The first quest granted him five rewards, each one exactly what he wanted. The first was the Harem system, which allowed him to establish a direct line of contact with someone in the god realm—even if it was only for 5 minutes every 100 days.
Nobody else could claim to have such a powerful system that made them so overpowered. Now, he could consult a god without breaking any laws.
But if that wasn't enough, he also received an incredible cultivation technique. After cultivating it for just a few minutes, he realized it was exactly what he needed to grow stronger.
Initially, Kent had only been cultivating because Vexthra, the goddess of hate and resentment, told him to in order to build a stronger foundation.
However, after the Primordial Infinity Cultivation Art merged with his Primordial Chaos Dragon bloodline, he no longer needed to meticulously build his foundation as he leveled up, unlike everyone else.
His bloodline, coupled with the fact that he now possessed a dragon physique—even if he couldn't transform yet—allowed him to maintain a stable foundation as he leveled up and broke through.
Currently, his speed was boosted, and though he knew it would take some time to reach the next cultivation stage, he could do so without worrying about bottlenecks or an unstable foundation.
Finding out something like that, Kent wanted to sit down and cultivate until he reached the Root Master stage before setting out to begin his journey.
However, the Tower advised him to let go of that idea, explaining that if he didn't unlock his swordsmanship class early, he would struggle to do so as he grew stronger without a stable foundation in swordsmanship.
This, of course, felt like a setback—until he unlocked the swordsmanship class and realized he had nearly made a huge mistake.
"Tower, with the Aura of Hatred and Resentment passive skill, I can literally suppress those a realm or two above me. I feel like raising my cultivation base now is the right move," Kent said to the Tower, but its response made him reconsider.
[ Right now, your body is like hot metal, ready for molding. The stronger you become, the tougher it becomes, so while you may think having a high cultivation base is beneficial—and it is—you will later find that you won't be able to make much progress in your swordsmanship if you don't drill the basics into your bones now. ]
"Fine, but the moment I master the sword, I won't hold back from breaking through much faster," Kent said. Perhaps his imagination, shaped by his time on Earth, still clouded his understanding of cultivation, but in a way, that was endearing. After all, he just needed women to have sex with and he will grow stronger.
"Then again, if I have sword skills, I can roam the kingdom and attract beauties who would help me cultivate even faster." Kent grinned. "I'd say it's a win-win situation for me either way."
He retrieved the Primordial Genesis Sword Art, which, like the Primordial Alchemy Records, contained some writings.
"The Genesis, the beginning of it all. I have chosen to walk the path of the sword, and for billions of years, I have followed it. I started as a Sword Novice until I attained the infamous title 'One with the Sword.'
The path is difficult and deadly, but it is meant for those bold enough to carve their destiny and become the next sword legends.
I created many techniques, included in this manual, but they are sealed and will unlock gradually as you walk the path of the sword.
There are different ways to walk the path of the sword. If you are destined, you will inherit one of the best paths; if not, you might want to lay down your sword and pursue a different calling.
Remember, a sword is only a weapon when wielded by a swordsman. Good luck"
"Poetic but sweet," Kent murmured. For some reason, those words felt strangely familiar. He couldn't quite place why, but with the manual in hand, he quickly pressed it to his forehead, and it dispersed into his body.
This time, he didn't pass out. Instead, a message appeared.
[You have read the Primordial Genesis Sword Art. The manual is analyzing your potential to inherit the Sword Tower...]
Kent stood there, staring at the message for a full minute until a notification that nearly made him curse his entire existence appeared.
[Requirements met. Root Blossom Cultivation Base: Check, Sword Intent: Check, Sword Aura: Check, Age Between 16 - 20: Check]
[Congratulations, you have inherited the Sword Tower.]
[Unfortunately, your mastery over the sword is pitifully low, so you cannot access the Sword Tower.]
[Congratulations, you have received the first form of the Primordial Genesis Sword Art: Sword Mind.]
[You must become a Grandmaster Swordsman to unlock the Sword Tower.]
