Awakeners here in New Hook, Zago, could unlock a hidden treasure if elevated to a higher level.
"Now hit the hay now and come to see if I can break through to a higher-level tomorrow morning, Yvonne!" Edward declared with determination.
"Alright, I hope you're not barking up the wrong tree," Yvonne replied skeptically.
Edward wasted no time in walking his talk. He crept into his bed, sat cross-legged, and plunged himself into meditation.
'Can I level up, Cici?' Edward spoke to the guardian of Infinite Primitive Energy within his mind.
[Absolutely. Now you can see what Infinite Primitive Energy can do for you.]
Soon, the energy coursed through his body. Edward felt as light as a feather as if he might float away into the air.
As the energy returned from his crown to his navel, a crisp sound rang out.
CLICK!
His meridians expanded, and the once mundane air around him shimmered with golden light, transforming into boundless energy that fueled his cultivation.
'Wow. So that's probably the key to Infinite Primitive Energy. It can turn air directly into the power I need for cultivation.
No wonder it's called Infinite Primitive Energy. It means as long as there's air, I can use it to cultivate anytime.'
[Master, you're so bright. You've quickly grasped the secret. Also, congratulations on your becoming a level three Awakener.]
'This upgrading speed is indeed swift. I've levelled up in just ten minutes, something Yvonne said ordinary people would take at least a year to achieve. But my current level is still too low. I want to keep going, is that possible, Cici?'
[Of course, as long as you don't feel exhausted.]
'No, I'm brimming with energy. I'm going to break through to level ten in one go.'
[Well, that might be a tall order...]
Edward became even more engrossed. With a gentle vibration of his energy, he shook open the small window of his bedroom. Immediately, a flood of fresh air poured in from outside.
As the air reached the vicinity of Edward's head, it turned into golden light, cascading into him from above.
Edward's meridians widened further, like transforming from a country path into a modern highway in the blink of an eye. Then, a series of CLICKS echoed from within him.
Three, four, five, six...
[You made it, master. You are an ordinary awakener of L10 now. It means you're a master awakener of L1, Congratulations!]
Edward suddenly remembered everything he had trained in as a warrior in the kingdom of Yanava on the moon, including how to practice the art of Lightning Nirvana.
He wiped the sweat from his brow.
'Why not give Lightning Nirvana a shot? It was practicing this that cost me my life and brought me here on the moon. If so, why not fulfill the wish of my past life first?
Since this Infinite Primitive Energy is extraordinary, it must help me succeed. What do you think, Cici?'
[It shall be as you wish.]
Muttering under his breath, Edward gathered the energy within to summon the lightning in the sky.
Soon after, the sky outside changed dramatically, with blue lightning bolts slashing through the heavens, gathering into a blue lightning sphere that shot straight towards Edward.
At that moment, people in every alley and street of New Hook noticed the strange change in the weather, all exchanging puzzled glances, not understanding what was happening.
"What's going on? It doesn't make sense. There's no thunder, so how can there be so many lightning bolts in the sky?"
"Yeah, is that will-o'-the-wisp? Or am I seeing things? Look, those lightning bolts are gathering together!"
"Goodness me! Spherical Lightning, this is the first time I've ever seen it."
This also alarmed Grandma Emma, who lived three miles away from Edward's humble abode.
"I sense a powerful energy controlling these lightning bolts, a familiar energy. Could it be that the young master is rising? That would be wonderful. Lady Sophia, this day has finally come."
The spherical lightning rushed towards Edward at a speed of 10,000 meters per second. Edward was even prepared to be electrocuted and then reborn; he knew he was taking a risk.
'I'll count on you, buddy, my Infinite Primitive Energy.'
Then a thunderous boom shook the very ground.
Edward felt a tingling sensation all over his body, but it was a pleasant kind as if every cell was activated and dancing wildly.
He opened his eyes slowly and realized he wasn't dead; instead, his body was surrounded by blue lightning.
[You've succeeded, Master.]
With excitement, Edward leapt out of bed and then out of the bedroom window into the yard, where he sprinted around like a madman.
He couldn't believe that just after being transmigrated to this world for a short time, he was able to master the ultimate cultivation technique he had always dreamed of. There was no way he couldn't be happy about it.
"What's gotten into you, brother? Have you lost your mind?"
