After Kairos had learned about Soul Force, he had gained two new skills he never heard before. The first is Soul Perception, an ability that not only enables him to scan into an object or person’s structure, but also allow him to distinctively know of the area around him without looking.

In Saint Empire, other practitioners of higher rank deploy multiple methods to scout and monitor their surroundings, but none of those could be compared to the detailed information that Soul Perception brings. After all, it acts as an extension of oneself.

However, its use is limited by distance and costs him a hefty amount of energy at his rank.

The second is something that solely belongs to himself, an ability that awakened recently. A kind of prescience in understanding cultivation, it whispers to him unthinkable secrets. It felt like an old memory that surfaced when he least expected, but when he tried to explain it, he was strangely unable to put into words what mysteries he gleaned.

To impart Soul Force to his buddies, he placed a finger on each of their hands in turn. Then, by sending a strand of his new sensory ability into a person’s body, he could see into their bone & muscle structures, blood vessel systems, acupressure points, and most importantly their meridian pathways.

Afterwards, he confidently devised the alterations needed in the cultivation methods for his brothers, tailor-made to suit each of their personalities. He did not plan to give them a standard cultivation method, like what the rest of the world is doing, in fact doing so will hinder their true growth.

Almost every practitioner knows the value of high-level cultivation methods, and they guard what they own jealously. However, not one person realise that since everyone is unique, they will never reach their full potential by practising something that is not made for them. But that is also because, none believe that it is possible to fully understand the needs a living being that is always improving growing, adapting, and changing; Much less create a high-level technique which can evolve together with a person to fully bring out one’s potential.

Fortunately, after Kairos’ customisation, the Origin’s cultivation method that focuses on the practitioner’s core foundation can build a person up from that. As the individual experiences more things, the cultivation method itself will grow, therefore help one to reach as far as he is willing to go.

For Alan he created a gentle but powerful style that focuses on defence, Edward received a structured method which stresses on techniques, Jim gained a cultivation method that concentrated on swiftness and Tommy was given training techniques that emphases on raw strength and powerful internal energy built around a sturdy body as the foundation.

In doing so, everyone acquired their own unique cultivating style, but tougher to progress than conventional cultivation techniques.

Kairos who helped them alter the Origin’s cultivation method quickly come to notice that his ranking speed is far more difficult than the rest, having quite a few bottlenecks in his path.

Only by fulfilling some obscured requirements continually will he be able to breakthrough to higher stages.

The gang, now sitting in their most natural stance, began trying out their cultivation technique. Needless to say, Alan only started learning soul force with his face swollen.

It is because of their young age, and their inexperience, that the group of them did not notice anything strange about learning a cultivation method customised by a twelve years old like themselves.

In fact, they did not hesitate for a single moment and began practising in earnestness. Their youth had made them naive and trusting, and each of them simply followed the instructions given by Kairos, believing that one of theirs could never harm them.

But what they are doing is actually extremely dangerous. Improper cultivation methods are known to easily backfire therefore it is general practice for practitioners that found an unknown cultivation to first take several precautions before any attempts.

All of these preparations were, of course, left undone by them since they were not properly taught to know better.

If anyone else in their school knew, the person would surely be aghast.

It is the effect of a cultivation backfiring that scares even the most powerful veterans. In the best-case scenario, the practitioner will lose all their cultivation and be crippled by the backlash; the worst-case scenario results in the practitioner inflicted with an agonising, bloodthirsty madness. Tortured until death.

Fortunately, things proved to work out correctly this time round.

…..

Half a month later, the group had improved tremendously. The repetitive training caused them to grow so much that it was like they had been reborn. Not only did their cultivation increased, but they also took great care to improve their proficiency in their roles on the battlefield.

However, it is unfortunate the time on their hands were too short.

During this period, the instructors of the Saint Cadets Academy sent flyers to the students regarding the Trade Federate. Those that received the brochures were to preparing in selecting a craft of interest should they fail their final examination.

In a way, the school is telling these students that they are expected to fail and to be ready for their eventual expulsion.

But Kairos and the group are not willing to roll over without putting up a fight.

