Today, the Lionheart Palace was being decorated as if it were a bridal chamber being prepared for the arrival of the groom. All the servants were busy moving things here and there. Classical architecture was adorned with various colors, flowers, and lights. Everyone was absorbed in their own duties.

Tomorrow would mark the 15th birthday of the third young master of the Lionheart family. He would undergo the awakening ceremony, marking the beginning of his journey on the path of cultivation. Every teenager in this world had to experience the awakening ceremony, whether they belonged to a common or noble family.

The man of the occasion, Alex Lionheart, sat at the table in his room, poring over books and materials related to cultivation. The books provided limited yet sufficient information about cultivation at the level of a cultivator who had yet to undergo his awakening ceremony.

Although tomorrow would be a defining moment in his life, Alex was surprisingly calm about it. A hint of nervousness mixed with excitement could be seen on his face, but there was no fear. He felt confident about the entire matter, drawing inspiration from his older siblings and father.

Both of his older siblings were currently attending the cultivation academy in the capital after their awakening ceremonies. Both had achieved high qualifications for cultivation. His father, William, also had impressive qualifications. Thus, there was little doubt that Alex's own qualifications would be high and satisfactory.

As the third son of the city lord, Alex had received basic schooling at home, even though there were schools in every city in the kingdom. His education covered important subjects such as language, basic mathematics, geography, cultivation stages and principles, names of important cultivators and kingdoms, and studies on different monsters.

Alex daydreamed about tomorrow's awakening ceremony, pondering what would come after. Would he follow in the footsteps of his older siblings, Bradley and Henry, and join the academy in the capital? Or would he continue his cultivation at home? While he wasn't concerned about his admission to the academy, he knew he still needed to meet the basic qualifications.

As he was lost in his thoughts, a sudden knock came at the door.

"Young master, are you in there?" the servant asked, standing in front of the door.

"Yes, please come in," Alex replied, wondering about the purpose of the servant's arrival. The servant entered the room, and Alex recognized him as his father's personal attendant.

"Lord has requested the presence of the young master in his office," the servant conveyed the message, bowing respectfully to Alex.

"Alright, lead me to father," Alex replied, a hint of confusion on his face as he wondered what his father wanted to discuss. He stood up and followed the servant, pondering the possible reason for this summons.

Alex had a deep relationship with his father, and the atmosphere in the family was harmonious. With the kingdom enjoying a period of peace after the war, there were few state-related matters to occupy his father's time, allowing him to spend most of it with his family. Some of Alex's lessons had even been taught by his father.

After a short walk, Alex and the servant reached the office door. The servant knocked and announced, "Lord! Young master is here."

"Alex, you may enter," William's voice came from inside. Alex entered the office, where he saw his father sitting behind his desk. He bowed respectfully and greeted, "Father."

William gestured for Alex to take a seat. Alex sat down, looking at his father expectantly, wondering what he wished to discuss. William exuded an aura befitting his title of city lord. His presence could be daunting to those with low cultivation levels, but now he appeared gentle as a lamb in front of Alex, though his inherent authority was still palpable.

"Are you ready for tomorrow? How do you feel?" William asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he looked at Alex.

"I'm as ready as I could be. Just a little nervous, that's all," Alex replied enthusiastically.

"Have you studied everything about cultivation? Do you have any questions or doubts?" William inquired.

"Of course, I've learned everything from the books you provided, and I remember all the lessons you taught me," Alex affirmed.

"Alright then, since you already know all the basics and have witnessed your brothers' awakening ceremonies, there isn't much more to say. However, I'll still give you a brief summary of cultivation and its different levels. So, listen carefully," William began.

"All cultivators practice soul cultivation. Human beings consist of both body and soul, with the soul being the true essence of any living being. There are races in this world that exist purely in soul form, without a physical body. But what all races have in common is the presence of soul seeds."

"Soul seeds are the fundamental basis of our cultivation. They are gifts from the heavens, or you could say from the heavenly Dao. Every living creature is born with dormant soul seeds. These soul seeds awaken naturally after reaching a certain age threshold, or they can be awakened by stimulating them with soul energy," William explained.

