Chapter 10: Warrior Stage 1

Facing Facing Cang Luo understood that whether on Earth or the Yuanwu Continent, the most important thing was strength.

Without strength, you cannot live freely, nor provide the quality and safety your loved ones need.

On Earth, where cultivation is impossible, strength is embodied in limitless wealth, supreme power, deep backgrounds and connections, and noble birth.

One need not reach the peak in all these factors representing strength, nor possess every single one.

Achieving just one within your city of residence is enough to live a carefree life, free from the frantic struggle against life's various problems.

Unfortunately, Facing Facing Cang Luo was merely an ordinary person on Earth.

He had no wealth left by his forefathers, could not be a second-generation rich kid, and still had to struggle with mortgage payments.

No one in his family held office; for generations they had been farmers and laborers, so they could not enter any official units.

Facing Facing Cang Luo himself was not cut out for studying; after graduating from a third-rate university, he found a job paying a few thousand, preparing to support his family with steady work.

Yet he met his ex-girlfriend and was thoroughly humiliated...

Facing Facing Cang Luo still clearly remembered what she said to him that day: "Facing Facing Cang Luo, give up this dream.

With a monthly salary of a few thousand, you can't even afford an Apple phone; what right do you have to promise me happiness?"

On the Yuanwu Continent, where martial arts reign supreme, besides the factors mentioned above, there is one most critical factor representing strength: personal martial cultivation.

The level of cultivation determines how much wealth and power one can obtain, and what kind of life one can enjoy.

Similarly, wealth and power can make one's cultivation path twice as effective with half the effort; if one also possesses genius talent, then one is a guaranteed winner in life.

Facing Facing Cang Luo, an outsider on the Yuanwu Continent, had neither wealth nor power.

All he possessed was a surveillance satellite with a God's-eye view, a golden finger that could not directly aid his cultivation.

The only laser cannon had no place to be used; it was simply trash!

At least for now.

Therefore, the only thing determining the height of Facing Facing Cang Luo's cultivation was his aptitude.

Was he trash? Ordinary? Or excellent?

Facing Facing Cang Luo desperately wanted to know this; it was his only chance to turn the tables and become someone above others.

Moreover, the validity period of this opportunity was only one year.

Because after one year, the Yuanwu Continent and Earth would connect; whether through war or cooperation, Earth would surely enter the cultivation era.

The Fifth Technological Revolution spoken of by Li Haoran!

Once Earth entered the cultivation era, those possessing supreme wealth and power would use their advantages to exchange for cultivation resources, leaving Facing Facing Cang Luo far behind.

So Facing Facing Cang Luo must cultivate as much as possible within this one year, widening the gap and compensating for his weaknesses.

Thinking of this, Facing Facing Cang Luo's face showed loss and melancholy.

Seeing Facing Facing Cang Luo's state, Xuan Qingqing fell silent for a moment before saying: "Junior Brother Cang, your current cultivation is Warrior Stage 1...

Although it is merely the entry level of the martial path, my father said your cultivation speed will be several times, or even more than ten times, that of ordinary martial artists; your cultivation will soon catch up to mine."

"Really?" Facing Facing Cang Luo's face showed joy he could hardly conceal; he burst into a broad smile.

Was he a genius? Was his cultivation speed more than ten times that of others?

"Yes, but..." Xuan Qingqing hesitated; she had not actually finished her previous words and was unsure whether to say what came next.

"But what?" Facing Facing Cang Luo suppressed his smile and asked tensely.

"But the reason your cultivation speed is so fast is not because your aptitude is so excellent, but because of your identity as an Earthling..."

Xuan Qingqing decided to say it, because even if she didn't say it now, Facing Facing Cang Luo would find out later.

"What do you mean?" Facing Facing Cang Luo did not understand; what did this have to do with him being an Earthling?

Xuan Qingqing explained: "My father said that because Yuanwu does not exist on Earth, when you encounter Yuanwu, a new thing, your body will produce a violent reaction.

It will accelerate the speed and efficiency of absorbing and transforming Yuanwu, thus increasing your cultivation speed.

But it will not maintain this speed forever; it will gradually decrease as your cultivation rises."

Hearing Xuan Qingqing's explanation, Facing Facing Cang Luo was stunned for a few seconds, then helplessly said: "So, there is no difference between me and other Earthlings?

