Winter Blossom! He felt it innately when he thought about the ability. This was apparently his Attribute Talent! It was very special and had so many laws in it, one really can't complain about it.

To be honest, Ji Li didn't really know how the whole thing would work and affect him. He knew how to use his ability, but not really how to cultivate nor how to train his ability. Cultivation was to step up to become a higher being, while the Nature's Attribute and Talent were materialized potential of every person. So, him having the ability didn't mean that his cultivation further on would not bring any benefits. To explain it easier, one could compare the Talent to an extension of your being, and cultivation to training your body, mind and soul. It would naturally benefit from the cultivation, while you can use your materialized Talent for your own reasons. It wasn't that an awakening had to bring forth a Talent, which was after all Nature's Gift's specialty. The most common awakening method in the world was the elemental awakening and Body awakening. Element awakening was to awaken the Element one was compatible with, this one relying solely on the Talent of one, as the Element could range from the usual 4-5, the seven natural ones to sub-elements and further on.

Element Awakening might sound very similar to Nature's Awakening, yet it was totally different, as Nature's Awakening focused on the connection between the elements and nature, while Elements just focused on themselves. It has benefits and demerits, but in the end Nature's Awakening is a higher form because it comes with not Nature's Attribute but also with Attribute Talent. Talents are things that everyone could materialize over time, Nature's Awakening just quickened the materialization without any aftereffects. Body Awakening was even more common, as one truly only needed to reach perfection in the Body Strengthening Stage. Peak and Perfection were totally different stages, as Peak meant that one entered the last stage of the realm, while perfection meant that one reached the highest possible point of the stage, which was not necessary. Body Strengthening Stage Perfection was one of the relatively easier ones, yet it wasn't easy at all. To reach that stage, one had to perfect every single muscle, bone and organ of one's body. Now it wasn't difficult to reach the Peak stage, as it simply meant that one refined the body fully, but there could still be flaws and missing parts of every stage.

Perfection stage needed the most solid foundation in this stage, yet it came at the cost of time. If it truly was strong and unique, then people wouldn't mind taking a few years longer to have a stronger strength in the end, but perfection wasn't something one could get by consuming elixirs or other such stuff, no this in turn would create impurities and flaws in the body, lengthening the process. One needed to go through arduous battles and lengthy fights for decades before their body reached perfection, and upon reaching perfection, they could awaken their body at any time. Body awakening was totally without any cost and would just need hard work, making it the number one used awakening method, especially popular with soldiers. The abilities were also simple and often battle orientated, which ranged from strengthening their body temporarily, becoming lighter, harder and more. It wasn't any special, but for a one-on-one combat, it would probably be one of the strongest.

No awakening was above the others, but there were differences which enabled one to rank them into four different ones once again: low, middle, high and peak.

Low Awakening were ones that cost a lot and were only helpful in lengthening the life of someone or enabling them to progress in cultivation faster.

Middle Awakening were ones that were difficult to attain and were helpful in a smaller range of activities, like element awakening and body awakening.

High Awakening were the ones which were difficult to attain but were extremely useful in many situations, making them shine bright because of their hard work.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Peak awakening is lastly those that are easy to awaken and are extremely useful in many situations, obviously Nature's gift being part of this category.

Now it wasn't that the awakening ranks were a total call out of the potential of someone, as potential meant long-time benefit, which wasn't the case. The ranking focused mainly on one thing: how fast one could enter the higher stages of cultivation, and how many benefits one can bring from the lower ones with the lowest risk. Later on, cultivation strengthen and evolve Talent, making it obvious that it didn't matter much how strong one was early on, but how well they could ride through the lower levels. It wasn't that the lower levels were useless, but that level, quantity spoke greater might than quality. Nature's Awakening being a Peak Awakening method, bringing a large number of benefits with it and having a high-quality start with a high quantity of Nature's Gifts naturally meant that all the officials of the Emerald Brilliance Empire were all possible future overlords.

…

Ji Li tried out a lot with his new ability, which was nothing. He knew how to use it, but his strength was low, and he didn't even have the next volume of his cultivation method. He only went to a plant, used his ability and the plant sprouted a few new leaves, leaving him lost in thought.

Ji Shixuan couldn't hold in anymore and knocked at the door, asking "Big Brother, are you in there? Someone just delivered something, he told us that it's for you."

Ji Qianyu looked over and also reminded Ji LI "Big Brother, what was this mission thing the High Eunuchs talked about?"

Ji Li came back to his senses, went to the door and stretched his hand, Shixuan reacted and gave him a scroll, on which stood the words [Yin-Yang Harmony Longevity Art], below it stood [Essence Awakening Stage], obviously being the next volume of his cultivation method.

Till now, Ji Li only had to sit in Essence rich places and consume as his body changed. Growing up in an Essence rich place brought forth that his body was very accepting and barely hurt when he strengthened his whole body and advanced to the next stage. From now on he'd have to properly mediate for a long time to advance.

Ji Li put the scroll in his sleeves and took out another smaller one, the one with the mission. His sleeves were special, as they itself were spatial objects, making it possible for him to store things. They were the official Junior Eunuch clothes and had in a small space of only 1m^2, making it only possible for him to store small scrolls and some change. He would get his official Intermediate Robe later when he passed the test, as he only had the 'Authority' but not the role.

He opened the mission scroll and read for himself as Qianyu stepped in and closed the door behind himself "The mission we got is… What! How can this be?? We are only new, and they expect us to do this? I know they're trying to test me, but seriously, are they not trying to just kill me?" He stretched out his hand and let Qianyu take the scroll as he read.

He repeated the words loudly "We are supposed to visit a county town and check the Craftsmanship there to see if we could recruit some workers as a preparation for any unexpected happenings?"

He looked at Ji Li questioningly, who looked back and had a look in his eyes that said, 'How can't you understand this?' "They obviously want us to go out there and get some people to work for the palace. But who would be normal if we just visit to recruit people? They want us to visit a blacksmiths town! It is one of the towns that produces many blacksmiths for the country, and they want us to not only find some experts but also recruit that bunch of stubborn people who only know how to stay in their forge all day. How are we supposed to get them out of there and follow us to the capital, just to see if they get a job here or if they just waste their time?! They clearly want us to be recruiters of unwanted jobs, of course there is barely any danger, but the time it needs for us to make them could easily make me stay there for over a year, mess up my plan and miss the exam! They are pressuring us to do it fast, and we can't just give them anyone, but someone talented! AGHHHH!"

Ji Shixuan and Ji Qianyu just looked helpless as they saw their big brother angry once again, they turned their heads and just waited till it was over, obviously not being a good time to talk to him, or he would take out his anger at them!