Darwin sat cross-legged on his bed, the Grade 4 Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual resting in his hands. The cover felt warm to the touch, as if the book itself contained living energy. He had never felt this excited about cultivation before—back when he was truly trash, even looking at a cultivation manual filled him with bitter frustration.
He opened the manual and began to read. The words seemed to flow directly into his mind, each sentence clearer than anything he'd ever studied. The Celestial Azure technique was a wind-attribute cultivation method that focused on speed, agility, and the purity of qi. According to the manual, practitioners of this technique could move like the wind itself, their attacks swift and unpredictable.
The first stage, called "Gentle Breeze Foundation," required the cultivator to sense the wind qi in their surroundings and draw it into their meridians in a specific pattern. Darwin closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, just as the manual instructed.
Almost immediately, he felt it—strands of wind qi flowing through the air around him. With his Peak Spirit Root of Wind and Refined Meridian, what should have taken days or even weeks to sense came naturally to him. The wind qi responded to his call like old friends reuniting after a long separation.
He guided the qi through the circulation pattern described in the manual. The energy flowed smoothly through his meridians, far more easily than he'd ever imagined possible. Each cycle refined his qi further, making it purer and more potent. Time seemed to slip away as he lost himself in cultivation.
[Ding! Cultivation progress detected]
[Qi Refining Stage 1 → Qi Refining Stage 2]
Darwin's eyes snapped open in shock. A breakthrough already? He'd barely been cultivating for an hour! Most cultivators at the basic level took weeks or even months to advance a single stage, yet here he was, breaking through as easily as breathing.
But he didn't stop. The momentum was too strong, and his body was practically begging for more qi. He closed his eyes again and continued cultivating, this time with even more focus. The wind qi poured into his body like a rushing river, filling his meridians to the brim before compressing and refining itself.
[Qi Refining Stage 2 → Qi Refining Stage 3]
[Qi Refining Stage 3 → Qi Refining Stage 4]
Two more breakthroughs came in quick succession. Darwin felt his entire body transforming from the inside out. His muscles became denser, his bones stronger, his senses sharper. The world around him seemed to slow down slightly, and he could hear the faint whisper of wind even through the closed windows of his room.
When he finally opened his eyes, the sun had moved considerably across the sky. It was now late afternoon. He had been cultivating for nearly six hours straight, and the results were beyond anything he could have hoped for.
[Name: Darwin Azure]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Spirit Meridian: Refined Meridian]
[Spirit Root: Peak Spirit Root of Wind]
[Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 4]
[Body Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 3]
[Techniques: Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual (Grade 4)]
[Skills: Gentle Breeze Step (Basic)]
[System Skills: Daily Upgrade, Path of Upgrade, Appraisal]
[Daily Upgrades Available: 0]
[Upgrade Points Available: 0]
Darwin stared at the status screen in amazement. Not only had he jumped from Stage 1 to Stage 4 in a single cultivation session, but he'd also automatically learned a movement technique from the manual—Gentle Breeze Step. According to the knowledge now in his mind, this technique would allow him to move with incredible speed and agility, leaving only afterimages behind.
He had used all seven of his upgrades yesterday—three on his meridian, three on his spirit root, and one on the manual. Now he would have to rely purely on his talent and hard work until tomorrow when his daily upgrades refreshed.
He stood up from the bed and immediately noticed the difference. His body felt light as a feather, yet strong as iron. He took an experimental step forward, channeling a bit of qi into his legs as the technique required.
In an instant, he blurred across the room, appearing on the other side before he could even process what happened. He'd moved at least ten feet in the blink of an eye. Darwin couldn't help but grin. If he could barely control it at the basic level, what would happen when he mastered it?
A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
"Young Master Darwin, the patriarch has summoned all clan members to the main hall. Your presence is required," a servant's voice called from outside.
Darwin's smile faded. A clan gathering? That was unusual. They typically only happened for important announcements or… his heart sank as he remembered Garwin's words from earlier.
The trial.
