"Alright, kiddo, I won't try to convince you to quit the test anymore. Just don't die," Lucy said, patting Rylan's head.
Lucy's casual demeanor reminded Rylan of the earlier accident with the horse. "By the way, Lucy, is your back okay?"
Lucy confidently replied, "Yes, it's perfectly fine."
"Try not to get thrown off again," Rylan teased with a mischievous smile.
The comment made Lucy's face flush with anger. He was about to snap back but noticed Rylan's playful tone, took a deep breath, and restrained himself.
As the two exchanged banter, many people around them wore worried expressions. Some began leaving, while others stayed behind in silence. Gradually, the once-crowded space thinned out, leaving only about a third of the original crowd.
The White Devil watched the deserters with a mocking smile.
After a while, his voice echoed through the space:
"Anyone else planning to quit?" he asked calmly, his gaze sweeping across the remaining group.
After a moment of silence, seeing no one else leave, he continued:
"Very well. Those who have chosen to stay, follow me."
With those words, he turned and began walking toward a large gate, followed by the other five mysterious figures. Behind them, about ten thousand people trailed in silence.
Beyond the gate, there were no grand buildings or impressive structures. Instead, a breathtaking natural landscape unfolded, with lush trees, crystal-clear streams, and colorful flowers blooming everywhere.
After a few minutes of walking, the group arrived at a massive spatial vortex — a crack in the fabric of space shaped like a floating sphere, radiating an oppressive energy.
Rylan, seeing the vortex for the first time, was mesmerized, his eyes gleaming with awe. However, his admiration was quickly interrupted by the firm voice of the White Devil:
"Beyond this rift lies the Infernal Realm. That's where you will undergo the test. You have ten minutes to prepare. After that, you will enter the rift." He pointed to the vortex as he spoke, his tone serious and impersonal.
The crowd nodded silently and began their preparations.
"Kiddo, are you sure you want to take the test?" Lucy asked again, though he already knew the answer.
"Yes," Rylan replied firmly, without hesitation.
Lucy shook his head, sighing. "I knew it." Then, he turned to Rylan with a serious expression.
"Alright, brat, I'm going to teach you a basic breathing technique. Even if you don't master the basics right away, it will help strengthen your body."
Rylan was surprised. "A basic breathing technique...?" He paused for a moment before asking hesitantly, "What is that?"
Lucy almost lost his patience. "You want to be a strong man and don't even know the basics?" he thought, irritated.
But remembering that the boy came from an isolated place, he took a deep breath and explained:
"Kid, a breathing technique is the method humans use to cultivate spiritual energy."
"Huh?" Rylan's face froze for a moment before lighting up with excitement. "Is this the technique that legendary cultivators use to become strong?" He grabbed Lucy's hand, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
"Let go of me… People are watching," Lucy murmured, feeling his face burn with embarrassment as he noticed the curious stares of the crowd around them.
Rylan quickly released his hand, blushing. "Sorry," he muttered, averting his gaze. Then, in a lower voice, he asked, "Is this really the technique of legendary cultivators?"
Seeing the excitement in Rylan's eyes, Lucy sighed and began explaining:
"Yes. For cultivators, the first step is to absorb spiritual energy. That's essential for cultivation."
Before Lucy could continue, Rylan grabbed his hand again. "Teach me!" he pleaded eagerly.
Lucy looked at the boy, a hint of melancholy surfacing in his expression. "Was I like this when I started cultivating?" he wondered, letting out another sigh.
After a bitter smile, recalling his own physical limitations, Lucy replied:
"Since you're not part of my family, I can't teach you the method I practice..."
"So you're not going to teach me?" Rylan asked, disappointment heavy in his voice.
Lucy patted his head before continuing:
"Let me finish. Even though I can't teach you my family's method because of the rules, I can show you a basic technique I bought in War City."
These words eased Rylan's disappointment slightly. But for a brief moment, Lucy's expression darkened as he remembered the day he was tricked by an old man in War City. The man had claimed the technique was an ancient relic found in a small world, but in the end, it was just an ordinary method.
"At least it'll work for this kid," Lucy thought, forcing a smile. "Alright, kiddo, follow me."
Lucy knew that even though the method was basic, it could still cause chaos among the desperate young people gathered there, many of whom were poor and hoping for a stroke of luck. Even under the leaders' supervision, it was better not to take risks.
After walking some distance away from the crowd, Lucy pulled out a water gourd and a pen. Using his photographic memory, he carefully wrote down the steps of the method. Once done, he handed the gourd to Rylan.
Rylan took it with a puzzled expression. "I'm not thirsty," he said, holding the gourd out to return it.
"Read what's written on it," Lucy replied calmly.
Hearing this, Rylan looked at the gourd and read the words inscribed on it:
"Natural Breathing Method."
His face lit up with excitement as he read the title.
Lucy observed the boy's smile but couldn't hide the faint worry on his face. "Five minutes have already passed... I hope your talent or physique is good, kid."
---
On the Celestial Star Planet
Everyone is born with a natural talent. These talents are entirely random and vary greatly. For instance, Lucy has photographic memory — a skill useful for quickly learning techniques but limited by his mortal-level physique.
While talents don't have fixed levels, physical attributes are categorized into five main levels:
Mortal
Spiritual
Human
Celestial
Saint