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---
After the professor entered the classroom and introduced himself, they all moved to the second-year gymnasium in a similar fashion as they did so last year.
"… Welcome, students! Once again, I'm Kylo Dahwon. And I'll be your professor of Practical Combat, which follows where Professor Elliot Contradeu left off with Interactive Studies."
Kylo was a middle aged professor about the same age as Zhuo's father. His hair was black with white touches on the sides, and a shabby beard around his chin and jaw.
His skin was white and his eyes were dark, but his vision was sharp like the previous professor.
"In this class, the goal is to teach exactly that, practical combat in all of its forms to all of you in preparation for the national exam after your third year. I know it's still far away, but it's never too early to start preparing."
"More than anything, your exams will be divided into multiple sections, and while the written exams are self-explanatory, once you enter the arena, you may never know how well you'll fare."
"You may face off against someone one stage above you or even an entire realm. In any case, you can never back down and must be able to hold your own if you wish to get a good score and possibly enter a good university."
"I'll teach you how to hold your own against anyone in your realm and beyond. The goal here is not only to make you all experts of combat and able to face anyone within the same realm and stage as you, but to give you the ability to strategize and fight beyond it."
"The idea of jumping stages or even realms is a common one, but at higher stages, it becomes harder and harder to do so. And eventually, having a good combat sense and sharp techniques isn't going to cut it. Oftentimes, one must know to run and think ahead to take a stronger enemy down."
"I like to say it doesn't matter what you do as long as you win… but that depends. I say not to embarrass yourself in public, but if its in private… then no one's going to know, right?"
""…""
"Anyhow! Let's begin. I'll call your names, two at a time. The goal is simple: fight with everything you've got!… But put on these armlets first; they're protective items programmed with advanced AI that will recognize if you're in danger and protect you accordingly."
"You need not to worry for the processing speed of the AI is comparable to that of a Body Integration realm master, so no matter what you do, the AI will always be able to think ahead and understand your intent, so act to your heart's content."
"Even if something happens, I'm here together with the medical team on standby. In the last fifty years, we have had no serious accidents or fatalities occur in training, but there has been no shortage of students being sent to the infirmary, and for that I say… deal with it."
"Being a cultivator is rough, and while not all of you may take this path, to reach the top, one must first carve their way there before settling down."
"With that in mind, listen up! First to the stage…"
"…"
'It's here.'
Zhuo watched the situation unfold from the back, his expression gloomy.
'I've trained quite a bit, but I'm no fighter… or, better put, I'm no better than any of them. Seems like this is the clone's job.'
He looked around and paid attention to the fight. Once the fight ended and the next sequence of names were called, he went to the bathroom and quickly called his clone, sending him in his place while he hid in his locker.
He shared his senses with his clone, paying attention to its actions while he returned to the arena. The fight was still ongoing, but not because the kids were fearful but because they were at a deadlock.
Powerful bolts of energy were hurled at each other as they clashed. An entire year of simple sparring had made them half-decent fighters with little fear of each other, but now things were different… did they have the courage to attack their classmates with lethal techniques?
Now was the time to break that fear.
/CLANG!/
/CLANG!/
/BOOOM!/
"Alright, enough kids! No point in taking things too far on the first day. You'll get enough action in the next few days… Excellent work. Now go back and cool down."
"Let's see here…"
The professor reached for the tablet in his hand, his eyes sharpening as he smiled faintly.
"Hooo… Next! Zhuo Jalro! And…"
"Professor, I'd like to go." Someone said from the crowd as they stepped forward
The one who stepped forward was none other than the troublemaker kid who had been bullying half of the previous year alone. The boy who sat beside him for a whole year!
"Hum… very well. Harkolon Wazi! Step up!"
/JUMP!/
Harkolon jumped from the crowd, arriving before Zhuo with a smile on his face.
"Finally, I've been waiting for this moment for years." Harkolon said as he cracked his knuckles
Ever since he first met Zhuo, Harkolon had this desire. He had always been annoyed by him, protected by the professors, a commoner, yet still doing better than him in everything aside from cultivation.
Everyone seemed to like and respect him despite his pathetic status. Well, no more.
When they first clashed in sparring matches, he had this desire, yet every time he was unable to display his full potential, always losing to his unconventional techniques and fighting style.
Harkolon had to give it to him, Zhuo was a combat genius.
'Today is the day I wash away the humiliation of the past. I'll thoroughly stomp him and show everyone the fate of a commoner… but there is one thing I can't get straight.'
'Why… just why is he smiling? Why does he do so?'
Every time he fought, Zhuo would always smile, and today was no different; in fact, he seemed to be as excited about this as he was.
Zhuo did little preparation, merely stretching his neck left and right as he waited for the professor to start the fight. There was no fluctuation of energy on his body, no stance, nothing.
'He's underestimating me. This mere 7th Transformation trash… what does he expect to do against a Red Core like me? Should I give him a few punches to build some momentum before knocking him out?'
"Stand ready… Three, two one… Start!"
/BOOM!/
"!!"
A wave of energy suddenly smashed against Harkolon, disorienting him.
"W-Wha…!!"
At that moment, Zhuo smashed his feet against the ground, exploding with power as he dashed after him. He covered a distance of ten meters in the blink of an eye, his fist behind his body as he charged it for a mighty punch!
'I need to…'
/SMACK!/
But then, Zhuo showed him the difference in judgment by kicking him in the face instead. The punch had been a feint, one far too obvious, yet he hadn't noticed it because of his momentary startling.
/SMASH!/
While Harkolon stepped back from losing his feet, Zhuo gathered all of his strength and executed his strongest technique, aiming it straight at Harkolon's chest, sending him flying back throughout the gymnasium as he was knocked out.
Even with the different in realms, if a Golden Core did not pay attention and enveloped his body in energy, the strike of a full-powered Foundation Establishment cultivator was still enough to deal significant damage to the body.
And this wasn't just any Foundation Establishment strike. This was a precise attack from the fourth clone, a master of combat, while executing a striking technique he had mastered in tandem with a movement technique he had also mastered.
The fourth clone was a monster when it came to mastering these kinds of things, and putting them together effectively was even easier. What he loved the most, the reason he smiled all the time, was fighting!
He loved this feeling more than anything. This, just like the first clone in his room with a PC, was his lane where he felt the most productive.
""…""
/Silence…/
"… Good work, student. You may now…"
"Next." Zhuo proclaimed as he looked at his classmates
""…""
The professor looked at him and smiled.
"Ha! That's the spirit."
'I heard from Elliot that this student was quite dedicated. Maybe the hardest-working of everyone. In just a little over a year, he cultivated this state on his own with just standard resources from the Academy and maybe a few he bought outside with his family.'
'I knew he was good at standard fighting, but maybe Elliot's opinion of him was wrong. This kid has quite a bit more left to show.'
"Your next opponent will be… You over there."
""!!""
"Understood."
/Step…/
A girl with long red hair stepped into the arena, it could only be one girl…
"Samina Dax-Om! Step up!"
"…"
There was only one person with that surname in the Academy… The highest ranking individual amidst the second years. A 3rd Color Golden Core cultivator! The princess of the Daxomin Palace...
She stepped into the arena graciously, her gaze calm and collected.
Samina was a beautiful young girl with long crimson hair. Her blue eyes were deep and striking when put before her hair. She had clear, unblemished skin like most around them, but her complexion was slightly paler.
This was due to the bloodline of the Dax-Om Clan, but the details as to why that was the case were a tight-kept secret.