To enter the next year, there are only two methods available. The first is to do well academically, and those that acquired good results are often given high positions in the government.

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Unfortunately, at this point where they had failed terribly in their written, this option is already impossible for them.

The second option and their last hope is an examination where they will be placed in one of the two groups and engage in a mock war between all the first years. On a specially prepared training ground, their abilities will be tested and given grades under heavy scrutinization.

Those among them that did well might even be scouted to become great generals, Special Forces or even guardians of the realm upon graduation.

But for Kairos’ group, their goal is far more challenging: To score enough points that they could enter the second year and avoid the trade federate. For expulsion is no different than a death sentence for them, where they will work in stables or dirty Smithies for measly wages until they could work no more. Workers that are lesser than slaves.

They soon heard the announcement that all the students that are to take the exam are gathered by the gate of training field 5. And soon, over three hundred students gathered nervously in a small crowd at the gigantic entrance to the exam venue.

Since the school did not require the students to wear a set of uniform, many of the students that came from good backgrounds dressed elaborately. Their bright clothes are a total mismatch against the green plains that they are gathering at. Instead of going into a battlefield they looked more suitable to be in the shopping avenue.

A smaller group of students stood apart from the rest, each member dressed like patched dolls made of scratchy materials. Their rough linen is uncomfortable to look at and even more uncomfortable to wear.

These are the guys that came from the slums of the city, and considered the poorest among the low-born and are naturally shunted. Unfortunately, Kairos and his team somehow managed to outdo their peers. An accomplishment that only deserves to be called a miracle. Standing in their hand-me-down robes, too patched up to judge its original colour, they form a third group by themselves.

The five of them are a rare sight here in the capital city of Saint Empire. Most people are at least a little well off to be living in Saint City, even those who somehow ended in the slum. Only one place near Saint City will produce children like Kairos’ group, and that is the village that they came from. Rutea.

A backwards place that is still dependent on a system of bartering. The village’s only reason for surviving is because of a particular circumstance, induced from an ancient legend that most people already forgotten but the longest living cultivators.

Every pair of eyes observed the training field before them. A vast jungle filled with magical creatures roaming about, its size alone means that travelling from one end to the other will require days.

The treacherous terrain is meant for preparing the next generation of Saint Empire against both man and beasts, with the strongest magical creatures within at rank D.

Monsters are rated the same way as practitioners are, from J to Triple S rank. However, in addition, there is also a category above called EX, specially coined for a few monstrous beasts. Great predators meant to rule from the top of the food chain.

These are creatures so powerful that, although they are also at Triple S rank, the peak of the Mortal Realms, they are far too powerful for any human to take down single-handedly and thus were given a category of their own. Should one such beast starts to rampage in the Mortal Realm, all the lesser creatures would be thrown into a frenzy, and it would mean uncountable death and destruction.

It is because of this, every year, the Academy also focuses on grooming their next generation to be able to protect the continued existence of mankind.

As the students waited by the entrance to the training field, an instructor strode over from the school building without hurry.

A lady in her 30s wearing plain coloured brown robes stopped at the front of the gate, holding a green coloured flag that has an emblem of the school is embroidered on it.

She turned about crisply, adjusted her glasses, and then says in a sharp, no-nonsense voice, "Today's exercise is to defeat the other team by raising the flag hidden within training grounds onto a 5-meter-long pole on the other team's hill. The flag will look like the one I am holding right now.

All of you will split into two opposite factions, red and blue, for this exercise.

The Red team’s base will be at the hill in the East and Blue team’s base is at the hill in the West."

The instructor nodded at the students after she finished her instructions as the students turn their sight towards the two small rocky hills standing before them.

From this distance, they are barely the size of ant mounds.

"This exercise will judge your individual and team ability to conquer and secure a location while fending off each other and the magical beasts in the training ground. Those that performs badly in this exam and the written ones will be reassigned to the support and tradesman classes."

“You may begin.”

At the end of her speech, the instructor gestured to the students to start, and she walked away without a second glance. Though she is one of the judges, the instructors are capable of observing the students without being present physically.

