In the world of cultivation, manuals were classified by their grades, each signifying the level of power they could unlock. From the lowest to the highest, they ranked as follows:
Earth Grade
Mortal Grade
Heaven Grade
Spirit Grade
Divine Grade
But there was one more category—Incomplete Grade.
These were unique, misunderstood techniques. At a glance, they seed defective, but in truth, they were tailored to a single individual. For anyone else, they were utterly useless. No matter how talented or resourceful, if a technique wasn't ant for them, they would never be able to cultivate it.
Currently, Ace was stuck cultivating with a re Earth Grade manual—a technique so basic that even street beggars wouldn't want it. (Exaggeration. Ofcourse it's rare but still trash.)
The Xiao family, despite its size and prestige, possessed only two Mortal Grade cultivation techniques. And those were reserved for the 'worthy.' A so-called "trash" like Xiao Zhi? He wasn't even given a chance.
So, they had taught him the bare minimum to maintain so image.
An Earth Grade technique.
As Ace sat cross-legged, he took a deep breath, forcing himself into the familiar rhythm of cultivation.
The mont he activated the technique, his body resisted. A dull ache spread across his limbs, as though his ridians were clogged with sand. The energy seeped in sluggishly, like trying to drink through a blocked straw.
His chest tightened. His bones ached. His muscles felt stiff, as though rusted chains bound them.
This was the drawback of an Earth Grade technique—inefficient, painful, and utterly crude. It took twice the effort for half the result.
He gritted his teeth, pushing forward.
The flow of spiritual energy was weak, like a flickering candle struggling against the wind. It surged erratically—sotis flowing, sotis grinding to a halt. His ridians burned as if tiny needles were pricking them from the inside.
He exhaled sharply.
Frustration clawed at him. He wasn't new to this feeling. Every session was like this—an uphill battle against his own limitations.
But this ti, sothing felt off.
The cultivation session was harder than usual. The energy refused to settle, slipping through his grasp no matter how much he focused.
A warning sign.
Then—
Crack.
A sharp pain shot through his ridians, making his entire body jolt. He coughed violently, the taste of iron filling his mouth. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips.
"Damn it…"
This wasn't just inefficient—it was damaging him. The flawed circulation thod of the Earth Grade technique was tearing his body apart.
Ace clenched his fists. This was the best the Xiao family had given him.
anwhile…
Beside Ace, Shan Yifeng and Liu i were deep in cultivation, completely imrsed in their newfound paths.
For Shan Yifeng, this mont was nothing short of a dream co true.
He shut out all distractions, his senses entirely focused on the flow of spiritual energy coursing through his body. The technique his teacher had given him… it was too good. Too smooth. Too refined.
It was nothing like the Earth Grade manual Ace was suffering through.
Ever since he was young, he had admired cultivators. His elder brother was one, and the stories he told were legendary—tales of soaring through the skies, cutting down enemies with a flick of the wrist, standing atop mountains untouched by ordinary n.
For years, Shan Yifeng had dread of following in his brother's footsteps.
But then, his brother stopped visiting.
One year passed. Then another.
No letters. No news. Just silence.
Determined to find out what had happened, Shan Yifeng swore to beco a cultivator.
Then, an opportunity arrived.
A cultivator from a renowned family was rumored to be settling in town—a once-in-a-lifeti chance!
Despite being only ten years old, Shan Yifeng devised a plan to beco the cultivator's disciple. He was already thinking several steps ahead, determined to learn, grow, and surpass his limits.
But there was one problem.
His mother forbade him from approaching the man.
"Big family cultivators always bring trouble," she had warned.
And she had been right.
She told him it was dangerous.
But he refused to listen.
Instead, he tricked Liu i into tagging along, using her as a distraction.
Lucky for him, the cultivator was settling down here to be a teacher.
That was how he ended up under the tutelage of Xiao Zhi—the infamous drunkard.
At first, it was nothing like he imagined.
Day after day, he was beaten.
Even Liu i wasn't spared.
For months, he endured these beatings, constantly questioning if he had made the wrong choice.
It was so severe , his own parents along with Liu i confronted the teacher once.
But now… now, his teacher had finally opened up.
Perhaps… all of that had been a test.
A trial to build endurance.
Yes. That had to be it. A cultivator needed to be strong.
He convinced himself that every punch, every bruise, every scolding had been part of so grand plan.
And now, as he sat in silent ditation, he felt it—a smooth, warm energy enveloping him.
It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
It was calm.
Serene.
Peaceful.
A part of him never wanted to stop cultivating.
Then—
"Teacher, this is too hard! My stomach is empty!"
Shan Yifeng cracked an eye open, already regretting it.
"Like your head," he muttered under his breath.
Liu i nodded. As if she had just received sage wisdom, she turned back to Ace with the sa complaint, completely unfazed.
Shan Yifeng sighed. He would never understand Liu i.
Other kids their age knew what was good and bad. Liu i? She didn't.
"Don't eat anything you see," people told her all the ti.
And yet—
Just last week, when she was with Shan Yifeng, she had picked up a rock.
Sniffed it. Licked it. Bit into it.
Then, as if betrayal had smacked her in the face, she turned to him and said:
"Shan Yifeng, this rock tastes bad."
Of course it does! It's a rock!
Truly, it was his burden to be her guardian angel.
Before he could spiral deeper into his existential crisis, Ace suddenly tossed sothing at them.
"Both of you, take one and channel your energy into the stone."
Shan Yifeng instantly obeyed.
Liu i… also obeyed.
Shan Yifeng blinked.
Wait.
She followed instructions?
She didn't ask 'what is energy?' or 'what does channel an?'
She just did it?
Was she… getting more intelligent?
Shan Yifeng simply stared at Liu i in confusion.
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