"I'll give you the first strike." She proclaimed arrogantly as she raised one arm before her, getting into a defensive stance yet still slightly lax
"…"
Zhuo said nothing, only smiling.
"Stand ready! Three, two one… Start!"
/BOOOOM!/
"!"
Zhuo did not hesitate this time. His right arm exploded with energy as the True Essence within his veins condensed to its limits. His right arm turned into a crimson bonfire, streaking across the air like a comet as it made its way to her faster than before!
'I need to defend…'
"That is…"
While the professor's eyes narrowed at Zhuo's display. Samina quickly deemed the strike quite dangerous and gathered her energy, but it was too late.
/RELEASE!/
Midway through the arena, Zhuo punched the air, releasing a bullet of energy that reached her before she had the time to form any defenses, sending her to knees as she lost her breath.
It was another feint! Or rather, Zhuo adapted his strike mid flight into something more appropriate, taking her by surprise!
/Step!/
"!"
/PUNCH!/
With her on her knees, Zhuo did not hesitate and punched her in the face with all his might, sending her flying backward to the same position Harkolon had been sent moments prior. The only difference being that while Harkolon lost consciousness, Samina had enough control to gather her energy and protect her face, albeit not enough control to keep her in place so she could retaliate.
And while the strike did little damage, it still threw her out of the arena, which was a loss regardless.
""…""
Silence overtook the gym as everyone looked at Zhuo in disbelief. But he couldn't help but feel nothing.
What he wanted to do was to fight against something of equal ability, but no one here could offer him that. Those near his realm were too weak to fight him, and those at higher realms were too strong for him to fight properly, forcing him to end things like this in underhanded ways…
It was truly lonely at the top.
Because of this, he looked at everyone and proclaimed:
"This is boring."
With that line, he walked past everyone and went to the bathroom, leaving all in utter silence.
"That kid…"
'That form, it's a technique from the library. And not just that, but he sharpened it to perfection. If he hasn't perfected it, then he's close. He can seemingly change its form, which is a sign of the fluidity someone who has mastered a technique shows.'
'Even if his energy and strength are lower, his control over it is much greater than her. It's obvious he isn't strong enough to pierce the defenses of a Yellow Core, but something tells me he hasn't tried his best either… although neither did she.'
'He sent her flying because she couldn't control her energy to keep herself stable. If she had, things would be different. Although, if he at least had a Red Core, then the situation wouldn't be so one-sided either.'
'Excellent judgment and a drive to action… He's far more exceptional than I first imagined… although a little rude. It should be the hormones of a teen.' He thought with a faint scoff as he watched Zhuo enter the bathroom in the distance
"Wake up everybody! I hope you have all learned something from this! Let's continue…"
…
"… Bro… Did you have to punch her in the face like that?"
"…"
"Fine, I get it… but at this rate I won't be popular with the ladies."
/Shrug/
/Absorb!/
Zhuo absorbed his clone while the latter shrugged. And once he processed his memories and feelings, he stepped outside.
'The experiment was a success, but the process was… daunting. This time I made do by changing places with my clone, but what about next time? I can't keep this up every class… I have to stick to a choice and stay there.'
'It's easy to have the clone replace me, but I can't stay inside a locker for hours as the class goes on. Not to say how uncomfortable it would be, but the risk is considerable. If someone finds me inside the locker while I'm trying to hide, it's over.'
'Looks like I'll have to send my clone in my place every week so he can fight in my stead. At least this day, so others suspect little.'
'I'll try to go through the rest of class on my own, but if something happens, I'll be calling my clone again. I have several energy bars ready for consumption, but hopefully I won't have to use them.'
/SMACK!/
/CLANG!/
The echoes of battle continued in the gymnasium. And once everyone was done fighting, they moved on to other exercises. Today was just a little appetizer of what was to come. There would be much more of it in the months following…
After today, Zhuo's reputation would spread even more. There was no hiding it anymore. Even with his lower cultivation, others now saw him as an actual competitor, someone able to stand beside and push them around.
This caused the already tense atmosphere to boil even further. The air of competition was intense in the second year…
Zhuo, however, was in his own world. He needed to raise his cultivation, and fast. As soon as class ended, he resumed his past operations, training in the special rooms where no one would bother him once he locked himself inside.
The days would pass just as they did last year, but this time, the attention on him was at an all-time high. Every opportunity, someone would challenge him in some subject. He'd usually come out victorious, but what mattered to everyone was combat, nothing else.
But despite all the challenges, Zhuo had yet to lose against a 1st Color, and even against 2nd and 3rd Colors, the most he'd take was a draw. The one most affected by this competitive spirit was Samina herself. She'd challenge Zhuo at every opportunity, fighting him to sharpen herself whenever she could.
Because of this, Zhuo was now sending his fourth clone to the Academy four to five out of the six days they had classes so he could keep up with the challenges. It was ridiculous.
His clone, however, despite being forced to speak far more than it was comfortable, was having fun being challenged and winning. It wasn't exactly what it wanted, but it was still far better than training alone at home.
He liked that very much, but he liked this almost just as much. It was a different flavour of entertainment, and above all, it was extremely amusing seeing the techniques and powers of the other classmates in action.
Like this, within that first month, Zhuo maintained the first position in Class 1-A, attaining not only a reputation in their class, but throughout the second year. Thus, others began to challenge him, and expectedly lost.
In the meantime, the real Zhuo enjoyed some rest and leisure at home with little to do but read the manuals available to him and study a little more. It was the easy life…
In that first month, Zhuo's cultivation did not change much, but that wasn't the case for the other students. Maybe because of his pressure, everyone finished breaking through to the 1st Color of the Golden Core, raising the average to around the 2nd Color.
This only meant his fights would be harder, but that wasn't a problem for him now, was it?
"… It's getting harder to win every fight…"
'One of the reasons why the fourth clone wins most fights is his mastery of techniques and lack of hesitation. But the others are letting go of their fear of hurting others as well.'
'The fourth clone can keep a competitive edge by maintaining his techniques at high enough levels of comprehension that is bridges the gap slightly between the realms. There are too many techniques for me to draw an average, and I'm certain most of them are inferior to what these children can learn from their families, but the fourth clone usually reaches Basic comprehension within the same day he studies a technique.'
'It then takes one to two days to reach Intermediate comprehension, and a week to reach Advanced comprehension. Which is already exceptional.'
'There isn't enough data to compile on his efficiency after that, but I'd say it takes at least a month of study for a technique to reach Mastery, and an unknown amount of time to reach Pinnacle... as for anything beyond that, I don't even know what to expect.'
'And all of that is on his own. If all clones work together, it's hard to say just how much faster they'd comprehend those since it's extremely relative… their comprehension could even differ, leading to different mastery for the same technique.'
'Even then, these numbers won't remain like this for long. With every Transformation, my body grows stronger, and so does my brain. As my cultivation rises and my body itself evolves due to my clones, so will my clone's efficiency and ability.'
'Of course, the same can be said for the complexity of the techniques to be studied. But I think my clones' speed will take the high ground… at least until a certain point.'
'In any case, so far, the fourth clone has shown extreme fluidity by combining several techniques in his style and by alternating them, causing confusion on the students who can't adapt properly to his combat style.'
'This should give me some time, but it won't take long for the others to create such a gap, so even that won't be enough…'
'I need to reach Golden Core, or to push the techniques past Mastery and into Pinnacle if not beyond… but that level of comprehension is something beyond my current realm.'
'Technically speaking, one can push techniques beyond the Pinnacle, but we haven't studied much information on that so far… I haven't found much on it either.'