Heh... indeed, I was never a genius.

On Earth it was so, and in this other world it is the same."

Seeing Facing Facing Cang Luo's mood drop, Xuan Qingqing changed the subject and began explaining the cultivation system of the Yuanwu Continent to him.

In the following hour, Facing Facing Cang Luo finally learned how martial cultivation levels are divided on the Yuanwu Continent and how martial artists cultivate.

Martial cultivation on the Yuanwu Continent is divided into ten stages: Warrior Apprentice, Warrior General, Warrior Master, Warrior Spirit, Warrior Ancestor, Warrior Venerable, Warrior King, Warrior Emperor, Warrior Emperor.

Each of the above nine stages is further divided into nine layers; the tenth stage is Wu Sheng, but Xuan Qingqing did not know how Wu Sheng is subdivided.

Because currently only four Martial Saints remain on the entire Yuanwu Continent: the Retired Emperor of the Qin Empire, the Emperor of the Yuan Empire, the Leader of the Martial Artists Alliance, and the Grand Master of the Mohist Machine City.

The first three Wu Sheng were nothing special; two were rulers of nations, and that Martial Artists Alliance was probably an organization similar to a Magic Guild?

The fourth, the Mohist Grand Master, surprised Facing Facing Cang Luo; he never expected the Mohist school, which advocates universal love and non-aggression, to become one of the four giants of the Yuanwu Continent!

He wondered how the other schools fared.

Confucianism? Legalism? School of Diplomacy?

Xuan Qingqing continued explaining: In the Profound Heaven Gate, Wu Shi and Wu Jiang cultivators are outer sect disciples.

Wu Shi, Wu Ling, and Wu Zong are inner sect disciples; cultivations above that are various senior officials, elders, and the Sect Master, etc.

Having briefly explained the martial artist ranks, Xuan Qingqing began explaining the cultivation system.

On the Yuanwu Continent, about ten out of every thousand boys and girls aged fourteen possess the ability to perceive Yuanwu, meaning their Lower Dantian has been activated.

However, among these ten, only one can condense a Yuan Wheel to become a martial artist.

Thus, the ratio of ordinary people to martial artists on the Yuanwu Continent is approximately one thousand to one.

The steps for an ordinary person to become a martial artist are: perceive Yuanwu, absorb Yuanwu, refine the Lower Dantian, and condense the Yuan Wheel.

When a martial artist condenses the first Yuan Wheel, it signifies that their cultivation has reached Warrior Stage 1.

One layer, one Yuan Wheel; nine layers, nine Yuan Wheels.

When advancing from Warrior Stage 9 to Wu Wang Layer 1, the original nine Yuan Wheels merge into a single Yuan Wheel.

Nine nines return to one; thus it repeats.

After a martial artist advances, the number of Yuan Wheels decreases, but the quality of the Yuan Wheels improves somewhat.

From Wu Shi to Wu Wang, the form of the Yuan Wheels is a process of gradually transforming from gaseous to liquid.

And from Wu Wang to Wu Sheng, the Yuan Wheels will gradually transform from liquid to solid...

As for how to absorb Yuan Power, one must first learn a cultivation method; more accurately, one must learn a mental cultivation technique.

Cultivation methods in the Yuan Wu Continent are divided into mental cultivation techniques and martial arts skills; mental cultivation techniques teach martial artists how to absorb Yuan Power, while martial arts skills teach martial artists how to use the Yuan Power stored in the Lower Dantian.

Both mental cultivation techniques and martial arts skills are divided into four grades: Heavenly, Earthly, Profound, and Yellow; each grade is further divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Rank 3.

The higher the grade of the cultivation method, the greater its power and effect; take the mental cultivation technique as an example.

A high-grade mental cultivation technique can make the Lower Dantian stronger, making the absorption and recovery of Yuan Power more efficient, causing the Yuan Power to become more pure, and allowing Yuan Wheels to condense faster.

That is, the martial artist levels up faster.

Mental cultivation techniques can also strengthen Yuan Consciousness, which is the thread-like object Facing Facing Cang Luo perceived in his mind.

Driving the Yuan Wheels and mobilizing Yuan Power are functions of Yuan Consciousness; additionally, it can perceive the surrounding environment and targets, and so on.

