Chapter 4
After the advent of the Great Cataclysm, the world was plunged into chaos. As ancient Arcane, Immortal and Spiritual energies erupted from the earth, it gave rise to the power of cultivation. Humans and beasts alike were able to harness these energies to strengthen themselves, birthing devastating power.
Through years of understanding and experience, the powerful beings were able to determine that creatures who were able to harness these energies were split into three kinds, for the three kinds of energies. There had not yet been a precedent for anyone who was able to harness more than a single type of energy. The harnessers of Arcane energies were able to channel them through themselves to form a solid crystal inside of themselves, which existed in an unknown realm referred to as the “consciousness sea”. They used the Arcane energy gathered to release devastating spells that displayed the might to level cities. By tapping into various elements, they were able to show a variety of abilities that were very much like the concept of “Magic” before the Cataclysm. So much so that they were classified as “Magi”, the second most respected of the three cultivation paths.
The harnessers of spiritual energies were able to infuse it into the bones, muscles, and tendons. They aimed to strengthen their physical prowess to the limit, storing excess spiritual energies in an area of the body that eastern monks called the “dantian”, while it was more commonly referred to as the “sea of qi”. Spiritual energy harnessers were able to explode with devastating physical might using the spiritual energy inside them, such that they could break mountains and part seas with powerful attacks. Martial cultivators were the most common of the three paths of cultivation, with about sixty percent of awakened cultivators becoming martial practitioners. The limitations of spiritual energy to the physical body alone made it the least respected of the three classes, recognized as the weakest class amongst the same rank. However, they were not to be underestimated, for although they were limited to physical abilities, their speed and strength could destroy even the most powerful of magi under the right situations. With only twenty percent of the world’s remaining population able to awaken, martial practitioners were still amongst the elite.
Finally came the harnessers of Immortal energies. “Immortal” was a term used due to the ability of the energy to boost the vitality and life force of the practitioner, this type of energy was known as the fastest way to extending one’s lifespan and regeneration ability. These miraculous abilities of the energy alongside their destructive prowess was the subject of awe and fear amongst all cultivators and mortals alike. A mere ten percent of awakened cultivators were able to harness immortal energy, yet they were still the most powerful group out of all the cultivation paths, their ability to reinforce their bodies alongside their ability to use devastating energy attacks made them have the best of both worlds, usually making them unparalleled within the same cultivation rank assuming similar experience and talent.
Beasts and plants had also succeeded in harnessing these energies, allowing them to reproduce under drastically greater rates and reclaiming much of the world from the hands of humans once more. Beasts and plants were thus broken down into three types: magical beasts/plants, demonic beasts/plants, and Fierce beasts/plants. Often creatures of the same species could follow different cultivation paths, like humans. There may be magical lion beasts but also demonic lion beasts. Furthermore, the countless mutations that developed because of the Cataclysm introduced innumerable new species into the world.
Lucius had been blessed with the ability to harness immortal energies. Although his innate talent did not allow him to proclaim himself as one of the sons and daughters of heaven, he was able to catch up to the average level of power in the world even though he started cultivating late, precisely because of the advantages of immortal cultivation. His status as an immortal cultivator had brought as many benefits as perils into his life, for when there was respect there was also jealousy and fear. However, Lucius’s innate disposition towards immortal cultivation left him with a path to make vast volumes of money.
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The three different energies could be used for things other than just combat, and these uses were broken down into the various auxiliary classes. One such class was the medicine class, though using different energies would result in different names for the class. A martial practitioner could use spiritual energy to make spiritual dan, becoming dan makers. Magi could use arcane energies to make various potions with effects ranging from helping in cultivation and recovery to medical treatment and healing. An immortal practitioner could use immortal energies to form pills, termed “immortal pills” that had the most obvious and varied effects. The ability of immortal energy allowed them to have the largest range of effects, making them the most desired creations. Yet it would be difficult to find even a single alchemist within a thousand immortal cultivators. This rarity further enhanced their value.
Immortal pills could be used to boost cultivation, heal injuries, stabilize energies, sense energies and countless other things. These other uses included beauty enhancement, physical and mental treatment and treatment for illness as well.
Lucius knew that to make a powerful base in the next ten years before the cataclysm would be beyond difficult, requiring innumerable resources in terms of both manpower and wealth. Although he could not start with other things right now, money was the basis of the world, regardless of the form it was in. Furthermore, after the Cataclysm the most important type of currency for cultivators would be primal stones, stones containing the primal energy of the world that could be absorbed by cultivators of all paths to enhance their powers.
Although Lucius was no proper alchemist in his last life, he had read about them plenty, and with the future knowledge he possessed it was easy for him to become one. Being an alchemist had two requirements, knowledge and innate affinity with fire. These two would be vital for a alchemist to create an inner flame and make pills.
While Lucius did posses an innate fire affinity, he lacked both a teacher and the time to study alchemy, only having the spare time to study it due to interest and the possible future use it had rather than practicing it. However, his studies during his spare time were a hobby he paid careful attention to, as with his fire affinity he indeed had the qualification to practice alchemy in the future. It could have become his greatest source of income rather than going into dangerous situations merely for the sake of sustenance and growth. Lucius remembered the use of immortal pills for the amassing of wealth.
In the New World, pills that could beautify, pills to cure diseases such as tuberculosis and cancer, pills to regrow limbs, all of these could be easily made. Although alchemists were rare, considering the number of people in the world, there were still possible to find. Furthermore, Dan Masters’ Dan’s and the potions of Potion Masters also possessed miraculous affects, although to a lesser extent.
By making and selling pills in the present world, a large untapped market could be exploited. Innumerable people would be interested if medication to cure previously incurable diseases were to be released. And it could completely revolutionize even the beauty industry. If Lucius could successfully create and sell pills, he could easily make billions and solve his financial crises as well.
*Briiiiiiing*
The ring of the bell brought Lucius back to the present. Seeing the end of class, he swiftly packed his belongings and prepared for lunch, counting down the minutes till he could go home and put his plan into motion. There were many creases to iron out, but if he steadily increased his cultivation while slowly growing from the most basic pills to more advanced ones while carefully planning each step, it would only be a matter of time before his influence would be felt worldwide.