The holidays ended differently for each student. There were some who had spent it training, and others that enjoyed the breather while they could, but now they once again gathered before Saint Cadets Academy for another year where their mettle will be thoroughly tested.
Their dreams and hope on the line to be taken into high positions in the government or the military upon graduation.
Those that fail midway are always welcomed to join the Trade Federate that forever have a need for an extra pair of hands in the stables or the perpetually dirty smithies. Though Saint Cadets Academy encompasses all children, it is nevertheless an elite school, situated near the capital, with harsh examination systems.
However, before the second-year students begin their fundamental classes, a test to measure their growth during the break is needed.
Unlike previously, it is not a check of their latent talents, having already known their cultivation path, bloodline and soul type.
All three gifts, in the usual terms, are things a person is born with and are considered unnecessary to examine twice, for, they are not known to change throughout one’s life.
However, few know that that is only true when such perimeters are placed on the Mortal Realms. In fact, should the school reassess those that had practised ‘The Origin Cultivation Method’, they will find that those improvements which they deemed impossible, had indeed occurred.
Alas, the reason the 2nd years were gathered here today is for another kind of assessment.
An Advancement Test.
Quite a few stood nervously on the side of the waiting hall, especially those that had decided to waste away their six months’ break.
They know that the consequence of failing to show much improvement will only result in additional classes. When the others rest, they will be sent to the training fields.
For some of them, this is a worthwhile trade-off, to rest for six months, then work extra hard during school.
However, most are wise enough to judge that the actual identity of such training is instead a form of punishment, and had at least put in the minimum to stay within the safe zone.
The Snowdrifts gathered at the side while awaiting their turn to enter the Examination Room. Now missing from their group is Jones, who had finally left for the Immortal Realms. His eyes set sights upon paving the way for everyone when they eventually transcend the mortal realm.
For the rest of them that decided to stay, their objective is to create a proper home here on Gaia for their families and to prepare for the devils that will one day break the binds sealing them.
Their group has grown strong since their establishment. In terms of financial might, few within Saint Empire could match the Snowdrifts, but they are still far from becoming a force that could match a single devil in battle.
Surprisingly, contrary to how most believes that Kairos, their leader, would direct the group to become an independent force in the empire, he had done quite the opposite. He required every member to return to school, and steep themselves in the knowledge of the empire.
Kairos knows that not only are they still lacking in combat and crafting techniques, but they also do not have a proper backer nor the prestige that would give them the necessary sway over the general public. Gaining a powerful ‘voice’ has now become what Kairos deems as the utmost priority for their faction, so that one day when the Snowdrifts announce the threat of devils, others will take heed immediately.
For that purpose, the Snowdrifts must enter the military, and not through any channel but by the most illustrious way. The Saint Cadets Academy.
The truth of the moment comes as the second-year students are called to enter the examination hall.
While waiting inside, they looked with wide eyes as ten S ranker instructors carry in a massive, dull, grey metal block covered with curious looking runic symbols.
The heavy block is let to set onto the ground with a resounding thud that sent vibrations across the hall, as a lady instructor in her 30s walked before it, stopping in front of the students.
She adjusted her glasses, while her gaze scanned through the document she is holding, and then said in a sharp voice, “Welcome back to Saint Cadets Academy.
The list I have with me have records of your strengths before your break. Today each of you will be judged on the progress you’ve made.
We shall begin immediately. Form lines!”
The students knowingly went to their respective leaders, Kairos, Luciette, George, Calculus and a few others.
These rows are determined, not by the school, but by the students themselves and in a way, it serves to judge which individual has better leadership qualities. The size of the group standing behind each leader becoming the perfect indicator.
After they are all settled, the instructor gestured for the first leader to begin. The first team, is, of course, the largest group, and it isn’t surprising to be Luciette’s team.
The instructor continued her instructions, once Luciette’s group came before the metal block, “We will start now. This is the first time for many of you to do this test, and some might not have known how their strength is determined.
Therefore, out of the kindness of my heart, I shall explain it but only once, so listen up.
Each of you will attack the block with your strongest attack. While there are no restrictions on the techniques you use, no weapons are allowed.