The groups quickly separated into their factions and excitedly move towards their bases.

Before this exam, all students had been given their instructions in a small envelope, delivered to their bunks the day before. The instruction includes the group they will be on as well as their individual and small team assignment for this exercise.

Kairos' team’s instructions are to venture deep into enemy grounds to scout the enemies' position. And there will be additional points given to the team for taking down high-value targets.

It is obviously a suicide mission, but they will need to exceed in their task to even have a chance.

Because their team is currently ranked J, each of his members wore a red badge, indicating their faction, with a large lettered J over their arm. Defeating higher ranked opponents will net them bonus points, which is everyone else on the battlefield.

As leader of the group, Kairos wore a similar badge but uniquely with a silver lining. This indicated that those that defeat him will gain twice the points that a normal J ranker’s badge would hold, but unfortunately, it is not much of a difference because of their poor ranking.

…..

After nearly three days’ walk, the red team finally gathered at the foot of the East Hill. While it looked tiny from where they saw it at the gate, the hill stood proudly two hundred meters into the air, looming above them. Its surface is filled with large rocks on brown soil and covered with sparse dots of grass all over.

But, while its exterior looked natural, the internal parts of the hill are a series of man-made tunnels, fortified by hard rocks. To complete their group’s mission, they need to reach the enemy’s hill base, fight through a fortified position same as this one, and raise the flag declaring their victory. But first, they need to find the hidden flag within the field, while the blue team is also actively searching for it.

From the crowd, a male student stepped forward until he stood in front of everyone. He wore his long black hair in a ponytail, tied with a red string. On his clothes is an emblem with the shape of a small wild cat, while on his arm is a sparkling gold student badge.

This student, George, has been assigned as leader of the red team, and as the overall command, he proudly stood in the limelight.

He is one of the younger generations and one of the heirs to the Mountain Cat Clan, a medium-sized noble family and a rather wealthy clan. For decades, their family had been well-known of grooming their younger generations into the middle and upper ranks of Saint Empire military. Therefore, each of their members had a naked pride in their prestige.

As one of the heir to the head position in his clan, George is also one of the most talented youths they have. For the Mountain Cat Clan that is famed for producing numerous genius tacticians for the empire, he is no doubt rightfully assigned to be the red team’s commander.

Clearing his throat to garner attention, George began addressing his team, "Ahem, everyone, as you may have heard, today I am honoured to become your commander.

My name is George Kitty of the Mountain Cat Clan, and from now on I expect all of you to follow my instructions promptly and accurately."

While speaking, he turns his head slightly, carefully observing each individual's expression.

His prominent emerald green eyes and tanned skin is common among those of his clan. His clothes are tidy and clean but plain of colour unlike many who decided to dress like summer butterflies, flaunting their backgrounds.

But just as George started his briefing on the red team's strategy, Kairos and his friends felt something was wrong. Immediately, Kairos signalled secretly to Alan who like a gust disappeared into the nearby forest, so swiftly that only his back view could be briefly seen.

Suddenly, before anyone else noticed, a sharp whistling sound roared across the open ground from the forest, as an arrow cut across the tall grass towards George. However, before it could reach its target, Kairos stepped into its path as though he had been waiting, and he easily cut down the stray arrow with his Swallow.

Although before entering the training field, everyone's weapons are all blunted by using a coating of a special gel, being struck by an arrow or a sword will still be dreadfully painful. George who dodged imminent embarrassment gave Kairos a grateful look and a nod. He knows that it would have been terrible for the team's morale if the commander was struck down by an arrow right at the start of the training exercise.

However, before they could relax, a new crisis appeared in their midst. A small group of F rankers within the red team suddenly drew their weapons and viciously struck down those standing near, sending a great many unsuspecting students groaning on the ground in pain.

Before they dealt with the snipers, turn-coats had appeared in their midst.

As the situation quickly turned into mayhem, the group of hostiles broke through the crowd, rushing rapidly at George.

At this time, before anyone else could react, Kairos' team placed themselves around George, and in the path of the ambushers.