[Current Rank: Novice]
"Wow, that was close," Kent said, breaking into a cold sweat. If he had continued pushing his cultivation base forward instead of following the tower's instructions, his entire mission would have been for nothing.
"Thank you for stopping me, Tower," Kent said, sincerely grateful he hadn't been stubborn and had actually listened to reason.
[I am here to serve the Master,] the Tower replied, making Kent calm down a bit.
He then accessed the only thing he had asked for access to: the Sword Mind. He hadn't really given it much thought, but after seeing the messages, he knew that if he wanted this mission to go well, he would have to listen to the tower.
After all, Vexthra did say it wouldn't do everything for him but would instead make it easier for him to learn and do things himself.
"Tower, pull up the Sword Mind technique," Kent instructed.
[Status] + [Harem] + [Alchemy] + [Swordsmanship] + [Bloodline Traits & Skills]
[Sword Tower: Inactive]
- You must first become a Grandmaster Swordsman to unlock the tower.
Note: The basics of swordsmanship require you to become familiar with your Sword Qi and Sword Intent.
Skills and Techniques:
[Sword Aura: B Rank]
- Sword Aura/Qi is a unique energy that envelops your sword, allowing you to unleash powerful strikes. Mastery will require you to understand the sword through the Sword Mind technique.
[Sword Intent: A Rank]
- You have manifested the intent of Hatred and Resentment. Mastery of the sword will strengthen your will, allowing you to channel the will of Hatred and Resentment through the sword.
[Sword Mind]
- The first step to walking the path of absolute swordsmanship. This requires you to train the sword using your mind as the training ground.
"This 'Sword Mind' sounds rather vague," Kent said, reading the message. He had expected something grand, but this?
[The master wouldn't know until he tries,] the tower responded, in support of the description.
"Fine," Kent said, taking out a sword from the space ring he had taken from his late master. He had anticipated many things, but he hadn't expected that the moment the sword appeared in his hand, he would feel this intimate connection with it.
[To practice, simply put the sword down and start staring at it as you recite the mantra in your mind.]
Kent obeyed, setting the sword down. Then he focused on it and began reciting the mantra in his mind.
Kent stared at the sword, his gaze fixed and unbroken. The blade shimmered faintly under his focus, as though it sensed his intent. He continued to chant the mantra silently, his mind slowly aligning with the sword.
A strange sensation crept into his consciousness. The world around him faded, leaving only the sword and his thoughts.
He felt a pulse, like a heartbeat, echoing from the blade itself. With each silent chant, the pulse grew stronger, resonating with his own heartbeat.
Images began to flash through his mind—scenes of fierce battles, warriors locked in deadly combat, each wielding swords that radiated with intense intents.
He could feel their intent, their determination, their rage. All of it surged into him, filling him with a raw, untamed power.
Then, something shifted. The energy surrounding the sword flowed into Kent, spreading through his limbs and settling deep within his chest.
His mind sharpened, his senses more acute than ever before. He could almost feel the blade's sharpness in his own bones.
As Kent continued to focus, clarity filled his mind like a river flowing freely. This was the beginning of Sword Mind—the power to connect with the sword's essence, beyond its physical form.
In this moment, he was forging its spirit with his own thoughts, crafting a clarity that would be essential on his path. To truly master it, he would need to understand the sword's ultimate intent—the idea that all swordsmen chased after.
Hours passed, but he did not falter. His body and mind remained locked into the sword's purpose, sharpening the hateful intent that surrounded him.
Time blurred. He was no longer aware of his surroundings, only the intense, pulsing focus between him and the blade.
A full day went by, yet he continued. The technique came to him naturally, as if his very soul resonated with the sword's intent.
For the first attempt, he was progressing faster than anyone might have expected. Perhaps he was a sword genius—already wielding both Sword Aura and Sword Intent as if he'd trained for years.
Four days later, he finally opened his eyes.
The sword before him glowed with a faint blue aura, flickering like a gentle flame. As he stared at it, a message appeared before him.
[Congratulations, Master. Your understanding of the sword grows stronger. Current Progress: 45%.]
'I love the sword too?' Kent thought with a grin.