The next day they headed to what Drake called a 'guild'. This place gave out missions for a reward. Some were for items, guards, or even something like building a house. Several people were gathered along several poster boards inside the building.
Drake scanned the boards for several seconds before taking one of the papers down and handing it to one of the people at the desks. The quest was to get the hides of five sand lizards. He chose this because she was already familiar with the sand lizards.
They walked out into the desert where the lizards would be commonly spotted. They searched until they found one. She drew her sword and ran towards it. The lizard turned its head to see what was making a disturbance, only to find a sword slicing its throat. Its neck bled out as it tried to make a final effort to kill her attacker. It could only take a few steps before it collapsed. She moved her blade once again and stabbed through its skull.
Nycta tried to skin the lizard as Drake guided her. After several minutes she started to understand how to skin it. Her work was still obviously amateurish, but at least she wasn't slipping and destroying a part of it every five seconds.
They spent the rest of the day hunting and skinning lizards. They had to hunt nine lizards, because she mutilated the hides so much. With the amount that she hunted she went up several levels.
[[Nycta]
[Species: Glass Body]
[Level: 5]
[Cultivation: Qi Perception-1]
[Age: 4 days]
[Strength: 25]
[Agility: 22]
[Stamina: 31]
[Dexterity: 21]
[Vitality: 17]
[Defense: 17]
[Intelligence: 45]
[HP: 17/17]]
"My stats are improving well, but my defense and vitality are low. I wouldn't be able to defend myself if I fought someone my own level. They could just get a few good hits and I'd be dead." Nycta was sad that her stats were so unbalanced.
"Yes, but your stamina is good and your intelligence is off the charts. You can just out run them, and they'll tire out. Currently intelligence isn't a very good stat, but it will help immensely later on. If it is low you may be stuck and be unable to cultivate efficiently, but it also affects those who use magic. Magic is a system of code and one has to decipher it. So you could become a great mage if you're lucky. There are several professions with a high intelligence stat. They are also the ones that can earn money the easiest. Making medicine is a good example. Defense can be solved easily with armor and vitality can be supplemented with defense and some medicine. I've been talking for a long time now, let's just go back."
They headed to the guild with the flier and a bag of lizard skin. The lady at the counter told them, "The original payment was 50 Arus for the five hides, but they are damaged. If you sell the rest the reward will be the same." This was a common thing said by the guild and any business. You say that their product is of lesser value and you will therefore need more of it, and if they argue you can just tell them to go somewhere else. A large business not only wouldn't care, but has some of the best prices.
Drake nodded his head and handed over the other hide pieces. He again handed the money over to Nycta. On the way back to the inn she asked "How strong are you? I know you are way stronger than most of the monsters here, but what about the people? How about other areas?"
He thought for a moment before responding, "Around here most monsters will not reach above 20ish or Formation Realm, but the people are leveled between 20 and 40 at most. This is considered a lowish level area. A high-level one can have residents over 150 easily. Unless several of the high level ones attack me, they don't even have a chance, but you need to be careful. With your level you couldn't beat very many people in this town."
She nodded her head. "I see. How is power measured in the cultivation system?"
"Each realm has nine smaller levels to it. Qi Perception is about level 10, Foundation - 10 to 25, Core Formation - 25 to 50, Core Improvement - 50 to 100, and Golden Core - 100+. There are many more but for now you just need to know this."
Nycta remained silent for several minutes, until they were in their room and she spoke up, "Why are there two different methods, what is this 'system', and what why are they incompatible?"
Drake was a little surprised. No one really questioned something they live with for their entire life, you don't question why you see, breath, or even think, you just do it. "Those are the questions many have asked for many, many years, but not much is known. For cultivation, one absorbs the energy, qi, and reinforces the body from the cellular level. Mana on the other hand is similar, but the energy is obtained by killing other beings, similar to eating food, your body absorbs the energy released. This may sound evil because it requires the taking of life, but it's the same as eating an animal.
The 'system' is a means of information storage and analysis. It has no other uses, and most only check it occasionally. It has been traced back hundreds of thousands of years, and that is only due to some species' lifespans being incredibly long.
The reason as to why they are 'incompatible' relates to the fact that they both improve the body. The stronger the body, the more difficult it is to improve. So, if you practice both you are improving your body in multiple ways that make your body incredibly strong. If I went all out I could fight maybe a level 90 or later stage Core Improvement. Practice your cultivation. You're still inexperienced which may lead to a damaged foundation, if you just skip ahead and don't get strong at each stage your body won't gain the full strength. If that happens you will surely die when you go to the next realm... Are you sleeping? Whatever, I guess she'll just have to learn in the future."
He walked over to Nycta and picked her up and placed her in bed. He tucked her in and gave a slight smile. 'It has been better since I've been with her. I guess having a little fun once in a while isn't bad. I just hope that she doesn't come to dislike me like everyone else.'
Drake sat in the middle of the room and focused his mind. He pulled out a knuckle-sized, red stone. He slowly pulled the energy from it and cultivated. 'Hm. This stone-bear's core contains a fair amount of qi. Sadly, I can't leave the city to absorb qi. Inside I can only use the beasts' cores in order to not disturb the other residents.' He sat and cultivated for several hours before he headed to bed.
They continued this process for several more days until they had to leave and head out. During this time Nycta grew much stronger.
[[Nycta]
[Species: Glass Body]
[Level: 10]
[Cultivation: Qi Perception-9]
[Age: 1 week]
[Strength: 152]
[Agility: 146]
[Stamina: 162]
[Dexterity: 142]
[Vitality: 131]
[Defense: 133]
[Intelligence: 182]
[HP: 131/131]]
She was very shocked at her dramatic increase in stats. "Shouldn't this take a long time? Especially the cultivation stages? I don't even feel that much stronger."
"The first steps are always the easiest. You have hunted quite a few beasts, so it is no wonder you leveled up. You are also pretty good at cultivating, but only time will tell with that. You have gained many times more strength in such a short time. Of course your mind and body haven't been able to adapt to your new strength yet. Take a few days rest and then I'll show you the next step in the cultivation system."