I was forced to go to school today. The bus ride there was torture… I was forced to smile at everyone as I walked down the isle, plopped on a seat, and pretended to sleep. I could hear them talking to each other, trying to guess my first basic skill.

“His dad has a fire-based skill set, so he has to have something fire-based!”

“No, it doesn't work like that, it’s based on his personality! He must have something water-based!”

Ah… shut up…

I see the big words AAE as the school bus pulls into the loop. Ariah Academy Elementary, probably the worst cultivation school in the King’s Republic.

I barely make it to first period, hiding around to make sure no one asks me my basic skill.

First period is magic theory, which nobody pays attention to. It’s like a study hall until 5th grade, because magic theory becomes applicable when you awaken. I make sure to come in late and take my seat like usual. The teacher already begun yapping our ears off, which makes it easier for me to sit there in silence.

“The magic in cultivation lays within our DanTian, or elixir field. Think of DanTian as a storage place, where Qi is stored full. As you progress, your DanTian expands to meet your Qi output levels. That doesn’t mean you can use as much Qi as you want, that means skills which take up more Qi can be used naturally the higher your realm. Who remembers what a realm is?”

I admit, I pay attention sometimes, just so I can get a head start for when I awakened. I raise my hand.

“Yes, Jayden?”

“A realm refers to the level of cultivation in the lower world. Each realm is split into 9 smaller levels, called stages. Cultivation starts from the Base, going to Foundation Realm, Gathering Realm, Flowing Realm, Bone Tempering Realm, Element Realm, Fusion Realm, and more later on.” I answer.

“Very good! Looks like someone’s ready for next year!” She jokes. I pretend to laugh.

“Now, the DanTian is split into 3 different parts, the upper, middle, and lower DanTians. The upper DanTian, or Sea of Consciousness, is like the brain for Qi. As you all know, meridians are the vessels that carry Qi throughout your body, similar to how veins transport blood. Now think of the Sea of Consciousness as a ‘spiritual brain’. Basic skills, all techniques, and the knowledge needed for meditation all lie here. Now, the middle DanTian, also known as the Spiritual Root, holds your talent and your essence. Your talent refers to the pace of progress in meditating. Meanwhile, your essence is your gift from the gods. Your essence represents your unique abilities, your element when you get to high school, among other things. Finally, the lower DanTian, also called the main DanTian, is where all the Qi is stored. The DanTian has a limit to how much Qi can be stored, like I said earlier. In skills and techniques, Qi is taken out the DanTian and into your meridians to activate…”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

I fell asleep on my desk.

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RING-A-DING-A-LING!

I wake up to the sound of the bell (classic).

“Ngh… mm…” I drag myself out my chair and begin to walk to my next class. I have basic combat class, which is a long walk across campus to the stadium.

I get almost halfway to the stadium when I bump into Kavin Li, a genius of the Li clan (Yes, he’s also a direct member of the house).

“Hey idiot, why the long face?” He asks mockingly.

“Go away Kavin, I’m not in the mood to talk to you.”

He follows me as I walk faster to the stadium.

“Aw, don’t tell me the big boy of the Luo clan got a ‘rude awakening’? Tell me whatcha got, would ya?”

“No bro, go away.” I reply, speeding up my pace even more.

“Wait no! Lemme guess, your basic skill is falling asleep?” He jokes.

“Wow, you’re sooo funny.” I say sarcastically.

“fuh-nee… fuh-nee… fuh-nee…” he repeats like an acoustic parrot and walks away.

I’m going to smash his face in.

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I walk into second period just in time for the bell.

I’m above average in basic combat, I’ve never gotten a B in this class.

“Okay students, today we will have a mock battle for additional prep on your graduation exam. I know it is still over a year away, but time flies and we’re pretty much finished with the curriculum anyways.” She shouts.

Uh oh.

“Jayden, to the left. Gina, right. Marcus, left. Eric, left. Natha...”

No...

She put me with the awakened kids...

“Jayden, you’re paired up with Eric.”

Crap.

I got paired up with the ‘Lava Boy’, Eric Zhang. In terms of pure combat skills, I’d definitely win, but it’s a whole different story with him being awakened.

“Hey Jayden, take it easy on me will you?” He asks politely.

Huh?

Rumors say that he’s very rude and obnoxious... something’s not adding up...

“Yeah, you too...”

“Start!”

Eric leaps toward me. I back away and put my arms up. He throws a jab which I parry, and try to counterattack with a left hook. He ducks and sweeps my legs from under me, making me fall to the ground. I hear the basic skill being summoned.

“[Basic Skill: Eruption]” I hear him chant.

I quickly get up and see his palm in my face. I choose to ignore it, and roundhouse kick him in the face before his skill can activate. He takes a few steps back from the impact.

“YOU F**KER! ILL KILL YOU!” He screams.

I guess the rumors were right.

He leaps towards me again, but I hear him chant his basic skill under his breath. This time, I feel a rumbling underneath me. I couldn’t tell if that was [Eruption], or if it was shit coming out my pants.

I start running away from Eric to avoid his basic skill, I’d rather not turn into burnt chicken today.

“FIGHT BACK YOU COWARD!” He screams once again. By now the whole class is in shock at our mock battle.

He charges at me, but I turn around and kick him in the chest. After exchanging some more blows, we both take a second to catch our breaths.

“You... huff... why won’t you use your skill?”

I turn pale. “That’s none of your business” I tell him.

“Don’t tell me... haah.. you has a false awakening?”

I hear gasps and whispers around me.

“So in reality, underneath all that toughness, you’re just a FAKER who will never amount to anything!” He snarls.

At this point I got mad. I charged at him, yelling.

Then, I felt a burning pain throughout my body.

Everything went black.