Time flowed by, Eryndor was now two months old.
By this time, he had memorized all the simple one-syllable words he had been taught. His handwriting had also reached a decent level—not as beautiful as the calligraphy models he studied, but still impressive, especially considering the difficulty he faced holding the brush with his tiny hands.
At two months, Eryndor’s growth was evident. He had begun speaking short sentences rather than single words, allowing him to hold basic conversations with his mother, Serene Skyshade. This delighted her to no end, leaving her pleasantly surprised and overjoyed. Her son’s ability to speak so early, coupled with his intelligence and adorable demeanor, melted her heart completely. His sweet, innocent charm was impossible to resist.
With his growing grasp of the language, Eryndor also learned his name in this life—Jin Eryndor—and began to understand his status within the sect. The realization of his identity and place in the Skyshade Sanctum marked an important step forward in his journey in this new world.
"I hope my parents in the old world are healthy and happy. Now, I must live for myself in this life. Serene Skyshade and Jin Valen are good parents—they’ve given me a true sense of family and love. The Alex of the past is gone; now, only Jin Eryndor remains."
Eryndor sighed inwardly, making his decision. From this moment on, Alex and Jin Eryndor were one and the same. He was Jin Eryndor, and he resolved to live this life to the fullest, to reach the pinnacle of existence, and to make waves in this new world.
With this realization settled, Eryndor returned to his studies, learning the language and writing under the guidance of his mother, Serene. His solid foundation allowed him to progress rapidly. Within just two weeks, Eryndor had completely mastered the human language and script of this world, setting the stage for even greater achievements.
At just two months and two weeks old, Jin Eryndor could already sit up and crawl on his own. Walking was still beyond his abilities, but it was only a matter of time. His rapid progress owed much to the spiritual energy of this world. The abundant qi infused all living things, and his mother’s nourishment was unparalleled—milk from a Nascent Soul cultivator was beyond anything ordinary.
It was like comparing a child fed on an unknown, low-quality local formula to one raised on premium, renowned international milk. Naturally, the latter would grow healthier and smarter, provided both children had the same starting conditions.
Eryndor didn’t limit himself to reading and writing. In fact, he was exceptionally active—or at least, that’s how his mother saw him. Whenever he wasn’t studying, Eryndor would crawl tirelessly, determined to increase his physical activity and accelerate his growth.
His goal was clear: build strength and develop quickly. He believed that once he could walk, the possibilities for what he could achieve would multiply exponentially.
Effort paid off. By the time Jin Eryndor reached three months old, he had begun to take his first tentative steps, holding onto tables, chairs, or the wall for support. These wobbly steps marked his first stride into a new stage of life.
Serene Skyshade was overjoyed to see him starting to walk, though she couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious. Sitting in the grand hall, she kept her eyes glued to Eryndor, ready to intervene at any sign of him falling. With the convenience of cultivation, she didn’t need to run after him; a simple use of her telekinetic control could steady him before any mishap occurred.
Eryndor’s persistent efforts bore fruit. By three months and one week, he was walking confidently on his own.
In his previous life, Eryndor didn’t remember what it was like to be a toddler. But in this life, he fully experienced the joy of growing up as a small child. Each day brought noticeable progress, tiny achievements, and a sense of accomplishment.
With no worries about food or clothing and his every need lovingly attended to, Eryndor felt a deep sense of contentment. His heart was light, and his face was always adorned with a bright, carefree smile.
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Evening, Dining Room
After finishing his milk, Jin Eryndor looked up at his mother and said, “Mother, I want to read more books. I heard from Sister that our sect has a library. I want lots of books!”
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By now, Eryndor was a bit older and nearing the time when he could wean off milk. He found the idea of drinking milk all day increasingly embarrassing. The "Sister" he mentioned, of course, referred to Easton Seraphine. Though she had never mentioned the library to him, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to use her as an excuse—his mother wasn’t likely to question it too deeply.
“Alright. What kind of books does Dori want to read?” Serene Skyshade asked with a gentle smile, not rejecting his request.
“I want to choose for myself. Is that okay, Mother?” Eryndor replied eagerly.
Before Serene could respond, Jin Valen quickly chimed in, “No problem! Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the library myself. You can pick whatever books you like. How does that sound? Excited?”
“Father, you are the best!” Eryndor exclaimed, shamelessly flattering him.
“Haha!” Jin Valen burst into laughter, clearly pleased with his son’s response. After a moment, he said, “Alright, Dori, let Father take you to bed.”
