"Soul Power will be my foundation. But I won't stop there. Cultivation, magic—I'll take them all. I'll become someone this world can't ignore."
> [Motivational trigger detected.]
> [New Weekly Mission Unlocked: The First Step]
> Begin training in Soul Power
> Learn or acquire your first Soul Ring
> Reward: 50,000 SP, 1 Random Basic Skill (Soul Path), Beginner's Meditation Manual (cultivation)
Arthur grinned, eyes gleaming with purpose.
"Good. Then let's begin."
But even as the resolve surged within him, reality quickly caught up. The path to power wasn't paved with passion alone. Resources, guidance, and proper techniques were necessary—and all of them came with a price.
Arthur glanced at the system's shop again, scrolling through the rows of beginner-level techniques. Even the cheapest breathing method for Soul Power cost 50,000 SP, just out of reach. The cultivation techniques and magic manuals were even more expensive.
He leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "I can't keep relying on thr system, even if i aquire the techniques, i need a proper guidance, I need proper training. A place where I can grow."
A solution came to him almost instantly.
"I need to enroll in a academy," he muttered. "Even the cheapest techniques are too expensive… but if I get into an academy, I'll have access to at least low-rank training methods—maybe even more."
With renewed urgency, Arthur turned to his old computer , the fan humming as it booted up. He pulled up the kingdom's academic registry and began his search.
Time slipped by as he dug through articles, reviews, forums, and archived rankings. An hour passed, then another. But finally, a short list began to form.
The Five Pinnacle Colleges of Emberveil Kingdom:
1. Duskfall Academy – Known for producing elite soul masters and beast tamers. Located in the mountainous northern territory where soul beasts are abundant for field training.
2. Verdant Flame Institute – Renowned for its cultivation program. The institute is built around a spiritual leyline, offering students higher natural energy absorption rates.
3. Arcanlight University – The leading magical academy. Famous for its ancient spell archives and mage towers.
4. Ironshade Combat School – A military-focused institution that blends aura mastery and close-quarters combat. Brutal but efficient.
5. Sable Star College – A balanced academy accepting all paths. Known for its annual cross-discipline tournament and massive resource pool.
Arthur leaned back in his chair, whistling low. "No wonder they're at the top... Any one of them could turn someone into a legend."
But that level of prestige came with a cost—not just in money, but in merit.
"But I need to have some talent to enroll in these academies, i need to show them my talent." he muttered, frustration slipping into his voice.
"System, can you tell me how I can enroll in one of the pinnacle academies?*
Ding!
> [Dear host, there are many ways for you to enter an academy. However, based on your current resources and potential, the most suitable method for you is outlined below:]
> 1. Complete daily and weekly missions to earn SP and redeem low-rank cultivation techniques or magic spells.
> 2. Begin training immediately to develop a basic mastery of Soul Power. This includes learning to sense, circulate, and control soul energy.
> 3. Venture into the wild and hunt a Blue Rank beast to acquire your first Soul Ring.
> 4. Use this achievement as your application entry—demonstrating your innate affinity and potential in the Soul Path.
Arthur's brow furrowed.
"Why a Blue Rank beast? Wouldn't a White Rank one be enough? They're weaker, and I'd have a better chance of surviving the hunt."
> [Answering the host:]
> [White Rank beasts are suitable for commoners and general-use soul rings. However, the academies you wish to join are the elite. Demonstrating dominance over a Blue Rank soul beast as your first soul ring would place you above 90% of applicants.]
> [This feat would not only set you apart but may even attract the attention of faculty or recruiters.]
Arthur let out a slow breath, absorbing the implications.
A Blue Rank beast wasn't impossible—but it would be deadly. He'd need to prepare, train hard, and enter the forest only when the odds were in his favor.
Still…
A smile curled on Arthur's lips.
"So that's the plan, huh?" he muttered to himself, eyes glinting with determination. "I'll train, I'll hunt… and I'll force the world to recognize me."
But before stepping onto that path, he turned his attention to the system shop. If he was going to begin cultivating his soul power, he needed a proper technique—something to lay the foundation. He tapped through countless pages, fingers working rapidly while he slurped a bowl of cheap instant noodles.
An hour passed, but finally, something caught his eye.
"Found it," he breathed.
