Firm Roots Realm

Xue Yazhi gestured with one of her hands, extending five fingers as she looked at Lie Xu. "Level 5 of the Firm Roots Realm. He is already at Level 24!"

Liu Yu brought one of her hands to her mouth in surprise—astonished by the soul power of this young man, who appeared even younger than she did. She herself was considered a prodigy in Brave Sword King Village, yet she was still at Level 23 at the age of 18.

How rare is it to reach Spiritual Consolidation—the third realm of soul cultivation—before the age of 20?

To say that reaching the third realm before 20 was rare would be an understatement!

Even though the Primordial Void is rich in mana, laws, and elemental forces, most cultivators would take at least 10 years to go from Initiation to Consolidation.

But cultivation begins, without exception, at 15. Only at that time, when primary physical growth is complete and the body is ready for soul fortification, does it begin.

Achieving the beginning of the Firm Roots Realm, Level 20, before turning 20 was an accomplishment achieved by very few!

"How old are you?" Liu Yu asked in the midst of her trance, pausing her work on Lie Xu's bandages.

He looked into Liu Yu's light green eyes and smiled, "I don't remember."

'Right! He has amnesia!' Liu Yu blushed, diverting her gaze from Lie Xu.

Meanwhile, Kong Meng jumped for joy on Lie Xu's behalf. And not only that—the saving a Consolidation cultivator could be considered his greatest feat and contribution to Brave Sword King Village in his life.

Perhaps he would never again have the chance to do something so grand!

"This…" Lan Renshu thought, not expecting a young man like Lie Xu to be so strong. He himself had lived more than 50 years as a cultivator, yet he had barely entered Spiritual Growth, the Spiritual Sprout Realm, at Level 11.

"You've made a great contribution to the city this time, old friend," Xue Yazhi said as she returned to her desk, sitting in front of a pile of herbs she was preparing.

Lan Renshu's mind was racing with a thousand thoughts, and he barely heard Xue Yazhi.

The village doctor then said to her apprentice, "Yu'er, get some pastes and potions and accompany young Lie Xu. Teach him how and when to apply the medications. I'll wait to hear your opinion later."

Upon hearing her master's instructions, Liu Yu did not hesitate to gather the appropriate medications for Lie Xu. It was clear this was not just another test of her knowledge—and she couldn't help but become more serious.

'The master wants me to accompany him…'

Lie Xu stood up and thanked Lady Xue, watching the old Lan as the man tried to mask his expression of shock while helping him again. But he couldn't ignore Xue Yazhi's earlier comments.

'Contribution? Am I some kind of contribution?'

Leaving Lady Xue's clinic, Lie Xu walked back through the entrance of the village doctor's house, until he reached a small garden. Liu Yu would catch up with the them before they passed through the residence gate, now with a hat and a veil covering her beautiful, young face.

"Sir Lan, what are we going to do about Brother Lie?" Liu Yu asked in a low voice. "He remembers nothing, so he probably has no idea what to do now. And judging by his appearance, I doubt he has any coin on him."

Lan Renshu sighed as he recalled how grim Lie Xu's situation was, "Indeed. We must find a place for him first. When I found him, he had almost nothing on him besides his clothes. I didn't see any spatial ring, much less any artifacts that might hold any value."

Lan Renshu had spent recent years reaping the results of his explorations in Stellar Fall Valley. He had never taken the risk of venturing into areas more dangerous than he could handle, but occasionally he obtained just enough to live and teach his apprentice, Kong Meng. Additionally, he searched for dead or injured travelers during his mineral hunts. For the dead, he collected their belongings and in exchange buried them; as for the injured, he always brought them back to the village so that Xue Yazhi could try to save them.

Lan Renshu had looked for items on Lie Xu before realizing that the young man was alive—and had dust on his clothes.

Liu Yu said, "My master suggested the Eternal Sword Academy and the Night Hunt Sect. However, even if the sect provides quarters to new members, the selection process takes at least a few days. Meanwhile, the academy doesn't offer lodging for its students."

"If young Lie Xu doesn't mind, you can stay in this old man's house. I don't have much, but you'll have a roof over your head and a warm place to sleep at night."

Lie Xu thanked old Lan. "I appreciate your kindness. I hope I won't be a burden, Sir Lan."

'Young Lie Xu is a cultivation genius and might very well have a grand past from elsewhere in the Sun Kingdom. I need to receive him in the best way possible. Maybe I can even get something for Meng'er!' Lan Renshu thought as he looked at his apprentice, seeing opportunity ahead.

He smiled at Lie Xu and then asked Liu Yu, "Miss Liu, could you accompany young Lie Xu and introduce him to the village? There's a matter I need to resolve before I can receive young Lie into my home."

"Hmm, alright," she agreed without hesitation. 'My master sent me, even though I didn't really have to come with them. She probably wants me to make contact with Lie Xu.'