With that, Jin Valen scooped up Eryndor, carrying him off for the night, both father and son in high spirits.
After speaking, Jin Valen carried Eryndor into the inner room to settle him for the night. At this stage in life, eating, reading, and sleeping were Eryndor’s three primary tasks. He also noticed that he really enjoyed sleeping—probably a common trait among children.
Once Eryndor was tucked in, Jin Valen returned to the living room and sat across from Serene Skyshade, sipping a cup of tea.
“Dori truly is exceptionally intelligent. I know others with children, but none of them seem to wrap up things as quickly as he does,”
Jin Valen remarked, his tone a mix of pride and slight concern.
He was, of course, referring to other cultivators’ children. Eryndor’s intelligence bordered on the extraordinary, almost unnervingly so, which made Jin a little uneasy.
Serene, after a moment of thought, responded calmly,
“It’s nothing to worry about. No matter what happens, he’s our son. The two of us, both Nascent Soul cultivators, can more than protect him. Besides, being a little more intelligent is a good thing—it’ll help him avoid unnecessary losses in the future.”
Her words carried a firm sense of protection and resolve. Given their status in the sect, as long as Eryndor didn’t do anything unforgivable, like betraying his masters or breaking sect rules, his path to growth would be secure.
Even in the unlikely event that he provoked a Soul Transformation elder, the Skyshade Sanctum had its own Soul Transformation ancestor in secluded cultivation. Coupled with the sect’s protective formation, they weren’t defenseless. The sect’s strength ensured that their son’s future was promising, as long as he stayed within reason.
Jin Valen sighed with a hint of regret. “It’s a shame that Dori’s talent is a bit lacking; if only it were better…”
“Even with lesser talent, there’s always my alchemy to make up for it. You don’t need to worry about that,” Serene Skyshade responded confidently. As a core disciple of the Alchemy Peak’s master, she had every reason to believe in her abilities. “I’m certain Dori will achieve great things in the future.”
On the Celestial Veil Continent, a person’s aptitude for cultivation was judged primarily by two factors: whether they possessed a spiritual root and how well they harmonized with spiritual energy. Spiritual roots were not inherently tied to any specific attribute; attributes were determined later by the cultivation methods one practiced.
The spiritual root served as the core through which cultivators absorbed spiritual energy. Measuring aptitude was typically done using specialized tools, such as the measuring rod Jin Valen had used when Eryndor was born.
The scale ranged from 1 to 9, with 1 being the lowest aptitude and 9 the highest. Eryndor’s measurement of 4 placed him at the lower-middle tier, considered average at best.
The quality of one’s spiritual root significantly impacts the early stages of cultivation, determining how quickly or slowly a cultivator progresses. At least until the Core Formation Stage, aptitude plays a crucial role.
To illustrate: if a cultivator with a 1-point harmony with spiritual energy can absorb 1 unit of qi per hour, then:
* 2 points absorb 2 units/hour
* 3 points absorb 3 units/hour
* 4 points absorb 5 units/hour
* 5 points absorb 7 units/hour
* 6 points absorb 9 units/hour
* 7 points absorb 12 units/hour
* 8 points absorb 15 units/hour
* 9 points—the peak—absorb 20 units/hour, representing a qualitative leap in cultivation ability.
A high-grade spiritual root is exceedingly rare. A middle-grade root might appear in one among ten thousand cultivators, while a high-grade root is found in one among a hundred million. The rarest, peak-grade roots, are once-in-a-century occurrences, producing prodigies who often determine the rise or fall of entire sects.
For two individuals starting at the same time, the one with better aptitude absorbs spiritual energy two to three times faster, breaking through stages earlier. This grants them better sect resources, superior cultivation techniques, and greater opportunities to hone their combat skills, creating a snowball effect.
In the Foundation Establishment Stage, this disparity is especially pronounced, as this period is mainly about accumulating energy to lay the groundwork for future cultivation. Those with better aptitude are supported by their sects, enabling them to race ahead, leaving others struggling far behind. However, after the Core Formation Stage, aptitude plays a less critical role. Factors such as resources (treasures, companions, techniques, and environment), personal mindset, luck, and unique opportunities become far more significant. Ultimately, how far a cultivator progresses depends on their determination and effort.
Eryndor, of course, was unaware of all this. He slept peacefully, dreaming of the books he would explore in the library the next day.
Cultivation was his purpose in this life, and Eryndor was determined to give it his all.