Aditya's hand jerked away from Keturah's grip as the system alert sounded, his eyes locking onto hers. Keturah, aware that Aditya had caught her trying to assess his cultivation, met his gaze with cool indifference, offering no explanation.
Keturah, intrigued by Aditya's enigmatic black-colored prana, discreetly attempted to infuse her own prana into Aditya's chakra channels, employing a clandestine technique passed down by her father. Little did she anticipate that Aditya would sense her exploration of the quality and nature of his prana.
"Shall we proceed?"
Keturah deftly redirected, stepping forward.
"Mmm.."
Despite Aditya's lingering suspicion, he trailed behind, eager to delve into the intricacies of cultivation and gain knowledge about this unfamiliar world, with Keturah as his sole source for now.
As they descended the rugged slopes of the mountain, she reached for her mobile phone, dialing a number with practiced ease. After a few minutes of anticipation, the silence was broken by the distant hum of an approaching vehicle. Through the haze of the mountain air, a sleek black car emerged, its polished exterior gleaming in the afternoon sun, a beacon of urban sophistication against the rugged terrain.
"Get in!"
Keturah beckoned as she slid into the car, tilting her head to meet Aditya's gaze before he followed suit.
"Mmm.."
Aditya acknowledged, slipping into the vehicle.
"Wow! What an expensive car! She must be wealthy. I saved her life, perhaps her family will reward me with money."
Aditya mused, envisioning his potential rewards. Keturah caught sight of his unsettling grin and averted her gaze.
Meanwhile, the driver observed Aditya through the rearview mirror, feeling a sense of unease.
"What might her cultivation level be?"
Aditya pondered internally, addressing the system in his mind.
//The target is at the Prana Absorbing 7th Layer//
"Ohh! What level am I at now?"
Aditya pondered, his eyes drifting upward.
"System!"
He called out, accessing the panel in his mind.
_____
Host : ADITYA
SPECIES : HUMAN (Lower level Intelligence)
CHAKRA : One
BLOODLINE : ****
CULTIVATION : Chakra Opening 1st stage
MYSTIC ABILITIES: NOT FOUND!
CHOAS POINTS: 50
SHOP / MISSION / REWARDS
CONNECTED TO PEARLY GATES...
_____
Aditya furrowed his brows, a perplexed expression crossing his features.
"I had this doubt when establishing the root chakra. Why did I directly go to Chakra Opening 1st Stage? Also, why does my cultivation in the system panel say I am at the prana absorbing 9th layer at the start of establishing?"
He asked, his eyes betraying his confusion.
In the depths of Aditya's mind, a nagging uncertainty lingered. He lacked the knowledge of cultivation, yet he sensed he had vaulted directly into the chakra opening 1st stage, effortlessly surpassing Keturah.
The system displayed her cultivation as Prana Absorbing 7th layer, a testament to her dedication. However, Aditya remained oblivious to his own progress, unaware of when he had ascended to the 9th layer. This doubt gnawed at him, consuming his thoughts with unanswered questions.
//The system aids the host in absorbing prana unlike normal humans//
//The chakra fruit you consumed elevated your cultivation directly to the Chakra Opening First Stage//
"Ohh! That makes sense now."
Aditya thought to himself.
"Then, I can easily open the chakra every time, while normal humans need to go through absorbing the prana by themselves, which is hard to open it."
He mused.
"Though it doesn't seem fair to them, but I envy them as they work hard to absorb the prana themselves"
He pondered further. Although he wasn't aware that he couldn't obtain a Chakra Fruit every time he awakening his chakra.
"Where are we going?"
Aditya tilted his head toward Keturah, asked.
"You're asking that now?"
Keturah raised her eyebrows. They traveled for several minutes, yet Aditya didn't ask a single question. He knew that by following her, his questions about cultivation would be answered.
"Well, you looked like a good and pretty girl. I figured you wouldn't do anything bad to me. Plus, I saved you from that black cat guy."
Aditya smiled.
"To the Grand Academy of Practitioners."
Keturah, upon hearing his words, rolled her eyes and replied.
"Academy? Why are we going there?"
Aditya's question came as the word 'academy' triggered memories of his monotonous high school life.
"To meet the director of that academy, who happens to be my grandfather."
Keturah answered casually.
"Your dad is a school director?"
Aditya's surprise burst out in a sudden exclamation.
"It's not a normal school. It's an academy designed to teach students about cultivation, martial arts techniques, and movements."
Keturah explained, her gaze drifting outside the window of the car.
"An academy that teaches about cultivation, huh?"
Aditya murmured with excitement, his eyes widening at the revelation. He had never known about the existence of cultivation before, let alone heard of it. Yet here was a separate academy dedicated to it.
Surely, they must possess a wealth of knowledge about the techniques and skills involved. His mind buzzed with thoughts of the possible cultivation techniques and skills that the academy held within its walls.
As they journeyed for several minutes, the car glided into view of the colossal structure nestled within the dense forest, its imposing gates and sprawling buildings looming ahead.
The academy, boasted towering spires adorned with intricate carvings, while ivy cascaded down weathered stone walls, lending an air of ancient mystique to the surroundings. The main building, with its grand facade and arched windows, stood as a testament to centuries of knowledge and tradition held within its walls.
As they approached, the looming presence of the academy seemed to whisper secrets of generations past, inviting them into its hallowed halls.
The car pulled up in front of the grand main building, and Keturah swung open the door to step out. Aditya trailed behind her, his eyes wide with disbelief as he took in the massive structure and towering gates that loomed before him.
"Follow me!"
Keturah's voice beckoned, her steps leading the way. Aditya trailed behind, his eyes scanning the imposing structure ahead. With silent steps, he observed its grandeur as they approached. Keturah pushed open the door to the grand room on the first floor, and Aditya followed suit, stepping into the vast room beyond.
Before them sat an old man, his presence commanding attention. His demeanor exuded wisdom, each line etched on his weathered face telling stories of years gone by. The room seemed to bow to his presence, the air heavy with respect for the elder statesman.
"Oh dear! You arrived."
The old man's voice greeted them, carrying a warmth that belied his age.
"Grandfather, I've brought him."
Ketura said to the old man, gesturing towards Aditya.
"So, he's the one who saved my lovely granddaughter. I am Augadh Taor, the director of this Grand Academy of Practitioners."
He introduced, his eyes scanning Aditya as if feeling out his powers.
**Ding**
//Practioner of Chakra Opening 5th Stage detected//
Aditya glanced at the system notification, his expression unchanged.
"I'm Aditya, just a 15-year-old orphan."
He said, his tone respectful.
"Oh dear! Referring to yourself as an orphan is rather harsh. Remember, if you ever need assistance, don't hesitate to seek me out."
The academy Director reassured, giving Aditya's shoulder a gentle pat.