3: Chapter 3 Left foot steps on right foot, spiraling upwards

Wulian City, just as its name suggests, has unique terrain where thick fog frequently appears.

It was still morning, and the white, hazy mist obscured the sun. The entire city looked like a snow globe, adding a dreamlike quality to it.

On the elevated bridge, a black car sped along.

With a sound of activation, the screen floating before Chen Xing changed.

"Welcome to [Path of Cultivation]. I will provide you with assistance in your Cultivation. This is a welcome gift, please accept it."

Without any nonsense, in the blink of an eye, Chen Xing felt a warmth inside his body, like soaking in a hot spring, and his whole body relaxed.

Immediately after, the screen changed.

"Source Crystal of Light received, Enlightenment Space activated, gift reception complete."

"What is my current Cultivation Realm?" Chen Xing examined himself.

"Whoosh!" The screen flashed, and his body data actually popped up.

[Name: Chen Xing]

[Age: 18]

[Ability: Light]

[Realm: Light Opening Realm, Stage 6]

[Battle Techniques/Methods Mastered: None]

[Innate Divine Ability: Origin of Light, Heavens Chain]

"Stage 6? Innate Divine Ability?"

He didn't know what the Source of Light was, but he understood Innate Divine Ability!

After Awakening an Ability, the true path only just begins. Textbooks had taught that there seem to be eight major Realms.

1. Light Opening, 2. Divine Sea, 3. Divine Ability, 4. Spirit Seed, 5. Three Heavens, 6. Tribulation Transformation, 7. Heaven Rank, and the Immortal Realm.

The initial stage is the Light Opening Realm. Generally speaking, the higher an Ability's Rank, the higher the initial Realm.

For instance, there was a B-Rank in the next class whose initial Realm was Stage 2 of the Light Opening Realm. Qin Feng was at Stage 3. As an S-Rank, he started at Stage 5.

Just now, the System had Chen Xing absorb something called [Source of Light], and at that moment, he had a Breakthrough to Stage 6.

The so-called Innate Divine Ability is something only awakened by high-Rank Abilities. Others can only possess it after Cultivating to the third major Realm—the Divine Ability Realm.

Generally speaking, an A-Rank has at least one guaranteed, while an S-Rank has two to three, varying. This is all recorded in the Alliance's archives and even written in history books.

"System, is that it? What use are you?" Chen Xing asked.

"Enlightenment Space can assist you in your Cultivation." The text on the screen changed.

"Can I enter now? Will I be exposed?" Chen Xing glanced ahead.

"No."

"Good."

With a swoosh, Chen Xing arrived in a vast, white space. It was empty all around; aside from the panel before his eyes, there was nothing else.

"[Enlightenment Space] Settings: 1. Background, 2. Cultivation Mode, 3. Battle Mode."

It felt like a game. Chen Xing clicked the first option, and a screen immediately popped up.

The current background was white. He could choose colors like yellow, green, blue, orange, etc.

Out of curiosity, he clicked the black background. As a result, the environment turned black, and he couldn't see anything, so he hurriedly switched it back to white.

Chen Xing's gaze shifted; there were still locked backgrounds, such as: mountains, sand dunes, forests, snowfields, etc., and even towns, starry skies, and the like.

"How do I unlock them?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Defeat strong enemies, or have a Breakthrough in your Realm."

"This is interesting." Chen Xing nodded, feeling a sense of novelty.

Then, he selected Cultivation Mode. The introduction here was simple: it could accelerate Cultivation and help in comprehending Battle Techniques and methods.

"Attention: This System has only two underlying rules. It only provides assistance to the host regarding Cultivation, with no shop or point System." Soon, the panel flashed again.

"Then what are the underlying rules?" Chen Xing asked.

"First: Regarding Cultivation and enlightenment, any Battle Technique or method that matches the host's attributes will be mastered in one second, and subsequent Cultivation will also have an acceleration effect. If the attributes do not match, it will be completely the opposite."

Chen Xing stroked his chin, lost in thought.

"It's okay, but the drawbacks are too obvious. I feel like the utility isn't that great." He frowned.

"Others are all 'seconds'—killing the heavens, the earth, and the air. With you, I still have to work hard to be a grinder. Fine, better than nothing. What is the second underlying rule?"

The screen flashed, and a line of golden text popped up.

"Second: There are no methods that do not match your attributes."

Chen Xing: "?"

"Don't mess with me. Earth-type, or Dragon Soul-types like Qin Feng, or even the Dark-type which is completely opposite to the Light-type—are these all considered matching the Light attribute?" he asked.

"There are no methods that do not match your attributes!" the System repeated.

"Sigh, I was shallow. I actually like being a grinder. You really are like a pillow arriving just when I'm sleepy." Chen Xing immediately changed his tune.

These two rules were exactly like stepping on one's own feet to spiral into the sky!

"However, I don't have any Battle Techniques right now, so I can't Cultivate. I'll wait until I go to the Academy." Chen Xing shook his head and checked the Battle Mode.

Select Opponent: Currently no opponents.

"What does that mean?" Chen Xing was puzzled.

"Please challenge strong enemies, only then can they be recorded." The System responded.

"So that's how it's used. I understand now."

One hour later, Chen Xing returned home.

It was actually just a small house, not even having a toilet; he usually had to go to public toilets and bathhouses.

"Boss, what is this?" Yang Qishan immediately noticed something wrong, his expression solemn.

"What's wrong?" Chen Xing paused.

"Your Cultivation... had a Breakthrough?" Yang Qishan was extremely surprised. How could it be Stage 5 of the Light Opening Realm before leaving, and then reach Stage 6 after just going for a stroll?

"Oh... this? My body was running hot just now, and I accidentally fell asleep. When I woke up, I felt full of energy. Is this a Breakthrough? I don't know." Chen Xing scratched his head, choosing to play dumb.

Yang Qishan gasped. Is this what an S-Rank Genius is like? It's too monstrous. Could it be that there was residual power that hadn't been fully absorbed?

There were many such examples. He was also a B-Rank Ability User and was once only at Stage 2, but that was because his physique wasn't strong enough, and the power hadn't been thoroughly absorbed.

At that time, he had just started Cultivating and was guided by a teacher to get started, which allowed him to absorb the remaining power completely and Breakthrough directly to Stage 3.

"An S-Rank Genius is indeed extraordinary. No wonder the Alliance Academy went to such great lengths. If I don't do this job well... I'd better prepare to write a will." Yang Qishan thought to himself.

More importantly, Chen Xing was just a teenager who had just Awakened his Ability. The concept of Cultivation Breakthroughs was something he had only seen in textbooks and had not experienced personally.

It could be said that Chen Xing's behavior was the most normal, because he didn't know what a so-called Breakthrough was like.

"Then congratulations, Boss." Yang Qishan nodded with a smile.

"Hehe..." Chen Xing scratched his head.

Changing the subject, he said: "By the way, Ability Users can Cultivate Battle Techniques. Look, I'm getting ready to go to the Academy, but I don't know anything. Can we hire a teacher to teach me in advance?"