Cultivation is Creation Chapter 59 55: Rank 1 Runes

Yesterday's exhaustion from creating the Fundantal Rune had knocked out completely. I couldn't rember the last ti I'd slept so deeply - not since arriving in the cultivation world, at least.

Between cultivation techniques, breathing exercises, and the constant threat that soone might try to kill you for your resources, proper sleep wasn't exactly a common luxury for cultivators, even if you did have soone like Azure watching your back.

But today, I woke up feeling strangely light, as if this world's gravity had loosened its hold on . The sensation was subtle but unmistakable - this body felt less... mortal.

"Master, you're finally awake," Azure said, his tone carrying an odd note that made pause.

"I can't sleep in even if I wanted to," I sighed, already thinking about my lesson with Elder Molric. "The elder seed pretty clear about starting my 'real training' today."

Azure's response was not what I expected. "Master... you've been unconscious for three days."

I sat up so quickly my vision blurred. "Three days?"

"Yes," Azure confird. "I was concerned at first, but then I realized what was happening. This mortal body entered a sort of hibernation state as the red sun's energy began modifying it."

Still trying to process this information, I pulled off my shirt to examine the changes. My eyes widened.

Tomas's once unremarkable fra had been transford - lean, defined muscles now covered his body in a way that reminded of when I'd converted soul essence to physical essence in a previous loop.

Back then, I'd managed to match a third-stage Qi Condensation cultivator's physical power. This body wasn't quite at that level yet, but it was surprisingly close.

"Not bad," I muttered. "But what are my current stats?"

Azure displayed the information in my mind:

Status Update - Current Body:

Na: Tomas the Miller's Son

Soul Essence: 800/800 units

Spiritual Essence: 0/700 units

Physical Essence: 300/700 units

Skybound:

Rank 1 Fundantal Rune:

Type: Wood-Based Fibonacci Spiral Tree Pattern

Core: Red Sun Resonance

Location: Heart Position

Red Sun Energy: 300 units

I studied the numbers carefully. The red sun energy level was particularly interesting – equivalent to roughly a Peak 2nd Stage Qi Condensation cultivator in my world.

By itself, it was nothing impressive compared to my main body's 4th stage, but if I could figure out how to form this Fundantal Rune in my inner world, I could take this cultivation thod back with .

The combination of two different power systems might give the edge I needed against Chen Wu.

"We should find Elder Molric," I said, getting up. "Apologize for sleeping in... though that feels like an understatent."

"Though given his enthusiasm for experints, he may not have even noticed your absence, Master."

Fifteen minutes later, I stood before the door of Elder Molric's laboratory. Just as before, his voice called out before I could knock.

"Co in."

When I walked in, everything looked exactly as I rembered, though perhaps with a few more scorch marks on the ceiling. Elder Molric stood bent over a workbench, focused intently on another of his experintal plants.

"Watch carefully," he said without looking up. "This is attempt number one hundred and fifty at teaching plants to generate their own stabilizing runes."

My eyes widened slightly. Over a hundred experints in just three days? His dedication was... impressive, if slightly concerning.

The plant he was working on looked different from his previous attempts. Its stem was thicker, more crystalline, and strange patterns were already visible just beneath its surface. As I watched, Elder Molric traced complex patterns in the air, weaving threads of red energy around it.

The plant responded imdiately, its surface rippling as runic patterns began to form. Unlike the crude attempts I'd seen before, these runes had a natural grace to them, as if they were growing rather than being carved.

For a mont, it looked perfect. The runes stabilized, taking on that familiar silver sheen. The plant even seed to be thriving, its leaves becoming more vibrant.

Then it simply... stopped living. The crystalline patterns remained, but the organic parts withered and died in seconds.

"Yes!" Elder Molric exclaid, imdiately starting to take notes. "Did you see? The runes maintained stability for nearly thirty seconds after manifestation! And the plant didn't explode this ti!"

"It was impressive, Master," I replied before bowing. "I'm sorry for missing class, it seems my body needed ti to adapt to the rune."

He waved off my apology. "Perfectly natural, perfectly natural. I was expecting you to be out for at least seven days, actually." His eyes drifted back to his withered experint. "Could have squeezed in a few more trials..."

I fought back a sigh. So, he'd known this would happen but hadn't thought to warn ? Instead, he'd stressed out about starting "real training" the next day when he knew full well I'd be unconscious?

"As beings live longer," Azure comnted in my mind, "their perception of ti often changes dramatically."

That... actually made sense. It was like how cultivators could spend centuries in closed-door cultivation as though it were nothing more than a short retreat. To soone like Elder Molric, three days probably felt like a brief nap.

"Now then!" Elder Molric clapped his hands together suddenly, making jump. "Shall we begin your training?"

He moved to a clearer workbench, pulling out several scrolls as he spoke. "Rank 1 Skybound practitioners can do more than simply channel the red sun's power through their Fundantal Rune. Yes, the rune increases your capacity to hold red sun energy and strengthens the body, but that's just the beginning."

