The next day marked a crucial turning point—I was preparing to advance to Bronze 1. Skipping class today was a given.
At dawn, I used a transformation technique to alter my appearance, masking myself in anonymity.
After a Sacred Family servant had relayed the morning reports, I set my plan into motion. My first target was Lu Piao, whom I intercepted on his way to the academy.
A simple illusion technique was enough to cloud his mind, rendering him unaware of my presence. In the haze of that moment, I instructed him to recite the technique and make a note of all the details, subtly extracting his cultivation technique—the very one Nie Li had just gifted him.
Currently, I was practicing the Sacred Family’s cultivation method, a technique sufficient for advancing to Black Gold rank. But that was where its potential ended—it was not enough to push me beyond those limits.
In contrast, the technique Lu Piao possessed was far more profound, a method that opened paths to realms far surpassing Legend rank.
Nie Li had chosen it specifically to suit Lu Piao’s soul attribute—a rare Dark type. The technique was not only powerful but also tailored for quicker and more efficient cultivation.
As fate would have it, my own soul attribute shared similarities with Lu Piao’s, though mine carried a more nuanced twist. My attribute was Dark Wood, a blend of two distinct elements—Dark and Wood.
In this world, such hybrid attributes were rare but not unheard of, often granting unique cultivation paths.
My soul attribute, no doubt, was shaped by my transmigration and the latent influence of my Ōtsutsuki bloodline. It gave me an advantage—a way to manipulate and balance the conflicting energies of Dark and Wood into something far more potent.
Now equipped with a superior cultivation technique, I no longer needed the inferior one I had been using.
Instead, I adopted the Holy Primal Darkness technique—or whatever Nie Li might call it in his past life.
From the moment I began practicing it, the difference was unmistakable. It felt as though chains had been lifted, and with my cultivation already at its peak, I quickly advanced to Bronze 1.
"This technique is indeed powerful."
I summoned my soul force, and a potent energy swirled around my hand—a faint white glow tinged with a dark aura.
Recalling the technique, I allowed the energy to flow back into my body, focusing on stabilizing my newly attained cultivation. After several hours, I solidified my base at 1-star Bronze rank with 10 soul force.
As the energy circulated around my hand, I marveled at its raw power. I knew that even in my previous state, strong as I had been, I could now easily overwhelm my former self with a single attack.
My soul had grown stronger, and the flow of my soul force increased, even without active cultivation. This technique was truly profound, and the added benefit of my accumulated Karma only enhanced its effects, accelerating my progress.
[Your current Karma: +40]
In just a few days, my Karma had grown significantly. Most of it came from my actions in class, altering Nie Li's plans and subtly shifting the course of events. The emotional reactions of the students, coupled with my rising status and fame, had further contributed to the surge in karma.
At this point, the Karma I possessed should be more than enough to push my cultivation to the peak of 1-star Bronze rank.
However, Karma wasn’t spent like energy; it worked over time, continuously accelerating my cultivation as it accumulated.
In addition to this power, I also had plans to cultivate my physical strength. There was no reason to let my body fall behind.
Strength, after all, is not just about energy—it’s also about the body that wields it.
With both soul and body cultivated, the combination would give me a distinct edge, allowing me to rival those with greater soul force.
---
It has been one week since my transmigration and the beginning of my intense training regimen.
In two months, I’m scheduled to fight Nie Li, who had previously foolishly challenged me to a duel to prove who was superior.
Already a 1-star Bronze expert, it shouldn’t take long to advance to 2-stars. Perhaps by the time of our duel, I will be able to reach an even higher level.
Still, thinking ahead, there must be more ways to increase my cultivation.
Fresh demonic beast blood—along with its demon spirit—could push my cultivation further, I thought. This would allow me to temper my body and refine my power with greater efficiency.
Beyond that, many spiritual items in this world contained spiritual energy and could be harvested from beasts. Typically, they were used in alchemy to produce potions or elixirs that boosted one’s cultivation. The noble families certainly had no problem relying on these methods.