"But father, if we can stimulate the soul seed to awaken, why don't we do this in childhood so we can start cultivating as early as possible?" Alex asked.

"Haha, you raise a good question, but the matter is more complex than simply awakening and beginning cultivation. At a very young age, our bodies are too weak and unprepared for awakening. If someone tries to forcefully awaken their soul seed at a young age, it can lead to death, and there have been many examples of this," William replied.

"For humans, awakening naturally occurs around the age of puberty. Our bodies undergo a phase of rapid growth after puberty, which is highly beneficial for the initial stages of cultivation. That's why our ancestors decided to hold the awakening ceremony at the age of fifteen. The soul seed serves as our link to soul energy. Although soul energy surrounds us, we cannot access it without a soul seed."

"When the soul seed awakens, we gain access to soul energy, the source of which is the heavenly Dao. So, in a way, you could say that soul seeds are our connection to the heavenly Dao. The strength of this connection depends on the quality of the soul seed," William continued.

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"If anyone can awaken their soul seed, why do we see differences between cultivators in terms of their cultivation realms and speed?" Alex inquired.

"Well, there are many factors that determine the levels and speed of cultivation, such as the quality of soul seeds, cultivation techniques and environment. For now, let's focus on soul seeds," William explained.

"The quality of a soul seed determines our cultivation limits. There are different tiers of soul seeds. The lowest quality are yellow-grade soul seeds, followed by black-grade, earth-grade, and heaven-grade soul seeds. Some even speculate about cultivators with immortal-grade soul seeds who can achieve immortality and live forever."

"As for whether Immortals truly exist, us low-level cultivators are not privy to such information. Most people possess yellow-grade soul seeds, so contemplating immortality is futile. In this kingdom, most nobles, including the royal family, possess black-grade soul seeds, granting them higher cultivation limits. Both your older brothers and I have black-grade soul seeds," William said.

"Father, if most people in the kingdom only have black-grade soul seeds, what happened to those who awakened higher-grade soul seeds?" Alex asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Alright, alright, I will get to that in a moment. But first, let me tell you about another talent apart from soul seeds that can also determine your cultivation future: Dao physiques," William replied calmly.

"In this world, there are individuals born with different kinds of Dao physiques, known as the sons and daughters of heaven. Not much is known about them, but it's said that Dao physiques are equivalent to heaven-grade soul seeds. When you attend the academy in the capital, they will test you for your Dao physique."

"Rumors suggest that anyone with a soul seed above black grade and a Dao physique is sought after by empires and holy lands more powerful than our kingdom. Any family or kingdom attempting to hide such talents risks being uprooted and exterminated overnight. Such is the harsh reality of the cultivation world. Sometimes, having high-level talent can become a curse. Now you understand why there are no cultivators in our kingdom with soul seeds higher than black grade," William clarified.

"Now, let's discuss the different cultivation realms. After the awakening of the soul seed, we experience our first direct interaction with soul energy. Imagine an energy that can profoundly transform the soul and elevate it; its power surpasses what our physical body can initially handle. Therefore, the first realm after awakening is the Body Refining realm. Here, we utilize soul energy to gradually transform our body, making it more capable of accommodating and harmonizing with soul energy."

"Body refining encompasses various stages such as refining the skin and muscles, bones, blood, and the five organs, each requiring different techniques. Following body refining is the Foundation realm, where we open our dantian and meridians. The dantian and meridians form the soul circuit through which soul energy can freely flow."

"After the Foundation realm, we advance to the Energy Condensation realm. Together, the Body Refining realm, Foundation realm, and Energy Condensation realm are collectively known as the Soul Warrior Realm. Becoming a Soul Warrior represents the pinnacle for those with yellow-grade soul seeds."

"Beyond these realms, we form a solid core within the dantian using the soul seed, marking the Core Formation realm. Subsequently, we give birth to a nascent martial soul, progressing to the Nascent Martial Soul realm. Together, these realms are referred to as the Soul King realms, which also represent the limit for those with black-grade soul seeds," William explained, detailing each of the relevant realms.

