After refining the Bear Strength Pill, Wei Ying rested for a while, allowing the pill's energy to settle within him. Meanwhile, the three-day deadline to advance to Rank 1 mid-stage was tomorrow.
Wei Ying let out a sigh, his brow furrowed in concern.
"I'm very low on qi stones," he muttered to himself. He had depleted a significant portion of his reserves to purchase materials for refining the Bear Strength Pill.
Currently, he only had 40 qi stones remaining.
Finally, after three days, the deadline came to an end, and all the remaining disciples gathered at the sect. Originally, there had been 96 disciples, but now only 40 remained.
These forty disciples were given 20 qi stones each. However, for those with ordinary bloodlines, the allocation was halved, with each receiving only 10 qi stones.
In this world of cultivation, a stark hierarchy prevailed. Individuals with superior bloodlines were highly favored, while those with ordinary bloodlines were often criticized and marginalized. The underlying principle that governed this society was the unforgiving law of "strong prey on weak".
The disciples took their seats in class, and the elderly man began, "Do you all know the legends of Kai Rui?"
Zhang Mei eagerly responded, "Yes, teacher, I know about him. He was the first-ever human being to set foot in this world."
The elderly man's eyes sparkled with intrigue as he continued, "But do you know his origin?"
Zhang Mei's expression turned thoughtful, and she hesitated, unsure of the answer...
The elderly man spoke, his voice filled with reverence. "Kai Rui was originally an Immemorial Desolate Beast, but he was not the type to attack or kill indiscriminately. He possessed extreme wisdom, setting him apart from his peers. Although he was not the strongest among the other Immemorial Desolate Beasts, in terms of intelligence, he was an exception."
The elderly man continued, his voice filled with awe. "Kai Rui entered the domain of heaven and earth Elysium of Genesis," he began, painting a vivid picture in the minds of his listeners.
"Intense light pierced his body," the elderly man said, his words dripping with reverence. "His mind became filled to the brim, overflowing with knowledge and power."
The elderly man paused, surveying his audience before continuing. "As the transformation took hold, Kai Rui's body began to change. He started to become weak, his strength waning over time. His once-mighty form began to shrink, his scales and claws disappearing as his body refined itself."
The room was silent, the only sound the soft breathing of the disciples. The elderly man's words had transported them to a world beyond their own, a world of ancient magic and transformation. Finally, he spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. "And when the transformation was complete, Kai Rui's body had refined itself from that of an Immemorial Desolate Beast to that of a human."
One of the disciples raised his hand, a look of curiosity on his face. "Teacher, I don't understand," he said. "If Kai Rui was originally a beast who became human, and he was the only human at that time, how could he have created a batch of humans after his death?"
The elderly man's expression turned solemn, and his voice took on a hint of reverence. "Kai Rui sacrificed himself," he began, "and used the corpses of his five sons to create the first batch of humans."
The elderly man spoke, "The five sons of Kai Rui were Tyrant Battle, Celestial Yin Yang, Desolate Heaven, Icy Jade, and Heavenly Thunder."
Bang Dong Xie stood tall, his presence commanding attention as he gazed out at the gathered disciples. With a confident and strong voice, he declared, "Disciples, today you will all select your path for which you want to cultivate. This is a crucial decision, one that will shape your future and determine the course of your journey. Choose wisely."
In Wei Ying's previous life, he had cultivated the Killing Path. This was the most notorious demonic path that was ever created. If one person cultivates the Killing Path, they can attain many benefits.
As for why Wei Ying had enlightenment in the Refinement Formation Path, as well as many other paths, it was because Wei Ying killed and directly absorbed the true meaning of people easily. He was able to grasp the essence of their being, and in doing so, gained a profound understanding of the various paths.
However, due to the Elusive Reincarnation Pill, his enlightenment levels in these paths fell. This was Wei Ying's greatest loss in using the nine cycles purification method to refine the pill.
Enlightenment levels refer to a person's understanding towards their path. It's a measure of how deeply they comprehend the intricacies and nuances of their chosen path.
One could say Wei Ying looted a person of their whole wealth, but how can everything have benefits without deficits?
The Killing Path, as one could guess from the name, requires a person to kill other living beings. This path is the most notorious path, feared and reviled by many. Because this path is the most ostracized in the world, even demonic people avoid this path, as it requires a person to kill, kill, and kill.
A person cultivating the Killing Path would be targeted by the strongest righteous force in the world, the "Heavenly Virtue Alliance", who would stop at nothing to eliminate them. The Alliance, sworn to protect the innocent and vanquish evil, would see the Killing Path cultivator as an abomination, a threat to the very fabric of society. They would dispatch their most powerful warriors and elders to hunt down and destroy the cultivator, using every means at their disposal to eradicate the evil that is the Killing Path.
All the disciples selected their paths. As for Wei Ying, he selected the Strength Path, like other disciples who possessed ordinary bloodlines.
After the disciples selected their paths, Bang Dong Xie asked, "Do you all want to know what the great legend Kai Rui said about perseverance?"
The disciples nodded eagerly.
Bang Dong Xie's eyes gleamed with intensity as he quoted, "Fall seven times, rises eight. Persistence is the spark that ignites the fire of success. It is the unwavering dedication to one's goals, the unrelenting drive to push beyond limits. For it is in the darkest moments that perseverance shines brightest."
The disciples left, and as they walked, they saw a familiar face. It was a face they couldn't forget - Wei Ying.
Wei Ying looked at them calmly and said, "Quickly, hand over your Qi Stones. 5 for ordinary bloodlines, and 15 for rare bloodlines."
"Is he really gonna do it again?" one of the disciples said with a worried expression.