'Maybe if I can reach such high levels of attainment, I will be able to compete with Golden Cores directly despite the difference in level. But right now, I'll have to rely on pure battle prowess and judgment to win.'
"This is hard… I need some snacks…"
… As the second month rolled by, so did his next series of issues…
…
"… Where is everyone??" Zhuo asked as he entered class, only to find it empty
"Zhuo, you're here."
There was only one person in class, Kylo Dahwon, the professor of Practical Combat.
"Professor? Did something happen? Is today a holiday?"
"It depends on how you see things… The Academy sent a warning for first and third years, but for second-years, it didn't. And the reason for that is you."
"Me? Did I do something wrong."
"Sigh… not at all. You're doing extremely well. But you lack something the others have in abundance… money."
"…"
"You see, this is a special year. This is the year where Golden Cloud Pills can be manufactured. You know what they are, right?"
"Wait… you mean those pills that can greatly enhance the strength of the Golden Core? That can be as expensive as a manor?"
"Yes, those… Today was the day the local government allowed for the importation of the pills. Several thousand have entered the city and, as you might imagine, everyone is now at home likely consuming those pills."
"Usually, only one of those pills can be taken throughout the whole realm, but some people with exceptional control over their energy and great metabolisms may be able to consume a second one and receive decent effects."
"For now, the Academy has closed its gates to let the students consume the pills and improve. It's expected that in the next month, all students, including those from Class D and C, will reach the first few colors of the Golden Core realm."
"…"
Kylo patted his shoulder, saying:
"That's why you're here. Do you remember the rankings? Those aren't for nothing. The Academy promised rewards to those that did well, and since you beat their expectations and went beyond them, the Academy has decided to give you more as part of your scholarship."
He went to his table and took a small ornate box slightly bigger than his palm, opening it before him.
There were three pills and two tablets inside the box, he recognized what they were.
"These are for you. Two Monarch Essence Bars, one Skeletal Frame Pill, one Molten Core Pill, and finally, a Core Condensation Pill… With your scores, I don't think I need to explain what they do, do I?"
Zhuo shook his head.
"Good. The Monarch bars have been cut into ten precise portions each based on your constitution and collected data. Consume one portion every day, and you should have more than enough energy to break through."
"Once you complete all Nine Transformations, consume the Skeletal Frame Pill to shatter the Outer Shell, and finally, consume the Molten Core Pill to attain the Inner Sun."
"After that is all done, all that's left is breaking through the Golden Core realm."
"… Thank you, professor. I really mean it."
He smiled, patting his head, "There's nothing to thank me for here. You got these yourself… now, you should go, kid. You don't have much time."
"The Academy will be closed for at least a month to let the kids process it all, and I doubt it'll be closed any longer than that… If you haven't reached Inner Sun by the time that happens… Even with everything you showed us, you won't be able to keep your position at the top of class."
"… I understand. I wasn't aiming for that, to be honest, but it doesn't hurt to try to be better than the others."
"Yes! That's the spirit!… In case you need anything, remember that all professors are here to help you. You rarely ask questions in class, so the others are a little itching to say something back to you."
"Haha… I understand… then… I'll be on my way." He said with a nod as he turned around and left
"Remain focused and you'll go far. Don't let them trample you."
"I won't."
/Clack!/
The automatic door closing behind, Kylo's expression was lost in the room.
…
/Back home…/
The fourth clone, which had been posing as Zhuo arrived home and fused back with the original, and after he processed its memories, Zhuo grimaced.
"… Fuck."
'I never could've predicted such a thing to happen… What do you mean there was a sudden influx of Golden Cloud Pills?! And what do you mean everyone is taking them?!'
'A pill like that can usually increase the stage of a Golden Core by at least one color, and if someone is proficient or at a low enough stage, it may even rise by two colors.'
'Some can even push it to three… What am I supposed to do if the average rank in class suddenly rises to the 3th or 4th Color?!'
"Dammit… everyone… We can't waste a single second."
'Staying home won't do… I have to go somewhere else. And I already know where.'
"I can't stay at the Academy since it isn't a hotel, but there are special places in the city where cultivators can go to seclude themselves and train. Usually teenagers like me frequent them."
'With my scholarship, I can go to most of them for free. This is something that opened up only after I reached the second-year. Maybe because my scholarship wasn't meant to last this long.'
'Originally, it was only meant to last a year, but the Academy likely expected me to be kicked out earlier or for me to leave on my own after being cast out by others or being unable to keep up. Of course, that wasn't what happened.'
'Now that I have come this far, the Academy has given me quite a few extra benefits. Maybe they've decided to bet on me since my success would be quite a boost to their prestige.'
'If I book one of those places for an entire month, I should be able to get things done in time.'
"Everyone… to me!"
Zhuo exclaimed out loud, calling out for his clones to converge.
…
After he absorbed them, he conjured them again and prepared for his journey.
Each clone went to do something. Number 1 went to find the perfect spot for him to train. Number 2 went to clean the house, number 3 used his charisma to explain the situation to his parents and convince them of what he was going to do, while numbers 4 and 5 went to prepare their luggage since they would spend quite some time outside.
In a few hours, they were ready. They booked a cab and went to the other side of the city. Somewhere with a view of a large lake.
This was one of the most expensive districts of the city where many cultivator-centered businesses could be found, but little of that mattered to him. Right now, his destination was a large mall that covered the whole Northern section of the streets surrounding the lake.
As he walked through the people and the crowd, he arrived where he wanted. A large shop that took up half of the first floor. The shop's name was "Immortal's Abode", and as its name implied, it was a shop dedicated to a cultivator's homely necessities.
But part of it was also about multiple cubicle rooms where cultivators could cultivate in peace and in isolation from the outside world. With his scholarship, he booked the highest quality room and entered with little trouble, ignoring everything on the way.
Once he confirmed there were no cameras nor any way for anyone to probe him. Zhuo began his work. He summoned all five clones and began:
"Alright everyone, we're here. You know the drill. If we can't reach Golden Core by the end of the month, we're cooked… We'll be kicked around by everyone we pushed around in the last month. We can't let that happen."
"We'll consume these medicinal items in the same way we've been doing so far. It'll be extremely boring and claustrophobic to stay in this apartment room, but I ask you bear with it."
The room wasn't that small. It had one main room with several training machines where he could sleep, a large bathroom with many medicinal and relaxing machines such as a spa, and a living room with a kitchen filled to the brim with high-energy materials…
Don't forget about the high-grade training room able to withstand forces up to the higher stages of the Golden Core realm.
It was larger than most apartments in the city center… and dozens of times more expensive… But for six people to live together… yeah, it was a little awkward even with all the luxury.
"We did bring a lot of things, but if we need anything, we can always contact the outside and buy them… although it'll probably cost an arm and a leg around these parts."
"Let's not delay it any longer. Let's all focus and show everyone what we're made out of!"
/NOD!/
All clones nodded at him eagerly, a fire in their eyes… and so, they began.
The fifth clone began by consuming the medicinal items and then creating the clones. The way he did things was to let the clones process the energy and then have the fifth clone pass all the changes back to him. It was a painful process, but it was an efficient one.
Every day they would repeat the same process: Zhuo would absorb the fifth clone after it consumed the others, adapt, create him again, the fifth clone would consume the medicine, create the clones, and then all that was left was to wait until the next day for the clones to cultivate and repeat the process.
The clones wouldn't focus solely on cultivating but also on their previous tasks, be it working out or studying; they continued their previous efforts as all was part of cultivating their energy, spirit, and body…
Of course, Zhuo didn't remain still at all. His role was to meditate and keep himself steady since maintaining this high-tension training was taxing on his mind as he reabsorbed the clones back into him.
