Making Plans, A Father's Intervention

The look in Aron's eyes as he read the text provided by the Dao Fragment was missing the joy and excitement that they had during the course of the first simulation.

Over the course of the past month, the memories of the 18 year long simulation had fully integrated into the mind of the 5 year old Aron. Every sensation that had been felt, from the pain of an assassin's blade to the blood that had soaked his hands as he slew cultivators, Aron could now feel as if they had actually happened.

The feelings and emotions that he had read about in the simulation, Aron could now vividly recall himself.

Every betrayal. Every moment of sadness and anger and hatred. Even the fleeting moments of joy that were found in the simulation, Aron could now feel for himself.

However, what could be considered the most important change was the Seed that had grown in Aron's heart as he slept.

Though Aron was unable to feel the development of the Seed, or even understand that it had appeared in his heart, the Seed was incredibly important to his future cultivation.

Compared to the Aron that had only developed a Seed of Resentment in his heart after he had left the Perch villa, he had now grown one within a single month of developing the ability to cultivate.

Of his other gains from the simulation experience, Aron could tell that he had the insights to bring any of his techniques to the level of mastery that they had reached in the simulation. Of course, Aron would have to begin cultivating and strengthening his body before any of his techniques would reach any level of mastery.

Just because he understands how to do it, doesn't mean that his body, in the shape it is now, will allow him to perform at perfect capacity.

Still, just by having this level of mastery, his speed of practice was bound to increase exponentially compared to what it was in the simulation. If it had taken him a full 5 years to develop his low level White movement technique to Perfection, it would now only take him a full year. That year would be spent transitioning his body into being able to actually complete the technique without breaking apart.

Along with the mastery of techniques, Aron had also brought out the knowledge of the methods that he had experienced in the simulation. The most important one being the Consuming Sect's All Consuming method.

With this he would be able to increase the level of his Core. 

"Thinking of the beginning of the simulation, the state of my Core is probably my biggest issue at the moment. If the time for the examination comes and I am still at the Minor Core level, it is likely that I will still find myself being pushed out of the family."

Aron closed his eyes and began to think. Even if he had the method of the Consuming Sect, without a cultivation level it would be immensely difficult to use it. Even in the simulation, he had deliberately delayed until he made it to the peak of the Essence Refinement realm before attempting to increase the level of his Core.

Even if he were to attempt to try without a cultivation, it would only be a matter of time before the Orthodox Sect that governs the territory around the Perch family would discover something wrong and begin their investigation like they had in the simulation.

At that point, what would he, without any cultivation, be able to do? Using the All Consuming method at this point would be nothing more than a fancy way to kill himself.

Scrapping the idea of using the All Consuming method for the moment, Aron began to think of what more he could do. 

He was too young to physically train his body to a standard that would match what is needed to practice his techniques, so he would need to wait until he began cultivating to start making any headway on his mastery levels.

Even if he wanted to try and get a head start on the other children, the only thing he would end up doing is harming his own body. Inevitably, that would only delay his progress further and make him look even worse in the eyes of the rest of his family.

He also wouldn't be able to attempt any normal cultivation until after the examination. In reality, he hadn't been introduced to any form of cultivation method, so starting to cultivate would be suspicious to anyone without the knowledge of the simulation. At this point, only he had the knowledge of the simulation.

The questions that he would have to face if he tried to start cultivating now were more than what he could handle.

Continuing to brainstorm for a while longer, eventually Aron decided that he had met a dead end in what he could do at the moment.

For now, Aron decided that a meal would suffice. He didn't know how long had passed, but he was fatigued and hungry.

"I need some food before I try to do anything. I can barely move at this point, what good is thinking about how to increase my Core?"

At this, Aron stood up from his bed. His limbs had grown stiff after several weeks of laying in bed. Pacing around the room, Aron loosened his joints before heading to the door of the room.

As he opened the door, a maid that was carrying a tray nearby was startled and let out an audible gasp. 

"Young Master, you are awake! I must fetch an Elder."

Before the maid had a chance to turn and run to alert someone of his awakening, Aron called out softly, "Whoever you tell, tell them I'll be in the dining hall."

Without waiting for the maid to respond, Aron turned to walk to the dining hall.

Before he arrived, Aron stopped at the kitchen to request for the cooks to make him a large meal.

After sitting at the dining table, it only took a few minutes before the attendants brought the first course of your meal. It was a light vegetable soup, but the first bite was extremely filling.

When the second course arrived, the soup was finished. 

As Aron ate his second course, he began to think once more of what steps he could take now that he had woken up with so many years of experience.

Still, no matter what he could think of, everything seemed to be destined for failure. His thoughts met dead end after dead end. 

"After all, it seems that I can only rely on another simulation to find a path. I won't be able to accept any major rewards, but perhaps another few simulations worth of experience will bring me enough information to get out of being labeled a failure."

As he thought about moving forward with another simulation, the third course of the meal arrived.