"There are realms beyond the Soul King realms, but that knowledge is beyond my current understanding and ability," William explained to Alex. "You'll find books in the academy's library where you can delve into these higher realms in detail as you progress."

"Remember, Alex, our world is diverse. There are many races, countless techniques, martial arts styles, weapons, and various professions such as alchemists, formation masters, and weapon-smiths. There's no need to feel overwhelmed or confused; you will gradually learn about all of these. While our knowledge may be limited, there are no limits to cultivation and the Heavenly Dao."

"Now that you have enough information to take your first step on your cultivation journey tomorrow, you can go. There will be celebrations and a feast in your honor, with various noble families and royal representatives in attendance. Make sure to get proper sleep and rest tonight," William instructed, dismissing Alex to his room.

Alex returned to his room, pondering over all the information he had just received. He calmed his mind and diligently absorbed as much knowledge as he could. Tomorrow would mark the beginning of his cultivation journey, and where it would lead him, even he didn't yet know. It was pointless to dwell on distant possibilities.

With these thoughts, Alex eventually drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Alex woke up and completed his usual daily activities. Summoned for breakfast, he headed towards the kitchen where his entire family, except for his two brothers, awaited him. Despite the family's high-level cultivators usually staying secluded for their cultivation, today was a special occasion that required their presence: Alex's awakening ceremony and the subsequent feast and celebrations.

While the feast was ostensibly in Alex's honor, it carried clear political undertones. Balden City was part of the Smith Kingdom, ruled by the Smith family, who had appointed William Lionheart as the city lord following his notable contributions in the war against rival kingdoms.

Before William became city lord, Balden City was home to many noble families. However, upon his ascension, some of these families harbored discontent. They were left feeling jealous and powerless to oppose the decision of His Majesty, the King of the Smith Kingdom, and the influential Smith family.

William invited all the noble families of Balden City, city lords from other cities, and members of the royal family to make a bold political statement. His intention was twofold: to assert his influence over the local noble families through his connections with other city lords and representatives of the royal family, and to strengthen ties with city lords who were supportive and friendly towards him.

Simultaneously, he aimed to showcase the stability of Balden City to the royal family's representatives. By doing so, he hoped to reassure them of the wisdom of their decision in appointing him as city lord. This strategic gathering served as a means to solidify his position, intimidate potential adversaries among the local nobility, and foster alliances beneficial to the city's governance and prosperity.

Finally, afternoon arrived, marking the moment when Alex would undergo his awakening. He was escorted to the awakening chamber by servants, a part of the grand hall where all the guests and his family members were assembled. Upon entering, Alex was greeted by his mother, who had been eagerly awaiting him.

The awakening chamber itself was a room saturated with a high concentration of soul energy, so potent that it could condense into a liquid state at any moment. The chamber was adorned with various formations designed to facilitate the flow of soul energy. At its center stood a massive soul crystal, solidified from pure soul energy.

The local academy head, a close friend of William Lionheart and invited guest for the ceremony, presided over the proceedings. Initially, Alex would undergo his awakening, which would determine the quality of his soul seed. Following this, he would pledge himself to the Heavenly Dao, vowing to uphold its principles.

Judy guided Alex through the crowd of guests toward the awakening chamber, where even his grandparents were present. She kissed his forehead and wished him good luck. Alex's heartbeat raced; ceremony was the most exhilarating moment of his young life.

Following the academy head's instructions, Alex entered the chamber and placed his hand on the soul crystal at its center. The academy head activated the intricate formations, causing soul energy to flow towards Alex. Anticipation filled the grand hall as everyone awaited Alex's response, but there was only silence.

After a brief pause, the academy head addressed Alex, "Young master Alex, how do you feel?"

Confused and perplexed like everyone else, Alex replied softly, "I don't feel anything."

Undeterred, the academy head intensified the formations, increasing the flow of soul energy, yet still, there was no response from Alex. With a troubled expression, the academy head sighed deeply and made the somber announcement.

"I regret to inform the city lord and all our guests that young master Alex does not possess a soul seed."

The news hung heavy in the air, casting a pall over the ceremony and leaving the audience stunned.