"I'll be there shortly," Darwin replied, his voice steady despite the sudden tension in his chest.
He quickly changed into cleaner robes—one of the few decent sets he owned. As he adjusted his appearance in the small bronze mirror on his wall, he noticed his reflection had changed subtly. His eyes seemed sharper, more focused. His posture was naturally straighter, more confident. Even his black hair, which the guard had mocked yesterday, now seemed to shimmer with a faint luster.
Darwin took a deep breath. Whatever this gathering was about, he needed to be careful. Revealing his transformation too early could make him a target. The clan had ignored him when he was trash, but if they discovered he'd become a genius overnight, questions would be asked. Dangerous questions.
He decided on a strategy: appear slightly improved, but not extraordinarily so. He would act as though he'd finally managed to start cultivating at a basic level. Nothing that would draw too much attention, but enough to avoid being completely dismissed.
As he walked toward the main hall, he couldn't help but notice how differently he experienced the world now. He could hear conversations from rooms he passed, sense the flow of qi in other cultivators, and even feel the minute changes in air pressure as people moved.
The main hall was already filling with clan members when he arrived. It was a massive chamber with tall pillars and intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes along the walls. At the far end sat a raised platform where the patriarch and the clan's elders would address everyone.
Darwin quietly slipped into the back, hoping to remain unnoticed. However, several people still turned to look at him with barely concealed disdain. He was used to those looks, though they stung less now that he knew his true worth.
"Is that the trash?" someone whispered nearby.
"I heard he got beat up by Young Master Garwin this morning. Serves him right for being born useless."
"Why does the patriarch even let him stay? He's an embarrassment to the Azure name. His own twin brother is already at Foundation Establishment while he can't even cultivate."
Darwin clenched his fists but kept his expression neutral. Soon, he thought. Soon they would all see. But not today. Today, he would listen, learn, and prepare.
The massive doors at the front of the hall swung open, and a profound pressure filled the room. Everyone immediately fell silent and bowed their heads as a man with a majestic bearing entered, followed by six younger individuals—the patriarch's children.
Patriarch Aldric Azure was a man in his sixties who looked like he was in his thirties, a testament to his high cultivation level. His presence alone commanded absolute respect. Behind him walked his six children in order of age: Aldrin, the eldest son and a mid Core Formation cultivator; Serina, the second child and a low Core Formation cultivator; Celeste, the third child and the clan's greatest genius who at seventeen was already at peak Foundation Establishment; Darvin, Darwin's twin brother at low Foundation Establishment; Darwin, and finally little Garwin, the youngest at ten years old, who smirked when his eyes found Darwin in the crowd.
The sight of Darvin made Darwin's chest tighten. His twin brother—someone who should have been his closest ally, his equal. Instead, Darvin had long ago distanced himself from Darwin, ashamed to be associated with the clan's "trash." They looked similar, but where Darwin had black hair now, Darvin maintained the family's traditional silver-white hair. Where Darwin was ignored, Darvin was praised.
The patriarch took his seat on the central throne, his expression grave.
"I have gathered you all here today to discuss a matter of great importance," Patriarch Aldric began, his voice resonating throughout the hall. "In two weeks' time, the Crimson Vale Trial will begin."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Darwin's blood ran cold. The Crimson Vale Trial—he'd heard of it in the original Darwin's memories, but the details were fuzzy. What he did remember was that it was dangerous, often fatal, and specifically designed to test young cultivators.
"For those unfamiliar, the Crimson Vale is a secret realm that opens once every five years. It contains ancient treasures, powerful herbs, and cultivation resources beyond measure. However, it is also filled with deadly spirit beasts and treacherous terrain. Only cultivators between the ages of fifteen and eighteen may enter, regardless of cultivation level."
The patriarch's gaze swept across the room. "Every major clan in the region will send their young talents. This is an opportunity for our Azure Clan to prove our strength and secure valuable resources. It is also…" he paused, his expression hardening, "a chance to temper our youth through real danger."