However, most of them hadn’t truly tempered their bodies—merely strengthened them with soul force, taking the quickest, most efficient path handed down by their families. Despite their resources, none had ever reached Legend rank, and even Black Gold was rare.
Perhaps it’s the cultivation methods they used, or maybe they simply lacked the necessary talent.
Aptitude and bloodline played critical roles in cultivation, but that wasn’t all. There were too many variables to determine the exact reasons behind their limitations.
But the question that gnawed at my mind was this: What truly separates body tempering from mere strengthening?
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Strengthening only made the body marginally stronger, relying on soul force and herbs. It was effective for a time, but it lacked depth.
Most cultivators in Glory City, even at the higher ranks, neglected physical cultivation altogether in favor of strengthening their soul force. It was understandable; Demon Spiritualists naturally possessed greater strength than Warriors. This advantage led many to dismiss body training as obsolete.
In addition most focused on strengthening their soul force because the majority of techniques were designed for that purpose, while body-tempering techniques were seen as relics of a bygone era. These techniques gathered dust on the shelves, predominantly employed by those from lesser families or servants, looked down upon by the elite.
Those who focused on tempering their bodies were called Fighters, and at Gold Rank they become Martial Warriors. They embodied an older, more rigorous path. But one that might hold the key to surpassing the limitations imposed on the Demon Spiritualist path.
If my body was weak, no amount of soul force would allow me to reach my true potential.
While others relied on their soul force alone, I should cultivate both my body and soul to perfection.
In this way, I would stand at the pinnacle—not just among Demon Spiritualists, but as an unshakable force that no one else could rival.
For the next two months, my focus would shift to building a solid foundation as a Martial Warrior, while only sparingly strengthening my soul force.
At night, I would cultivate my soul force, and during the day, I would dedicate myself to tempering my body.
Body cultivation techniques, at their core, were designed to refine the physical form, starting with tempering the outer body.
The initial stage involved learning to perceive faint traces of inner energy and conditioning the flesh to endure and channel this energy more effectively.
The process was gradual. First, you subtly sensed your energy and began tempering your flesh, gradually transitioning from external conditioning to internal fortification.
As you advanced to the next level, the focus shifted to tempering the internal organs and bones, fortifying the entire structure of the body. The deeper the refinement, the greater the body's ability to channel energy.
At its pinnacle, body cultivation allowed you to freely wield your inner energy, channeling it to enhance your physical capabilities, generating a powerful aura that could rival even soul force.
This mastery offered considerable strength, but even the highest achievements in body cultivation still fell short compared to the vast potential of soul force. Nonetheless, I was determined to explore its full potential, seeking ways to integrate it with my understanding of chi from my previous life. Why settle for one path when both could be mastered? This combination would allow me to harness the full breadth of my capabilities.
---
The next day, after completing my cultivation routine, I got up and made my way to class.
Glory City greeted me with the usual sunny skies and intense sunlight, its warmth spilling over the streets.
As always, the citizens walked to their destinations, just as I did. There were no cars in this world, only the steady foot traffic of people moving through the city's winding roads.
After all the energy expended during cultivation, hunger gnawed at me. On my way to the academy, I tore into a stack of raw sausages. These were the same ones I had been given on my first day doing chores—simple, hearty, and enough to satisfy my growing appetite.
As I arrived at the entrance of the academy, noble students began to greet me, their eyes filled with a mix of respect and envy.
Nie Li, however, shot me a glare full of hatred, his face twisted with barely concealed contempt. Lu Piao kept his distance, clearly wary, while Ning'er didn’t even spare me a glance.
Entering the classroom, I made my way to my usual seat next to Ye Ziyun. "Good morning," I said to her. She gave me a brief glance before turning away towards the other girls, her demeanor calm and distant.
Despite her noble status, Ye Ziyun didn’t seem to keep much of a barrier between herself and the other students. In fact, she had quickly become friendly with several of the girls in the class. Her warmth and openness made her well-liked, even if she remained a bit aloof around me.
