One month passed. The children were still in the hut. Mais had entered the Origin Energy Realm. He had mastered Origin Energy enough to become an Origin Master the moment he entered the realm.
"I don't understand how you did it. I've been in this realm longer than you, yet you mastered it instantly," said Kasuur.
"Because I work harder," said Mais, but they both knew it was a lie. Their current situation proved it.
Mais was sitting in front of the hut doing nothing and listening to audiobooks to gain knowledge. Of all the information available to him because of his blindness, he could only listen to recordings designed with origin energy. These were few and far between. They were also valuable. In the old days, the eunuchs would not allow him to listen to them. They were precious and difficult to create. They couldn't just be used.
Kasuur swung his sword, sweated, and trained. Once he was sweating profusely, he sat down and meditated. He tried to feel the origin energy and let it flow into his body. As he strengthened his body and veins, he tried to advance to the next level. Despite this month being difficult, he was heavy enough to take the title of Origin Master, as he could easily circulate Origin Energy throughout his body.
Despite all his sweat and effort, however, he did not lose weight; he gained more. Despite this month not being easy for him, he was gaining weight. He didn't know why, but he suspected it had something to do with the day he encountered Jong.
There was something different about his body. It was evident by the speed at which he was cultivating.
In the span of one month, Kasuur had reached the fourth stage of the Origin Energy Realm. Of course, it was difficult for someone who had not become an Origin Master to advance. But how could Kasuur not grow stronger after a month of hard work? Even though he was a genius who had failed to become an Origin Master, no one could stop his breakthrough. Although Mais had considered preparing an alchemical pill especially for him, he decided it would make more sense to wait for him to become an origin master.
It was certainly too difficult for Mais to prepare a pill of this level in his blind state, but he had succeeded, albeit with difficulty. He created a pill for Kasuur to use after he became an Origin Master. The imperial alchemists who taught him the basics of alchemy would be proud to see him now.
Immortal White just lay there in the hut. She didn't do much of anything. During the day, she would sit, eat, defecate, and lie down. Sometimes she meditated on the Tao with Mais. Although she experienced the effects of the Tao on the body, she had only a slightly better grasp of the Tao than Mais, which made them good partners. Unfortunately, Immortal White was a cat, so it was impossible for her to quarrel with Mais. Otherwise, the two would have progressed much faster.
Kasuur did not understand them at all. They both lay on their sides and ate the food he brought them. He couldn't understand why the three-tailed animal still ate meat despite its strange belief in not killing. Be a little more loyal to your beliefs and become a herbivore!
"You seem to like Little White. You seem to be more than a reckless killer."
Mais said nothing. At that moment, he closed the audiobook cover, and the sound stopped. He stretched out on the floor. His eyes looked at Hades, the beautiful star of the planet, but he wasn't impressed at all. He couldn't see the star. He didn't realize that it was Hades he was looking at.
"You know I'm not a ruthless killer. I'm just a weak person who has to make hard decisions. I had no choice. I—"
'I didn't want to go blind.'
These words came out of Mais' mouth like a whisper. The expression on Mais's face cracked a little and returned to normal. Kasuur didn't quite hear what he said, either. He pushed his stomach forward and approached Mais, scratching his belly. A suspicious expression appeared on his face.
" Is today your birthday?"
Mais nodded and continued to lie on the floor. He didn't think about how Kasuur had understood this. Perhaps it was because he had become more frequent in asking about dates and days over time. Maybe his behavior had become strange. But Mais didn't understand that either. Did Kasuur see him as a murderer?
Do murderers celebrate birthdays?
Mais didn't really understand what Kasuur thought of him. At least, it didn't matter at the moment. Kasuur didn't see Mais as his enemy.
Tick... Tick! Tick!
He started tapping his fingers on the blackboard. He remembered what it was like last year on this day. The music sounded just like the sound coming out of the board. He hadn't paid much attention to it then. But the music was really fun. He shouldn't have been so stubborn as to not ask her to dance. He should have asked Mei to dance and have some childish fun. He should have ignored the kids who made fun of him for not being able to cultivate. He should have listened. He should have smelled it. He should have enjoyed it.
