The Nascent Realm, just as its name implied, was the beginning realm, a realm where one just stepped into cultivation. However, it was also a stage where a cultivator is considered strong, but not strong enough to be considered a full-fledged cultivator.
The reason for this wasn't complex. In the Martial Verse, a cultivator wouldn't begin to wield Qi until the Meridian Opening Realm, and unsurprisingly, until one could command Qi, a cultivator isn't considered a cultivator. Or more accurately, a true cultivator.
Even so, this didn't seem to diminish the importance of the Nascent Realm. In fact, if anything, it was one, if not the most important cultivation realm in existence.
As remarked earlier, the Nascent Realm was the beginning, however, it also signifies the foundation on which cultivators build their cultivation prowess, the foundation that would carry the weight of any other construction built on it.
As such, it was most especially advised to tread the Nascent Realm cautiously, because a slight mistake would mean an indention in a cultivator's foundation.
It was also for this reason it was readily advised to take one's time in the Nascent Realm, breaking through the Steps and consolidating it before repeating the process for the next Step. After all, what good was a mansion built with Dark Edge Ore and laden with Twilight Onyx, yet possessed a foundation adorned with perforations?
There was a reason geniuses on the level of Conrad and Seina would always have firmer, more splendid foundations than those below them, and there was also a reason Osric would always possess the most perfect foundation in existence.
It was none other than because of their Talents themselves. For geniuses like Conrad and Seina, their Talents invokes a Perfect Awakening that would aid their Nascent Realm cultivation to the late stages, with grants them a nigh flawless foundation.
As for Osric, his Talents had been so powerful they invoked a Awakening that appeared to be more overwhelming than even a Perfect Awakening. As such, he didn't even need to cultivate the Nascent Realm himself. The Heavens had done that themselves, granting him a truly perfect and unblemished foundation.
This was one of things that separated the talented from the utter trash. Where an utter trash needs months to years to advance through the ranks of the Nascent Realm, a genius, an absolute one that is, didn't even need a week.
That said, due to the fact that Nascent Realm cultivators couldn't wield Qi, both Conrad and Osric obviously are still unable to use cultivation techniques. As such, their battle wasn't as flashy and blood-boiling as one would expect.
Even so, the tenseness that hung in the air couldn't be denied.
Conrad hadn't even lapsed for a second before he exploded forth in a speed higher than what one might expect from a Nascent Realm cultivator. The Mortal Section's battle arena was nearly five hundred meters in length, yet Conrad crossed that in half a second.
A normal cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Realm was already ten times faster than a non-cultivator Mortal, making it so that they could cross five hundred meters within seconds.
However, thanks to the superior talents and pedigree Conrad was outfitted with, he was even faster than that.
Osric hadn't even been able to react when a fist appeared before his face, a fluid momentum trailing behind it. But, who was Osric? He possessed talents and pedigree even higher than that of Conrad's!
He suddenly shifted sideways, taking nothing but a single step to the side, and yet, that single step seem to douse Conrad's fierce momentum.
What had started off as an excellent attack, suddenly ended with Conrad trying hard to catch himself from tilting over completely. And for a moment, it seemed as though he would succeed. But how could Osric allow such a thing? With the Natural Treasures as stakes, his overcautious mind seems to become entirely suppressed!
He placed his right leg right on the path Conrad's leg would pass, and this changed everything. Conrad, who had managed to stop himself from falling over, suddenly tripped over Osric's leg, his struggles becoming entirely meaningless as he barreled into the ground.
The Battle Hall became entirely silent. Except a select few that was present when Osric awakened, the rest were so shocked their thoughts were thrown into disarray. Wasn't the Fahren Clan the most powerful in the whole Dark Edge Realm? Wasn't Conrad supposed to be the second most talented individual after Seina in this current generation of said Clan? Indeed.
But, who was this Osric? He had dodged Conrad's attack and counterattacked with barely any difficulty. And this fact was enough to make them know his Talents was at the very least on par with the likes of Conrad. But, how was that possible?
The same thoughts Conrad had seems to race in the minds of the crowd. A peasant picked from the streets of the Immortal World had Talents that trumped a Young Master from a Divine Clan that stood above the whole Realm? It was impossible!
Unfortunately, said impossibility was taking place right before them.
Conrad himself seems to forget the slight pain that racked his body as he tried to comprehend what happened just now.
He had ridiculed Osric, yes, but he didn't for once underestimate him, once again, yes. However, just because he didn't underestimate him didn't mean he had taken him seriously. And how could he?
He didn't for once believed Osric would possess Talents more higher than his. Even the conjecture he had had was just that, a conjecture. But it appeared he had been all wrong.
It was at that moment his mind conjured up the image of a white-haired clearly underaged beauty.
'Seina..'
Conrad suddenly understood. Seina had wagered a Tribulation Lightning and Flame because she was absolutely confident Osric would win. He had been thinking where her confidence sourced from, and it appeared it was from Osric himself.
Conrad instantly stood up, a rage building up in his heart as he finally comprehended the state Osric had forced him into. But, on the outside, his face was as calm as a still lake.
"I've underestimated you, it seems. However, know your little advantage ends from now."
With that, Conrad stepped forward once more. So what if Osric possessed Talents on par with his? Could his Bloodline ever compare to his? Unlike the other Talents, Bloodline was entirely reliant on one's background. How could a pup from an Immortal Clan ever hope to be born with a Bloodline only found in Divine Clans? How could a pup from a Mortal Sect ever hope to possess a Sky Grade Bloodline?
Conrad appeared before Osric again, his fist launching forward again. Except this time, it carried with it no fluidity. No, it was still fluid, however, a heavy and decidedly bloody aura surrounded it. No doubt, Conrad was utilizing his Bloodline at that very moment.
The crowd silently sighed. Although Osric had stunned them, it all became meaningless when Conrad's Bloodline comes into fray. After all, how could someone picked from the streets of the Immortal World ever compare to Conrad when it comes to Bloodline?
However, what they wouldn't expect was for Osric to punch out just the same. Was he crazy? Was he not worried for his arm? Although, there were countless resources that could even rebuild the complete body of an Immortal, let alone the arm of a cultivator at the Nascent Realm, the rebuilt of a cultivator's arm meant they would have to re-cultivate that arm, and it wasn't entirely certain it would be on par with their previous arm.
Osric, however, wasn't even thinking of this. Although he hadn't unveil the secrets of his Bloodline, his Body was more than enough to contend with Conrad's punch. He didn't even need his Bloodline.
But it appeared even Osric had underestimated the current strength contained within his body.
His clenched fist whipped through the air, journeying seamlessly before meeting Conrad's.
BANG!
"Ahhhhhhh!"
The eyes of all the spectators bulged out, their hearts almost leaping out of their throat. They had expected the broken arm of Osric, but it appeared the pained shriek of Conrad was what they got.
They all looked towards the duo, their heart beating erratically. Osric's arm looked entirely unblemished and uninjured. As for Conrad, his arm trembled violently, and without fail, his entire knuckles had broken and the bone that connect his wrist to his elbow had suffered several fractures.
At that moment, they all had the same thoughts in their minds:
The fight had barely started, but it appeared the winner had already been decided.