Class Assignment.

"Oz, you need to wake up or you're going to be late for school!" Quinn shouted as he thumped Oz's bedroom door.

Oz bolted upright in bed, confused as to what was happening.

School? But he had been cultivating!

Did he really do it the whole night without noticing? He looked at the small alarm clock beside his bed and his eyes widened as he saw that it was eight In the morning.

"Ah!" He yelped as he half fell off the bed in shock. He scrambled to pull on his new all white gym suit that the academy had given him.

'Is it just me, or is this a little tight?' He wondered as he flexed his arms and legs against the snug material. The elder had looked him over and gave him the smaller of the sizes.

Had the demonic cultivation technique really enhanced his physique that drastically? He didn't have time to think about it as he pulled open his bedroom door and made his way out to the kitchen.

"Well, how was your first day? What spirit roots did you get?" Quinn asked excitedly from the small table in the kitchen. Oz slowed his chewing of the toast he snatched and wondered how his brother would react.

"The thing is," Oz said between mouthfuls of bread. "Apparently I don't have any spirit roots."

Quinn's eyes widened slightly as he tried to understand what his brother had just told him.

"Eh? No spirit roots? Are you sure?" He asked incredulously. Although he knew that it was possible to not possess any spirit roots, it was extremely rare. In fact, he didn't know anyone that didn't have spirit roots.

"I'm sure." Oz sighed as he downed a glass of milk. "But worry not! Your younger brother is still going to climb the Ranks just as fast as everyone else." He said confidently and Quinn gave him a bittersweet smile and ruffled the top of Oz's head.

"I expect nothing less." He chuckled. "Now go, or you're going to be late. I know Cultivating is fun, but don't forget your responsibilities, ok?"

"Yes." Oz replied with a slight flush on his face. He couldn't believe he had spent the whole night cultivating and was almost late for school.

But it wasn't wasted time.

He had managed to fill almost a quarter of his dantian! Although using the Demonic cultivating technique was excruciatingly painful, it worked extremely well. It's benefits weighed out the cost by tenfold.

Oz waved goodbye to his brother before testing his new strength and running to school.

He felt amazing.

His body as a whole felt lighter and stronger, his muscles propelling him as he ran. He was barely sweating by the time he reached the academy gates and saw Xiao waiting for him.

"What are you so happy about?" Xiao raised an eyebrow and Oz realised he was grinning like an idiot.

"Just feeing positive today." Oz shrugged and rubbed a hand over his mouth. If he kept smiling like this, he was sure his face would start aching.

"Well that's a change from yesterday." Xiao snorted and they began to approach the doors of the academy.

Oz glanced sideways at Xiao as they walked. There was something different about him today - he seemed stronger. Not so much physically, but more like his aura had grown stronger.

"Did you cultivate last night?" Oz asked as they followed the other first years back to the training field they were at yesterday.

"Of course," Xiao snorted and then grinned at Oz. "I reached level two last night, only eight more levels until I reach Foundation Rank."

"Eh?!" Oz exclaimed and stopped walking. "What do you mean you reached level two?! I cultivated all night and only managed to fill a quarter of my dantian!"

"Calm down!" Xiao hissed as all the other students in the hallway began staring at them. "Did you forget who my family are?"

"What? Of course not." Oz answered.

"The Wu family have the biggest shares in Medicine City. I was pretty much force fed a Pure Ki Pill yesterday." Xiao explained and Oz felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on him.

On the continent there were four main fortress cities and other smaller ones scattered around them. The southern city was dedicated to the research into Ki, it housed the geniuses of the century in the medicine and technology fields. It was there where they experimented with Ki and managed to create many medicines and tonics that turned the medicine field on its head.

Thus, it was nicknamed Medicine City.

Diseases once known to be incurable, we're suddenly fixed with a procedure of certain Ki pills. Cripples able to walk again after a series of medicine baths.

It was said to be the most incredible discoveries since investigating Ki.

Of course, the best invention was the Pure Ki Pills. Ki infused medical plants were forged into one small pill that boosted the absorption rate of cultivation anywhere from fifty percent, to one hundred percent.

You could just imagine how popular they were - and how disgustingly expensive.

"I kind of want to punch you in the face." Oz admitted with a frown, his jealousy rising.

"Oh come on now," Xiao laughed and patted Oz on the shoulder as they continued to walk. "Students are given a pill as an allowance every month, so you will get to try one soon."

"It's a little hard to feel happy about being able to get something so precious whilst you gobble them up like they are sweets." Oz grumbled but he was excited about what Xiao said. His brother also mentioned the pill allowance before but in all the excitement, he had forgotten.

Xiao barked out a laugh as they entered the large open training field. A handful of elders stood in a line with Daiyu at the front looking as stern as usual.

"All first years listen up!" Daiyu called out. "Classes will be issued momentarily! I have a power stone here in front of me which each of you students will strike in turn. Depending of the outcome you will be placed in classes A through to E, with A being the highest and E being the lowest.

Also this year the allowance will be distributed differently. All students will be given one Pure Ki Pill, but additionally those in classes A and B will also be given a Body Tempering Tonic."

Gasps and excited chatter erupted from the crowd and Oz's mouth dropped open. He had only recently researched the newest Ki drug produced known as the Body Tempering Tonic. It consisted of a mixture of the highest grade of medicinal plants along with a condensed form of Ki. If the price of a Pure Ki Pull was expensive then the price of the tonic was exorbitant.

"They're really going all out for students this year, huh?" Xiao whistled at his sisters words.

"I need to get into those classes." Oz said more so to himself as his hands clenched in determination.

Getting the pill would surely make his cultivation sky rocket, but the tempering tonic would definitely set him leagues ahead of the rest of the students.

"Well let's make a bet, shall we?" Xiao grinned mischievously, a glint in his honey coloured eyes as they narrowed at Oz.

"What's the bet?" Oz asked wearily.

"If I manage to get a higher strength score then you then I gain a favour I can redeem at a later date." Xiao explained and Oz laughed inwardly. What could the rich child of a wealthy family asked from him? The thought was hilarious.

"And if I get the higher score?" Oz questioned and Xiao looked like he was trying to hold back his laughter. After all, Xiao had seen Oz's frail physic yesterday - there was no way his strength was higher.

"Then I will buy you a Body Tempering Tonic." Xiao grinned and Oz's eyes widened slightly.

"Deal!" He said quickly just incase Xiao might take back his offer.

And so the two patiently waited their turns, flames of determination almost palpable around them as their rivalry spiked.

'I need to win this.' Oz thought to himself. If he managed to get a high enough score to land him in the A or B class then he would get a pill, tonic and then an additional one if he beats Xiao. He definitely had gained some strength from the demonic cultivation - he just hoped it was enough.

The two watched as a male student approached the power stone. It was like a large monolith with some sort of technology implanted inside. The student took a deep breath and a small ripple of power radiated from him as he swung his fist forward and hit the stone. Silence filled the air as everyone watched in shock as the numbers crept higher and higher. The highest number so far was around the hundred and fifty mark, but this student had already surpassed that.

"Two hundred and twenty! Not bad." Daiyu said with a nod and the student bowed before turning and heading towards the group of students who had finished.

"Wow," Oz mumbled as looked back at the stone, a sinking feeling in his gut. It seems that Xiao wasn't the only one who had been shooting up the levels. The power that seeped from that guy definitely put him near the foundation rank.

"Guess I have to step it up a bit." Xiao sighed and gave Oz a wink as he approached the power stone.

Perhaps Oz had gotten a little ahead of himself. Just because he had found a special technique didn't mean it would make him all powerful over night.

A ripple of power shot out over the training field again and Oz gulped. With a grunt, Xiao slammed his fist against the stone, a small puff of dust rose up in the air from the impact.

The crowd watched in a stunned silence as the numbers on the stone continued to rise.

