Last week, Luke celebrated his second birthday.
He still hasn't made significant progress in his cultivation partly due to his young age and also because advancing to the next level would draw the attention of those around him, many of whom are cultivators.
So, for now, he's patiently waiting and focusing on accumulating knowledge.
Normally, a red-tier talent would break through to Level One (Body Refining Realm) around the age of five, and reach Level Two (Soul Refining Realm) by age eight.
For green-tier talents, it's around six years of age for Level One, and age nine for Level Two.
After reaching Level Two, talent plays a smaller role in breaking through to higher realms like the Path of Vision.
After attaining the Body Refining Realm, Luke's passive Qi absorption increased significantly he could now absorb around 60 particles per minute, roughly one particle per second, as naturally as breathing.
However, unlike before, the accumulated Qi was no longer stored in his backbone.
Instead, it gathered in something both imaginary and physical an intangible space that seemed real yet couldn't be directly seen.
This strange phenomenon was a clue toward his next breakthrough.
To reach Level Two, he would need to refine his soul and that mysterious space was likely his soul, residing within his brain.
Attempting to refine it at this stage would be extremely risky, especially without anyone's guidance or awareness.
So, Luke decided to reveal his breakthrough to the Body Refining Realm on his third birthday.
By then, he could obtain proper guidance and learn the critical procedures, risks, and detailed knowledge about higher level cultivations.
At the moment, he only knew the names of the known realms up to Level Four but even the name of the fourth realm remained unclear and vague to him.
At the age of three, Luke finally decided to reveal his breakthrough to the Body Refining Realm. One quiet morning, he sat with his parents in the study room and calmly said, "Mother, Father, I've broken through to the Body Refining Realm."
Sarah stared at him with wide eyes, unable to speak for a moment. Wilson, however, leaned forward in shock. "Are you telling me… you reached the Body Refining Realm without anyone's guidance? And without any elixir?"
A sudden spark lit up in Luke's mind.
Elixir?That word hadn't appeared even once in any of the basic cultivation books he had secretly read in the library.
Composing himself quickly, he tilted his head and asked innocently, "Father, what's an elixir?"
Wilson chuckled with a mix of amusement and pride.
"An elixir," he explained, "is something refined from Order One beasts. It helps ease the pain during breakthroughs. When you consume it, the process becomes much more bearable."
He leaned back slightly, looking thoughtful. "Using an elixir does cause a slight disadvantage compared to someone who breaks through without it, but it's normal even for red-tier talents. Some children with weaker minds have died on the spot during their breakthrough if they didn't take an elixir. That's why it's considered safer."
He paused, then looked at Luke seriously.
"You know, Order Beasts are always stronger than regular cultivators of the same level and one of the reasons is that they never rely on elixirs. Interestingly, if a human manages to break through a stage without using any elixir… they're also considered on par with Order Beasts."
Luke tilted his head and asked curiously, "Is there an elixir for breaking through to Level Two and beyond?"
Wilson let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. "No, son. After Level One, there are no elixirs that can help with breakthroughs. If there were, Eldia would have more cultivators than Order Beasts."
He leaned forward, his tone turning a bit more serious. "Advancing beyond Level One depends entirely on one's comprehension, willpower, and control over Qi. Elixirs are only helpful in the early stages to support the body. But from here on out… it's all you."
Without showing it on his face, Luke laughed inwardly, So I broke through without an elixir… that's actually an advantage for me. Hahaha.
Suppressing his excitement, he turned to his father and asked, "Father, since I've already reached the Body Refining Realm, can you guide me on how to cultivate and break through to the next level?
Wilson laughed heartily and ruffled Luke's hair.
"You just broke through to the Body Refining Realm at the age of three, while your peers are only beginning to sense Qi at age of five. And now you're already asking me how to cultivate towards Soul Refining Realm?"
He looked at Sarah with pride gleaming in his eyes.
"Our son might truly be admitted into the West Immortal Sect. They'll return in twelve years. If he reaches level three before the age of fifteen, he'll be the first in two hundred years to be accepted."
Wilson knelt before Luke and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Son, you must protect the honor of our family. Getting accepted into the West Immortal Sect is not just glory, it's our dream. We believe in you."