His goal was to relax his body and keep it steady so the clones would come out like that as well. So he did lots of sleeping, meditation, cooking, and spa sessions to make sure his body was in top-notch condition.
The clones rarely did anything to maintain their bodies. They rarely ate or went to the bathroom unless their bodily needs were impeding their work. So in the end, the one suffering from five hungry, tired, and exhausted bodies being fused back into one was Zhuo.
It wasn't just because he was lazy… he was, but at least he had a job as essential to do!
This way, after they got their bodies ready with medicine. The days passed quickly… Zhuo essentially went into seclusion, not connecting with anyone aside from eventual messages from his family.
He had all his clones do the same. They weren't impeded in accessing the internet but in connecting with others. It was meant to boost their focus.
Most in his position wouldn't even access the internet, but Zhuo needed to watch his movies and series to relax… and not end up mad from being confined with five clones of himself.
On the second day of his seclusion, Zhuo reached the 8th Transformation. And one week after, he reached the 9th. He stabilized his cultivation the following day, making it ten days since he isolated himself.
While the medicinal properties were still accumulating inside of him, he pressed on.
The reason this could be problematic is that no medicinal item is perfect. No pill could be perfectly converted into energy and nutrients; parts of it would always remain and spread impurities within the body. So it took time to clean them up and stabilize one's inner energy and senses.
This was what was called stabilizing one's cultivation. Especially in the context of consuming medicine.
On the eleventh day of his seclusion, the clones consumed the Skeletal Frame Pill meant to help shed his Outer Shell. The process was rather straightforward…
The Foundation Establishment was about transforming the body and preparing it to house the Golden Core. After all the transformations are attained, the cultivator must shed away their old body and give space for the new one to grow.
The Outer Shell was about shedding the old skin and achieving the prized "jade skin" cultivators were often associated with. It didn't matter your skin color; after the Outer Shell is shed, anyone's skin would become perfectly smooth and clean of deformities.
Less than 0.5% of the population will reach this stage before their 20s… or one in two hundred. And given the country's population is around one hundred million, only about half a million did this, which is still quite a lot… but one can imagine how many ordinary people there were in those numbers… probably few if any.
Meanwhile, the Inner Sun was about burning away the shed tissues inside the body since it can't be expelled through ordinary means. This is done by forcing the Dantian to go "supernova" while burning away the True Essence one has collected throughout their ascension ever since they formed their first strand of it.
This was the first process that could prove fatal. Fail here and you could end up burning away a portion of your lungs, stomach, intestine, or any vital organ. If that happens, then extreme care is needed to allow someone to recover and try again, which is what usually happens.
People who fail like that usually have an easier time trying again. Usually being considered "Half" Quasi Golden Core.
But some can fail so badly they may be unable to ever progress again, losing major pieces of their organs that can only be recovered through major surgery or rare medicinal items that would cost multiple lifetimes' worth of wealth to heal.
The really unlucky ones… die… and the slightly unlucky ones simply do not have enough True Essence to burn and end up having to built it up from zero again which takes quite some time, usually the same time it took them to go from the 1st to the 9th Transformation.
Because of this, most people spend years building up True Essence so they can safely traverse this threshold and advance to the next stage without fear. Because of this, the index of the population that can reach Quasi Golden Core before their 20s is 0.48%, which is essentially the same value as before but without the common people in it.
This was a feat only the elites could do, reserved for them only… The common people that could come this far were massive talents blessed by fate or those that had caught onto some golden rope to pull them upward like Zhuo.
To him, that opportunity was Jal-Xin Academy, one he pursued and achieved himself.
Once the Skeletal Frame Pill had been taken, it took him one day to shed his skin. It was a gruesome-looking process where his hole skin peeled off like a single sheet amidst rays of energy, mist, and dirty fluids… Even his hair and teeth fell out, a true transformation that changed his overall appearance completely.
'… It's no wonder Golden Core masters are all usually quite beautiful… If they keep undergoing bodily transformations that make their bodies more concise, even an ugly man can turn somewhat acceptable to most.'
He took a few extra days to recover from the process and medicinal properties of the pill. And around the start of the third week, he took his next pill, the Molten Core Pill.
This pill would give him the energy to condense his core, but for this process he prepared a little further. Rather than have his clones assist his fifth one in processing the pill, he fed the remains of the Monarch Essence Bars to his four clones and had them build as much True Essence as they could.
Once the time arrived for the fifth clone to absorb the pill, they all channeled the True Essence they gathered into him before fusing with him, filling his body with immense energy!
The reason this was possible was that each clone was himself, so the energy they cultivated was perfectly compatible with each other, allowing them to pass it through to one another without the need for processing. It was akin to consuming a medicinal item but without the issues it brings.
With this, the fifth clone focused his full effort and breaking through, and after two whole days of focus and agonizing pain, all organs were tempered and the impurities were burned.
Once he absorbed the clone and underwent another wave of painful tempering, Zhuo had successfully reached the limbo before Golden Core.
All that was left now was to create the Golden Core… which was the easiest step so far.
Zhuo's Dantian glowed inside his stomach, oozing with power. It awaited its transformation, pushing him onto it regardless of whether he wanted to or not.
Of course, he knew that in his current state there was no way he'd succeed. He needed to stabilize his cultivation and rebuild his True Essence so he could condense it further from a faint mist to liquid. Only when he could fill his whole Dantian with such liquid and enrich it would he advance to the Golden Core realm.
The issue was that the transformed Dantian could house quite a bit of liquid, the equivalent of dozens of times what it could before. One reason the Golden Core was such a jump in power… With so much energy and of a higher quality, Golden Core experts could fight for hours and not grow tired… not that it meant they could fight well.
Gathering so much True Essence and condensing it would probably take months of continuous cultivation with his current abilities… And that was where the Core Condensation Pill came into play. It would provide him with the energy he so desperately needed!
Once he reached Golden Core, his body would be able to smoothly condense the worldly energy into liquid, and its influx would increase several times over, allowing him to gather enough energy in a single day, which in his current state would take him months.
After a few days of preparations, two days before his one-month deadline. Zhuo pushed for his last step and took the Golden Cloud Pill. This time, Zhuo took the pill himself before creating his clones.
The energy was spread between all five clones and himself, and one after the other, the clones slowly broke through. Once they all did, they all fused into the fifth clone, and he absorbed it during his own meditation.
The power of five Golden Cores merged with his still inactive Dantian, and in one fell swoop, Zhuo skipped the Quasi Core and Silver Core stages, immediately entering the stage right before the 1st Color.
Forming the first color wouldn't be difficult, but it would take some time. Right now, he could be considered a colorless Golden Core expert. While it wasn't quite the same as a colored core, it was still the impressive Golden Core.
This process took only a few hours. So with the time he had left, Zhuo and the clones worked together to clean their bodies of impurities so they wouldn't go to school with bad breath… although even after two days of continuous work, he failed to clean himself entirely.
He followed the Academy's notifications and learned that school would reopen tomorrow, so he spent as much of his remaining time training and cleansing his body, and only when his one-month booking of the room ended did he leave.
He spent the end of the weekend with his parents, who still couldn't believe his cultivation, before preparing for the next day as he always would.
It was time to return to school.
…
/Step…/
Zhuo walked through the corridors of the second-year building, reaching for his class like any other day…
/Swoosh…/
He entered the classroom, being immediately greeted by several dozen pairs of eyes…
"… Good morning."
"You're late, Zhuo. That's unlike you."