Though it was categorized as the lowest tier among soul cultivation techniques, its reviews and structure were far better than most low-rank methods. It was balanced, stable, and didn't carry the risks that many rushed techniques often did.
Arthur smirked, the corner of his lips twitching with satisfaction. "My system really is the best. If I sold this technique, I'd probably earn a fortune."
But he quickly shook the thought away. Selling a soul technique while being an orphan from a rundown shelter would definitely raise eyebrows—and suspicions. There were already too many eyes that looked down on him. He didn't need to give them another reason.
Without hesitation, he used the 40,000 SP he had accumulated and purchased:
1. Whispering Soul Breathing
Type: Breathing Technique
Description: A foundational method that teaches the practitioner to harmonize their breath with ambient soul energy.
Core Mechanic: Inhale and exhale in rhythm with the natural world to draw in scattered soul fragments.
Unique Trait: Gradually increases soul sensitivity and strengthens the user's soul.
Suitability: Safe and stable—ideal for beginners aiming to build a solid foundation.
2. Mirror Vein Channeling
Type: Energy Circulation
Description: A basic technique that channels soul energy through ten mirrored meridians, linked to the body's nervous system.
Core Mechanic: Circulates soul power in reflective loops, enhancing flow efficiency and clarity.
Unique Trait: Provides mental clarity and minor resistance to illusion-type effects.
Suitability: Best for those with a calm mind and strategic thinking.
"Nice," Arthur said, leaning back with satisfaction. "Now I have proper techniques to cultivate my soul path."
Just as he reached for the manuals to begin reading, the familiar chime of the system rang out:
> [Ding!]
> [Congratulations, Host. You have used the System Shop for the first time.]
> [As a reward, your acquired techniques: Whispering Soul Breathing and Mirror Vein Channeling, have been upgraded by two ranks.]
The manuals in his hands began to glow—softly at first, then with a pulsing brilliance. Their once dull, white covers turned deep violet, signifying their new rank: **Rare-Grade**.
Arthur's eyes widened. "What? This is insane... If I'd known the system upgraded the first purchase, I would've saved up and gone big."
----
Whispering Soul Breathing (Upgraded: White → Green → Purple Rank)
Type: Breathing Technique
Current Rank: Purple (Intermediate High-Tier)
Core Function: Soul Energy Absorption & Sensory Enhancement
Description:
Originally a basic breathing technique, now transformed through system optimization. It aligns the user's breath with soul particles scattered in the ambient environment, turning passive awareness into active absorption. Now the technique not only draws in soul fragments but also filters and purifies them, enhancing quality and flow.
Core Mechanics:
Inhale in four phases, holding in the lower dantian and exhaling with visualization of the soul matrix.
Each breath cycle aligns with planetary magnetic pulses (unlocked at purple rank).
Synchronization with natural soul tides improves soul density.
Upgraded Effects:
Soul Sensitivity +25%
Soul Absorption Rate: +40% (vs. 10% at White Rank)
Passive soul healing: minor soul damage repairs over time
Soul Awareness radius increased: now senses faint soul auras in a 15-meter radius
Side Effect (Purple Rank Bonus):
During full-moon nights, breathing becomes 1.5x more efficient.
---
Mirror Vein Channeling (Upgraded: White → Green → Purple Rank)
Type: Soul Energy Circulation
Current Rank: Purple (Intermediate High-Tier)
Core Function: Amplification & Protection of Soul Energy
Description:
A once rudimentary soul-path technique that allowed for basic energy reflection, now honed and enriched. The practitioner now cultivates ten refined mirror meridians, capable of amplifying, redirecting, or storing soul energy with far greater efficiency.
Core Mechanics:
1. Channels soul energy through mirrored meridians linked to the nervous system and cerebral core.
2. Reflection pulse: every complete circulation reflects residual soul energy, increasing effectiveness over time.
3. Users learn to delay, compress, or split soul energy flow for flexible combat use.
Upgraded Effects:
Soul Circulation Speed: +60%
Clarity of Mind +30% (boost to mental resistance & focus)
Illusion Resistance: Minor → Moderate
Soul Memory Imprint: Retains basic impressions of soul-type enemies for 24 hours
(Purple Rank Bonus):
Soul energy automatically stabilizes during emotional spikes, reducing risk of backlash or inner deviation.
He let out a breath—a mixture of amazement and minor regret—but his excitement never faltered. Holding the now glowing manuals, his grip tightened with anticipation.
