It’s your birthday after all!” cried George. Gareth and Rowan nodded enthusiastically. Alaric invited all of them to his room later in the evening for a small feast. Well, he would consult Elara and see what could be arranged.

As they conversed, Alaric marched over to the sword stand to retrieve his wooden sword. He noticed Gareth and George commencing their usual sparring session. Alaric exhaled deeply.

For some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he would outpace his friends in a few years if they couldn’t match his growth rate.

Sure, it was likely he would build new friendships as he grew older and explored more of what this new world had to offer. But how could they compare to the bond he had already forged with Rowan, Gareth, and George?

Once again, he envisioned sharing the basics of chakra cultivation with his friends - when the right moment came.

Chakra cultivation wasn’t easy or straightforward; he had only managed to progress through the stages so quickly due to his prior knowledge and experience.

In his previous life, it had taken him 17 years to ascend to the pinnacle of chakra cultivation - almost. He hadn’t fully awakened the crown chakra.

And, he had been considered a prodigy by his master - a child with an extraordinary affinity to the third-eye chakra, granting him boundless access to his ‘Lucid Inner World’ from a young age.

It was one of the reasons his master had chosen him as a student while rejecting so many others who yearned to be his disciple.

It was also the primary reason he ascended to the pinnacle of power in his world in just 17 years, whereas others took multiple decades, sometimes centuries, to reach his level of mastery.

Even if it was possible for his friends to grasp the basics of chakra cultivation, they couldn’t truly excel in it without dedicating themselves entirely, abandoning their already refined cultivation techniques. Techniques that were proven to yield results.

Why would they choose to suddenly embrace chakra cultivation over other cultivation methods without examining any records that outlined its advantages? Not that any documentation of chakra cultivation existed in this new world.

And, if by some twist of fate, they accepted Alaric’s claims without question, would their parents approve of their decision? How long would it take them to reach the pinnacle without an inherent edge like Alaric’s?

“Hello,” Rowan waved his hands in front of Alaric. “Where have you drifted off to?” He studied him curiously.

Hmm...when did he get here? Alaric cleared his throat. “Nothing, I was just pondering a few things.”

Rowan shrugged, and they moved to their usual sparring spot. However, before initiating their sparring session, Alaric decided to broach the topic of experience points and titles.

Of course, he possessed some theoretical understanding of experience points and titles from reading books. However, learning it practically from somebody was different.

He nudged Rowan. “So, do you have any recommendations for allocating experience points?” asked Alaric.

Rowan squinted his eyes at him. “Why are you asking…” He teased, “Did you already slay some monsters?” He chuckled. When Alaric didn’t respond and simply stared at him blankly, Rowan’s eyes went wide.

“Don’t tell me you actually fought a monster?” Rowan whispered. Alaric gestured for him to calm down and stay quiet. Thankfully, Gareth and George were sparring off to the side and couldn’t overhear them.

“I didn’t fight any monsters…” Alaric acknowledged. When he didn’t elaborate further, Rowan grabbed his elbow and said, “I know that expression, Alaric. You are hiding something from me.”

Alaric didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t divulge the truth to Rowan without revealing details about his past life. Otherwise, it would simply confuse him. But that wasn’t an option. On the other hand, he didn’t want to lie to his best friend either.

“I may have accumulated some experience points…just don’t ask me how.” Alaric raised a hand to stop Rowan from questioning further. “I’m sorry. I’m unable to disclose how I got the experience points at this moment.”

Rowan considered what Alaric revealed for a moment and then nodded. “How many experience points do you have? Can you tell me that?”

Alaric nodded and said, “ About 700, more or less.”