The process of 'mobilizing Yuan Power' is actually the process of circulating a cultivation method.

Take a palm technique martial art skill as an analogy; the content of this palm technique teaches you how to mobilize Yuan Power through which meridians and which acupoints.

When you control this Yuan Power to complete this sequence, it represents successfully circulating this martial arts skill.

After Xuan Qingqing's explanation, Facing Facing Cang Luo had already gained some understanding of the cultivation system of the Yuan Wu Continent.

Facing Facing Cang Luo said excitedly, "Senior Sister Xuan Qingqing, where should I go to learn a cultivation method?"

"Oh!"

Xuan Qingqing slapped her forehead and said apologetically, "I almost forgot the purpose of coming to find you today.

Come, Junior Brother Cang, I will take you to handle the entry procedures for outer sect disciples; after finishing them, you can go to the Outer Sect Method Pavilion to freely receive a Yellow Grade Lower Rank 3 cultivation method."

Having said that, Xuan Qingqing grabbed Facing Facing Cang Luo's arm and left the room, arriving at a courtyard.

Facing Facing Cang Luo rubbed his arm, his face showing great pain.

He did not expect that Xuan Qingqing's small, delicate body hid such brute strength, but he immediately understood that this was the power of a martial artist.

Xuan Qingqing's tender face turned slightly red; pretending not to see Facing Facing Cang Luo's arm turning red, she said awkwardly, "Junior Brother Cang, didn't you just ask me what a demon beast is? I will summon one for you to see now."

"Mm, mm." Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded in agreement, still rubbing his arm.

Only then did Xuan Qingqing press her right index and middle fingers together, and silver light danced at her fingertips.

After a few breaths, a circular formation glowing with silver light, about two meters in diameter, appeared out of thin air, standing vertically before her and rotating slowly.

Once the formation took shape, Xuan Qingqing cried out sharply, "A Zi, come out!"

As soon as her words fell, Facing Facing Cang Luo saw a purple head, looking like an eagle, poke out from the center of the formation.

Next, a pair of wings, also purple, extended from within the formation; after flapping twice, the demon beast called A Zi suddenly jumped out of the formation.

After A Zi landed, its body, originally the size of a young ox, instantly grew larger, becoming a purple giant bird three meters long with a wingspan of over six meters.

Facing Facing Cang Luo looked utterly shocked, stepped back a few paces, and said in surprise, "Is this an eagle or a golden eagle?"

A Zi's body was massive, its claws the size of a bathtub; Facing Facing Cang Luo thought, surely one strike from this claw could flatten a small car?

"Squawk..." The answer to Facing Facing Cang Luo was a loud eagle cry.

After the eagle cry, Facing Facing Cang Luo clearly saw A Zi look at him with great disdain, as if he were merely a small insect in its eyes.

Xuan Qingqing said proudly, "This is an eighth-rank demon beast, the Purple Feather Thunder Eagle. Come up; I will take you to the Outer Sect Executive Pavilion to handle the entry procedures."

While speaking, Xuan Qingqing lightly tapped her feet twice, easily leaping onto the two-meter-plus-tall Purple Feather Thunder Eagle; after sitting steadily, she extended her left hand to signal Facing Facing Cang Luo to come up.

Facing Facing Cang Luo swallowed hard, avoided the Purple Feather Thunder Eagle's fierce eyes, slowly circled to its rear, grasped Xuan Qingqing's jade hand, and was easily pulled onto the bird's back by her.

Seeing Facing Facing Cang Luo sit steadily, Xuan Qingqing patted the Purple Feather Thunder Eagle's neck and said softly, "A Zi, to the Outer Sect Executive Pavilion."

"Squawk..."

The Purple Feather Thunder Eagle responded with a light cry, flapped its wings a few times, and with a single leap soared into the high sky.

However, as it took off, it deliberately twisted its body, seeming to intend to shake the stranger sitting on its back off.

Facing Facing Cang Luo cried out in alarm, frightened into immediately wrapping his arms around Xuan Qingqing's waist, and instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

With no danger, Facing Facing Cang Luo discovered that Xuan Qingqing's lower abdomen had not a single bit of excess flesh...

"You, let go!"

Xuan Qingqing's face flushed with shame and anger; being embraced by Facing Facing Cang Luo, her body instantly stiffened, feeling very uncomfortable.