Chapter 3 - The Cultivation World

In a Rural Area within Barren City

It had been six years since the old doctor found the child at Barren Lake. He had adopted him and cared for him like his own grandson, raising him with love and wisdom.

In a shabby house on the outskirts of Barren City, an old man sat on a worn-out wooden chair, resting after a long day. His clothes, patched and re-stitched numerous times, reflected a life of hardship. The small house hadn't changed much in six years, though the once sparse garden now flourished with medicinal herbs, a testament to years of dedication and effort.

A young boy, no older than six, moved carefully through the garden, collecting herbs with practiced hands. He had a delicate yet striking face, his deep black eyes seeming to hold the vastness of an abyss. His tousled black hair, tinged with streaks of brown, only added to his charm. Despite his youth, there was an air of intelligence and curiosity about him.

The old man, known as Old Doc, turned toward the boy as he noticed someone approaching the cottage.

"Luan, go and see who's coming," he said in his gentle yet firm voice.

The child looked up from his work and replied promptly, "Yes, Grandpa."

But before leaving, he turned back with a playful pout. "You have to remember your promise! After this, you have to let me go into town."

Old Doc sighed. "I still don't understand you. Why do you keep sneaking around that cultivation academy? We are ordinary people. We can't compare to those high-class nobles born with the ability to cultivate. What do you even gain from watching them?"

Luan's bright eyes shone with determination. "Maybe we can't cultivate or live as long as they do, but by learning about the world and how they live, I can become a better healer. If I understand their lifestyles and habits, I can use that knowledge to improve my medical treatments."

Old Doc sighed again, shaking his head with a small smile. "Stubborn child."

Luan grinned before dashing off to the door. A middle-aged man stood outside, clutching his hand, which bore a fresh wound. Without hesitation, Luan led him inside and immediately began treating it. The man showed no reluctance, trusting the child completely, as if he had already experienced the boy's medical skills before.

Watching from the courtyard, Old Doc murmured to himself, "This child's comprehension ability is terrifying. He's only six, yet his medical skills rival those of seasoned healers. He just lacks experience. Even with my 35 years in medicine, I have little left to teach him. One day, he must venture beyond this city and see the world."

He paused, gazing at Luan with an expression of both pride and sorrow. "I knew he was different the moment I found him at Barren Lake. Even before I heard the rumors about his mother, I felt it—this child is destined for something far greater."

His voice turned softer, filled with unspoken pain. "I've lived my life. Now it's time for him to live his. That pendant around his neck is the only clue to his origins. He may come from a wealthy, powerful family. And I suspect... he might have the talent for cultivation after all."

His grip on his staff tightened. "Children from noble families are born with treasures that help them grow stronger. But Luan had nothing. He was bullied for sneaking into the academy, yet instead of fighting back, he endured it all just to continue learning. His thirst for knowledge never wavered. But... I won't be here much longer. My body can no longer fight off disease, no matter how many herbs I use. I might only have a few years left."

A tear slipped down his wrinkled cheek. "After all these years... this boy is the only person I have ever truly loved. And soon, I must leave him alone in this world."

The Harsh Reality of Their World

After treating the man's wound, Luan approached Old Doc and handed him five copper coins—the small payment for his work. In this world, currency was divided into copper, silver, gold, and platinum coins, each a thousand times more valuable than the last. Gold coins were rare, held only by royalty, and platinum coins were the stuff of legends. Even the mayor of Barren City likely did not own a single gold coin, let alone a platinum coin.

But Old Doc had never cared for wealth. He had spent years healing people without seeking profit, which was why he lived in poverty. Because of this, he could never afford to send Luan to a proper school, let alone the city's prestigious pre-elementary academy for cultivators.

This was a world where people trained in martial arts to strengthen their bodies, gaining supernatural abilities through cultivation. Those from powerful families began their training at a young age. If they successfully broke through the barrier separating ordinary humans from cultivators, they could start their journey on the path of strength.

Cultivation ability was heavily influenced by genetics, making noble families dominant in this field. However, it wasn't impossible for an ordinary person to cultivate—if someone had enough talent, they could become the founder of their own powerful lineage. But such cases were one in a million. History told of legendary figures who rose from nothing, challenging the supremacy of the great clans, yet most were either recruited into noble houses or mysteriously disappeared. The path for a commoner was riddled with trials, for even if they surpassed their limits, they would still have to survive the schemes of the powerful.

To break free from mortals and start cultivating, one needed a minimum of 1,000kg of strength. Big families could use treasures and expensive materials to help their children reach this threshold, but commoners had no such privilege. For them, the only paths were relentless training, consuming rare herbs found in dangerous regions, or participating in life-threatening trials that pushed their bodies beyond natural limits. Some spent decades striving for this goal, while others perished in the attempt.

Cultivation itself was divided into two realms, each consisting of nine levels marked by stars:

Warrior (focused on strengthening the body)Celestial Level (manipulate energy to fight)

A person enters the Warrior stage when they first break free from the shackles of mortality. To become a 1-star warrior, the minimum requirement is to reach 10,000kg of strength. However, surpassing the initial 1,000kg mark is only the beginning. To cultivate the necessary techniques and truly awaken as a warrior, one must refine their body and energy through specialized methods. Each subsequent star represents a doubling of strength, meaning a 9-star warrior can wield an astonishing 2.56 million kg of force, enough to shatter mountains and reshape the battlefield.

However, the difference between the Warrior Realm and the Celestial Realm is far more drastic—cultivators in the Celestial Level possess ten times the power of even the most powerful 9-star warriors. This gap presents an immense challenge, and without rare resources, deep understanding, or intense combat experience, many warriors find themselves unable to break into the next stage of cultivation.

There was a significant reason, beyond just the pursuit of power, that drove ordinary people to yearn for cultivation: the potential increase in lifespan. Ordinary mortals had only a fleeting existence, but for a Warrior, the potential to live up to 200 years was a tantalizing prospect.

As for those who reached the ranks of Celestial Masters, they could live up to 1,000 years, a lifespan that allowed for vast knowledge, experience, and the accumulation of power over centuries. This extended life was more than just a gift—it was a means to transcend the limits of mortal existence, to see the world change, and to continue cultivating without the fear of time running out.

Even the City Lord of Barren City, a figure of immense power in the eyes of commoners, was only at the three-star Warrior Level. This served as a stark reminder of how difficult it truly was to reach the heights of true power.

Despite his status, the city lord had spent years refining his strength, and his position, though formidable, was still far from the peak. For most, the journey to even a single star was an arduous test of will, and only a handful could hope to reach the higher echelons of cultivation.

This was the knowledge Luan had painstakingly gathered by sneaking into academies and libraries around the city. Despite his vast understanding, Luan never ceased his pursuit of learning. He had been caught and beaten countless times by the noble children for infiltrating their sacred grounds, yet each punishment only fueled his resolve. Whether by peeking through classroom windows, eavesdropping in hidden corners, or stealing moments alone in the academy's library, Luan's thirst for knowledge remained unshaken. His determination was relentless—he would not let his status as an outsider stop him from acquiring the wisdom needed to transcend his circumstances.

It was proof of his resolve.

"If you truly want to learn something new," he had once told Old Doc, "nothing can stand in your way—except for yourself."

And so, the boy—once abandoned in the depths of Barren Lake—continued his journey, unaware that his fate was destined to surpass anything anyone could ever fathom.