The testing block will change in colour when you make contact with it, reflecting your cultivation level. The depth of the mark you left behind will indicate your attacking power, and the two will be used as a comparison for me to judge your progress.
Although I will cast a barrier during your examination, do not attempt using an area affecting technique because it will only make my job harder, and I promise you, you will be sent to the detention room. I do not care if every move is allowed.
Now, commence!”
As the leader of the group, Luciette went ahead before her men. As she stepped next to the block, the instructor forms a protection bubble around her, more for the sake of the others than the testee herself. Then, she gave her a nod to begin.
Luciette struck with her palm, causing an ice flower to blossom on her hit-spot and a tremendous power transverse through her body onto the block, causing the bulky metal cube to shift backwards.
The entire block changed in colour, turning Indigo, Blue and then Green. The green colour visibly changed in its shade twice, until it became a dark olive, indicating Luciette’s current cultivation.
The crowd murmured at the display, using merely a few short months, she has vastly improved her cultivation from Entry E rank to Peak D. Her martial talent can be considered the top few within the school.
To conquer the D rank bottleneck like she did is exceptionally hard. Not only does the practitioner need more resources, time and effort than usual for the breakthrough, one also needs the exceptional talent to find a way to form one’s Ki into a shield. Only then will the person rank up.
In addition, cultivation is an exponential investment, to achieve her rank using the six months’ break is thrice as fast as the average practitioner.
But Luciette did not acquire it by simply cultivating her energy but through arduous combat. Under the strict training regime set by her father, she had fought powerful opponents daily fail, and even after her accrued injuries caused her to be sent to the doctors for emergency treatment, she returned to battle the next day.
While it is possible for her to recover some fighting strength with high-grade recovery pills on the condition that she didn’t suffer from internal injuries, it is still impossible to completely recover within such short time. At the last month of her training, because of all her injuries, it has been particularly excruciating for her, to the point that the Snow Wind family had no choice but to relent in letting her recover her wounds for a few weeks so she may properly return to school.
Those that watched her brilliant result on the testing block only saw the strength she holds, but not the process she went through to acquire it.
They whispered among themselves, curious about the speed of her improvements. Most believe that it would be difficult to maintain a strong foundation, and everyone knows that to trade power for ease will never be a good deal in the long run.
When she removed her hand from the surface of the metal, a deep palm print was seen left behind. The depth of the mark displayed the power behind her blow.
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“Peak D, Three Stars strength!” The instructor declared with a single glance. As she was talking, some runes on the metal block activated, causing it to reform itself, undoing the dent on its surface.
The students gasped in awe of Luciette’s strength. Her strike had dispelled their assumptions. The overwhelming power she wielded is a testament to her clan, the White Snow House, which specialises in leading troops at the forefront.
With three stars, it means that she is attacking with a Peak C ranker’s strength, almost an impossibility for most others. But against a target that she can spend the time to prepare against, Luciette activated her Snow Wind Family’s strongest attacking move, a formidable palm art, called the Symbol of Frost. It is a skill with a long execution period that is meant to ruthlessly destroy a superior foe after the target is immobilised.
Yet the instructor did not look impressed, and instead sharply advised, “Look at the distance that the testing block moved from your strike.”
Luciette looked where the instructor pointed, and after a moment she frowned. At first, she felt satisfied that her attack was strong enough to push back a heavy block that needed ten men to bring in, but she quickly understood the instructor’s criticism and nodded in mute agreement.
“Hmph, as expected of a brat from the Snow Wind family. She has quite a quick mind.”
In a loud voice with a manner that seemed as though she is doing the public a commendable deed, the instructor elucidated to the other students, “Seems like you lot are no sharper than this testing block.
I will kindly explain it to you, so listen carefully and learn.
Luciette is a woman, and naturally, it is harder for her to gain muscles and therefore physical strength.
Remember, Martial Arts requires both power and control. If you do not have enough raw power, then make sure you better control over your strength so that none is wasted.”
She then turned towards Luciette and looked down at the shorter girl condescendingly, “You had foolishly allowed your striking force to push the block back and lost the chance to get another ‘Star’.”
Luciette looked down sadly, knowing that the control of her strength is far from perfect at this stage. It is true that if she could strike without letting the force of her blow dissipate into the block, it will not be moved back and instead a deeper palm mark would be left on its surface.