"I still had a minute."
"Don't joke with me, sit down before I deduct some of your point." Rylo said with a smirk as he tapped on his table
"…"
Zhuo looked at everyone in the classroom. Now that he was a Golden Core, he could feel their auras, or better put, the color of their energy.
'As expected, lots of Yellows, with several Greens and Blues… but… one Indigo. Of course it's her…'
As he expected, the class average had risen to the third out of the seven colors of the Golden Core realm, Yellow!
"… Alright. Now that everyone's here, let's begin the class. I hope you all had a nice 'holyday'. Since the class average rose quite a bit, I have an announcement to make."
"This is a direct order from the board of directors of the Academy. From this moment on, every two months, the ten lowest ranking students will be forced to clash with the top ten students of their respective class from another division. What I mean by that is simple…"
"The ten lowest-ranking students from Class 1-A will face against the ten highest-ranking students from Class 1-B every two months. And the same will happen to Class 2-A and 3-A."
"Meanwhile, this will also occur in Class B to C, and from C to D."
"The students from a higher class that lose will be sent to the lower class while those from the lower class will rise to the higher class. No second chances. No matter how well your scores are, if your average is that low, then you have to accept it."
""…""
/Silence…/
"At the same time, each Class will be considered a team. Each Class will be evaluated through the average scores of all students in it and several other scores that will be publicized through the standard channels."
"If a Class is lower another in its same division, they will lose their position. What this means is that if the average of Class 1-A is lower than 2-A, then 2-A will take 1-A's place."
"This is important for two reasons. Higher classes will receive better resources and opportunities. As you know, each division has its own professors, but now certain professors will only be available to certain classes. I, for example, will continue to be Class 1-A professor, but I won't teach Class 3-A anymore."
"Higher positions also mean better opportunities, such as better training rooms, chances to interact with higher-ranked cultivators and receive their teachings, resources, locked techniques from the military, and more… although I believe most of you will like this privilege more…"
"Class 1-A, the highest of them all, will only have two exam weeks from now on."
/CHEEERS!/
Everyone immediately exploded with enthusiasm… even Zhuo.
"Calm down now. This doesn't mean you can stop studying. The exams will still be at the same level as they were before and will have the same weight on your score as they did before, so pay attention!"
"We'll have the first exam week two months from now, and the second one will be in the last month of the academic year. If your score ends up in the lowest ten, then next year you'll be facing the top ten from class B-1 at the start of the next academic year, so don't slack off!"
"Also, at the start of the academic year, there will be a grand event where all students of the same division will face each other to determine where they'll stand."
"Class 1-A, 2-A, and 3-A will all face each other…. I expect you guys will try to defend your positions while the others will try to steal them… and if you think this is all too bothersome, it's because I left the final rewards for later."
"All students in Class 1-A by the end of the third-year academic year will receive 10000 Credits to be used at any university once they go through the exams, and even if you end up not going through, you can still receive a free-pass to any of the state universities regardless of how well you score in the exams."
/Shock…/
The students were shocked... even Zhuo. He knew how much a university credit was worth. It was the unit of power used by students to gain resources and graduate. Their value was immense as it allowed students to get many rare materials most common folk would never even hear about.
If a Golden Cloud Pill was as expensive as a whole manor if not more, then what about cultivation resources for Nascent Soul masters and beyond? How scary would those be?
For some rich clans, that may be nothing, but Zhuo knew most universities usually isolated the students from their families so they could experience being alone against the world for a while. And how were those rich and spoiled brats to develop their cultivation if they could't receive resources from their families?
These credits couldn't come at a better time. It may just be enough for them to live until those limitations were removed.
"Now I'm seeing some expectant gazes… good! This time you were lucky since the decision was made after the academic year started, but expect things to grow quite heated once you get on your third year. I expect things to explode quite excessively in the next few months as the third-years grow desperate to take over each other's position."
"Also, do remember there will an extra competition at the end of the year for the third years to settle the position of their classes, its nothing but the same competition that will happen every year from now on, but since they won't have that chance, it has been pushed to the end of the year instead."
"It'll only happen this year, so its a good chance to learn from your seniors and see how they're doing. It's a good way to know what to expect from the national competition the year after… Is everyone lost?"
/Silence…/
"GOOD! The wrap things up and follow me to the gymnasium! Let's blow the dust off your shoulders and start things for real!"
"None of my students will be falling off the class, will they?!"
""NO!""
"That's what I like to hear… oh yeah, I forgot to mention, but the students in the top ten will receive extra resources as well, and when I saw top ten, I mean the top ten of every other Class aside from 1-A. So good luck keeping your position! HAHAHAHA!"
""…""
In silence, the students of Class 1-A made way to the gymnasium…
…
"… Step into the field, Zhuo Jalro!"
Inside the gymnasium, a voice called out for him. Harkolon Wazi, having reached the 5th Color, the Blue Core, stood with his hands filed with energy, his voice showering him in his intent to battle.
'It's time Zhuo! For the last month I trained day and night for this. For the first month, after my defeat, I challenged you at every opportunity yet failed to win even once. It's humiliating but I have to admit it, you're better then me at fighting.'
'But I'll never give up, I'll acknowledge it, if I want to show others I was born to dominate, then I must take you down. The only commoner I've acknowledge, face me and lets end this!'
"Come Zhuo! I've spent the last month waiting for this moment!"
/BURST!/
His energy burst from inside him with immense power, rampaging around the area. It was intense, so much so it could be compared to a 6th Color, the Indigo Core.
However, Zhuo felt no fear as he stepped forward. He knew where that strength came from. His energy was going berserk and exploding outward. It wasn't his real power.
Harkolon had yet to stabilize his core, and even though it seemed as if his realm power was that of an Indigo Core, it was probably closer to the 4th Color, Green.
And while the same could be said about his Core, Zhuo's energy was far easier to stabilize then his. Still, the difference was still significant. Harkolon was a capable fighter pushed to edge in the face of an equal competitor. His skill would definitely make up for his unstable core, maintain his overall combat power at that of the 5th Color.
But what about Zhuo? He could once defeat 1st Color Golden Cores, and now that he was half a step away from it, could he defeat a 2nd or even 3rd Colors?… Probably, but even those were a far cry from someone at the 5th Color like Harkolon .
Above all, Harkolon had at his disposal top tier techniques from his clan. Techniques he trained in his whole life. He never had the need to study anything else aside from them. He had been groomed from an early age to get used to them, and once the time came for him to advance, he learned them all with ease and efficiency.
Harkolon was no idiot either. Like everyone in this class, he was a talented man whose drive had been ignited by a foreign barrier. Because of that, the main techniques he trained in had all reached Intermediate comprehension or an equivalent level, and some of them had even reached the Advanced stage.
Zhuo may have mastered some of his techniques, but those techniques were meant for the realms beneath him… While his clones had studied techniques above their realm, without proper cultivation, they had never been able to practice any of them.
Right now, Zhuo may have some knowledge on how to employ Golden Core techniques, but could those compare to the Wazi Clan arts?… Not at all.
There were over two thousand techniques to choose from in the Jal-Xin Academy's archives if Zhuo added both the first and second year libraries he had access to. The first year had no Golden Core techniques while the second year added them later to the total.
Of those two thousand techniques, one hundred of them were meant to be practiced by Golden Cores, and these included the techniques that possessed chapters that elevated them to this realm.
But what did this mean? It was simple. Some techniques required the energy and support of the Golden Core, just how most techniques can only start to be practiced once one enters Foundation Establishment since 99% of techniques out there required one to possess open meridians.
