In the books Sol read, as well as what his Master told him, one had to create their own Aether Absorption Technique if they did not belong to a well-established force.
It was explained that the fighting for resources was fierce, and one had to risk it all to reach further in their cultivation.
There was a clear line between those who were struggling to survive in the cultivation world and those at the top who monopolize all the resources.
The Seven Holy Sects and the Five Great Clans were the top one percent who held all the power, while everyone else struggling at the bottom were the weak ninety nine percent. But now Sol was being told that was not the case.
’Master, you idiot...’
Under Boy One and the others skeptical looks Sol coughed dryly then asked.
"Could you explain how the outside world is currently on a broad scale?"
"Sure!"
Boy One happily said.
"From your words, it seems you have been getting information from outdated books..."
’And an outdated Master too...’
"...I haven’t read much about the past so my explanation might be missing a few details. But essentially, the period of trial and error was called that because of how people lacked the knowledge of cultivation. Back then resources were scarce for all those who weren’t from the Five Great Clans and the Six Holy Sects. They monopolize every-"
"Ah, sorry to interrupt you, but is it not Seven Holy Sects?"
Boy One hearing this paused and showed a confused expression.
However, the girl from behind Sol was heard saying.
"Brother Sol, I once read that there were once Seven Holy Sects, but one had strayed onto the path of evil so it was destroyed by the combined force of the Six remaining Holy Sects and Five Great Families."
"Did it say how long ago that incident was?"
After hesitating, the girl replied.
"The book said it happened around seven thousand years ago."
Sol’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he heard that.
’Master, just how old are you?’
Sol was beyond dumbfounded. As it turns out, his knowledge of the outside world was around seven thousand years old. Suddenly he began to feel a headache coming on, however, he still gestured for Boy One to continue.
"From what I read, the Holy Sects and Great Clans started to change, or at least the Holy Sects did. They began creating side branches of their Sects as well as encouraging other smaller Sects to be ford. After many years of this, we have now reached a stage where anyone who wants to beco a cultivator just has to join a smaller Sect or a side branch of one of the Holy Sects. If that person is really talented, then they’ll be able to enter the Main Sect and subsequently the Martial Alliance Academy."
"Wait, so what about vagabond cultivators? How do they cultivate? Wouldn’t they have to create their own Aether Absorption Technique since they aren’t part of any Sects or Clans?"
"Brother Sol, are you talking about the people from the rcenary Association? A rogue cultivator who isn’t affiliated with any Sects or Clans would eventually join the rcenary Association, who’d then provide them with so resources to cultivate. They act like a Sect for those from severely poor backgrounds, even going out of their way to recruit children from the slums."
Sol hearing this rembered the people he t in the past. He was completely wrong about them being Vagabond cultivators!
"Does one have to be from a Holy Sect or Great Clan to enter the Martial Alliance Academy?"
Boy One shook his head at Sol’s question.
"The Martial Alliance Academy is a separate entity from the Six Holy Sects and the Five Great Clans. The leader of the Martial Alliance Academy is always chosen from the Sholing Temple, the strongest of the Holy Sects. This is because they are the most neutral of all the powers in Jianghu. They allow anyone to enter as long as they can pass the test given by the Martial Alliance Academy."
Sol held his chin as he took in all of this information.
He realized that he had to scrap everything he knew about the outside world and start anew.
Perhaps he could have these three explain so things to him.
’Now I’m really thankful that I t these people. I would have entered the outside world with a completely different perception than what was normal.’
While Sol was in his thoughts, Boy One suddenly asked.
"Brother Sol, can I ask you sothing? From your words, did you perhaps try to create your own Aether Absorption Technique?"
Sol ca out of his thoughts and nodded slowly.
"Brother Sol, why didn’t you have your Master create an Aether Absorption Technique for you?"
Boy One then shook his head in pity.
"Haha, brat it looks like you’ve wasted that heaven-defying talent of yours."
"Huh? How so?"
Sol was wondering what these two boys were talking about.
"Brother Sol, didn’t you find it difficult to create an Aether Absorption Technique?"
The girl asked from behind.
"Yeah, I did. It was really hard."
Boy Two sneered and said.
"Just hard? It’s practically impossible to create a complete Aether Absorption Technique without a great expert’s help!"
"Is that so?"
"Wah-Look at this brat!"
Boy Two yelled when he saw how nonchalant Sol was acting.
Boy One cut in and said.
"Brother Sol, you tried it and fail yourself, right? To create an Aether Absorption Technique, you would need to morize all the ridian pathways inside of your body. Only then could you find the right circulation path that leads to every single acupoint in your body. But such a feat is simply impossible for a normal person! Even though the locations of one’s acupoints would be easy to morize, it’s not the sa for ridians since there are several thousands of them!"
"Senior Brother is right brat. Even if one tries, one can only morize a circulation path towards a few acupoints. The Aether Absorption Technique you’re cultivating is probably only going to allow you to open a few more acupoints beside from the ones in your leg."
"Senior Brother Sol..."
A silent Sol looked toward Boy One, who was wearing a sad expression.
"You should consult with your Master to start over your cultivation. Even though you might miss out on joining the Martial Alliance Academy given your age, I think this is the best possible path."
"Senior Brother is right Brother Sol..."
Sol tilted his head to glance at the girl.
"You shouldn’t continue cultivating using your current Aether Absorption Technique."
"Why?"
"Brat isn’t it obvious? Haven’t you read what happened to those in the past who tried it? Why did you think the period at that ti was called trial and error? If a mistake is made in the creation process of the Aether Absorption Technique, one might have their Aether flow in reverse. At a minimum, this will only cripple you, but at worst you could explode from the eruption of Aether Energy!"
Cold sweat trickled down Sol’s back when he heard that. The books he read didn’t explain what would happen if he failed to properly create an Aether Absorption technique in detail, and his Master didn’t either. To think he was towing on the line between life and death all this while.
Sol was frightened. However, he soon cald down and released a smile.
"Thanks for worrying sister Seon, elder brother Song-Oh, and elder brother..."
Sol paused. He actually didn’t know Boy One’s real na.
"You can call Son."
"Okay, elder brother Son. Thanks for worrying about , but you don’t have to. It would be bad if I had failed to create a complete Aether Absorption Technique, but I succeeded."
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