He should have watched...
Mais stopped the music he was making with his fingers. He had finally advanced in his cultivation and entered the Origin Energy Realm. The past was meaningless. He had to keep moving forward to protect his family's legacy.
The staff on his back and the ring on his finger were all that remained of them. But both could be gone. Mais knew his life was not as safe as it had been then. What could he do if Kasuur turned and stabbed him with his sword? Would all this wealth mean anything? Was it really necessary to grow stronger without his eyes? He used to be able to defeat stronger opponents. He would always be the strongest in his realm. Now, even with his blind eyes, he could defeat those stronger than himself. It could have easily been the other way around, though. He had no one to protect him.
Now, he had to look behind him. Even if all he saw was darkness.
"Go back to your training. So what if I'm nine years old? My enemies don't care that I reached the Origin Energy Realm at this age. As long as I'm weak enough to be killed, they won't care. Now they are your enemies, too. You have to live knowing that. You have to be strong, knowing that. "
Kasuur stared at Mais. In that moment, he wondered about those enemies. He wondered about the parents who threw their child into such danger. But wasn't he in the same situation? Hadn't his parents also thrown him into this cruel world?
What could he say?
'It's so hot!'
Kasuur sighed and looked up, dreaming of the day Hades would show mercy.
Suddenly, the staff of a nine-year-old boy, disguised as a teacher, hit the back of Kasuur's leg. Kasuur's face instantly soured.
"Ah!"
"Feel the origin energy. It is everywhere. It is part of nature. Its birthplace may be the Earth, but its source is you. What matters is what you can attract and use. Open your eyes and look around you. See the energy reflected in your heart. You have difficulty seeing with your living eyes what I see with my blind eyes. You should be ashamed. "
Mais' words were harsh, but they motivated Kasuur. If Mais wanted Kasuur to progress, he had to push him.
His enemies were not ordinary people from the Sage Realm. They had grasped the Tao path, lived for thousands of years, and reached heights he would never reach in his lifetime. Mais knew. Even with the help of the Tao, his life would end. He would live less than Kasuur. That's why he wanted to see Kasuur avenged before he died.
Kasuur may have been fat, lazy, and cowardly, but he was unique. His green hair, potential, and power proved he was no ordinary man. Mais had the resources. He could help Kasuur reach new heights.
Kasuur's yellow eyes looked at him. At that moment, the energy of origin passed before his eyes. The energy filled his body. It landed in his heart. His whole body was energized by this sudden nourishment.
Click...Click...
"Congratulations! You have stepped into the next stage."
Mais nodded. He liked that. Kasuur, however, was not as happy about his progress as Mais was. He still felt weak.
"You lack technique. I don't have time to teach you many techniques. Each one requires a lot of time and skill. Having one attack technique will make you strong. It will take some time, but it will make you strong even when you enter the Core Realm." One last—"
"Mais..."
Kasuur interrupted him, stood up with his belly hanging out, and stood in front of Mais. Mais was a few centimeters shorter than him. Looking directly in front of him, Mais was not looking at Kasuur's face.
Kasuur looked at his face. The huge wound caused Mais' face to have an entirely different shade of color. How cruel. Mais was only eight years old. Kasuur realized more of the facts he had been ignoring, sparking a feeling of pity.
"Happy birthday."
Saying he would get his revenge no matter what were empty words. Kasuur wanted to become so strong that one day he wanted to see Mais take revenge with his own hands.
He wanted to be strong enough to heal Mais so that Mais would be able to take his own revenge.
But thinking these thoughts proved that he knew nothing about Mais.
Mais smiled at him. He reached out and touched Kasuur's belly. Then, he grabbed Kasuur's right shoulder. That's how he found his face, too. His gray eyes turned to the boy celebrating his ninth birthday with him. He decided to ignore his progress in cultivation for the time being. He whispered, in a low voice that did not betray his thoughts, but with a warmth he could not help.
"Thank you."