Some techniques were meant with certain realms in mind to be practiced while others had a "stair system" where one could slowly rise through the ranks and continue to build from lower levels as they went through its chapters. Some were like that but most weren't.
Did Zhuo focus on those techniques?… No. He made no question of it… did his clones do so? No. They did what they wanted…
The Golden Core archive was only unlocked when he graduated the first year around half a year ago. Still, in the last six months or so, when did Zhuo ever truly had the time to sit down and do nothing aside from training those?
Never. Zhuo and his clones had always been forced to cultivate to keep up with others. Only in their spare time or when they wanted to did they study those.
Zhuo didn't force his clones to do things they didn't want to. But in the last month he kind of did push them, although they all joined him out of their own volition.
The clones worked better like that and he knew it. Even if it meant a slower potential cultivation speed, it meant an overall greater efficiency of his time… but it still didn't meant his clones focused on mastering those techniques either.
Now… how great were Zhuo's odds of winning this?… Quite low from his own perspective. But would he give up?
The fourth clone would never give up unless the first clone or Zhuo himself said so… even then, the forth clone may unwillingly do so.
It wasn't like the odds were stacked entirely against it. The fourth clone still had three things in its pockets… Overwhelming combat sense; the fact his energy was within the same rank as his opponent, so there isn't that degree of suppression anymore; and the fact the techniques he planned to use… had all reached the Pinnacle.
It was time.
/Step…/
Zhuo, or rather, the fourth clone stepped before Harkolon in the arena.
"… Hehehe…"
With a faint smile as he gigged to himself, the fourth clone released all his pent up frustrations.
/Kaboom!/
The energy within the Golden Core exploded outward like a volcano eruption, causing a pillar of flames to reach the ceiling of the arena.
""!""
The energy shook the onlookers. For a moment, Zhuo's energy exploded to the 4th Color of the Golden Core!
"P-Professor, just what technique is that?" A student, part of Zhuo's inner circle asked as his eyes trembled
"Tche, if you studied more you would've known Derke. That's one of the Academy's techniques. Sharpened to the Pinnacle of mastery."
'No… this might even be… It's a little short of that but he's taken half a foot into it already.'
"Hey! Do you think I don't know that?! There are over a thousand techniques there…"
But Kylo ignored Derke and proclaimed out loud:
"Are both contestants ready?! If so or not, I'm starting the countdown!"
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One…"
"START!"
/BOOM!/
Unlike when they first battled this year, Harkolon started by dashing forward, his body turning bright red as his energy became a comet flying through the arena.
"Let me see how you deal with this Zhuo! It doesn't matter if you evade it, I'll destroy this whole place up!!" He said out loud as his fist turned red
/PUNCH!/
""…?!""
/Grab!/
At that moment, something umbelivable happened. Zhuo raised his hands and blocked Harkolon's strike! The energy within his punch was never released into the air but instead into his body!
However, when everyone expected the protective bracelets to activate, the energy coursing through his body was released through his feet into the ground, causing the ground to cave in as it couldn't contain the concentrated force of a high color Golden Core expert.
Shocked, Harkolon remained in place, his fist still in Zhuo's hands. He couldn't believe what he had seen. Because of this, he slowly pulled his hand away and asked:
"How… how did you perfectly divert my energy?"
Zhuo smiled, "Can't you tell?"
"Impossible!" Harkolon exclaimed as he moved right hand in the air, "There's no way you know the Tirant Saint Fist Art! Tell me how!!"
"You're right, I don't know your technique… but I've seen enough of it."
Harkolon's eyes shook as if he was looking at a monster, "You… don't tell me… did you figure out the principles of the Tirant Saint Fist just from looking at it over the course of a month?!"
"It hasn't been a moment. It's been a whole year. I've noticed it, all of your movements, the breathing technique you use, your pacing, everything about you."
Zhuo's eyes seemed to overtake Harkolon's vision as he listened, "Ever since we first fought, I began to pay attention. It's what I do best. Slowly, I've pieced everything together, and even though I can't replicate it, I still know a thing or two about its aplication."
"The movement, the ratio, the conduits in your body. I've stipulated them, calculated, and simulated the technique in my mind… You see, when you have nothing, you have to make do with what you have. And the best tool my parent's gave me with my birth…"
"Were my senses."
"…"
Harkolon's heart skipped a beat as he almost lost control of his breathing.
"When you're in a position like me, you start to see what others can't. It's far too evident."
"So… Your comprehension of my own technique… is above mine?"
"No." Zhuo said as he shook his head, "Our comprehensions cannot be measured in the same phrase. Yours far surpass mine. You are like a block of concrete, I am like a glass box painted to look like it."
"But even this little is enough for me to divert your energy. And that's not because of mastery but because of principle… the Tirant Saint Fist… have you ever felt its name deceiving?"
"!!!"
Harkolon's expression tensed as sweat fell from his forehead… Something he'd only recently thought about… there was something strange with the technique but he couldn't quite tell what it was…
"The energy your core produces. The shape it takes under your will… It is called a Tirant, but it is a Saint. They say it is because the energy is unwilling and potent, but is that truly it?"
Harkolon's gaze became pensive… "I… I've been thinking about that… that the Tirant Saint Fist is…"
""Fluid."" They said together, causing Harkolon's vision to blur
"So you've thought the same as me?!"
"It depends… Why must the technique be contained within your fist?"
Harkolon wanted to reply immediately, but he gaged, the answer did not come as quickly as he wanted it to.
"That's because the energy revolves around my arm. If I do not close my palm and create a closed circuit, the energy with spiral out of control and rather than a fist, it'll become a vortex that might rip my own arm apart."
"Techniques don't have forms just for the sake of it, they're an intrinsic form of all… wait… do you think the issue is within the form?"
"I wonder… but should we be having this conversation here?"
"!"
At that moment, Harkolon remembered what was going on. His pupils dilated before he narrowed his eyes in frustration.
"D-Dammit…"
'Once again, he's mocking me…'
"If you want, we can continue the conversation. I'm having fun doing so." Zhuo said with a smile as he looked at Harkolon
"…"
When he saw his smile, Harkolon understood something… It was all futile. His anger was nothing compared to the grand scheme of things.
This momentary enlightenment made him take a step back as his energy died down.
"… I admit defeat."
/Shock!/
"Awn… Come on. You still have so many techniques left to show." Zhuo added as he crossed his arms, frustrated
"And for what? For you to dissect them and learn them? No thanks. I've figured out how you think and won't give you any more ammo. I appreciate the advice but there won't be a second time."
Harkolon turned around, but turned to face him before he left.
"I will develop my techniques and sharpen them to such a degree that even you won't be able to understand them. Once that time comes, I will defeat you."
His answer to that was a wide smile from Zhuo, one that both inspired… and freaked him out.
"I can't wait… If you ever feel like talking about techniques again, come to me. I'm more than happy to be challenged in other ways."
"Humph."
""…""
/Silence…/
Everyone was in utter disbelief at the unexpected string of events. Out of everyone, Harkolon? The most stubborn and violent of them all?
"…"
But one person did not think like them… The professor looked at Harkolon's departure with a heavy gaze.
'It wasn't just luck… This kid has some obscene ideas…'
'His technique was never meant to attack or defend, he merely raised his energy by burning part of it so his energy could match his opponent. A 4th Color versus a 5th Color… the difference in stages is still daunting, but it's far closer than his actual realm.'
