Chapter 4: Courage

Click!

Lester clicked the mouse, settling back into his chair as he stared at the computer screen. This had become his daily routine—sitting in front of his computer, scrolling through endless news about the world of cultivation. It was like peering through a window as a child, watching the other kids play outside. The cultivation world seemed so vast, exciting, and dangerous—so different from his own life, which was bound by the four walls of his small home and the glowing screen in front of him.

Since the day of contact, the world had changed drastically and continued to evolve with each passing day. Cultivation dominated every conversation, every news outlet, and every waking moment. Headlines constantly blared updates on new breakthroughs, dangerous beasts, and the rise and fall of cultivators. It was almost impossible to keep up.

Today, Lester was reading about a cultivator known as the Beast Tamer. The article was dated a year and two months ago, buried deep in the archives. It was a reminder of just how much information was released daily. The Beast Tamer had once been ranked twenty-sixth in the cultivator world rankings, and his name had been known to nearly everyone involved in cultivation. His technique allowed him to control animals to fight for him. He was often seen riding on the backs of bears or surrounded by packs of tigers. The Beast Tamer could tame any creature on Earth, and the mysteries surrounding his cultivation technique led to rampant speculation. Some even wondered if his technique could be used to control humans.

The article went on to describe the unique nature of his abilities. Unlike other cultivation techniques, which generally followed established paths of strength augmentation, elemental manipulation, or body transformation, the Beast Tamer's ability to control animals was entirely unprecedented. No one else in the world could replicate such a feat, making him a subject of endless fascination and, at times, fear.

Lester read with wide eyes, soaking in the information. The article revealed that the Beast Tamer had died a year ago—a fact that startled Lester. “How did I not know about this?” he muttered to himself, shaking his head. In the early days of cultivation, the Beast Tamer had been regarded as one of the strongest due to his unique technique. But as time passed, and as more cultivators emerged and beasts evolved, his animal army could only do so much.

"Cultivation has triggered a strange reaction in the world, almost like a hidden force has been awakened," Lester read on. The World Qi that now permeated the planet had caused a rapid evolution of animals and plants, making them stronger and more intelligent. Ordinary creatures began to transform into powerful beasts, capable of threatening even the most seasoned cultivators. Encounters between these beasts and cultivators became more frequent, and each battle was a life-or-death struggle.

“It's the beginning of the Cultivation Era, and many will rise and fall…” Lester murmured to himself, reflecting on the gravity of the situation. Cultivation had only been known to humanity for less than a decade—an incredibly short time considering the vast potential it offered and the countless dangers it posed. The future was uncertain, and that uncertainty hung like a storm cloud over the entire world.

In this era, defeating a powerful beast was a mark of honor. It meant not only survival but also fame and recognition. The Sword Hero, for example, had slain a massive antelope with a scorpion's tail in a spectacularly public battle, gaining worldwide fame. His heroism turned him into a media sensation; he appeared on talk shows and starred in movies, becoming a household name. But his fame came with criticism, too—many questioned his commitment to cultivation, wondering if he had become too absorbed in his newfound celebrity status.

Though the Beast Tamer had perished, his legacy lived on through his son—a seventeen-year-old who inherited his father’s cultivation technique and became known as the Beast Apprentice. Determined to surpass his father’s achievements, the Beast Apprentice vowed to grow stronger and command even the evolved beasts that had begun to appear.

Lester couldn’t help but scoff as he read about the young cultivator’s ambitions. “Controlling animals isn’t enough to take down those evolved beasts,” he thought with disdain. However, as he read further, his eyebrows raised in surprise. The article explained that the Beast Apprentice had modified his father’s technique, learning to control not just ordinary animals, but the newly evolved, more powerful beasts as well.

“So damn cool!” Lester exclaimed, his face lighting up as he looked at a picture in the article showing the Beast Apprentice riding a two-headed tiger, the beast’s massive frame dwarfing its rider.

Scenes like this made Lester fantasize about trying cultivation himself, but reality quickly set in, and he shook his head. He knew he wasn’t ready—maybe he never would be. He was content being an observer, a fanboy marveling at the feats of others from the safety of his home.

The world of cultivation was a perilous one, and there were unspoken rules and responsibilities that every cultivator had to follow. One of the most common was the duty to protect local areas from beast attacks. As much as Lester admired the idea of cultivation, he couldn’t ignore the risks. The thought of being ripped apart by beasts or caught in the clutches of a carnivorous plant that would slowly digest him alive was a constant deterrent.

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“Ding!”

A soft chime broke Lester’s concentration, and a small icon appeared in the bottom-right corner of his screen. It was a message notification from someone named Patrick.

