Ethan sat back and absorbed what he had learned about the cultivation stages, reading and rereading to ensure nothing slipped past his grasp. The Elementary Stage was the initial gateway—designed to purge the impurities within one's body and make it suitable for true cultivation. It comprised nine levels, each one a milestone in the difficult process of cleansing.
Every breakthrough through these minor realms caused the cultivator's body to shed toxins, negative energy, and imperfections. After completing the ninth level, the practitioner's body would be free from these obstructive impurities, forging a new and resilient vessel compatible with the flow of spiritual energy. In essence, the Elementary Stage polished a mortal body into an uncut gem, preparing it for the radiant glory that cultivation promised.
Success in this stage was critical. Only after breaking through the Elementary Stage could a cultivator truly claim to have entered the real cultivation world. Until this foundational work was complete, aspirations toward higher realms remained just dreams.
Following this came the Physique Strengthening Stage, a crucial phase for anyone with a long-term vision. While the Elementary Stage had purified the body, rendering it ready, the Physique Strengthening Stage forged strength, endurance, and resilience into the cultivator's form. Advancement through the minor levels of this stage sparked visible transformations—the body grew tougher, organs more robust, and the entire physical vessel capable of bearing the colossal forces that awaited in the higher realms.
Upon breaking through this stage, a cultivator would finally possess a body capable of handling and refining the spiritual energy of the world without crumbling. This sturdy frame became the foundation upon which all further cultivation achievements relied.
Next was the Spiritual Roots Cleansing Stage. Unlike previous stages, this one did not have fixed minor levels but instead consisted of multiple unpredictable "phases." Unlike the Elementary and Physique Strengthening stages, which were quantised into nine levels each, the Spiritual Roots Cleansing Stage was fluid and less definable, marked by the numerous times a cultivator could cleanse their spiritual roots.
The process cleansed and purified the cultivator's spiritual pathways. The cleaner and more refined the roots became, the more easily spiritual energy could circulate throughout the body, empowering both internal and external transformations.
However, the number of phases one might experience varied dramatically. Some cultivators might undergo only a single phase, experiencing a bottleneck that hinders further growth, while others might reach five, six, or more phases, unlocking much higher potentials.
Each phase was gruelling, requiring remarkable patience and, crucially, fortune. Without the luck to endure multiple phases, a cultivator's growth might stagnate, and many would never advance beyond this stage.
Notably, breaking through even one phase of the Spiritual Roots Cleansing Stage was sufficient to earn the license to progress to the next major stage—a critical milestone.
Ethan sighed deeply. Mastery of the earlier stages was not about glory or power; it was about meticulously preparing the body and spirit for the tremendous burdens of the later realms. The journey would be long, hard, and uncertain.
He searched for information about the stages beyond Spiritual Roots Cleansing but found little. The ancient manuals stored in the system didn't record their details, only their names, and Ethan felt a twinge of disappointment. The knowledge here was limited, reflective of the academy's diminished status.
Still, the system was at his side, and he resolved to focus on what was within reach.
"System! Make my cultivation the absolute priority over everything else. My goal is to reach the pinnacle of cultivation. Based on this, calculate and prepare a strict training program for me!" he commanded firmly.
[Command Accepted]
[Adjustments successful based on user's priorities]
Ethan felt a reassuring calm settle over him.
"System! Prepare all requirements for me to break through to the 1st Level of the Elementary Stage!" he continued.
[Calculating requirements according to priority]
[Calculation successful]
[Showing most favourable and feasible requirements based on the user's priorities]
[Required Attribute Levels:]
Strength: 50; Stamina: 50; Endurance: 50; Speed: 30; Agility: 20; Spirit: 0.5
Ethan stared intently at the glowing numbers, etching them mentally into his resolve. This was his road—a distant, demanding path to accomplish one indispensable goal: the first breakthrough.
He knew such levels were impossibly high for his current state. No amount of effort alone could bring him close immediately. The only way forward was to complete the system-issued quests, accumulate points, and gradually raise his attributes to meet the threshold.
He reviewed his active quests to plan his next moves:
[Quest Name: Mystery Of The Sacred Wind]
[Rank: SSS]
[Description: Two centuries ago, Sacred Wind Academy suffered a devastating attack by a group of powerful, mysterious foes. The full story remains secret.]
[Mission: Solve the entire mystery behind the attack.]
[Completion Rate: 0%]
[Quest Name: A True Librarian II]
[Rank: A]
[Description: Beyond cleaning, a true librarian attracts disciples to join and use the library. Only then does one earn the title.]
[Mission 1: Attract 100 disciples to the library for 25% completion.]
[Mission 2: Attract 500 disciples for 50% completion.]
[Mission 3: Attract 1,000 disciples for 75% completion.]
[Mission 4: Attract 5,000 disciples for 100% completion.]
[Special Mission: Encourage faculty to read frequently. Completion doubles rewards.]
Ethan sighed quietly. The first quest was an immense challenge, beyond his abilities for now. The second mission, however, felt more practical—he could focus on revitalising the library, on drawing disciples and teachers alike to the dusty shelves waiting to be rekindled.
Resolved, he allowed himself a moment of rest. Tomorrow would mark a new beginning, and he intended to meet it fully refreshed.