"We will all be alone for some time before we are allowed to teleport to central ports to trade and make contact with each other." Said Leerum."You have to understand that EVERYONE is a cultivator but you! You have only 2 months to break into the awakening realm, so you have a sliver of a chance to survive. I've assessed everyone's level, and the average cultivator being sent on this mission is usually in the Awakened realm Rank 2 middle stage.Every realm of cultivation has three stages: rank 1 early stage, rank 2 mid-stage, and rank 3 late stage between each realm.Awakened realm Rank 2 is the absolute minimum to survive missions to gather resources and expand your stronghold.Elites or those with great talent, Awakened realm rank 3, and the super elites have barely reached the Transcended realm Rank 1.I'm at the Awakened realm rank 3, and Dara is only a step away from reaching the Transcended realm. Zeal and Alastair have just reached the Transcended realm a day after getting their Veil Crystals.Your talent is above theirs, so you have a significant chance to break into the Awakened realm before being sent off to the mission, but you need to start fast!You will probably first meet with your master Shamaner today. He is a super powerful nominal elder and tree demon! So, he specializes in medicinal and cultivation pills, pastes, and crafting.After Leerum and Dara left, Kimarya was once again alone… At least as much as someone with two voices in her head could be.She shivered as if a cold wind was assaulting her as she remembered all that had happened to her. The terrible Murder Crow, her seeing someone die horribly for the first time ever in the Veil Crystal challenge. But worst of all, she couldn't get the image of that horrible existence in the vision she had out of her head. She swore to herself that she would never go to that city on the sea and meet that thing again.She started shaking as tears began to swell in her eyes. Suddenly, her body stopped moving. Her shaking did not stop by itself; her whole body couldn't move any more!She rose again in the air, the familiar floating feeling as if the entire sky tightly wrapped around her but much more gently than before.Kimarya heard Grothie's steely voice say, "You survived. ""I have decided not to erase your existence... The scars of your challenge have joined with you…you did well.""As those young ones have stated, you have two months to cultivate your martial power. I have decided to awaken your third eye and leave you with the sacred cultivation technique I have set aside for my little one. The ties of Karma are already there… and I don't disprove of your weak and sentimental conduct.""Remember that kindness and a soft heart will always be punished eventually. Sometimes death is all one can find when trying to save weak fools when you do not have sufficient power.""Reaching Awakened Rank 2 is the lowest bar possible to survive the Seed missions of our people. You need to grow fast and stable and claw out every benefit and resource. Fail to do that, and you will always be prey to fate and all those underneath it. A string of bad luck or even just one mistake is enough for you to be consumed.""It's clear you have not…faced many challenges. The Murder Crow, dreadful as a species, the one you encountered was barely still a hatchling.""Remember this, mercy is only for the strong."Her consciousness started fading as she heard Grothie mutter, "How is this possible?" in shock.Later that day, she was woken up by a slow and measured knock on her door. It was ShamanerShe struggled to her feet and opened the door. She saw this very tall and lanky Elder with wild green hair and a dazzlingly kind and earnest smile who said to her, "Hello, little one! Your performance was astonishing! I hope you are feeling well?"Kimarya, with difficulty, smiled and said, "Yes, great Elder. I am in a bit of pain, but I'm well."Shamaner shook his head, still smiling."No need to be so proper, young one. Here, take this pill and follow me."Kimarya picked up the small round white pill from his hand and swallowed it.Suddenly, her stomach grew very warm to the point it was almost painful. Her aching body suddenly didn't ache half as much as before!She stomped on the ground and barely felt any slight discomfort."This pill is amazing!"He nodded, put his hands behind his back, and started walking away. Kimarya quickly followed behind him through this area with few buildings. She passed by beautiful stone and wood buildings. Each building was made from red granite-like stone with a unique combination of wood to outline each floor. There were many wooden poles sticking out of the walls and a triangle-shaped rook made out of wood.Some trees looked like massive oaks all over the area.Finally, they reached their destination, a clearing with lots of vegetation around and a massive building in the center."Welcome to my herbal garden!"Suddenly, it was as if she had walked into a soft wall of aroma that seemed to energize her and remove almost all her discomfort.The plants were of many colors, as if a painter randomly painted the diverse plants with random colors at their whim.She noticed that the Elder kept walking into the building, and she quickly caught up.Inside, she saw many cauldrons, some of different shapes and all with beautiful patterns all over.She saw drying herbs all along the walls, which swayed and moved as the frequent breeze came through the building's many holes and entrances.There was a short table in the center with many large stones around it, an ancient-looking jade teapot with steam coming out, and cups around it.Shamaner sat down behind the table."Welcome, Draeneoy. It's this old one's pleasure to have you here.""This is amazing! How do the cauldrons work?"Shamaner smiled and said, "I'm not one who is strict when it comes to authority, but customs are very important to me, little one."Suddenly, she remembered something Leerum mentioned on the rite of disciple and master, and she quickly kowtowed her head, touching the ground three times.She picked up the teapot and poured him some tea before returning to do two more kowtows."Grandmaster Shamaner, will you accept me as your disciple?"He picked up the tea and sipped three times before putting the cup down. Then he picked up the kettle before pouring tea into a cup he slid towards the seat opposite him."Draeneoy, do you swear to never share my teachings unless given my explicit permission?""I do!""Draeneoy, do you swear to always respect and honor your master?""I do!""Draeneoy, do you swear to do no evil and bring harm to the balance of the world?""I do!""Draeneoy, as your master and guide, I swear to have an ocean's worth of patience for you. I swear to respect your dignity and not lead you astray to disrespect your parents, family, clan, and tribe.""You poured tea for me as a stranger; now rise as my disciple and drink."Kimarya felt overwhelmed by the emotions of this rite of passage. She sat up on the stone table next to it and drank the tea in the cup.At first, it was very bitter for half a second before it was sweet."Now, we don't have much time until the seed mission; please show me all your items!"Kimarya handed her ring of storage to Shamaner. "I can't yet access it, master Shamaner.""Please call me Shamaner when we are alone, little one!""Sorry!"His hands started to shine lightly before several items came out of thin air. He looked over them before pausing over the old rusty cauldron."I'm very curious as to why you picked this cauldron?"Kimarya responded, "I don't know, I sort of just felt that I really needed to have it."Shamaner nodded, "Interesting. Are you interested in crafting items?"Kimarya thought about her job in her other life and nodded.Shamaner continued, "It is old and likely has one use left, but I recommend practicing on another."He waved his hand, and a cauldron in the corner of the room rose into the air and hovered in front of Kumara."You can have this one!"