"Tony, wake up."
"What?"
"It's already 4 p.m."
"That's why you're waking up?"
"Did you forget? Today's the day Lucien Mordy, the youngest cultivator in history to reach Rank 4, is visiting our school!"
I had only been pretending to sleep — out of boredom. But at those words, I jumped to my feet.
"Where is it happening?"
"Chill. Room 3B, third floor."
Without a second thought, I sprinted off. When I got there, the hallway was already packed — girls holding up signs saying "I love you Lucien", guys buzzing with anticipation at the chance to see a real-life cultivator. And ? I was waiting for this mont to decide whether or not I'd start cultivating.
I've won everything in combat sports. I'm not looking for an easy win. I crave a challenge — sothing fun, intense, and hard-earned. That feeling, that rush, I only find it in the heart of a real fight.
Then the door opened.
"Hello everyone."
The room erupted in screams:
"Lucien! Lucien!"
I stared at him. And instantly, I knew… I didn't stand a chance.
"It's always a pleasure to et my fans. Feel free to ask anything," he said with a smile.
The crowd cald down.
"Is your goal to reach Rank 6?" soone asked.
"Reaching Rank 6 isn't easy," Lucien replied. "Ather, the energy needed to rise through the ranks, is scarce on Earth. But so people have done it. So why not ?"
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Then ca the question everyone was waiting for:
"How do you beco a cultivator?"
Lucien nodded.
"To beco a cultivator, you have to go where ather is most concentrated. Then, you have to feel it. Most people need a month to sense it. But sensing alone isn't enough. You must also break through the Three Walls. Ather will help, but your main strength will co from your body and mind. That's why mastering a martial art before cultivating is highly recomnded."
Ti flew. Then soone asked:
"Do you think a normal human can stand a chance against a cultivator?"
Silence. The entire room froze. So chuckled. Others looked at the guy with pity.
"No," Lucien answered. "A human can't beat a cultivator. With every rank, we get stronger, faster, smarter. To give you numbers — a regular human has about 60 strength points. A Rank 1 cultivator has 150. But if anyone disagrees with , I invite them to co up here for a sparring match."
Everyone looked around.
And I… stood up.
All eyes were on . "This guy's insane," I heard them whisper.
I walked toward the stage, fully aware I was going to lose.
But I didn't care. I wanted to see. To feel what it ant to fight a cultivator. I wasn't nervous from fear — it was excitent.
Lucien gave a surprised look, like he wasn't sure if I was brave or just stupid.
"Very well, young man. What's your na?"
"Tony."
"Alright, Tony. This spar will last one minute. Try to hold on. Everyone — give us a countdown!"
The whole room shouted in unison:
"3… 2… 1… 0!"
I imdiately raised my guard. Boxing stance. I closed in, watching his every move.
Then… nothing.
He was four ters in front of . In the blink of an eye, he was behind .
A punch to the gut. Devastating.
I dropped to the floor, clutching my stomach. The crowd judged, criticized, laughed. But none of that got to . I stood back up.
20 seconds left. I just wanted to land one hit.
I threw everything I had: jabs, hooks, high kicks, feints — jab to body kick, jab to knee.
He dodged them all. Effortlessly. And with a smile.
Then, with 5 seconds left, he used my own feint — the one I'd used on him.
But instead of aiming for my liver, he struck my ribs.
I collapsed.
The bell rang.
Applause. Laughter. Disappointnt.
I wanted to hear what Lucien would say next.
But darkness swallowed everything.
—
When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a bench in the infirmary. My ribs burned. My stomach felt like it had been torn apart.
Yet… I was smiling.
Not because I’d lost.
But because, for the first ti in my life, I had felt it.
That gap.
That overwhelming speed. That crushing power.
Lucien hadn’t beaten with technique.
He had beaten with sothing else.
Sothing I didn’t have.
Yet.
I clenched my fist.
If that was what cultivation could do to a human body…
Then I didn’t want to watch from the sidelines anymore.
I wanted it.
No matter how long it took.
No matter how hard it was.
I would step into that world.
And one day—
I would stand where he stood.
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