Of everything available in the Imperial Military Academy Network Interface's stores, the most expensive was not the Wave Artifacts but the techniques, with cultivation techniques reaching a sky-high price.
After taking a moment to get over the excitement, Cain went into the network and searched for the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, and the price shocked him.
It was worth 3500 Imperial Military Credits. Almost four times more than a High Bronze Wave Artifact like his Kinetic Gauntlets!
Until now, Cain had been using the Soldier Cultivation Technique, which only guided his cultivation up to Level 4. That severely limited him, although, to be fair, going from Level 3 to Level 4 was a significant bottleneck, which would mean the end of most people's Path of Power.
Cain was sure he wanted this new cultivation technique, but just as he was about to brand it and access its information, he heard Apex's voice.
"Not so fast!"
Cain froze as he heard Apex's voice and did not dare to brand the silver orb.
"What happened? Is there a hidden threat?" As he got over the shock, coldness appeared in Cain's eyes as he guessed that Levi had left a trap in the silver orb.
"Don't let your imagination fly, brat. There is no trap or anything else inside the silver orb. It is just that I want to try something. Wait for a moment."
Cain felt waves after waves of electrogenic energy emerge from his hand and enter the silver orb. It went on for five minutes before he heard Apex again.
"Ahhh, I guess it would not be this easy."
Apex's words confused Cain, but this one clarified things the next second.
"I wanted to use [Basic Hacking] to get the information about the cultivation technique without the need to brand it. That way, you could sell it later on. Unfortunately, the [A.I. Chip Module] lacks the strength to do it. If your soul force were higher, things might be different."
When Cain heard that, he also sighed. Although he knew hacking the silver orb should break some rules, it harmed no one, and no one would find out. If that was the case, why not do it, and get an extra 1750 Imperial Military Credits?
"I could use Destiny Force to temporarily improve the might of the [A.I. Chip Module], which should be enough to hack the silver orb. It would only cost three points."
Cain smiled for a moment before sighing again.
"I only have 0.2 points."
"Your understanding of destiny is still too shallow, brat. Check out your Destiny Force."
Cain's eyes widened when he heard that, and without hesitation, he commanded the system to show him his Destiny Force.
[Destiny Force: 16.7]
"How did my destiny grow so much!? I did not kill anyone, improve my talent or get a high upgrade in my cultivation."
Destiny was too ethereal, and even after Apex's explanation, Cain still failed to understand it truly.
"Brat, you survived the Military Academy Secret Trial, stood firm against all those other cadets drawing the attention of influential people, obtained an excellent cultivation technique, and gained fame through the Collapsin Lightning Military Academy Ranking. Something would be wrong with the universe if your destiny did not improve after all that."
Cain's eyes widened as a flash of enlightenment appeared in them. Destiny was much more than just brute power.
"Now, do you want to spend three points of Destiny Force to hack the silver orb?"
There was no hesitation in Cain's mind as he accepted that trade. Although he needed to save Destiny Force to get rid of his bloodline's flaw, [Basic Genetic Suppression] cost fifty points, so he would rather get the 1750 Imperial Military Credits now. There was no point in saving wealth if he perished before he could use it.
"Do it."
[Vessel wants to spend three points of Destiny Force to temporarily enhance [A.I. Chip Module]?]
The robotic voice of the Absolute Life Form System appeared in Cain's mind, and as soon as this one nodded, his Destiny Force diminished by three points.
The next moment, the electromagnetic force that emerged from his palm grew exponentially more potent. Apex hacked the silver orb and transferred all the information into Cain's [A.I. Chip Module].
Cain did not lose time and immediately started analyzing the information. The introduction was somewhat similar to the Soldier Cultivation Technique, but this one was much more detailed and profound.
The first rank of Wave Cultivation took the name of Wave Warrior. At this rank, the Body Rebirth Path of Power and Essence Evolution Path of Power follow similar routes.
From levels 1 to 3, the Wave Cultivator would draw Life Wave into their Sacred Organs, refine it, and then use it to form meridians.
Those meridians will emerge from the Rebirth Heart in the case of those following the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and from the Evolution Core for those that took the Essence Evolution Path of Power.
The meridians will encompass all the thorax viscera and work as a circulatory system for Wave, just like veins and arteries with blood.
A Wave Cultivator only needed to supply Life Wave to their Sacred Organs, which would handle the meridians' formation on their own up to Level 3.
However, to advance to Level 4, the Wave Cultivator had to guide the meridians and make it so that they penetrated inside the bones. That process was incredibly complicated, and only those with a solid foundation could take it since weak meridians could never achieve that feat.
After your meridians have penetrated the bones, to enter Level 5, you must brach them and make it so that they reach the muscles.
Once you enter Level 6, your meridians would have fully pierced your skin, allowing the distribution of your Wave from the Sacred Organ to the outside many times faster.
Next came Level 7, which involved branching your meridians again, generating an entirely new set that would originate in your skin and return to your Sacred Organ. At that point, your entire body automatically drew Life Wave from the surroundings, making your recovery speed much faster.
At Level 7, a Wave Warrior could try to evolve to the next rank and become a Wave Champion. The amount of power they have is extraordinary, with some achieving supersonic speed.
When Cain read the last part, he was shocked. Even the most modest estimate of supersonic speed would mean that someone could move 343 meters per second.
The Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique had two more levels for Wave Warrior. You did not need to take them, and entering them was even more challenging than evolving into a Wave Champion, but they would help you solidify your foundation.
After increasing his knowledge about cultivation, Cain focused on the uniqueness of the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique.