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"Martial Power, Level 3! Rank: Low!"
As the middle-aged man responsible for the testing at the Testing Magic Stone Monument announced the results, the previously quiet crowd of young people and children below the platform began to buzz with excitement again.
They started chatting in small groups, discussing who had just started cultivating, how fast their progress was, and which clan members had recently advanced to Martial Practitioners this year...
At the edge of the venue, under a lush old tree, a young man leaned against the tree with his hands crossed behind his head. He watched the lively scene before him and sneered:
"Every year it's the same, so boring. Too bad it's not the famous scene of a hometown genius falling from grace; I would really like to witness that in person."
Zhao Li's thoughts drifted to a distant future, transcending time and space. Although the beginning was the same, it was not the same story. The young man felt a bit disappointed and shook his head:
"From the Eastern Region of the Continent to the Northwestern Region, it would probably take a Dou Huang to travel safely. I might as well focus on my cultivation for now."
Zhao Li had been in the Dou Qi Continent for over a decade. Over the years, he had learned a lot from his family and his teacher, confirming that this was indeed the Dou Qi Continent from the book.
Excited as he was, Zhao Li had wanted to latch onto a powerful patron and live an easy life, but unfortunately, he was in the Eastern Region of the Continent, far from the Northwestern Region where the story began.
"The distance is manageable if I set my mind to it, but why did I end up here at least a hundred years before the story even starts?"
Over the years, Zhao Li gradually realized that the world he knew, and the people in it, might not even have been born yet.
"Well, I have plenty of time. I'll focus on my cultivation, and there will be plenty of opportunities to witness the fall of a genius in person. I bet it will feel different from reading a novel or watching an anime, hehe~"
Perhaps due to his two lifetimes of experience, Zhao Li's soul power was much stronger than that of ordinary people. After the initial curiosity, Zhao Li tried to cultivate and discovered something remarkable—he seemed to be a genius!
"Master, your father is calling for you. He wants you to see him."
A call pulled Zhao Li back to reality. He turned to see a clan guard. Zhao Li sprang up with a swift motion, casually dusted off his long robe, and followed the guard, striding toward his home.
Zhao Li pushed open the door and saw his father lying in a rocking chair, swaying leisurely.
"Poor me, I'm either thinking about cultivation or practicing, it's so hard."
Thinking about the past decade of exploration, Zhao Li felt a bit bitter. He asked, "Father, you called for me?"
Hearing Zhao Li's question, Zhao Lingxiao didn't even look up, continuing to rock in his chair:
"Did you go to watch the annual clan testing again? How was it? I heard that several of your clan brothers have successfully condensed their Dou Qi Vortex and become Martial Practitioners this year."
Zhao Li gave an awkward smile. He wasn't really concerned about these things; he just wanted to satisfy his own perverse curiosity.
Seeing his son's forced laugh, Zhao Lingxiao assumed he was feeling anxious about his lack of progress and comforted him:
"Don't worry about it. I think you're not far from condensing your Dou Qi Vortex. I believe you will succeed this year. A twelve-year-old Martial Practitioner is quite rare in our Dagan Empire."
In nearly a decade, even though Zhao Li had spent most of his time researching and experimenting with new cultivation methods, he had still completed the cultivation of Dou Qi.
"Don't worry, Father. I'm confident I can condense my Dou Qi Vortex and officially become a Martial Practitioner. How about you find me a few cultivation techniques to study first? It will help me get familiar with them, and I'll find it easier to cultivate once I break through."
Seeing his father's misunderstanding, Zhao Li didn't bother to explain. He just playfully asked his father for some cultivation techniques to study, preparing to break through and advance his cultivation further.
When he first reincarnated into this world, perhaps due to the frailty of his infant body, which couldn't withstand his powerful soul, Zhao Li would feel very tired after a bit of thinking. The young Zhao Li appeared very weak and slept a lot.
Although there were no other effects, this once worried his parents. Eventually, they sought help from the head of the Pill Sect, the only 7th Rank Alchemist in the Dagan Empire, Lin Lan, hoping he could refine some medicinal pills to help their child improve his health and grow up strong.
