I slowly opened my eyes, irritated by the sunlight coming from the window.

‘It wasn’t a dream.’ The faint touch that my fingers run through my face is real.

The morning birds sang along with faint noises of a fast sound that was like cutting through the air. The noise was familiar, my interest made me sit up and glance through the window.

Celia was practicing her sword swings. Her brown hair tied ponytail was slightly bouncing while her sweat constantly dropped at the tip of her chin. She was serious. Her eyes were in deep concentration as each strike was firm and stable.

‘A beginner at this age…’ My head shook in lament at the progress of this mortal lady.

I positioned myself on the edge of the bed with my feet touching the floor. My peripheral noticed that the same food was placed on the bedside table, probably for me to eat this morning.

‘I’m actually hungry.’ So, the senses of the mortal’s body seemed to be in need of a constant consumption of food.

The bowl looked intimidating. Surely, the strength recovered from a good rest would be enough. My hand fastened the side of the bowl, ready to lift. Calculations rushed in my mind as to what proper strength to use in order to wash away last night’s embarrassment. My jaws clenched and my hand lifted the bowl, it had no resistance - I’ve won.

‘What am I doing?’ My battle with the inanimate object wasn’t satisfying at all, but a win is a win. In celebration, I slowly enjoyed the food called gruel and downed the last scoop with the water provided.

Now, with a well-fed body, I’m ready to take on the next challenge. Slowly, assisted by the walls, my foot moved forward and took a proper step, and the next. It was an incredible feeling, that I, who needed to be pushed around in a wheelchair, was able to feel my feet touch the floor. The elation I felt from fully roaming the small room was unimaginable. The happiness urged me to do a lap more, but sadly, the limit of my stamina was met and I’m tired.

‘This body still hasn’t recovered huh.’ The bed squeaked as I sat.

Celia was still practicing the same strikes as the noise was like a metronome all this time. With nothing else to do, I peered through the window again taking a good look at the young woman who was still swinging her sword.

‘No Qi circulation.’ The people here don’t seem to have cultivation, I couldn’t sense a thing. Even the guards and the chief, they are mortals. But there is a different kind of energy present within them. A kind of energy that is only attainable by a divine being.

‘I’ll have to check properly.’ Before accurately determining the Qi essence within a person and the quality of Qi in this area, entering the Qi Gathering stage is a must. The first step into cultivation.

I sat down in a lotus position and closed my eyes to meditate. My breathing stabilized as my focus channeled to my lower dantian and absorbed the energies that naturally surround me.

After a few minutes of breathing, with such ease, I succeeded in becoming a cultivator of the first stage of Qi Gathering.

‘This?!’ The Qi essence in this area is similar to some parts in the Highest Heavens.

‘I don’t understand…’ This is confusing, people that were birthed here should have an immense advantage in cultivation. The Qi is dense and bountiful, it is passable to be called a Holy Land by some of the most powerful clans.

I calmed myself and set aside this topic first as it greatly shook my core.

‘I’ll need to make this body into a usable condition first.’ The basics should be solidified before pursuing this matter.

My memories of studying cultivation manuals could now be used for my journey as a cultivator. The best and strongest manuals from all cultivation endeavors are stored inside my brain.

‘I have Father’s Heavenly Ascension, the Undying’s Rebirth Sutra, the Heavenly General’s Six Path’s Law…’ There are so many, but most of these need special physiques and are extremely incompatible with my plain mortal body. There are some cultivation manuals in my memories that specified a mortal body, but the prerequisites are to temper oneself into arduous trials and tribulations to at least reach immortality. My goal is to enjoy life.

The manuscripts in my mind were constantly conflated and revised until the perfect cultivation tailored for me was created. I’m not sure how would the Grand Librarian rate this, but it would be at least a lower Divine grade.

‘Revolving Sun and Moon… Nice name.’ I applauded myself for my creativity. A cultivation technique that actively accumulates Yang essences during the day and balances it with Yin essences at night.

‘You were right mother… Your son is a genius.’ I continued to pat myself at the back as a feat like this is only achievable by a person with an absurd amount of knowledge in this matter, and I’m quite young compared to those old monsters.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The sensation of the sunlight slowly crept around my whole body as soon as I started practicing my newly created cultivation technique. My dantian was filled immediately and was elevated to stage 2 of the Qi Gathering. Several breakthroughs happened in the span of 5 minutes, stopping at stage 10. Entering the Qi Foundation stage would be detrimental because the stabilization of my cultivation is shaky. Balancing the Yang Qi in my body tonight will be the next step.

Finishing my meditation, my nose was immediately assaulted by a deep pungent revolting smell. My eyes scanned the room, and the bed was filled with black ooze of impurities dripping to the floor, even my clothes were drenched with it. I wanted to vomit.

At an extremely fast pace, I browsed through my memories to see if there was any cleaning technique I remember. It would be extremely embarrassing if they saw the son of the highest being in a humiliating fashion.

“Water Condensing: First Form” I whispered, afraid my voice would alert anybody.