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He unrolled one of the scrolls, revealing detailed diagrams of the human body covered in complex runic patterns. "You can inscribe additional runes to enhance specific physical attributes. Strength, speed, durability – each can be amplified through proper runic inscription."

Another scroll showed elental diagrams. "Normally, elental manipulation doesn't begin until Rank 2. However..." He gave a considering look. "Given your unique situation and natural abilities, I think we'll take a slightly different approach. We'll split your training – half on physical enhancent runes, half on preliminary elental work."

That was perfect. Learning both types of runes would give more options when I returned to my world. I could experint with incorporating them into my cultivation technique, perhaps even...

"Master," Azure interrupted my thoughts, "he's still talking."

I quickly tuned back in to hear Elder Molric saying, "…which is why we'll start with so basic Rank 1 runes," as he ignored the scrolls and walked over to a massive bookshelf.

After a mont of searching, he pulled out a thick leather-bound to and placed it on the workbench with a satisfying thud.

"The Complete Guide to Rank 1 Runic Inscriptions," he announced proudly. "I wrote it myself; it contains every standard rune a Rank 1 practitioner might need." He patted the book affectionately. "Of course, you could try creating your own runes, but..." he chuckled darkly, "even I would admit that would be suicide at this stage."

I nodded seriously, though internally I was already thinking about the possibilities. With the ti loop, I could experint with creating new runes without any real risk as long as they didn't ss around with the soul. And if sothing were to go wrong, I'd just reset. But that was a project for another ti.

"I've been aning to visit the library," I said, eyeing the book with interest. It seed fate had saved a trip.

"For now," Elder Molric continued, opening the book to a marked page, "this book is all you'll need. I want you to learn the basics. We'll start with three fundantal runes that I believe every initiate should master."

He pointed to the first diagram. "Titan's Crest – the most straightforward strength enhancent rune available to Rank 1 practitioners."

The na caught my attention. Titan? I wondered what other mythical creatures existed in this world. The books I'd read had focused almost entirely on the two suns and their effects.

"Next, the Blink Step rune," Elder Molric continued, turning the page. "Grants explosive acceleration for short bursts. Excellent for closing gaps or dodging attacks instantly."

Now that was interesting. I'd been missing a reliable movent technique for combat. Sothing like this could be incredibly useful, especially if I could figure out how to adapt it for my main body.

"And finally, the Aegis Mark." He revealed a complex circular pattern. "Creates a layer of temporary, invisible armor that absorbs both blunt and sharp force before it reaches the body."

My mind flashed back to my encounter with Vayara. When I'd struck her with Phantom Strike, the damage had been negligible. This must have been what she used, or sothing similar.

Elder Molric looked up from the book, fixing with an evaluating stare. "If you can beco proficient in these three runes, combined with your natural ability to manipulate plants..." he paused aningfully, "you should be able to defeat most, if not all, Rank 1 practitioners."

Sothing about his tone made suspicious. The way he emphasized combat capability, almost like he was preparing for sothing...

He must have noticed my expression because he suddenly beca very interested in reorganizing so papers on his desk.

"Ah, yes, well... I might have heard so rumors. Nothing to worry about, really. Just that one of the initiates has been..." he coughed delicately, "searching the academy, looking to challenge you to a duel."

"Which initiate?" I asked, though I already had a feeling I knew where this was going.

"Oh, what was his na..." Elder Molric furrowed his brow. "Ha sothing? No, that's not it. Azar? No, no... Ah, well, the na isn't important!"

I wasn't surprised by the elder's words. In fact, I'd been expecting sothing like this since arriving at the academy. Being genre savvy was practically like having precognition - certain events were practically guaranteed to happen.

"You see," Elder Molric explained, still trying to sound casual, "once an initiate forms their Fundantal Rune, they beco eligible to participate in formal duels." He lowered his voice. "From what I hear, this particular initiate is quite eager to... ah... make a na for himself by defeating an elder's personal disciple."

"Face," I thought wearily. "It's always about face."

"But don't worry!" Elder Molric's expression turned almost mischievous. "At the rate you're progressing, you'll have mastered an elental rune or two before he finds you. Won't he be in for a nasty surprise when he discovers his opponent can do more than just enhance their body?"

I had to hide a smile at that. That's exactly how these confrontations always ended - the arrogant challenger discovering their opponent had powers they hadn't expected. You'd think they'd learn eventually, but they never did. It was practically tradition at this point.

The elder moved to another workbench and brought out several Blank Canvas Lilies. "For now, let's focus on the Titan's Crest. Practice the pattern here first – once you're confident, you can inscribe it anywhere on your body."

A thought occurred to . "Is there any chance of explosion this ti?"

Elder Molric laughed. "Not if the pattern is correct! Well, maybe a tiny chance, less than 1%. Nothing to worry about!"

"Master," Azure whispered in my mind, "I don't think we can entirely trust his assessnt of safety risks."

I shared a ntal sigh with Azure. At least this ti the elder had admitted to the possibility of explosion before we discovered it the hard way.