Lin Lan was also from the Great Qian, and did not refuse. When he met Zhao Li, he was attracted by Zhao Li's powerful soul force. During the process of adjusting Zhao Li's body, he also sensed Zhao Li's fire-imbued wood attribute, making him a natural alchemist.
Lin Lan had the intention of taking a disciple and made an agreement with Zhao Lingxiao that once Zhao Li started cultivating martial qi, he would formally take him as a disciple.
Under Lin Lan's care, Zhao Li's physique gradually became able to withstand his massive soul force. By the age of three, Zhao Li could think and live normally. The care from his parents over the past three years made Zhao Li acknowledge his family in this life, giving him a sense of home in this foreign world. All the memories from his previous life ultimately returned to the earth.
After that, Zhao Li was captivated by this new and fascinating world.
However, due to the influence of various cultivation novels from his past life, Zhao Li did not plunge headlong into martial qi cultivation. Instead, he developed a strong interest in studying martial qi and its cultivation system, wanting to understand not just the how but also the why. Over the years, Zhao Li had already grasped the process of cultivation, which involved drawing, taming, and using martial qi.
Strangely enough, Zhao Li found himself to be exceptionally insightful, often experiencing sudden enlightenment and clarity during his studies.
Zhao Lingxiao frowned, as his son had always had a different way of thinking from others. Over the years, he had become increasingly unorthodox, often studying cultivation techniques and skills that the clan did not value. He lightly scolded Zhao Li:
"Li'er, don't be greedy. Before you form your Dou Qi Vortex, studying cultivation techniques is useless. Focus on your cultivation and try to break through to the Martial Practitioner stage as soon as possible. Here, take this Qi Gathering Powder your teacher prepared for you. Don't let him down."
As he spoke, he took out a jade bottle and tossed it to Zhao Li.
Hearing that his teacher had specially prepared a medicinal pill for him, Zhao Li felt a warmth in his heart. He quickly reached out to catch it and put it away.
Although he was confident he could form a Dou Qi Vortex without the Qi Gathering Powder, it was still a gesture of his teacher's goodwill. Besides, a fourth-grade medicinal pill was highly sought after. Throwing it into an auction house would fetch several hundred thousand gold coins. Who would turn down such a fortune?
"Is the teacher here?"
"No, he sent it over. Try to break through to the Martial Practitioner stage as soon as possible, and then follow your teacher to learn."
"Understood, I will follow Father's teachings."
Zhao Li bowed, having long gotten used to his father's lectures about his 'unorthodox' ways.
They chatted a bit about recent events, and Zhao Li found an excuse to leave, saying, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back to cultivate."
Hearing this, Zhao Lingxiao waved his hand and replied, "Go ahead."
"I'll take my leave."
Watching Zhao Li leave the courtyard, Zhao Lingxiao paused for a moment, then shook his head with a smile:
"This rascal, why is he looking so down? Sigh, well, well, the little brat is growing up and will have to go out into the world eventually."
"I wonder if Senior Lin has prepared any cultivation techniques and skills for Li'er. This Intermediate Rank Profound Fire Technique is good, but it's still a bit lacking. I'll give it to him when the time comes. Unfortunately, none of the Advanced Rank Profound Techniques in the clan are fire-attribute. I hope Senior Lin has other plans."
Zhao Lingxiao didn't realize the hint of pride and anticipation in his words.
The moon was like a piece of white jade, and the sky was filled with stars. In the small house under the moonlight, a light shone through the window, revealing a figure sitting cross-legged with his palms facing the sky.
"Huff~" Zhao Li took a long breath, opened his eyes, and ended his cultivation. He then furrowed his brow and thought to himself:
"The martial qi in my body has long surpassed the ordinary nine stages. When it circulates, the effects on my meridians are minimal. Continuing to cultivate seems meaningless. Perhaps I should form a Dou Qi Vortex and officially become a Martial Practitioner? Without a qi vortex, this martial qi is like water without a source, unsustainable."