What Is Cultivation For?

"Because we don't have immortal roots."

A female student spoke up.

"You're right."

As Wu Jing spoke, several pieces of chalk flew up on their own and began writing on the blackboard.

First Realm

Visualization

Second Realm

Qi Nurturing

Third Realm

Body Strengthening

Fourth Realm

Dao Foundation

Pointing at the words "Visualization," Wu Jing continued, "Immortal roots are what many people call spiritual roots. In your terms, people born with spiritual roots are magnets."

"They can effortlessly absorb the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth—the Transcendent Factor."

"Those without spiritual roots find it difficult to sense the existence of the Transcendent Factor. That was why the ancient immortals created this cultivation system."

"Through visualization, one strengthens the soul and gives birth to Divine Sense. With Divine Sense, one can perceive and draw in the Transcendent Factor between heaven and earth, allowing ordinary people without talent to embark upon the path of cultivation."

Wei Dong nudged Jiang Chuan with his elbow. "Jiang Chuan, did you hear that? You're a giant magnet."

Jiang Chuan's face darkened. "You're the magnet!"

"Teacher, why is the third realm Body Strengthening? Aren't cultivators in ancient books supposed to practice Qi Refining?" a male student asked, voicing his confusion.

Wu Jing did not answer. Instead, he asked another question. "What is cultivation for?"

"Immortality."

Quite a few students answered in unison.

"But the dead can't achieve immortality. If you refine only Qi and not the body, wouldn't that make you what the internet calls a Glass Cannon? Even low-realm cultivators could pose an enormous threat to high-realm cultivators."

Wu Jing moved his claw over the words "Qi Nurturing" on the blackboard. At the same time, another piece of chalk flew up and began scribbling away.

"Once you nurture spiritual power within your body, until it is like a stream as thick as a baby's arm, you will have completed this realm."

"With spiritual power, you can not only activate certain talismans and cast minor spells, but also use it to temper your body."

"Then that means I'm already a second-realm cultivator."

Jiang Chuan immediately recalled what the female nurse he had killed had said.

"She said I had completed Skin Tempering. Could it be that I unknowingly broke through into the third realm?"

As Jiang Chuan's thoughts churned, the chalk finished writing and fell back into the chalk box.

Ten more large characters had appeared on the blackboard.

Skin Tempering, Muscle Refining, Bone Strengthening, Blood Replacement, Rebirth.

"The Body Strengthening realm is divided into five levels. With each transformation, your strength will increase by six to eight hundred jin."

Wu Jing picked up the Happy Water on the desk and gulped down a large mouthful.

"Five thousand years ago, only fourth-realm cultivators were called true cultivators. Do you know why?"

"Because only fourth-realm cultivators possess magical power."

The one who answered Wu Jing's question was a tall, slender girl.

The girl had an exquisite oval face. Beneath her long lashes were bright almond-shaped eyes, beautiful and moving.

What drew the most attention, however, was her waist-length hair. Amid her jet-black locks were several strands of unmistakable wine-red hair. Under the sunlight, they resembled flowing flames, especially eye-catching.

"I heard that Meng Nanxi isn't cultivating the Great Sun Slaughtering God Technique, but a cultivation technique even stronger than the Great Sun Slaughtering God Technique. I didn't expect that after just one day without seeing her, her body would already begin mutating."

Wei Dong's eyes were filled with envy. "It looks like her entry into the Elite Class is as certain as a nail driven into a board."

"Stronger than the Great Sun Slaughtering God Technique?"

Jiang Chuan looked at the girl, regarded as one of the most beautiful students at Immortal Gate First High School, in astonishment.

In his view, the Great Sun Slaughtering God Technique was already earthshaking.

It devoured all the essence of the Great Sun, turning it into one's own power and granting mighty strength sufficient to slaughter gods and destroy immortals.

What cultivation technique could possibly be stronger than the Great Sun Slaughtering God Technique?

"You're right."

With a raise of Wu Jing's hand, a cyan torrent surged forth, transforming into cyan beverage bottles that rained down from the sky and landed on the desks of all fifty students in First Year Class 42.

Jiang Chuan instinctively reached out and caught a beverage bottle. A warm sensation immediately spread from his palm throughout his entire body.

"Spiritual power is formless and intangible—unseen and untouchable—but magical power has form and substance."

"The divine abilities cast with magical power are more than ten times stronger than those cast with spiritual power. Moreover, with magical power, cultivators can fly through the air."

"That was why, in the Ancient Era five thousand years ago, before the ancient immortals sealed their mountains and fell into slumber, they regarded only fourth-realm cultivators as cultivators, while viewing cultivators of the first three realms as mortals."

As soon as Wu Jing finished speaking, Meng Nanxi's voice rang out again.

"Teacher, I heard that every person's Dao Foundation is different. Is that really true?"

"It is indeed true."

Wu Jing paused before continuing. "Dao Foundations vary from person to person. Even twin brothers will not forge the same Dao Foundation. Even Dao Foundations that look identical will possess different abilities."

"One could say that every Dao Foundation is one of a kind."

"Many exceptionally terrifying Dao Foundations appeared in the Ancient Era. For example, the Five Elements Divine Wheel. The Five Elements Divine Wheel can control the Power of Five Elements. Any Five Elements Divine Abilities and Magic Techniques are utterly useless against it, and may even be controlled by the Five Elements Divine Wheel instead."

"There was also a cultivator named Daoist Huaxu, whose Dao Foundation was called the Heavenly Evolution Mirror. Any magical artifact illuminated by its mirror light could be replicated by the Heavenly Evolution Mirror."

Many students of First Year Class 42 revealed expectant expressions.

Everyone was curious about what wondrous abilities their Dao Foundations would possess when they reached Foundation Establishment.

Jiang Chuan was no exception.

I wonder what kind of Dao Foundation I'll forge.

Jiang Chuan then remembered the Blood Sea Divine Cult Follower he had killed.

According to Teacher Wu Jing, I should have cultivated only spiritual power. Why, then, was I able to shatter the blood-red magical power he controlled? Could it be that I'm simply too talented?

The more Jiang Chuan thought about it, the more he felt that had to be the case.

Wu Jing had also said that this cultivation system had been created by the ancient immortals for cultivators without spiritual roots.

He could directly skip the first realm and cultivate the second, and he might even have completed part of the third realm.

Besides, the Blood Sea Divine Cult Follower had not obtained his magical power through cultivation. He had gained it by sacrificing to the Blood Sea Demonic Immortal.

It certainly could not compare to true magical power.

As a genius with spiritual roots, it was perfectly normal for the spiritual power he cultivated to be stronger than that of ordinary people without talent.

"Dao Foundations are still too far away for you. That's all for today. Next, I'll explain some cultivation basics. Take out your notebooks and write this down."

As Wu Jing spoke, the chalk flew up again and began writing some cultivation precautions on the blackboard.

For example, the Yin Spirit was fragile. Even sunlight could scorch it, so one must never let it leave the body.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Before they knew it, forty-five minutes had passed, and the dismissal bell rang.

"Students, go directly to the Visualization Room for the first class this afternoon. I'll lead everyone in visualization and the cultivation of the Yin Spirit."

"Divine Sense is far more important to modern cultivators than it was in the Ancient Era. You must cultivate diligently."

Accompanied by a deep, resonant voice, a burly man in military uniform entered the classroom, carrying Practical Coordination of Thermal Weapons and Cultivators.

"Yesterday, I gave everyone a preliminary introduction to some thermal weapons. Today, I'll explain in detail how modern cultivators fight!"