But the other students, especially those who are fond of Luciette, did not accept the lecture as easily, and only glared at the instructor with hate.
It is rather obvious, the degree of control required for such an undertaking is an impossibility for most people in this room. Perhaps only possible for the most talented among them, Jones, who, for some reason is not here.
Even an instructor like herself could hardly achieve such a level of mastery, yet she picked words that deeply cut the heart of their goddess, Luciette.
Most of the year two students are diehard fans of the young heiress of the White Snow clan, her unquestioning innocence is her ultimate charm. By taking advantage of her trusting nature, and criticising her, the instructor had done the unpardonable act.
The only exceptions that did not take offence are those that hail from the same noble family as the instructor, the Devilheart family. In fact, such arrogance from the members of this noble house is already unsurprising for many of the gentries.
Nobles that bear the Devilheart mark are so used to such reactions that the instructor only gave them a smirk when faced with their hateful glares, then she called out to the ones behind Luciette, “Hurry up, we don’t have all day. Next person!”
One by one the students begrudgingly step forward to take their turn. For some of them, the instructor neglected to form a barrier of protection for the other students. Instead, she disdainfully mentioned the abysmal lack of need, when weaklings like them are incapable of harming others even if they tried.
But this insult, unwittingly improved the group’s average score, as many gritted their teeth and struck the testing block with all their might.
Except for the lazier ones who did not train during the holidays, the students born of commoner’s background averaged at F rank. Those from the middle and lower ranks of nobility are all around Entry E rank. And the few whose family is in the 100-nobles tier, are already at Mid or Peak E.
After her team had done the test, they realise that not many had broken through their first bottleneck in the path of cultivation into D rank.
The next that took their place is unsurprising, Calculus Devilheart. With his family at the top of the ‘Hundred Nobles’, he is overwhelmingly popular, even if many secretly dislike him.
The students are at an age where they understand not to act as their emotions run, but to consider the benefits of their house foremost, and moreover, the majority of the noble houses within the Empire have business ties with the Devilheart family.
As the leader, Calculus went to take his test first. He waltzed forward confidently giving the instructor an approving smile.
“Well done,” he thought, “Members of our Devilheart family needs to show dominance like this now and then, least these plebeians and lower class nobles forget their places.”
Being from the same family as her, and technically even higher ranked because he is the heir apparent, the lady instructor gave the young boy a deep bow unreservedly.
“Young master, you may begin anytime,” She said, almost servilely, as she cast a powerful barrier around him not out of any real need but more for the show of it.
Calculus nodded, giving Kairos a side-glance, before focusing his attention on the block of metal.
With his arms crossed, and his demeanour virtually screaming ‘Please look at me!’ he widened his eyes fiercely causing a soft thud to sound off from the block by an unseen attack.
Those that realised what had transpired stared at Calculus in great shock, and even Kairos frowned a little before recovering his calm composure.
A wave of murmurs broke out among the students, as the majority of those present sought for answers. The ones standing behind could not see what had happened, and they tried to push their way forward for a better view.
It was only when the instructor announced in a triumphant voice, that they stopped, “Mid C rank, 3 Stars!
Young master, you are indeed awe-inspiring, having already mastered the 3rd stage of Swordsmanship at your age.”
A silence loomed over the room after her announcement. When the students did not respond to her declaration as wildly as she hoped, the instructor huffed, not knowing what went wrong.
She did not think that though Calculus’ achievement is indeed exceptional, it is at the same time rather lacklustre when compared to Jones who became well-known to have arrived at the 4th Stage of Swordsmanship after the last mock battlefield examination. As for Kairos’ team who knows Jones more intimately, they kept silent that he has long since reached the 5th Stage of Swordsmanship, and became the youngest Sword Saint in Saint Empire history.
Regardless the lack of excitement, it is a fact that Calculus’ Sword Ki left a deep mark in the testing block in the shape of a cone, a witness to his strength.
The instructor, unhappy with the response, yelled out fervently, “Young master did far better than anyone else so far. Can any of you believe that someone could reach Mid C rank with 3 Stars at his age?”
