The galaxy was vast, yet after millennia of advancement, nearly every corner of it had become interconnected—save for the uncharted fringes of the universe.
On planets where martial arts flourished, the **Ascension Galaxy System** linked civilizations, allowing individuals to register and stay informed about major galactic events in real time. This network also introduced **Ascension Coins**, a universal currency used to purchase cultivation techniques, martial arts, weapons, pills, and other vital resources. Qi stones could be exchanged for these coins, with the rate determined by their quality.
Despite this vast connectivity, the **Neanderthal Spirit World** remained obscure. Not a single individual from its realm had earned recognition on any of the Ascension Galaxy's leaderboards—whether the **Spirit Awakening List**, the **Body Tempering List**, or the **Core Formation List**. Their absence left their world unranked, an insignificance in the grand cosmic order.
### **The Five Pillars of Rising Dragon Academy**
The prestigious **Rising Dragon Academy** was divided into five distinct sections, each nurturing different talents:
**Rising Dragon Mountain** – The foundation for all students under 16 who had yet to awaken their spirits. Training here prepared them for awakening, but those who failed by 18 were sent home.
**Wisdom Dragon Mountain** – A sanctuary for scholars and mind cultivators who eschewed martial arts. These sages preached the Dao, cultivated rare plants, and mastered beast taming.
**Creation Dragon Mountain** – The domain of artificers: alchemists, forgers, rune masters, talisman makers, weaponsmiths, and formation experts.
**Sensual Dragon Palace** – The only palace in the academy, reserved for dual cultivators. Entry required both striking beauty and an **Ascension Spirit** suited for yin-yang exchange, maximizing cultivation benefits.
**Hidden Dragon Mountain** – The pinnacle of martial excellence. Here, warriors honed lethal techniques capable of toppling kingdoms. Admission was fiercely competitive:
- A unique **martial physique** or ability to train in a **physique scripture**.
- A combat-aligned **Ascension Spirit**.
- Mastery of at least one **basic element** or a strong elemental affinity.
- The birth of **weapon qi** through rigorous training.
- Most crucially, a **world ranking within the top 10 million** of one's cultivation realm—and the approval of a Hidden Dragon expert.
### **Recruitment Day Approaches**
With the year's final spirit awakenings complete, the academy turned its attention to recruitment. The event would take place at **Battle Dragon Peak**, where masters from each mountain would select their new disciples.
### **Travis's Struggle for Mastery**
Travis scrolled through the **Universal Ascension System**, his stats glaring back at him:
- **Top 10 billion** in the **Body Tempering Realm**.
- **Top 100 million** in the **World Ascension Rankings**.
Yet, his progress was stifled. *"My deficient combat skills are holding me back,"* he mused. *"I need to master the basic elements to break through."*
Though he possessed a high affinity for all elements, the **sealed time and space** within him remained an obstacle—one that demanded a higher cultivation realm to unlock.
*"Before recruitment day, I must find a way to master at least one element."*
A proper **dual cultivation technique** would be ideal, harmonizing all elements and accelerating his growth. But his usual mentor, **Amaya**, had vanished, leaving him without guidance.
For now, he focused on tempering his body, careful not to advance recklessly into the **Core Formation Realm** without a solid foundation.
**Into the Wilds**
Travis ventured beyond the academy, seeking the **earth element** for his first mastery. A dense forest pulsed with terrestrial energy—the perfect training ground.
As he entered, a group of armored mercenaries stormed past, weapons gleaming. *"Mercenary Guild,"* he noted. *"I'll need proper gear soon… but that can wait until after the trials."*
Deeper in, mortals from the **Merchant Guild** gathered herbs with practiced care, their wagons waiting at the forest's edge.
Travis pressed on. The earth beneath his feet hummed with power, and he knew—**this was where his true training would begin.**
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"Pricing Information: Navigator maps—10 mana stones per copy! Explore the Earthod Forest with ease!"
The voice was shrill, persistent, echoing off the trees as I walked through the dense foliage. Before I could even process what was happening, a scrawny, twitchy figure darted in front of me like a flash of greased lightning. A demonic youth of the monkey race—his eyes gleaming with opportunistic zeal, his nose unnaturally red like a beacon, and his grin revealing sharp, crooked teeth—was now blocking my path.
"Hey, brother! Here to gather herbs? Hunt rare ores?" He waved a tattered parchment in my face. "You'll need my map—danger zones, fortune zones, all marked! Cheap and reliable!"
I stiffened. This was my first encounter with a demonic being, and his unrestrained eagerness was making me suspicious. "No," I said firmly, backing away a step. "I'm not venturing deep."
"Then you need me even more!" He clapped his hands with an infectious enthusiasm, undeterred. "A personal guide—just 50 low-grade Qi stones!"
I nearly choked. Fifty?! My brain did a quick calculation: 50 Qi stones could buy a lot of things... like a small village, or—a very large meal. Was guiding really that lucrative? For a split second, I considered changing professions entirely. Maybe I could become a guide. How hard could it be?
"And the map?" I asked, my curiosity piqued despite myself.
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "These aren't ordinary maps, my friend. These are enchanted. Reveal hidden treasures—Celestial Crystals, Earth Essence, all yours for the taking!" He paused dramatically, then added, "A steal at 100 Qi stones."
I stared, dumbfounded. "You were shouting '10 mana stones' a minute ago."
The monkey-demon grinned even wider. "Ah, but those are for amateurs! For a cultivator of your potential, you need the premium version! Only the best for you, brother!"
My patience began to fray. "I'll manage on my own."
The demonic youth let out a high-pitched cackle that echoed across the forest, following me as I walked away. "Good luck, brother! The forest eats the unprepared!"
I shot him a look over my shoulder. "What's the point of a map if it leads you straight into the belly of the beast?" But he was already lost in the trees, shouting after me.