'This alone can only be performed with an unbelievable level of mastery… as expected, he has reached the Pinnacle on this technique. I never thought I'd see that coming from a second-year. No matter the level, achieving that level of comprehension is something that takes years to decades of contemplation into a single art, and even with the augmented mind of a Golden Core, no student willing to be competitive would spend months studying a Foundation Establishment technique.'
'Then, he intercepted his fist against Harkolon's strike, causing the wild energy within to never condense and instead to be forced inside his body. The moment that happened, the energy within his body was compressed by the coming force of his strike, elevating his energy to the 5th Color for but a moment, maybe even higher…'
'I can tell that was his goal from the beginning, to control his energy so it would collide against Harkolon and compress into a higher form beyond the scope of his technique. With this energy, he channeled the Tirant Saint Fist's energy through his meridians and released it through his feet.'
'The emission method was the same as Harkolon's… He modified the Tirant Saint Fist technique to work with another set of meridians… That isn't quite it, but he can definitely do it if he's given access to it.'
'It's best said he created a technique to channel the Tirant Saint Fist's energy instead. Maybe both can be combined into something else, but that doesn't look like it'll ever happen.'
'… Frightening. That is the only word I can use to describe this process. Did he create this method right now, or did he anticipate it and practice it beforehand?… Regardless of the answer, it's no wonder he surrendered.'
'Instead, it shows maturity. He was able to see the absurdity of Zhuo's statements and accept them… Maybe he would've won if he kept fighting, but what he said is true; Zhuo would be the only one to benefit from that.'
'What's the point in fighting an opponent who doesn't care if he wins or loses? He's only there to learn from you… It hurts to learn you're nothing but a stepping stone to your opponent. Especially given Zhuo's circumstances.'
'His promise of defeating him is his way of coping with the situation. If he didn't do so, he might've lost motivation and his competitive edge, but instead, he used it to sharpen his will.'
'It's still a mystery if he'll keep that mindset, but it's good enough as it is… now… that isn't the same for the others.' He thought as his eyes turned to the other students
'They're shocked. Most probably didn't understand the meaning of the exchange between the two of them and are now misunderstanding. How many of them will take similar steps as Harkolon? Will any of them crumble under the pressure?'
'One can never live in fear of being overshadowed in their own arts… they must accept that out there, someone might one day surpass them in what they're best at… but on that note, even adults can fold under the pressure of realization, much less kids.'
'How will I remedy this situation? It'll be a shitfest if even one of these kids loses motivation and ends up thrown out of Class 1-A. This whole system was meant to push those in Class 1-A to reach greatness and not to demotivate them… The board of directors will throw a fit at me if one of the investors complains.'
'There is the fact that next year's national exam will be quite competitive, so the Academy is preparing early for that, but still. Class 1-A is meant to be untouchable. They're the role models everyone else should pursue… but maybe I can play it to my side…'
'If Class 1-A prestige breaks and other classes start to pile them up… Maybe it'll stir the environment the Academy wants to nurture.'
'I'll have to think about this more clearly, but there is certainly a need to reevaluate Zhuo's portfolio…for his own safety.'
'If he ever figures out even one of those techniques and reverse engineers it, a storm of problems will befall everyone… It's not like similar situations haven't occurred, but it's exactly the few examples we have that worry me.'
'I don't want to see such a good talent facing all kinds of hardships to reach the top to be ruined for such a petty reason... maybe its time to also have a talk with Zhuo… he can't climb the top alone.'
'… Sigh… I should've put him last.'
Kylo's thoughts raced so fast Harkolon had yet to take a single step away from Zhuo. Once he analyzed the situation thoroughly, his focus died down and his thoughts calmed.
"It is a surrender. I declare it Zhuo Jalro's victory by abstention. Now, Zhuo, step out…"
"Wait, I…"
/PRESSURE!/
The moment Zhuo was about to challenge someone else, he felt an invisible pressure close his mouth up. As he tried to resist it, he saw the professor smile at him as he continued, "… step out of the arena, please."
"Urg…"
Without resistance, Zhuo left. He knew which battles to take and which not to.
After that, the previous excitement seemed to have died down, but soon enough, the students pushed aside what they saw before and began showing off as they fought with a little push from the professor.
Once the situation calmed down, Kylo began to conduct his class as usual, trying his best to make others forget what had happened earlier. Of course, eventually they would all be forced to come face to face with reality, but for now, things were okay.
The fourth clone, on the other hand, focused all his effort on observing everyone, as he always did. It was the best he could do with his time since he wasn't fighting.
Once class ended and he took a shower, he was swarmed by his friends asking about what had happened. The fourth clone would then go on a long discussion about martial arts with everyone from the changing room to the canteen. The conversation was so productive that even Harkolon ended up sitting down and talking with them in the canteen.
While they weren't familiar with each other, at least today they didn't push each other around much… Eventually, lunchtime ended and they resumed classes.
By the time class ended, rather than going home, he was dragged elsewhere by the school's staff…
…
/Knock knock knock…/
"Please, enter."
At the highest floor of the main faculty building, Zhuo stepped through somewhere he never thought he'd be… The Principal's Office.
As class ended, his professor told him that the principal was expecting him. Shocked, Zhuo didn't even have the time to refuse before he was dragged here through the skies.
"So… we've finally met. I heard you had wanted to meet me many months ago. I apologize for my refusal. You see, I wasn't even in the Academy at the time."
"I was busy preparing with the board of directors and coordinating the Academy's funds and staff to make these recent policy changes you likely heard from your professors… At least I hope you did, they're quite important."
The principal was an old man with long white hair and a thin beard. His skin tone was slightly caramel, and his expression was kind and collected. He was an old man who evoked a sense of respect and calmness in others, speaking slowly and clearly to all in a rather humble manner.
"Yes. But that issue has already been resolved." Zhuo replied formally and calmly as he stepped before the principal's table
"Hum… Sit down child, I'm not your major in the military." He said with a faint chuckle after he looked at Zhuo's expression
"Would you like something to drink? I often like to discuss things over a cup of coffee, although the kind I drink can be quite bitter since I can't really feel anything anymore due to my age and cultivation… the last time I offered coffee to someone, they went to the hospital so I suggest you try some soothing tea."
"I… will skip that… But you mentioned your cultivation…"
"Are you curious? I like not to talk about such a simple thing but it is no secret… I'm currently at the high stages of the Body Integration Realm."
"B-Body Integration?"
Just how high was that? Zhuo already knew… Beyond Golden Core and its colors was the birth of the Nascent Soul… but that was as much as his knowledge of the process went.
He didn't know much about the conditions to cultivate in that realm, much less what went beyond it… but he knew the realm names themselves.
Golden Core…
Nascent Soul…
Soul Formation…
Soul Manifestation…
And finally… Body Integration.
This old man was a monster with almost just as many realms above him as he had cultivated… And if one considered QI Gathering, QI Condensation, and QI Refining the same realm as they did in older times, then it was even more realms than he had attained.
"That's higher than I can even picture…"
"Hoho, I know the feeling. I too was once an apprentice at the Golden Core realm… At the time I was but a young child representing my family, doing things just for the sake of it without goal… Then I joined the military, rose through the ranks, had a family and career… now I'm retired as you can see, doing what I can to help the kids going through the same things I did in the past."
"If you keep your motivation, you too can reach my level… I've seen many go this far and beyond with ordinary Spiritual Roots, so you need not worry."
"!… You knew?"
"The Academy has quite a bit of information about all students. Did you forget the simple medical tests you did before you joined? That was when such came into our possession… but alas, it's not important right now."
"I've talked a bit about me, but the subject of our meeting is you. You must be curious after all… why would this old man call you here all of a sudden? And don't you worry, you did nothing wrong."