By now, she already sounds like a promoter from the morning markets, but because what she spoke is a genuine accomplishment, another wave of curious commotion murmured among the students.
“I couldn’t see the block from here, is he truly at C rank?” Finally, someone’s curiosity pushed her to ask the question.
“Yeah well, you’re kinda short. No wonder you can’t see it. The block has already turned yellow in colour, so he is definitely a C ranker.”
Though his rank is higher, Calculus did not train as harshly as Luciette did. Of course, part of the reason is that he did not face a bottleneck like her, therefore regarding cultivation talent, it is still unclear whether he has the edge over Luciette.
What is truly impressive, however, is a single glare was all that was needed for Calculus to determine where to swiftly and precisely strike with his Sword Ki with an attack power at the level of Mid B ranking, even without any martial technique.
The instructor smacked her palm on the testing artefact, “Observe! The block moved not even an inch, yet the strike held such strength. Who among you could match even a tenth of what my young master did?”
The students quietened down. The lady instructor is praising Calculus so much that even his supporters started to feel annoyed, but her words had been truthful, and they could only hold their tongues.
Calculus himself gritted his teeth and stared at her with a steely gaze before returning to his position.
“Fool! The others could see it without you saying.”
He enjoyed being looked up to, but only because he felt it is natural for others to revere a superior individual that he is.
The instructor did not understand her young master’s anger, vowing to herself that she must find out later how she had displeased him.
But, for now, she has to continue her job.
The students went for their turns one by one until the entirety of Calculus’ team is done.
As expected, the majority of those in his group received a rather high score. Being filled with only nobles, they averaged at E rank, with rather a few among them achieving 1 or 2 Stars because of their inherited martial techniques.
The next largest group in line belongs to Kairos, with the majority of the low-born and even a few nobles supporting him.
In the hearts of most commoners, he is a hope of betterment for them. And for some nobles, his wealth has the same meaning.
If it isn’t because that most of those low-born had failed to enter the second year of school, Kairos’ group would have been the largest instead.
Once again, the leader steps forward to the testing block first, but this time, the instructor ignored Kairos, not bothering to cast a barrier.
“A low-class plebeian like you can’t kill a Pig Demon even if your life depends on it. Just start already,” she spat, causing Calculus to burst out laughing.
Hearing that caused the instructor to feel a sense of relief in her heart, hopeful that she would be forgiven of her earlier trespasses.
Kairos, characteristically, felt no compulsion to respond. He coolly regarded the testing block, then pointed at it with his finger.
“Immolation finger!” He called out internally, activating his skill with a thought and sending a pocket of Ki at blinding speed towards his target.
However, silence ensued. The fiery implosion that he thought will occur, never happened. The Ki he sent simply bounced off the metal’s surface and dissipated.
After a quiet moment, a roaring laughter came out of the instructor and Calculus’ entire group.
“Hahaha. What a chump. Just what is he trying to do?”
“He’s out here to be our jester. We should be grateful.”
“Well, he is certainly talented enough to perform for even his majesty. We should tell our fathers to recommend him to entertain the high courts.”
“Hah… who knows he might make a living from it? I’m sure a backwater noble like him could use some coins after whatever fraud he used to make his wealth is found out.”
“At that time, if he begs me, I’ll even spare him some change. Can you believe how generous I am?”
“Surprisingly so, surprisingly so!”
Though their conversation grew increasingly nasty, Kairos was not offended in the least and continued staring at the metal block in deep contemplation.
Kairos~
Aisa voice sounded in his mind interrupting his thoughts.
This martial technique you made is really odd. It can only affect energy and living things.
“I noticed this as well. Is it because of the fire rune I used?” He asked.
Nooope~ it’s because Kairos is the regulator of the Heavenly Laws.
“What do you mean?”
Unfortunately, even with Aisa’s subsequent explanation, Kairos failed to understand Heavenly Laws. However, he noticed that it is not a lack of clarity behind her words, but the understanding of it somehow requires one to have a high level of cultivation as a perquisite.
In his estimation, even immortals are incapable of understanding the truth behind what truly are the Heavenly Laws. Much less himself.
However, an abandon thought flash across his mind.
Could it be that creating martial techniques through the Origin’s Cultivation Method will also determine some hidden rules over it?