Tainted will

"All of you have successfully opened your Dantian in the Awakening Ceremony 3 days ago. With the coagulation of the world's essence, right now you are all tier one Bone forging realm cultivators."

In the village academy, the academy elder talked with great confidence and composure. In front of him were 83 students, seated and listening attentively.

The strength and mystery of cultivators had been deeply rooted in the hearts of the youths a long time ago. Thus everything that the elder taught, the students were very interested in.

The academy teacher proceeded with his teaching "The number of commonly known cultivation levels to us cultivators are the following 5 realms, from bottom to the top – Bone forging realm, Elemental stage, Core formation, Spirit realm, Yin-Yang void realm. Every big realm is further divided into 9 small realms."

"If you all work hard in your cultivation, your cultivation base will naturally advance. Of course, the higher your talent the bigger your chance of breaking through to higher realms."

"For individuals with mid-grade talent, their speed to absorb qi is twice that of individuals with low grade. Their progress usually stops at the elemental stage, but with luck, a very small percentage of people can advance to the core formation realm. For High-grade talent, they can progress 5 times faster than people with low-grade talents, and they can cultivate to core formation realm, even as far as the spirit realm with great effort. As for superior grade talent, This kind of talent in a person is naturally the most gifted and the most suitable for cultivation, being able to attain the legendary Yin-Yang void realm."

"As for cultivation levels above the Yin-Yang void realm, they are all myths. I am not clear about them either. In the Ye clan, there has never been the appearance of a cultivator above the Yin-Yang void realm, but Yin-Yang void realm experts we have had before."

The teenagers' eyes were shining brightly as they listened. Their curiosity was fully piqued. Many of them took a glance at Su Ming who was sitting in the front row. He was a superior-grade talent, He was bound to attract feelings of envy and jealousy from others.

Su Ming's personality had a complete change from before, he was once a timid youth but now he had an aura of confidence oozing from him. He sat straight like a spear his eyes sharp as a dagger. If he was a tiny fish before now he was an almighty shark.

At the same time, a pair of scarlet-colored eyes from one of the corners of the class glanced at him with indifference.

Unlike the rest of the youths, Bai Ming showed no curiosity or excitement on his tender face.

Bai Ming even felt a bit of pity towards the academy elder "Reading the cultivation encyclopedia has broadened my horizons I probably know more about the outside world than anyone in this tiny village. The goals which I had set before seem so small now. My prior goals feel like tiny steps on the unending road of cultivation. The information which the academy elder is giving us I already know them, even though he is a core formation realm expert his knowledge is limited. People like him who are bound to this tiny place by the subconscious restrictions placed on them by the clan are truly pitiful, it's truly sad...When will this old man teach us to how to cultivate."

After two hours, The academy elder finally informed, "This week beginning from now I will teach you all how to check your dantian, and how to meditate and move qi inside your body. Now all of you come forward and collect a book each, this book is our Ye clan's signature cultivation mantra, 'Primeval star mantra', this was created by our Ye clan's 1st generation clan head himself."

"The primeval star mantra has a total of five layers. For now, you will only receive the 1st layer, It is enough for you to cultivate till the peak of bone forging realm."

"Now I will share my understanding of this cultivation mantra, how much and how fast you can comprehend it depends on your ability. At the same time, this is your first assessment. Whoever can 1st breakthrough to the 2nd tier of the bone forging realm will be rewarded a sum of 20 spirit stones."

Hearing this some of the youths began discussing among themselves, But the majority of the youths showed a helpless expression at this. The majority of them shared the same thought; 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵.

The academy elder didn't even need to look at their faces to know what they were thinking, He had been teaching in this academy for a long time he was an experienced and capable individual.

"I know what you young ones are thinking, But you have gotten it wrong. You have only considered one aspect which is the speed of spiritual essence absorption, But have you forgotten that you first need to comprehend the mantra to be able to begin cultivation and your ability to comprehend is not related to the spirit root. So all of you have a decent chance to get the first prize." The academy elder spoke in a way that moved these youths, the youths suddenly felt a fire of ambition burning in their hearts.

Bai Ming heard this and sneered inwardly thinking

"What a load of bullcrap, even though what he spoke makes a bit of sense, but in reality, it only applies to people with at least high-grade talent. From what I have read I know this much, Comprehension does indeed play a huge role in cultivation but that is not particularly true for this case."

"Because the mantra for low-level realms is not that difficult to comprehend only when one tries to learn a high-level art or mantra does comprehension show its might. Even if anyone of these low-grade or mid-grade talents can comprehend the primeval star mantra right away and have a decent amount of spirit stones to support them in their cultivation they would still lose if they were given 7-8 days of headstart against a person with superior grade talent, but if they had some treasure to support them it will be a different matter."

"But this 20 spirit stones, Heh I want it." Bai Ming's gaze was firm as this thought rose inside of him.

.....

