It was already around six in the morning in Si Fanghu Town.
Zhou Jingxuan, Zhou Zhiwei, and Zhou Haoyu were at the head instructor's office. Zhiwei and Haoyu had arrived before Jingxuan to report their Rank One Initial Stage success.
A few hours earlier, after Jingxuan stepped into the dorms, he arranged his belongings. He hadn't brought much—only some clothes. After resting for a few hours on the bed, he began cultivating, sitting near the window.
Actually, the awakening of the talent rings did not represent a true awakening. Only when one achieved Rank One Initial Stage would they be considered truly awakened. So, technically, he was "awakening" more than cultivating. Here, talent was not the most important factor—but who really understood this process?
The process of awakening to Rank One Initial Stage Or The process of cultivating was as follows:
Step One — one had to absorb a Genesis Stone. Because of half-awakening, one could not produce Primordial Essence. Only a completely awakened aperture at Rank One Initial Stage could generate it.
Step Two — after absorbing the Primordial Essence, one had to use it to make their talent rings spin in alternating directions. This stored energy within the talent rings. At first, the rings were only pale lights circling the hollow vessel, also known as the aperture. But after storing energy, they would shine brightly.
Step Three — one had to make the talent rings spin in a single direction. This forced the stored energy to surge outward, forming a new ring above the existing talent rings. In other words, a new layer was unlocked atop the foundation of the talent rings.
In Jingxuan's case, his six rings spun in the shape of a star surrounding the aperture. In Earth's terms, it was like how an electron revolves around a nucleus—here, the vessel or aperture was the nucleus, and the rings were like electrons.
Like how the first layer above a nucleus would contain two electrons, and the second layer would contain more, a ring aperture was different: in each layer, it contained twelve rings.
Cultivation was a process of increasing the number of rings. Aside from the talent rings, which remained constant throughout one's lifetime, every new rank added more. Each major rank contained twelve rings, with each rank forming a new layer above the previous one.
Each major rank contained twelve rings, and every three rings could be considered a minor rank, such as Initial, Mid, Upper, and Peak.
Now, Jingxuan had awakened a layer above his talent rings—the Rank One layer, which could hold twelve rings. Once a cultivator filled this layer, they could attempt to form yet another above it, stepping into Rank Two.
Now, Jingxuan had only one ring spinning in the Rank One layer. But even so, it was enough for the academy to issue rewards. He felt satisfied.
But he had awakened too soon, so he waited for a while. For newcomers, performing the steps correctly was quite difficult. Usually, they would only make the talent rings spin in one direction. This method was ineffective because, without storing energy using the alternating ring technique, essence would leak out. As a result, it would take much longer to form a new layer and ring.
Of course, this shortcut of one-directional spin only worked for the Initial Stage. At higher stages, without performing the steps correctly, progression was impossible.
In the higher stages of cultivation, forming even a single ring could consume days of effort. Simply spinning the rings in one direction failed to store energy like alternating ring method, meaning the process had to be completed in a single, uninterrupted session. Yet how could any human endure such a feat? Rest was unavoidable.
This method had another drawback: even if the rings were spun continuously, there would still be minimal energy leakage.
Even if the process mattered more in a complete awakening, a first-grade talent could still make a difference. A cultivator with first-grade talent could achieve more: even when spinning rings in a single direction, the greater number of rings allowed faster cultivation.
A crucial advantage emerged as well—the shorter the time required, the less energy leaked, making the process more efficient. As a result, they didn't need to learn the proper cultivation method to awaken; they could simply brute-force their way and achieve Rank One Initial Stage first.
It was already decided that cultivators with first-grade talent would be the first to fully awaken. Even though the alternating-ring method could theoretically surpass first-grade talent, how could students attempt it on their very first try? Not many had the courage. A single mishap could potentially destroy their talent rings.
Considering all of the above, Jingxuan opted to wait. Though he had completed the full awakening in half an hour, he chose to wait to avoid becoming the center of attention.
Back in the head instructor's office, Zhou Long was surprised to see that the final student to achieve Rank One Initial Stage was Jingxuan. Even though full awakening was more about process than talent, the advantage of innate ring talent was still significant.
He inwardly sighed, pitying Jingxuan, and thought: If only you had the aptitude of your father and were first-grade talent. Even though you grasp concepts quickly, talent is the most important. You will soon realize the barriers in future cultivation.
The first Rank Initial Stage was considered a full awakening—or, more specifically, the first ring of Rank One. At this stage, process mattered more than innate ring talent.
He said to all the students, "Here is your reward. There are ten Genesis Stones." He personally handed the pouches to the students.
Jingxuan now had a total of twenty-nine stones, including this reward. He had received fifteen when the head instructor issued the assignments and another five from his aunt. He only used one to awaken. While most newbies tended to waste most of their issued stones before awakening, he was no beginner—he was a three-hundred-year-old monster.
Then the head instructor continued, "Here is the most important part of the reward. As you know, soon you will be able to choose your Mingji. Selection is always first-come, first-served. So you three may choose first.Do not worry—if all three of you want the same Mingji and there are only a few in the academy storage, I will make sure each of you receives the Mingji you desire."
Hearing this, Jingxuan was filled with joy. Mingji wielders were powerless without their Mingji, making these treasures especially important for cultivation. Without a Mingji, a wielder was just a regular human.
Even Haoyu and Zhiwei were happy. Though they came from powerful families, the academy's Mingji storage was not to be underestimated.
The three of them bowed joyfully to the head instructor. "Thanks, Head Instructor," they said, then left.