"Then I'll take my leave. See you later, young Lie," Lan Renshu said, gesturing to the two. "Meng'er, come with me."

The boy followed against his will, eventually disappearing with his master amid the bustling movement in the center of the village.

Left alone with Liu Yu, Lie Xu resumed walking around the central square, observing the lovely plants of the place. "Fairy Liu, would you mind telling me about the village? What exactly are the academy and the sect Lady Xue mentioned?"

Liu Yu walked beside him, taking slow steps while also admiring the trees and flowers around them. "The Eternal Sword Academy is an educational institution not only present in our village, but throughout the Sun Kingdom. There, all citizens can learn about history, literature, music, arts, forging, alchemy, medicine—in short, every kind of basic profession.

"To enroll in the academy, you only need to have a citizen's registration. Natives receive this registration at birth, and foreigners can pay a fee for it. But not everyone can attend the academy—you must be at least 5 and no older than 20 years old to enroll in classes, along with other requirements related to your rights and duties to the kingdom.

"In summary, if you're a criminal or have minor but recurring offenses, you wouldn't qualify to enroll in the academy.

"As for the Night Hunt Sect, it is a local force, independent of the kingdom. Naturally, as part of the kingdom, it is required to follow the royal laws.

"Anyone can sign up for the sect's selection process and join it. However, that decision must be made carefully. As beneficial as it is to join a sect—such as being able to live on the premises, use its resources, and gain access to profound knowledge about our world and reality—there are also responsibilities. A sect member can never sever their ties. They must carry out missions and abide by internal rules, the hierarchy, and also the culture of the sect.

"Ultimately, sect members must place the sect above their own interests, which, of course, includes living and dying for the sect."

Liu Yu's words were quite informative, yet there was a subtle tone of reverence as she spoke. Her expression grew more resolute, and the beauty of the square around them lost importance compared to the content of their conversation.

"All of that applies to the Night Hunt Sect, but also to any sect, family, clan, or force you wish to join. Some groups are less demanding, but they also offer fewer opportunities," she gestured, outlining the pros and cons before adding. "In any case, this is for you to know where you might belong if you follow our recommendations. You remember nothing, so I must be direct. But know that despite the 'downsides,' every citizen in the village and kingdom who isn't part of a larger force would give everything they have for just one chance. It's no different for the Night Hunt Sect and the residents of Brave Sword King Village."

"I see. Quite curious," Lie Xu not only understood Liu Yu's extended explanation, but also felt that everything she said came naturally. It made him feel more comfortable—not just with his situation, but also speaking with this beautiful lady.

"Fairy Liu, are you a member of the Night Hunt Sect?"

She nodded at Lie Xu, not hiding it. It wasn't a secret at all.

"My master, I, and several other people you'll still meet are members of the sect in the village. Currently, we have over 600 core members."

"Impressive," Lie Xu replied, not being very familiar with numbers—but that was a significant fraction of the local population in his opinion. Then he asked with an interested look, "What are the requirements to join a sect, Fairy Liu? Do you think I could manage it?"

The corners of Liu Yu's lips lifted as she felt he was teasing her. Even without memories, he'd have to be foolish not to know the answer to his own question.

"Joining a sect is not for everyone. The selection of new disciples comprises three phases altogether," she explained, gesturing with one of her hands.

"The first stage of selection consists of a mental test. It turns out that soul cultivation depends primarily on the mind and willpower. The sect tests each candidate's mental capacity, classifying them according to their innate potential. Of course, innate potential isn't everything, but without at least that, awakening the soul and beginning the path of cultivation could be impossible.

"Then we have the second test for those who pass the first. This test assesses the affinity between the candidates and the sect's culture. Potential isn't all—one single malicious individual would be enough to contaminate the entire environment and lead to degradation.

"Finally, there is a combat test. Half of the candidates who reach this phase are eliminated, and the remaining half enter the sect as junior disciples… In short, these tests typically weed out 70% to 90% of the annual applicants.

"But these tests are for young people who are about to awaken their soul powers or who have only recently done so. In your case, you are already a cultivator, so you won't have to demonstrate your strength or potential. You'll only need to undergo a basic test, similar to the second phase of selection.

"Since you've lost your memories, it would be impossible for you to fail this test!"

Lie Xu smiled, revealing his perfect teeth at Liu Yu. "Then I hope to count on your help and guidance in the sect, Fairy Liu. I only wish my future colleagues won't be too upset about my closeness with such a rare flower."

"You…" Liu Yu suddenly stopped, her face turning completely pink.

Fortunately, Liu Yu's veil shielded her from revealing her unspoken reaction to Lie Xu's flirtation.

Lie Xu let out a chuckle, feeling good about talking with Liu Yu. But he wasn't ready to stop there. He said, "But before I become your junior, I have a question, Fairy Liu. Lady Xue said something earlier that caught my attention. She mentioned that Lan Renshu made a contribution to the village by saving me. I didn't understand that. Could you explain it to me?"