Chapter 4: Genius
The next day began like any other for Aryan. He cultivated for 2 hours.Then got dressed for school and went down to have breakfast.After breakfast, he joined his friends and walked to school. The city was as bustling as ever, and Aryan's thoughts drifted to his cultivation progress.
---
[Name]: Aryan Osmont
[Cultivation]: Ordinary Human (Foundation)
[Cultivation Technique]: Vital Wave Breathing (Diamond) | Proficiency: 80%
[Strength]: 151.340kg
[Evolution Points]: 13200
---
The increase in proficiency had brought his energy cycles up to 11 per minute, a staggering improvement. The energy surging through his body made him feel alive and powerful. However, Aryan quickly realized that this strength needed discretion. Revealing too much too soon would only draw unnecessary attention.
---
Trouble in the Hallway
During the lunch break, Aryan and his friends sat at their usual spot in the schoolyard. Zayn, as always, was boasting about his progress.
"I've finally learned the Vital Wave Breathing Technique!" Zayn declared proudly. I'm catching up to Zara!"
The group's banter was interrupted when a group of upperclassmen approached. Their leader, a tall boy named Marcus, had a reputation for being a bully. His group often picked on younger students, and today was no different.
"Hey, little brats," Marcus sneered. "Why don't you run along and let the real martial artists use this spot?"
Zayn stood up, his fists clenched. "We were here first!"
Marcus raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? And what are you going to do about it, shrimp?"
The tension escalated as Marcus shoved Zayn back. Aryan, who had been sitting quietly, stood up and placed a hand on Zayn's shoulder.
"Let it go, Zayn," Aryan said calmly, stepping forward. "We don't want any trouble."
Marcus smirked. "And who are you supposed to be? The hero?"
Aryan didn't respond. Instead, he focused on Marcus, who was now approaching with an air of arrogance.
"What's the matter? Scared?" Marcus taunted, taking a swing at Aryan.
Aryan sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing Marcus's wrist mid-swing. With a slight twist, he forced Marcus to his knees.
The crowd gasped. Marcus was known for his strength, but Aryan had subdued him with just one move.
"You don't need to do this," Aryan said, his voice steady. "Let's just walk away."
Marcus, gritting his teeth, tried to free himself but couldn't. His face turned red with embarrassment as Aryan released him and stepped back.
The onlookers murmured among themselves.
"Did you see that?"
"How is he so strong?"
"He just stopped Marcus like it was nothing!"
Marcus glared at Aryan, his pride shattered. "This isn't over," he spat before storming off with his gang.
Zayn clapped Aryan on the back. "That was amazing! I didn't know you were that strong!"
Aryan shrugged. "It was nothing. Let's just eat."
But deep down, Aryan knew this incident would draw attention he didn't want.
---
After school, Aryan headed to the library. The increase in his proficiency and the resulting strength had been thrilling, but he noticed something troubling: his body was demanding more energy than food alone could provide.
As he was not a martial artist,he could not absorb energy from nature.He needed external supply.
"If this continues, I'll be eating all day just to sustain my cultivation," Aryan muttered.
He searched through the database and found information about Energy Bars, a staple for martial artists. These bars were packed with concentrated nutrients and energy, allowing practitioners to sustain their cultivation without excessive eating.
---
[Energy Bars Information]
Low-Grade Energy Bar: Suitable for foundation phase cultivators. Provides enough energy for daily cultivation.
Cost: $200 each
---
Aryan frowned. He calculated the expense in his head.
As he needed more energy than others,he would probably need 2 bars each day.
"Two bars a day would cost $400. That's $12,000 a month," he muttered. "Even though my parents are well-off, this is still a massive burden."
He sighed, realizing he couldn't rely on his parents for this. He needed to find a way to earn money—quickly.
---
That night, Aryan sat at his desk, brainstorming ideas. The school prohibited students from taking on jobs, but there were other ways to earn money. Martial arts tournaments, odd jobs in the city, and even selling information came to mind.
He had already completed his 8 hours cultivation for the day.
"First, I need to assess my strengths," Aryan thought.
His system interface appeared before him, and he reviewed his progress. With his proficiency at 80%, his breathing cycles were already at 11 per minute, and his strength was 152.12 kg—Almost double the strength of most students his age.
[Evolution points: 52800]
So Ariyan used them to his proficiency.
[You have used 19000 points to raise your proficiency to 100%]
Seeing that he reached 100% proficiency, he felt very excited. As he tried to circulate his energy, he felt a massive heat all over his body. After a minute
[You have finished 15 cycles. Gained points: 150]
Ariyan was surprised. Because as his calculation, he should have abled to run 13 cycle not 15.
So he asked the system about it
[Host as you already have perfection in proficiency, you are now in a perfect synchronization with your technique,that is why you are able to run 15 cycles and not 13]
After the explanation Ariyan felt it made sense,otherwise what was so good about having perfect proficiency if it increased like the previous ones.
---
[Energy Requirements Analysis]: Current cultivation demands exceed regular dietary intake. Host must acquire supplemental energy sources to maintain optimal cultivation speed.
---
The system's notification confirmed Aryan's concerns. He needed those energy bars, and the sooner he could afford them, the better.
Before going to bed, Aryan made a decision. "Tomorrow, I'll start looking for ways to earn. I can't let anything slow me down."
---
The next morning, Aryan woke up before dawn and cultivated for two hours, feeling the energy surge through his body as he completed 1800 cycles.
His proficiency with the Vital Wave Breathing Technique was now in perfection. The synchronization between his breathing and the flow of energy had become second nature, and his body felt stronger than ever.
At breakfast, Aryan's parents noticed his focused demeanor.
"You seem more determined lately," Mira said, smiling.
"I just want to do my best," Aryan replied.
Kael nodded. "That's the spirit. But remember to take care of yourself. Balance is key."
As Aryan left for school, he couldn't help but think about the path ahead. The conflict with Marcus had shown him that strength alone wasn't enough. He needed resources, connections, and a clear plan to navigate this new world.
But one thing was certain: Aryan Osmont was no ordinary boy. And soon, the world would know it too.