After leaving the head instructor's office,
Haoyu said in an arrogant tone, "Looks like your luck was good, Jingxuan." Meanwhile, Zhiwei just stood there, enjoying the show.
Jingxuan didn't even glance at Haoyu and walked past both of them. Furious, Haoyu tried to drag him back, but Jingxuan dodged easily. Grasping Haoyu's hands tightly, he said, "Young Master Haoyu has just awakened and does not specialize in hand-to-hand combat. I advise you not to make a scene." He tightened his grip as he spoke.
Haoyu was extremely furious, but seeing Zhiwei nearby, he didn't want to embarrass himself. "I'll see how long you can stay arrogant," he muttered.
After Jingxuan loosened his grip, Haoyu forcefully pulled his hands free and left the place. Seeing that the show wasn't exciting, Zhiwei gave Jingxuan a expressionless glance and then left.
From today, the classes in hand-to-hand combat had begun, after all the basics of cultivation were completed. All the students were gathered on the school grounds. Various equipment was scattered around: dumbbells, wooden weight machines, barbells, and more.
The students were disorderly at first, but soon an instructor arrived. He wore a bear hide and was massive—about seven feet tall, with bulging muscles. His hair was tied back, his eyes large, and his skin a deep tone. He resembled a brown bear.
"Silence! Stand in order!"
At his command, the students who had been muttering fell silent. They quickly gathered near him, forming a square formation in front of the instructor.
"My name is zhou Wei Shan , will be the instructor of this class."
"As you know, without a Mingji, a Mingji wielder is powerless. It is important for you students to learn hand-to-hand combat and some weapon-wielding techniques."
"Even Rank One Mingji wielders—those at peak stage with twelve rings—face significant limitations and are scarcely different from ordinary mortals."
"In this class, while two of you possess first-grade talent, the majority are low-grade talents. Ignoring the exceptional two, the overall average is far below what has typically awakened in the past decade."
This class had around eighty students, of whom four were second-grade talent. A few were third-grade, but more than half were worst-grade. For these students, learning hand-to-hand combat was extremely important, because most of the worst-grade students could only reach Rank One Peak Stage—their limit.
The bear-like instructor continued, "For the first few weeks, we will focus on basic exercises to strengthen your bodies. All students must also learn how to use a big knife. For worst-grade talent, there will be an additional weapons course."
Soon, he demonstrated some exercises to the students and assigned each of them a specific routine tailored to their abilities.
Most students were put on running duty, and Zhiwei, Haoyu, and Jingxuan were no exception. Thanks to consistent exercise since his rebirth, Jingxuan's body was in excellent shape.
Haoyu, the handsome and scholarly young man, trailed behind most of the class, his expression contorted with frustration. Within hours, rumors spread across the academy that he was being bullied. He cast a fleeting glance at Jingxuan before turning to see a chubby student running just behind him, eyes filled with resentment.
He refocused, urging himself to run faster. Within moments, the spoiled young man was panting heavily, struggling to keep pace. Yet soon…
THUD!
A giant "pig" landed on Haoyu's back — that was none other than Zhiwei. He had purposely tripped and fallen on Haoyu. Haoyu couldn't breathe or stand up, groaning in pain.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bully you," Zhiwei said innocently.Hearing Zhiwei's voice Haoyu who was under zhiwei was furious with anger as he struggled . Seeing Haoyu's struggle , Zhiwei pretended trying to get up, THUD! He pretended his leg was caught in Haoyu's clothing and fell again, this time on Haoyu's face.
Even the instructor couldn't hold back his laughter. Some students tried to stifle their own laughs to avoid offending Haoyu, but seeing his face buried under Zhiwei's back, they erupted into loud laughter. In just a single day, Haoyu had become a laughingstock.
Jingxuan turned back to see the commotion, but when he saw the scene, he couldn't hold back his laughter. After a moment of laughing, he inwardly thought that this Zhiwei was truly sinister. He was bullying Haoyu in front of everyone, and by doing so, strengthening his own status and position in the academy.
Jingxuan was not surprised in the slightest. He had long expected Zhiwei to make a move.
Born the son of a concubine, Zhiwei's status had been low from the start, and his stepmother had made his life a living hell. He endured with great difficulty, surviving until his first-grade talent was revealed—only then did his grandfather intervene. Hardship tempers a man. How could pampered Haoyu, spoiled by his mother's care, possibly compare to Zhiwei?
It was true that Haoyu had a gift of first grade talent. 'A person's talent is important, but talent alone is like a blade left to rust'
Talent alone isn't enough to determine a person's success.
Even in his previous life, Zhiwei had always held the upper hand. In the days that followed, he continued tormenting Haoyu in countless subtle ways.
The truly sinister part was how he directed Haoyu's hatred toward Jingxuan. Rumors began to spread that Jingxuan was relentlessly pestering Wenjing. To Haoyu, who secretly harbored feelings for her, this was intolerable. His dislike for Jingxuan deepened into resentment.
Wenjing, for her part, made no effort to clarify the matter; she deliberately let the misunderstanding fester, intending to make life more difficult for Jingxuan.
Meanwhile, Jingxuan had other plans. He kept quiet, not refuting the rumors, only adding salt to Haoyu's wounds.
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Power System – Mortal Ranks
Each Mortal Rank is divided into twelve rings.
These rings determine a cultivator's progress within that rank:
Stage Rings
Initial Stage 1 – 3
Mid Stage 4 – 6
Upper Stage 7 – 9
Peak Stage 10 – 12