Darwin's heart pounded. So cultivation level didn't matter—only age. That meant even someone at Qi Refining Stage 1 would be thrown in with geniuses at Foundation Establishment. It was essentially a death sentence for the weak.
"All eligible clan members are required to participate," the patriarch continued. "No exceptions. This includes those who have yet to prove themselves." His eyes briefly flickered toward the back of the hall, where Darwin stood. "You have two weeks to prepare. Train hard, and bring glory to the Azure name. Those who return with valuable treasures will be rewarded handsomely. Those who don't…" he left the sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear.
The hall erupted in excited chatter as the patriarch stood and left, his children following behind. Darwin remained frozen in place, processing the information.
Two weeks. He had two weeks to go from Qi Refining Stage 4 to something that could keep him alive against cultivators at Foundation Establishment. The gap between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment was enormous—like comparing a candle to a bonfire.
As the crowd began to disperse, Darwin felt someone's gaze boring into him. He looked up to see Celeste, his seventeen-year-old sister, staring at him with a peculiar expression. For a moment, their eyes met, and Darwin saw something flicker across her face—was it curiosity? Suspicion?
Then she turned away and followed the others out of the hall, her silver hair swaying behind her.
Darwin released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. He needed to be more careful. If even a brief glance had caught her attention, he was being too obvious about his change.
He quickly left the hall and returned to his chambers. Once inside, he locked the door and sat back down on his bed. Two weeks wasn't much time, but with his system and his talent, perhaps it was enough.
He pulled up his status screen again. All his upgrades were used—he would get two more tomorrow when his daily upgrades refreshed. For now, he would have to rely on pure cultivation to grow stronger.
But with his Peak Spirit Root of Wind and Refined Meridian, his cultivation speed was already monstrous compared to normal cultivators. What took others months might only take him days or even hours.
Darwin settled back into his cultivation position and began to circulate his qi according to the Celestial Azure Cultivation Manual's methods. The qi flowed through his refined meridians like water through a wide channel, smooth and unobstructed. With his peak spirit root, every breath pulled in massive amounts of wind qi from the surrounding air.
Hours passed. The sun set, and the moon rose outside his window. Darwin remained in deep cultivation, his consciousness focused entirely on refining his qi and advancing his cultivation. Breakthrough after breakthrough came as his foundation solidified and his power grew.
[Qi Refining Stage 4 → Qi Refining Stage 5]
[Qi Refining Stage 5 → Qi Refining Stage 6]
By the time he finally opened his eyes, it was well past midnight. He had broken through twice more, reaching Qi Refining Stage 6. At this rate, he would reach Stage 10—the peak of Qi Refining—within a week or less.
But would that be enough? Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly short distances, had qi reserves dozens of times larger, and could unleash devastating techniques. Even at peak Qi Refining, he would be at a massive disadvantage against someone like Darvin, let alone Celeste.
Darwin's mind raced with possibilities. Tomorrow, his daily upgrades would refresh. He could use them on his cultivation level to jump ahead faster, or he could upgrade his manual to increase his cultivation speed permanently, or perhaps upgrade his body cultivation to make himself more durable.
Each option had merit, but he needed to choose wisely. Two upgrades per day meant he had to be strategic about what he improved.
He lay down on his bed, exhaustion finally catching up with him despite his increased stamina. His mind continued to work through scenarios and plans even as his eyes grew heavy.
The thought of Darvin entered his mind. His twin brother would certainly be participating in the trial. Would Darvin even acknowledge him? Or would he continue to pretend Darwin didn't exist?
Darwin clenched his fists. It didn't matter. In two weeks, he would enter the Crimson Vale. And when he emerged, everyone would know that the "trash" of the Azure Clan had become something far greater.
As sleep finally claimed him, Darwin's last thought was of Celeste's curious gaze. His genius sister had noticed something. He would need to be even more careful going forward.
Tomorrow, his upgrades would refresh. Tomorrow, he would grow even stronger.
The trial was coming, and he would be ready.