As the lesson was about to begin, students gathered in small groups, chatting and sharing gossip. The air was filled with light conversation, but my focus remained sharp.
It was time for Shen Xiu’s lesson again, and I had no intention of letting the day pass quietly.
Nie Li and Lu Piao sat at the back isolated. None of the other students dared to approach them, fearing the repercussions of offending someone connected to nobles.
In contrast, I had managed to build decent relationships with a few commoner students. They respected me, partly because I shared some of my cultivation knowledge with them in the past. Though I was too occupied with my own advancement to coach them regularly, I had given them a basic cultivation technique, which had earned me their loyalty.
Naturally, I became the leader of this small group. Among them was Du Ze, who held a certain prestige among the commoners. Despite his own rising influence, he had willingly aligned himself with me, recognizing the value in following someone with superior techniques and knowledge.
Meanwhile, Nie Li, lacking any real support, had spent the last week leading his two friends, Lu Piao and Wei Nan, to hunt sheep in the surrounding wilderness. Together, they managed to earn a few thousand Demon Spirit coins, an amount that naturally surprised the two. However, despite their small success, a few thousand coins were insignificant compared to the resources a noble could easily afford. There was still a long road ahead for them to gather enough wealth to truly progress as Demon Spiritualists.
I didn't bother concerning myself with Nie Li’s activities. Whatever he was up to didn't affect my plans.
My own prospects were looking far more promising. Soon, I would be able to sell some of the Sacred Family’s gear to the nobles—an opportunity to not only generate substantial wealth but to fuel my future ambitions. With this strategy, I would have the financial power to advance my cultivation and expand my influence.
Nie Li and his friends sat at the back, whispering among themselves, paying little attention to the lesson about to start.
"Nie Li, what's our next step?" Wei Nan asked, his curiosity piqued. Nie Li had mentioned earlier that they wouldn't be hunting horned sheep anymore, leaving Wei Nan wondering what their next move would be.
"You'll know after school," Nie Li replied, smiling mysteriously, as if he already had everything figured out. They had recently purchased soul crystals to test their talent, gearing up for the next phase of their cultivation training.
For the moment, Nie Li’s attention shifted from cultivation to something—or rather someone—else. His eyes darted toward Ye Ziyun, who sat chatting with a group of girls. How can I get closer to Ye Ziyun? How can I make her fall for me?
He glanced at me with cold resentment. It’s all your Sacred Family's fault, he thought bitterly. One day, you’ll all pay.
Nie Li's hatred stemmed from the humiliation I had inflicted on him in front of the entire class, derailing his plans for the future. Without the support of the commoners he had hoped to recruit, his path to power—and to Ye Ziyun—was becoming more complicated.
His thoughts raced, but no immediate solution came to mind. He knew no one would take his claims seriously unless he could prove his strength. Without that proof, would Ye Ziyun even acknowledge him?
Nie Li's gaze shifted toward Xiao Ning’er, who sat quietly by herself, exuding an air of cold indifference.
Xiao Ning’er and Ye Ziyun had once been inseparable childhood friends bonded by their families' shared status. But as Xiao Ning’er’s family fell into decline, their friendship waned along with it. The two hadn’t spoken in years.
In Glory City, multiple academies catered to the elite. When Ye Ziyun discovered Xiao Ning’er had enrolled at Holy Orchid Institute, she convinced her father to arrange her own transfer, hoping to rekindle their lost connection.
Yet Nie Li seemed oblivious to Xiao Ning’er. His eyes saw only Ye Ziyun; his mind was clouded with dreams of winning her heart. Xiao Ning’er’s presence was no more than a passing blur to him. But desperate times call for desperate choices, and Nie Li was not above considering all his options.
While Nie Li occupied himself with thoughts of love and revenge, I focused on something more important—my cultivation. The progress I had made over the past few weeks was encouraging, but I couldn’t afford distractions.
Just then, the classroom doors swung open, and Shen Xiu stepped in, her expression stern and commanding, ready to begin the lesson. Silence fell over the room as she took her place at the front.