"I know."
"Hohoho!… Confident as well. I was told you were an unusual one, glad to see that remains the case even here… many are intimidated by this old man, but I haven't fought in ages…" He said with a small smile as he looked away
"You see, child. I've taken note of your efforts. How long has it been since you began cultivating? A year and half? Five months? Somewhere along those lines, correct?"
"Yes, I started cultivating one month before the near year or five months before the start of the academic year a year ago."
"Yes… You've reached Golden Core by yourself in such a short amount of time. From a mortal with nothing to his name to someone able to collide with the greatest talents of our city… no, nation."
Zhuo scratched his head in embarrassment. He wasn't going to correct him for he was right… but there was a detail.
"Not by myself; the Academy helped me with everything I have."
"That may be true. But it was you who read, studied, practiced, and mastered those techniques. We provided you with the chance; you walked… Anyone can climb a mountain to see the world beyond and evade the floods, but only some have the courage to do so even when given the gear to tackle the challenge."
"We gave you resources that those around you consider as valuable as candy. We've given you teaching they've received from birth. The resources your scholarship gives you are no long distance away from their hands."
"You used it all; you achieved this all yourself. That is not a lie."
"Then… I suppose you're right."
"Hohoho!… But it's not enough." He said as his tone went heavy
"Child, you work the hardest, yet you're always behind. It must be frustrating, no?"
"More like tiring… I feel like I haven't slept properly in years." Zhuo replied with a scoff as he looked at the ceiling
His dark circles were quite evident under the light.
"Right. That much hard work is needed to make up for everything… But there's a limit to that. Hard work alone cannot raise a common body to greatness at the same pace as a blessed body under immeasurable wealth can."
"Your peers have all consumed all kinds of great materials to aid their growth while you've consumed the equivalent of scraps of their meals… I can't offer you the same table as them but I can offer you something a little better… a chicken wing if you will."
He put a small and plain wooden box on the table.
"This is your scholarship for your achievements. It is yours by right."
/Open…/
"This!… A Golden Cloud Pill!"
"Indeed. Do what you must with it; you've earned it… But I suggest you consume it." He said jokingly as he pulled another box from under his desk
He opened the box, revealing another Golden Cloud Pill!
"I have a proposition for you. You see, I want you to… crush your classmates."
"…"
"Not surprised… good, you're a smart kid, I'd be disappointed if you didn't understand. Take the first pill after you stabilize your cultivation. It'll raise you to at least the 2nd Color, and if you can control its energy, the 3rd."
"Then consume this one. Even if you don't reach the 3rd Color with the first pill, you will with the second, and if you already did, you may even reach the 4th. So here is what I want of you."
"Remain at the top of the rankings, or at least in the top three. I want you to show everyone, all students in the Academy and beyond that they're beneath you, someone with background or anyone, a nobody in their eyes."
"Crush them and rise beyond all others… that's what I want of you… If you accept, I'll give you this second pill and enough resources to help you maintain your cultivation stable even when compared to everyone else."
"As you know, the top ten of Class 1-A won't receive extra resources from the academy. This is meant to put pressure on them since talents like that shouldn't need to rely on medicinal items so much. And even if they consume them, they should be able to regulate them properly."
"If they have to resort to self-destructive methods to maintain those positions instead of accepting and surpassing their shortcomings despite our tutelage… then that's the best they and their families can accomplish."
"… So I just need to reach the top three?"
"I have other requirements… You can't accept sponsorships from anyone until you graduate. If you do, I hope you can converse with me first… If you can stick to those two requirements, I'll promise you full support."
"And if you can maintain the highest ranking… no matter what the world says and throws at the academy, I'll provide you with support that goes beyond what the board of directors would be willing to give."
"… Why go this far? A few resources would be enough."
"… It's because we're reaching a period of change… it has been foretold… We've been preparing for these waves for decades, and now's the time to reap what we've sown."
"In the last few years, the resources being poured into each successive generation have been increasing, and they'll continue to do so in the future. Your generation is just the one where we've tipped the scales beyond the threshold, though it's hard to say right now who'll benefit more from these changes, your generation or the ones after."
"One thing's for certain; the generation after yours will receive even more resources and opportunities, and I want to show the world that the academy can turn even a commoner into the greatest talent of his generation."
"I'll pay whatever price's necessary to make that possible… and you're my greatest chance."
"… It's a lot to bear."
"That is the fate of someone striving to be the best. Do you have what it takes? If not, take the Cloud Pill and forget what I've said; most of it isn't something a kid like you should know."
"… I never said it was heavy."
The principal looked at him with his worn, old eyes… and smiled.
"It seems your shoulders are broader than I imagined… tell me, is there anything you need?"
"… Time… I don't have time. I'm being pressed to do everything, cultivate, study, fight, and more… I don't have time to do anything and every day it seems I'm being squeezed to do more but I'm running out of juice."
"Hum… that I can give you. But right now, all I can share are these pills. But if you have any questions about any technique… you can ask me directly. There is no one in this Academy better than me at teaching these techniques, maybe minding a few individuals and a few techniques."
"I've been studying these techniques for over a century and wrote a sizeable portion of them myself… I know them like the back of my hand."
"… Can I ask for two more things?… and a small question as well."
"You can."
"This agreement… is it solely through us?"
"I believe in trust, and right now I trust you, child. I know children often commit mistakes, and it's not fully their fault they know no better, but I see you as more than just a child."
"If you wish to opt out, I am more than willing to accept your terms, but betraying my trust is not something I expect… Can you do that?"
"I'm not much of a talker."
"I can see that… then, your other questions?"
"Well… Can I skip some classes?"
"… Which ones?"
"Any theory class that requires me to sit down and do nothing I haven't already accomplished at home."
"I can let you skip some but not all. The Professors would kill me for it. You can use certain excuses related to training to skip them… I'll have the details sent to your student page on the website… Still, you might have to come to the Academy just for the sake of it on most days to mark presence."
"Professors usually do not tend to tend their schedules on a whim, and it wouldn't be good if you lost a class like that because you weren't here."
"I understand… Then can I get a Matrix Core?"
"A Matrix Core? That's quite an expensive piece of machinery you want for yourself… I can't give you a modern one, but I can find you an older model that isn't being used. As you know, the Academy prizes itself for state-of-the-art technology, and whenever something new appears, we change our machines once we deem them better."
"Even the academy's scraps would overshadow the budget of most schools out there…" Zhuo said with a sigh as he shook his head
"Indeed, the Academy is financed by the central government, the state, the military, individuals of high profile, and many Clans and Sects. That much would quickly vanish in the ocean of documents we have to oversee… I can put it under your scholarship and it won't be an issue."
"Then I'm set!… Can I ask some questions about the techniques or…"
"Ask away, child! It's been quite some time since I last gave someone a lecture, so I may be a little rusty. I'll also give you my contact info so you can fire questions anywhere… I may just take some time to answer them."
"Even my stay today is temporary. I'll be taking my leave to the capital soon… but that's another matter."
"Shall we begin?"
/Nod…/
The fourth clone began to ask his questions, and the principal answered them all with ease, rarely taking more than a second to think about them.
The exchange was an enlightening moment for Zhuo and something that would greatly help in his progression. Overall, he was extremely satisfied with his meeting with the principal.
He left the office three hours later with a smile on his face and a mission to achieve. He had two more months before the major exams and lots of fights to partake in.
The future couldn't be brighter!
But first… he had another issue to solve… a strange feeling had began to overtake his body…
He could tell… the sixth clone…
It was close!
…
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Notes