"Doesn't matter. These two are more than enough for now."
With that, he sat cross-legged on the bed, opened the first page, and began to read. The room fell silent as his world narrowed into the words on the page—each line unfolding a new piece of the soul path he had only just begun to tread.
The violet glow from the manuals slowly faded as Arthur flipped open Whispering Soul Breathing. The pages shimmered faintly, inscribed with flowing glyphs that pulsed like a quiet heartbeat—alive with ancient knowledge.
He inhaled deeply, his body still as stone. Then, with reverence, he read the first line:
"To sense the soul, one must first learn to silence the self."
Arthur closed his eyes. The city noise outside—chatter, engines, the wind brushing against the windows—faded as he turned inward. He followed the breathing pattern described in the manual: long, deep inhalations through the nose, held in the lower abdomen, and released slowly through the mouth.
Inhale… hold… exhale…
His mind wandered at first—memories of the orphanage, dreams of power, anxiety about his future—but the rhythm began to steady him. The manual had warned of this: "The first gate is distraction. Breathe until the world shrinks to a pinpoint."
Inhale… exhale… again.
Time blurred. A gentle warmth stirred in his chest. At first, he thought it was an illusion. But then he felt it—like the soft caress of invisible threads brushing against his soul. Tiny specks of silver light began to shimmer in the air around him, unseen by the eyes but perceptible to the soul.
His breath drew them in.
The soul energy flowed with his rhythm, wrapping around his body before sinking slowly into his being. He didn't know how long he remained like that—minutes, maybe hours—but when he opened his eyes, his vision felt sharper, the air felt heavier, and his senses… expanded.
[Ding!]
> [You have successfully entered the First Phase of Soul Breathing.]
> [New stat unlocked: Soul Sensitivity: 5]
> [New stat unlocked: Soul Force: 10]
> [Congratulations! You have begun cultivating your soul.]
Arthur smiled, his heart beating faster than before—not from excitement, but from the feeling of growth, of connection.
Without hesitation, he placed Whispering Soul Breathing aside and opened the second manual: Mirror Vein Channeling.
> "The soul moves through reflection. The body is the mirror. Let it flow without distortion."
This one was different—more complex. It spoke of ten soul meridians embedded not in muscle or bone, but within the nervous system itself. A hidden network, dormant in most humans, but now awakened in him.
Following the diagrams, Arthur traced the first meridian path along his spine, visualizing his soul energy moving with his breath. Slowly, it began to circulate, forming a loop—then another. The energy felt different now—like cool water rippling through threads of silver.
But as he began channeling through the third loop, pain lanced through his skull.
He gasped, almost collapsing—but gritted his teeth and stabilized the breath. The manual warned him about this too:
> "Channeling must be gentle. Force disrupts clarity. Clarity is power."
He calmed his racing heart, slowed his breath again, and resumed with greater care.
After what felt like another hour, he felt a click—not physical, but energetic. As if a lock had been undone.
> [Ding!]
> [Mirror Vein Channeling initiated.]
> [Soul Circulation Rate: +10%]
> [Minor Illusion Resistance unlocked.]
Arthur slumped back onto the bed, sweat dampening his forehead, but a wide grin stretching across his face.
"I did it… I'm cultivating now. My own path. My own strength."
He looked out the window, where the night was slowly giving way to the first hints of dawn. Somewhere out there were beasts to be hunted, powers to be earned, and a future to claim.
But for now, he let himself rest, soul energy gently swirling inside him like a newly lit flame—flickering but steady.
"System panel" arthur whispered as he lay on the floor, sweating and panting.
> Name: Arthur Grayrat
> Species: Human
> Occupation: soul scholer
> Title: None
> Strength: 10
> Agility: 10
> Stamina: 10
> Senses: 2
> Soul Sensitivity:5
> Soul Force: 10
> Skills: None
> Talents: None
> Resistance: illusion
"I don't know how much these numbers means compared to this world strength system. But I hope i am growing faster then any ordinary humans."
Ding!
[Congratulations host, you have completed your weekly mission]
[As you have completed the mission in just few hours, you have been granted extra rewards]
[Reward—
1. 50,000 SP→100,000
2. 1 Random basic→intermediate Skill (Soul Path)
3. Beginner→intermediate Meditation Manual (cultivation)]
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