The sky was ablaze with the fire of the setting sun. With the majestic sunset came a chilled breeze.

The Bai family home.

Bai Li was sitting in front of his desk, he leisurely drank his favorite wine and spoke "So how was the academy?"

Bai Ming who was standing near the window gazing outside as he answered "It was alright. The elder spoke about some basic things and the history of our clan. He also instructed everyone on the primeval star mantra. After that, there was hand-to-hand and sword combat training."

Bai Li followed up with another question "That means you have already started to comprehend the primeval mantra. When do you think you will be able to comprehend it"

Bai Ming answered plainly "I should be able to comprehend it within three days."

Bai Li heard this and slightly nodded saying "Not too shabby, even I needed a total of 4 days to comprehend it, But do you know something your father was able to comprehend it in just two days."

Bai Ming heard this and a slight smile formed on his young face, He was still gazing at the setting sun as he replied "It seems father had high comprehension capabilities."

"Indeed, even though he didn't inherit my talent and was only a mid-grade talent he had high comprehension capabilities." Bai Li had a reminiscing look as he spoke with a sigh.

Bai Ming was silent.

Bai Ming's silence made Bai Li sigh internally once again. He said "Boy, here take these spirit stones. Now that you have begun cultivating you will require them. Once every two months, I will give you a batch of spirit stones, Remember use them wisely." As he said that he threw a pouch at Bai Ming.

Bai Ming caught it with one of his hands, His gaze slightly flickered as he looked at the small pouch filled with spirit stones. He then looked his grandfather in the eyes as he spoke "Thank you"

Old Li sheepishly looked at Bai Ming as he lazily spoke "The road of cultivation is an arduous journey. As a person's realm increases, the resources they require also increase. So spend your time as much as possible on cultivating and making good use of all your opportunities."

Bai Ming calmly heard everything his grandfather had to say. After conversing with his grandfather for while, he excused himself.

Bai Ming went up the stairs, once he returned to his room, he lit the lamp and closed the room door and got up to his bed.

He then fixed his gaze on the spirit stones in his hands. He counted them, there were a total of 30 spirit stones.

He then converted 10 spirit stones into skill points, making his skill points reach a total of 100.

____

[𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚜]

[𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎: 𝙱𝚊𝚒 𝙼𝚒𝚗𝚐]

[𝙲𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗: 𝚃𝚒𝚎𝚛 1 𝙱𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚖 ]

[𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚝 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚝: 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎 +]

[𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 : 3 +]

[𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚜: 100/2000]

____

Bai Ming commanded internally "Upgrade comprehension."

____

[𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚎 100 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚞𝚙𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗? ]

[𝚈𝚎𝚜/𝙽𝚘]

____

"Yes," Bai Ming confirmed.

[𝚞𝚙𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗.... 𝚄𝚙𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕]

The panel refreshed;

_____

[𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚜]

[𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚎: 𝙱𝚊𝚒 𝙼𝚒𝚗𝚐]

[𝙲𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗: 𝚃𝚒𝚎𝚛 1 𝙱𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚖 ]

[𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚝 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚝: 𝚂𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎 +]

[𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗: 4 +]

[𝚂𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚜: 0/2000]

_____

Bai Ming felt that a mystical change took place inside his head, even though he couldn't accurately point out what it exactly was.

Next, he began to read the primeval star mantra. As he was reading he made sounds like 'oh' 'ha', his understanding of the chant was rapidly growing.

"This is an immense improvement, Many of the parts which were hard to grasp before, I understand them now. It would have at the very least taken 7-8 hours for me to comprehend this much if it was before. I am confident that before tomorrow night I will be able to comprehend it completely."

"Now my chances of getting those spirit stones are high, Once I finish comprehending it I can start cultivating. The probability of someone comprehending the primeval mantra before me is low, even if anyone except Su Ming manages to comprehend it before it doesn't matter I will still win. So now it all depends on his performance."

"I have 20 spirit stones remaining now. Turning them into skill points is unwise, I have a superior grade talent and a high level of comprehensive capabilities which is more than enough for now. What I should focus on now is improving my realm and gaining strength. These 20 spirit stones should suffice to reach the 3rd level bone forging realm quickly and then if I get the first place in the assessment I will get another 20 spirit stones which should be more than enough for me to reach the 4th level." Bai Ming was analyzing his situation as a grin formed on his face.

"But if I a mid-grade talent am the first person to reach the 2nd tier of bone forging realm won't the elder find it odd? I could also not take the first place and avoid making the elders take notice of me. But those 20 spirit stones will be a great help in saving a lot of time."

"Using spirit stones to cultivate will give twice the results with half the effort. Sigh..our family's financial situation is miserable, otherwise, I would have just given up. Hmm, I'll have to think of a way to get these spirit stones and avoid making them feel too suspicious."

"sigh, life is truly unpredictable." As he said that he started to comprehend the primeval star mantra. He was determined to comprehend it as early as possible.