Suddenly, Yvonne's voice echoed through his body from behind.
But Edward didn't stop; he just gave her a mysterious smile.
"What's going on? Stop running!" Yvonne raised her voice.
"I'm just too excited to stop."
"Thank goodness you're not naked; otherwise, I'd think you were about to streak."
Edward continued to run as if he had boundless energy.
"Did you hear that loud boom just now? It seemed to come from your bedroom. It really scared me."
Here, Edward finally stopped. Despite running several laps, he wasn't so much as out of breath.
"I've got good news, Yvonne. You're going to have to cook for me every day now."
"What? Have you actually levelled up?"
Yvonne's eyes widened as if her eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets.
"At what level are you as an awakener?"
Edward nodded vigorously and held up one finger.
"What? Just level one? That's not good news, stop joking, brother. Let's go back to bed."
"I'm now an L1 Master Awakener!"
"This... this can't be. It's only been two hours, come on, Edward!"
Yvonne shook her head, so skeptical that she didn't even want to call him brother.
"I'm serious."
Edward gave her another mysterious smile.
"If you don't believe me, I'll show you my newly acquired skill, Lightning Nirvana."
Edward pointed a finger to the sky, and suddenly a blue lightning bolt appeared at his fingertip. With a slight flick, the lightning shot towards a sycamore tree in the yard.
A loud crash echoed as the tree trunk split in half.
"Oh my god…" Yvonne was almost speechless. "Lightning Nirvana is a legendary secret technique from ancient times. Unbelievable! what's happening, Edward? Even a master-level Awakener at level one might not be able to master this amazing technique."
"Nothing special, Yvonne, just one of the skills I've awakened with."
"This is so unbelievable!"
"Remember, cook for me every day." Edward walked up to Yvonne and gently pinched her silken cheek.
"Alright, alright, you're such a foodie. It looks like I'm a prodigy's sister now! I'm so proud of you!"
"Can I attend the Awakening Ritual with you the day after tomorrow?"
"It's worth a shot." Yvonne nodded.
"Also, I feel like it wasn't that I did not have the talent to awaken, but someone must have done something horrible to ruin it when I was a child."
Suddenly, Edward said with a solemn face,
"I've had a hunch that someone has been manipulating our lives."
"You know what, brother, I've felt that too. But who could it be? Who would be so cruel?"
"I will find out the truth. Who's there?"
Edward swiftly sent a blue lightning bolt from his fingertip towards a figure in the darkness.
But the figure vanished instantly, and the lightning struck another sycamore tree. With a crack, it split in two as well.
Then, suddenly, a small figure appeared at the yard's entrance.
"It's me, Grandma."
Edward and Yvonne turned and saw Grandma Emma, who they hadn't seen in a long time, carrying a bag of rice and some other food on her stooped back.
Edward and Yvonne immediately ran over and took the load off her.
"Where have you been, Grandma? We haven't seen you in ages," Yvonne cooed, "I thought you had abandoned us."
Grandma Emma smiled, "Of course not, my dear. Here I am, and I've brought your favorite longans."
"Let's go inside, Grandma," Edward said, carrying the bag of rice from her back.
"No, Edward, Yvonne, I still have something urgent to deal with. I must leave right away."
"But Grandma, I've got something important to ask you. Can you tell us something about our mother? And other things from when I was a child? I suspect my awakening talent was deliberately sabotaged by someone."
Grandma Emma sighed, "I was just a maid to your mother. I don't know anything special. You're grown up now; you can find it out on your own. Besides, I'm old, and I can't recall anything in the past now."
Grandma looked old, but she did not have so much as deep wrinkles.
"I must go."
"Let us walk you out, Grandma."
"No, go inside."
Edward and Yvonne were well-acquainted with Grandma Emma's stubborn streak, so they didn't try to stop her. As she hobbled away, Edward murmured,
"Grandma Emma's got secrets, but she's keeping them close to the vest. Looks like we're on our own to uncover the truth."
"Perhaps she's got her reasons," Yvonne added sympathetically.
Meanwhile, Grandma Emma, having seen the full extent of Edward's newfound power, whispered to herself,
"The young master has indeed awakened. Lady Sophia's bloodline is extraordinary. The game is afoot. Lady Sophia, rest assured. I shall shield these children in the shadows."