My hands were in front of my chest, palms facing each other at an appropriate distance. The black liquid started gathering at the center of my palms as it constantly spun. This action lasted until there were no more black spots in the room.

“Water condensing: Seventh Form” Veins popped on my head trying to minimize the black circle as much as I can until it could fit in my palms clasped together.

“Whoooo…” Softy, I exhaled.

This took almost all of my Qi reserves, but it was worth it. I lost too much face last night. The black ball of impurities is now tiny and frozen.

‘I should dispose of this before it melts.’ The technique I used was from the dragon guards of the Dragon King. They could easily manipulate water and procure it using their Qi.

I stood up easily and saw my arms back with some nice flesh, even the skin was smooth. Sadly, there were no mirrors to check what I currently look like. I carried the tray and placed the black ball beside the used dishes and went out of the room.

The meeting room was empty. The chief and his wife must have gone out early, following their conversation last night. The entrance door was familiar, and I exited that way. The village came into my sight, it was small. There were fields beside their wooden houses that were being tended but the villagers, while the children played around the path. The wooden walls seem to encircle the village as it stretched until the last house I could see.

I quickly took the black frozen ball and flicked it as hard as I could towards the sky. It flew until it wasn’t visible anymore.

“Look at it go.” My eyes squinted until I was sure to never see that thing again.

I Walked towards the back, where the small field next to my room should be. Celia was still concentrating on her swings. She didn’t even feel the slightest disruption of the surrounding energy.

“Where should I put this?” I broke her focus as she laid her eyes on me.

For some reason, her eyes widened and dropped her jaw. Her sword made a faint noise as she unconsciously lost her grip. We didn't move and stared at each other for quite some time.

“Celia right?... Where should I put these?” I asked again, confused at her reaction.

She slowly reached for her sword warily, while looking at me.

“Who Ar.. Are you?!” She fumbled her words while trying to intimidate me.

“Hmm? …. Oh!” Realizing I must have looked different than last night.

“Sorry, I have just recovered a bit of my power.” I apologized to the stunned lady.

She was still glaring, but she seemed more amicable than last night.

While pointing the tip of the sword at me, Celia carefully approached.

“Lies... that man was skin and bones!” She shouted, rejecting the reality in front of her.

‘Why is she like this?’ I thought. And again, this must be a reflexive maneuver being brought up in this poor village. Countless strangers must have come, criminals disguising themselves as poor wanderers. She must have seen her share of people that took advantage of her parent’s kindness, I assumed.

“Last night…” To prove myself, I thought of the only thing we knew. “You fe-“

“Aaah!!!” She cut me off with an ear piercing scream as she dropped to her knees while having both hands covering her ears. Her complexion was red, very red.

I placed the tray on the ground and walked towards her. A very bright complexion that turns a person’s face blood red could be a sign of their Qi running amok, and the person could implode from within. Quickly, I grabbed her hand and checked her pulse while my knee was on the ground. She was fine, no Qi circulation, just the speck of divinity is all I could sense.

‘What was wrong?’ I questioned my thoughts as we locked eyes with each other. Her irises were deep blue as if they mirrored the sky; it matched her pretty face so well. She was truly beautiful, a rare sight in an impoverished place like this.

She leaped back in reaction and took a couple of deep breaths. Her complexion started to return.

“What were you trying to do?” Her tone was cold, more intimidating than the last.

“Just checking if you were ok, you suddenly dropped.” I shrugged as I didn’t know what was going on.

Footsteps were heard rushing from behind, her scream must have alerted some villagers.

“Celia! Are you okay!?” A familiar voice shouted in concern.

Interrupted, I stood up and turned to see who it was. The man was the scared person who was assigned to bury me last night.

“WHO ARE YOU?!” He shouted with hostility, not remembering who I was.

“GET AWAY FROM CELIA!” The man continued shouting as if I was doing harm.

Ignoring him, I glanced at Celia for an idea of what action should be taken in this situation. She was kneading her temples as if she was used to this.

“Calm down Mikel, I was just surprised at something. Go back.” She shooed her away with her hands.

“But... WHO IS THIS THEN!?” He was in a rage.

Last night, he looked at me like a scared cat, now he wanted to actually pounce at me.

“The one you almost buried, I just recovered part of my strength.” I was irritated at his shouting in an unusual way, I felt the urge to rip him apart.

He flinched and looked at Celia… then he ran away.

‘What?’ I was confused by his actions.

I turned to Celia with a face full of curiosity. “What was that?”

“Just ignore him. He was a good boy until we got our classes 4 years ago. He was blessed as a farmer... while I became a swordsman.” She let out a sigh.

‘Classes? Like an academy or some sort?’ I thought about other implications of the word.

“What are Classes?” My curiosity peaked as I asked while rubbing my chin.

“Did you also forget?” She looked at me in confusion.

This information must be common, judging her reaction.

“I think so.” I lied.

She sighed as she took her sword on the ground and sheathed it.

“How much do you remember?”

“Nothing.” I lied again.

She sighed deeper.

“Take the tray and let’s go inside.”