Aron was only halfway through his third course when he heard the door to the dining room burst open. Turning to look, his pupils constricted, and a flash of shock ran through his eyes.

Walking into the dining room was Aron's father, Darius Perch. With the memories that had been integrated into his head, Aron felt like he hadn't seen the face of his father in over 10 years. In fact, the last memory he had of this man was of his back as he walked out of the examination hall in the face of his pathetic talent.

As Darius walked into the room, he paused and a small look of excitement appeared in his eyes.

Aron was confused, however. He couldn't understand why this man had come to see his condition after he woke up. He didn't care about him in the simulation, so why would he care about him now?

His answer was found quickly, as Darius began to speak.

"It is good that you are awake, my son. I had detected a small resonance of Dao and wanted to make sure you were fine. It seems, however, that you are more than fine. Even as the son of your mother and I, I didn't expect for your talent to be so immense that you have already developed a Dao Seed."

As Darius finished speaking, Aron seemed to completely freeze. Every word of his father's sentence had shook him to the absolute core of his being.

His father, who had barely spent time with him, was checking to ensure that he was fine. More so, he even called him 'son'.

When he mentioned the Dao Seed, however, everything seemed to click.

Aron himself was too weak to detect the development of the Seed in his heart on his own, but when he thought of all the emotions he had inherited from his simulation, it made sense.

He had developed the Seed in the simulation with only a year of emotional development, but the memories he inherited were 13 years worth of emotions. 

It also made sense that his father had detected the Seed. After all, he was in the same realm as his master at the Consuming Sect. The only difference was that his master had detected what type of Dao Seed it was. His father, however, had only been able to detect that a Seed had grown, nothing more than that. 

Aron thought for a second and made his guess. 

'I suppose it only makes sense that he can't detect what kind of Seed it is. After all, master was at the peak of Soul-Body, while father was only at the initial stage. After what master had taught me in the simulation, that there are significantly large power gaps between the minor levels within the Soul-Body realm, it's easy to understand that master can detect it but father can't.'

From there, everything that his father said made sense. Yet, none of his words brought him any joy.

For his father to detect his talent meant that the simulation that he had experienced was already falling apart.

Aron's father didn't give him much time to think, as before he was even able to finish his meal, Darius grabbed him by the shoulder and flashed off into the examination hall.

Dropping Aron in front of the testing pillar, he spoke, "Place your hand on the pillar. After testing your Core level and attribute, we will get you a matching method and technique."

Aron knew what to expect as his hand reached the pillar. The simulation had already changed, but his Core level was a cemented fact for the time being. The only thing that the pillar would tell him was that he had an unattributed Minor Core.

Still, his father was too strong to disobey and he wasn't about to upset such a high level cultivator. Not yet, at least.

As Aron placed his hand on the pillar, the Essence within poured into his body before reentering into the pillar. It began to glow, and revealed to Darius that his son's talent was low.

"This doesn't make sense," Darius spoke, "An unattributed Core is unheard of. Even if it is Minor, it shouldn't be unattributed. Your body obviously has talent, only a true genius would be able to develop a Dao Seed at your age and cultivation."

Instead of walking away in disappointment like he had in the simulation, Aron's father almost looked angry.

"No matter. Your Dao Seed is enough for me to prioritize your cultivation among your siblings. I will do some investigating to get to the bottom of your Core and attribute. If there is a way to increase them, I will find it.

"For now, you should report back to your room. I will have an Elder drop a cultivation method and some techniques at your room later. Focus on your cultivation and practice. You will be excused from the family examination and group training. I'll check on your progress in a few months. If you can meet my expectations, you can expect a reward."

As Aron's father finished speaking, he flashed away without leaving any room for Aron to interject his opinion.

But at the same time, his eyes flashed with bright excitement.

He could put off the next simulation for the time being. He didn't need to worry about being shamed by the family for his poor talent.

His father was giving him a larger opportunity than he had thought he would ever get.

Outside of the eyes of the family, Aron wouldn't have to worry about unnecessary politics or assassination attempts.

As long as he spent the next month cultivating, Aron was sure to receive a large reward from his father. After all, even though he didn't carry his cultivation level through the simulation experience, his insights that allowed for him to first detect the world's Essence carried over and he would immediately be able to start cultivating. 

Once he reached the 1st level of cultivation, he could bring his techniques up to the Minor Achievement of mastery. Even though he could go faster, his body still wouldn't be able to handle it.

Once his father came to check on his progress, even if his cultivation level within Essence Refinement was still low, his technique mastery would be enough to ensure a hefty reward.

If his father allowed him to request one, it would be Essence Stones. At that point , he would be able to purchase a reward once he does the next simulation.

He wouldn't have to trial and error his way through the simulations. For now, his father had allowed him to have a great beginning.

Though grateful for what was to come, Aron's resentment towards his father had increased upon the realization that it was only his perceived talent that had managed to garner the attention of the Perch patriarch. 

Deep within Aron's heart, the Dao Seed that had grown there began to glow.