As a rational individual, Sam was aware of his actions. For him, being late for fifteen minutes in school wasn't a big deal, but the same couldn't be said in this world, at least that's the case for outer sector students.

"Sam! I told you not to be late. Are you taking my class for granted?"

In the faculty office, Sam's combat instructor was roaring angrily, scolding Sam, who stood with his head lowered, his hands clasped behind his back.

"I'm sorry, sir." Sam didn't offer any excuses. Knox Parker, this bald instructor, was a retired sergeant who had unlocked four genetics locks before advancing to the Genetic Warrior realm, a big buy with heavy arms.

Those arms could exert at least four thousand kilograms of force each, maybe even more, and Sam surely didn't want any of it on his face.

"The examination is coming soon and your future is at stake. Do you really want to spend the next fifteen years of your life living on the frontier? Sam, I'm disappointed."

Sam bowed his head and said, "I assure you this won't happen again."

"Forget it." Knox waved his hand dismissively, "As preparation for the final examination, there will be a mock exam in two weeks. Make sure you do your best. You can go."

Sam simply bowed in understanding and walked away.

Shortly after Sam left the faculty office, Knox Parker sighed as he thought about the boy.

"Teacher Knox, as far as I know, Sam is the best student in your advisory. Did he got into trouble?" A female teacher at the next desk, who had a friendly relationship with Knox, asked curiously.

"How could that be? I just gave the kid a good scolding because he dared to be late in my class," scoffed Knox.

Seeing his expression, the female teacher giggled and said, "Of course. You even begged the dean to give that kid a staff position at the school's library. How could you really be mad at him?"

"Shut your mouth!" Knox Parker bellowed.

...

Fourth-year students at the military school had a relatively light curriculum, consisting of only three courses: combat, bestiary, and genetic theory.

Outside the safe zone, it was critical to understand what type of monsters one might encounter and how to fight them. Not knowing that was tantamount to throwing one's life.

In the path of martial arts, genetic knowledge is equally essential. It enabled genetic students to understand genetic cultivation on a deeper level.

After his classes ended, Sam quickly began his walk home.

The military school wasn't far from his home, only about a thirty-minute walk. As a poor student, Sam had learned to be frugal.

Being frugal allowed him to save both his allowance and the salary from his job, which he used to support his cultivation.

Genetic cultivation wasn't cheap, requiring immense resources.

The process involved tapping into the essence of the world, absorbing it into the body, and storing it into the dantian. While the concept was simple, the mechanisms behind it were highly complex, needless to say.

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Reason? Long time storing of spiritual energy causes one's body to mutate, turning into a mindless monster. Before the discovery of a vial capable of suppressing this side effect— 70 years ago— countless modern humans died due to this risk.

Today, various types of vials existed, one being the Star Suppression Vial, a popular product in the outer sector.

It costed 60 Azure Coins, the currency of Azure Base Sanctuary.

Sure, it wasn't cheap, but at least, with it, the side effect could be suppressed for a month.

For Sam, with a monthly salary of 40 Azure Coins and an allowance of 30 Azure Coins, affording one was a challenge.

It wasn't because Sam was frugal, but the circumstances turned him into one.

This was also one of the primary reason why most outer sector citizens didn't practice martial arts.

Only a minority of them, typically from well-off families, sent their children to enter the military school to cultivate.

Before his work at the school's library, Sam had taken on three part-time jobs just to afford the vial.

He was indebted to Instructor Knox, who introduced him to this high-paying, desk job. Without Knox's help, there's no telling if his body could have endured with the the intense, physical labor he'd been doing before.

"In the inner sector, I've heard the main school gives its students a free vial every month," Sam sighed.

The military school in the outer sector was just a branch. Its main campus was in the inner sector.

The disparity of treatment between the branch school and the main school was glaring, but Sam understood the reason.

In the end, status and talent mattered.

In the eyes of Azure Base Sanctuary's higher-ups, without those qualities, they were expendable.

...

After thirty minutes of walking, Sam arrived home, sweat beading on his forehead.

The area was filled with tube-shaped apartment buildings, somewhat dirty and worn. Clothes even hung from balconies, making the place unsightly to look at.

Moreover, polluted smokes lingered in the air.

Sam stepped into one of these apartments and began climbing the staircase.

His parents weren't wealthy. Being a dojo instructor at a martial arts dojo, his father's salary was modest. His mother, as well, was only an accountant of a small local bank.

Not to mention, his younger brother was sick since childhood, making life tough for the Rivers family.

Given their financial struggles, Sam didn't have the face to bother his parents about his cultivation expenses.

After climbing the ninth floor, Sam complained a little bit. It was because of the broken elavator, which wasn't working for a year.

The tenants had already filed complaints with the owner, including Sam's parents, but the owner seemed couldn't bother to fix it.

Since this apartment was one of the cheapest rental area, the tenants, including the Rivers' family, could only swallow their bitterment.

Sam reached the door of his home, unlocking it with a key.

"Sam, you're back. How was school today?"

His mother's voice greeted him. Dressed in purple, she stood in the hallway as he entered.

"Just the usual." Sam replied, taking off his shoes and placing them on the rack. "Is Dad home?"

"He'll be back soon. We'll eat together."

Sam glanced at the clock—it was nearly six in the evening.

"Just save me some food. I'm exhausted."

After saying that, Sam headed straight to his room, flopping onto his bed and staring at the ceiling, feeling overwhelmed.

After a few minutes of rest, he took a deep breath. His eyes shone with anticipation. "Now let's see what that thing really is."

Sam reached into his pocket for the strange crystal he found earlier in the river, but when he searched, it was empty.

"Where did it go?" Sam's expression changed as he sat up, checking his pockets again.

It was indeed empty.

"Did I drop it somewhere?" Sam tried to recall his actions, but he distinctly remembered securing the crystal in his pocket.

How could it vanish?

Sam frowned and sighed, "Forget it. Since it's gone, it's gone. Worrying won't change anything. Let's just cultivate."

Crossing his legs, Sam closed his eyes and began circulating the Star Guiding Technique.

But the moment he did, a freezing sensation surged through his body, as though he were being frozen at absolute zero.

Sam halted the technique immediately, fearing he might freeze to death if he forced it.

After a moment's hesitation, he tried again, but the freezing sensation returned.

"What's going on? Why do I feel this freezing cold all of a sudden?" Sam was baffled.

Instead of circulating the technique further, he used his spiritual awareness to examine his body.

"This..."

Inside his dantian, Sam discovered a crystal floating and emitting a freezing aura. It resonated with his accumulated spiritual energy, transforming it. Wisps of cold energy had mixed with his spiritual energy, affecting his body.

Sam's eyes narrowed.

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"