“Patrick!” Lester exclaimed. Patrick was a close online friend from America who, like Lester, was obsessed with cultivation. After the alien ship crashed and the world began to change, Lester had joined an online group where he and a dozen others would share news, gossip, and theories about cultivation. But over time, their numbers dwindled. Many of his friends disappeared, one by one.

Julio had been the first to go. He had been utterly consumed by the idea of cultivation and tried his luck almost immediately after the first contact. Tragically, he failed to cultivate properly and ended up overloading his body with World Qi, resulting in a catastrophic explosion.

Then there was Harold, who claimed to have discovered a cultivation technique called “Snowman of Poisonous Tundra” and vanished soon after. The group assumed he had met the same fate as Julio. Cultivation failures weren’t the only reason people disappeared. As animals evolved into powerful beasts and began attacking cities worldwide, many of Lester’s online friends were lost in the chaos and destruction.

Patrick was the most recent—and only—friend left who had dared to try cultivating. He was fed up with the constant news of people dying in beast attacks, defenseless without the powers of cultivation. His attitude had been, better to die trying than be killed by a beast. He’d been gone for over a month, and Lester had feared the worst—that Patrick had also failed.

But now, with a message coming through, it could only mean one thing: Patrick had succeeded in creating his core.

Lester clicked on the message, which opened a chat window. “Dude, I have great news! Start the call!” it read.

His heart pounded with excitement and nervousness. Lester hurriedly started a voice call through an app on his computer.

“Lester! I did it! I did it, Lester!” Patrick’s voice came through, brimming with excitement and pride.

Lester leaned forward, gripping his chair as he asked, “You created the core…!?”

“YES! Hahahaha!!! I’m a Foundation Cultivator now!! Hahaha, yes! I just need to absorb World Qi!” Patrick's voice was almost euphoric, and Lester could almost picture him waving his arms in excitement.

A wave of relief and happiness washed over Lester. Patrick was his only remaining friend from their original group, and knowing that he had succeeded was a comfort. Creating a core was no easy task, and those who managed it had a bright future ahead.

“Listen to me, Lester! I was lucky, but with this experience, I can help you create your own core!” Patrick said, his tone growing more serious. “I know it’s dangerous, but you have to understand—living in this dangerous world without protection is the real risk!”

Lester’s palms were slick with sweat. His mind was racing. Patrick was right. Without cultivation, he was a sitting duck, vulnerable to beasts or even to the chaos among humanity as everyone raced for power.

“Think about it… Harold, Julio, Jean… We spent hours in this group chat every day discussing new findings and our own theories. They’d have given their lives for this chance. And ever since Big Mountain Xiao revealed the common method of creating a core, anyone with a hint of talent should at least attempt it… with caution, of course. It’s better than being a sitting duck for terrifying creatures.”

Lester took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. “Cultivation? No way! It’s like a dream that could so easily become a nightmare,” he thought. He took several slow, calming breaths.

As he calmed himself, his expression grew more serious. He knew that guidance and experience were invaluable resources in the cultivation world. Many cultivators would charge exorbitant fees to share their knowledge, so Patrick's willingness to help him for free touched Lester deeply.

“But cu—” Lester started to say, but Patrick cut him off. “No buts! Trust me on this! Cultivation isn’t as difficult as people make it out to be. Patience is the key. If you have that, you will make it. It took me over a month to create my core, but to me, it felt like a second! Patience is key! And you don’t want to wait too long because the older you get, the harder it becomes!”

Patrick's words struck Lester like a bolt of lightning. He was already twenty-two, and he had no idea what "too old" for cultivation meant. Up until now, he had always figured he would eventually give it a try—someday, when he felt ready. But this news shook him. Patrick was only twenty and had taken a month to create his core. How long would it take him? If he could create it at all?

Lester was a cautious person by nature, always considering his options and usually opting for the safer route. But in this new world, maybe cultivating was the safer choice. He had been lucky so far, living in a remote place that hadn’t yet been attacked by beasts. But how long could that luck hold out?

Lost in thought, he heard Patrick’s voice. “Yo Lester! You there, bro?”

Snapping out of his daze, Lester felt a surge of motivation and determination. “Let’s do it.”

“That’s it!” Patrick shouted, excitement returning to his voice. “I’ll send over a list of dos and don’ts, as well as some tips. I’ll send it as a message, so download it or save it if you want. I’ve got to plan for my future, too! Next time we talk, I’ll tell you my next steps, and you’ll give me some feedback. Follow everything carefully, and you’ll create it, my friend! See you later!”

As the call ended, Lester's brow furrowed. His heart was pounding, and his hands trembled slightly. He was actually going to try it. He was going to cultivate!

“Ding!”

The sound from his computer indicated that Patrick had sent him a message.

A look of determination settled on Lester’s face as he whispered to himself, “I’m ready.”