One hundred… two hundred… two hundred and fifty.

Suddenly Oz wasn't feeling as confident as before.

"Good, good." Daiyu sighed as she shooed her brother away as if his amazing display of strength was nothing. "Next."

Oz gulped as he approached the monolith, he could almost feel Xiao's smug grin burning into the back of his head.

'Just do your best.' He sighed inwardly and then took a deep breath. He pulled back his fist and with a grunt, he slammed his fist against the stone. The hard surface of the stone was deceptively soft as it absorbed most of the force.

A bead of sweat ran down Oz's forehead as he watched the numbers begin to climb.

One hundred… one hundred and twenty… one hundred and thirty five.

He had definitely overestimated his strength.

He sullenly placed his pendant to the monolith to record his score and slumped forward as he approached Xiao.

"That was a good effort-" Oz cut off Xiao's pity-filled words.

"Shut up." He groaned. "It will be a miracle if I make it into the D Class, wont it?"

"Oh come on, don't look so glum." Xiao bumped his large shoulder against Oz. "Even if you go into the E Class, it doesn't mean you can't climb up the ranks."

"Yeah." Oz sighed, struggling to be as optimistic as Oz.

He was feeling embarrassed about how naive he was. After one night of cultivating, he thought he would suddenly develop explosive strength. He should of known better.

He saw how hard his brother had to work to be at the Core Refining Rank. Quinn had water spiritual roots with medium level techniques and he still had to push himself day in and day out to develops his strength.

He felt so childish.

Oz continued to view the other students punching the monolith with growing regret and shame. By the time the last student racked up a humble score of one hundred and eighty, Oz felt nauseous.

"Ok students! Classes will be assigned to your Identification Pendants! Please then go to your class assigned elder and begin your training. You are allowed to retest your strength at any time to try to raise your class, but you must beat the score of the lowest student in that class to take their place.

With all the basics now taken care of, find your elders to receive your pill allowance and begin your normal classes.

I expect a lot from you first years, don't make your leader here embarrassed or I will have to beat some sense into you." Daiyu finished her somewhat frightening speech with a small bow to the students which they all returned.

Oz examined his pendant and sighed when he saw 'E Class' now written beside his name.

So it really was the worst outcome.

"Let me guess, you're in the A Class?" Oz narrowed his eyes at Xiao.

"You are correct, but don't worry-"

"Save it!" Oz interrupted. "Just you wait until I grow stronger and take your place in that class you bastard!"

"I look forward to it!" Xiao barked out a laugh and watched as Oz began to storm away before shouting, "Don't forget you owe me a favour!"

Oz pretended not to hear as he approached a stern looking female elder at the end of the line. She held a small sign with the letter E on it and watched passively as a group of students began to form around her.

'There's quite a lot of students in the E Class,' Oz thought to himself and then looked at the smaller groups at the other classes. Was the diversity between classes meant to be so large? How could one student learn effectively if he was going to be lost in a huge group?

"Alright students, as you are now aware, you lot are the weakest of your year." The E Class elder said. "But don't let this bring you down. My name is Jasmine Cadell, and I am one of the training sergeant's of the Eastern Fortress City. If you pay attention and follow my commands to their fullest then I can guarantee your strength will grow.

It's going to be tough and most of you will want to give up, but just know that if you do, then you're not cut out to be a cultivator.

With that being said, are you ready to start your cultivation journeys with me? Say, Yes Elder!"

"Yes Elder!" The large group of first years shouted, their morale slowly growing again. Even Oz felt something blooming within his chest at her words.

She was right. This was only the beginning.

Being a cultivator and reaching the highest rank wasn't something that was going to happen overnight. Oz would have to train through blood, sweat and tears just to be able to move up a level. It required sacrifice and pain and Oz was now well aware of that fact.

The Demon Cultivation technique was now his guide to success. Although it's process was extremely painful, it was Oz's secret wild card.

Now, he just had to use it successfully.

"Good!" Elder Jasmine shouted. "Then let's go begin your journey!"