A cultivator has 10 ranks

After successfully using the Netherworld Reversal Absorption Technique, Zhou Fan slowly stood up, his expression calm. He wiped away the blood from his face, revealing grey eyes and black hair, his gaze deep and unreadable.

"Ha… I have finally succeeded in the Netherworld Reversal Absorption Technique." His voice carried a hint of satisfaction, but his mind was already racing with possibilities.

With this technique, he could even cultivate demonic arts. Unlike what many believed, demonic cultivators were not limited to chaotic qi alone.They were just like lone cultivators and righteous cultivators. Their path was not defined by the type of qi they used, but rather by their methods and choices. A demonic cultivator could use purified qi just as well as chaotic qi—it all depended on their will.

If one chose to cultivate only with demonic qi, their entire dantian would turn black, forever binding them to chaotic energy. However, most demonic cultivators did not rely solely on chaotic qi. There were many types of qi, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.

Zhou Fan's dantian, now half black and half white, stood at a crossroads.

A week later

In a dimly lit classroom, the soft glow of lanterns flickered against the aged wooden walls. The scent of ink and parchment lingered in the air.

There were thirty-seven students present, all seated on a thick woven carpet, their backs straight with discipline. Each had a small wooden table in front of them, neatly arranged with scrolls, inkstones, and jade slips containing cultivation insights. Some students whispered in hushed tones, while others sat in quiet contemplation, waiting for the lesson to begin.

At the front of the room stood the academic elder, his presence commanding yet calm. He was an old man with a long, silver beard that reached his chest, his sharp eyes filled with wisdom and countless years of experience. His dark blue robes, embroidered with golden patterns of swirling clouds, gave him an air of authority. Though his face bore the marks of age, his posture was straight, and his aura carried the weight of a true cultivator. He tapped his wooden staff lightly on the floor, signaling the start of the lesson.

The academic elder stood before the gathered students, his voice calm yet firm. "A cultivator progresses through ten ranks, each further divided into initial, middle, and late stages. To ascend, one must pass through these realms and break through into the next rank."

A curious student raised his hand. "Teacher, how can a person enter these realms or advance to the next rank?"

The academic elder nodded, pleased by the question. "A cultivator must gather qi in their dantian until they reach a bottleneck. At this point, their qi is insufficiently refined to support further growth. To advance, they must condense and purify their qi into a more potent form. Only by doing so can they stabilize their foundation and take the next step in their cultivation journey."

The students listened intently, some already imagining the challenges they would face when they reached their own bottlenecks.

Zhou Fan sat at the back end of the class, his head resting on the wooden table. He wasn't sleeping, but his thoughts wandered. His mind traced the hidden opportunities within this village—the fortuitous encounters that had yet to be claimed.

At the front, the academic elder continued his lecture. "Pills, like cultivators, are also divided by ranks. They range from rank one to rank ten, each level representing their potency and rarity." His voice carried a tone of finality as he closed the lesson.

As the class came to an end, the academic elder looked over the students. "Your first assignment is simple. You must enter the mid stage of rank one. The first among you to complete this task will receive ten qi pearls and a storage ring. I will now hand each of you a basic technique for absorbing qi."

A quiet murmur spread through the class. A storage ring was a rare treasure for beginners, capable of holding items within a separate space. The incentive was enough to ignite a competitive fire among the students.

With a wave of his sleeve, the academic elder sent jade slips floating toward each student. "These contain the Qi Gathering Technique. It is a foundation-level method, but if practiced diligently, it will allow you to refine qi efficiently and step into the mid stage of rank one."

The students exchanged glances, some filled with determination, others with doubt. For many, this would be their first step into the true path of cultivation.

The students left the classroom, each eager to begin their cultivation journey. Zhou Fan also stepped outside, walking through the village streets toward his home.

His house was small but sturdy, a simple wooden structure when he was twelve. His parents had been killed years ago, leaving him to fend for himself. Though life had been difficult, he had learned to survive.

Inside, he sat cross-legged on the floor, taking out the few qi pearls he had left. He was running short, but he had always made the best use of them. Qi pearls were not only a currency but also a valuable resource—they could enhance the speed of qi absorption, allowing cultivators to progress faster.

Zhou Fan put aside the few qi pearls he had left. He had already reached the mid stage of rank one—a feat that would shock anyone if they knew. But he couldn't afford to be careless.

For the past week he cultivated diligently, pushing himself to the limit with only two hours of sleep each day. Every moment was precious, and he had to save his remaining qi pearls for future breakthroughs.

Technically, he could go now and claim the reward. But wouldn't it be too suspicious? Less than an hour had passed, and if he stepped forward already, it would raise too many questions. No normal person could reach the mid stage so quickly.

Zhou Fan leaned back, his grey eyes calm. He had to be cautious. Rushing ahead might bring more trouble than reward.