The first rays of dawn sliced through the morning mist, casting an ethereal glow over the vast expanse of Spirit Mountain. Edil stood at the mountain's edge, the towering spires of stone rising above him like the jagged teeth of an ancient beast. The air was thick with spiritual energy, vibrating with the pulse of the earth itself. It was here, in this sacred place, that cultivators sought to refine their essence, grow stronger, and carve their path to immortality.
But for Edil, all of this was still new. He had felt the energy course through him during his brief battle, but the true depth of the cultivation realm was still a mystery. His alchemy had given him an edge, but that wasn't enough here. Alchemy alone wasn't enough to elevate him to the ranks that would make his enemies tremble.
"Focus, Edil," Mara Ilagan's voice rang through the stillness. She stood a few paces away, her posture perfect, eyes sharp. "Cultivation isn't about power. It's about control. The first step is always control."
Edil glanced at her, then back at the vast wilderness stretching before him. "Control? I've been fighting for control my whole life. It's all I know." His hands flexed as if to release the pent‑up frustration he still felt from his first confrontation with the Maligalig House. They had broken his family, his honor—but he had survived.
Mara's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "Not in the way you think. In cultivation, you control your body, your mind, your spirit. If you cannot control yourself, you will never control the forces around you. Now, begin."
She motioned toward the ground. A circle of faintly glowing symbols appeared at her feet, ethereal runes that pulsed with ancient energy. She stepped into the circle with fluid grace, and Edil, after a brief moment of hesitation, followed her.
"Sit," Mara commanded.
Edil obeyed, his legs folding beneath him as he sank into a seated position on the ground. The spiritual energy here was different than on Earth—dense, swirling, almost alive. As he sat, he could feel it pressing in on him, like a force trying to seep into his bones. The power that radiated from the mountain was overwhelming, but it was also inviting. There was something here that called to him—something primal.
Mara was already meditating, her eyes closed, her breath steady. "To begin, you must open your Diwa—your spiritual core. All cultivators draw their power from their core. If you cannot open it, you will remain stagnant. Your alchemy has its limits."
Edil closed his eyes and placed his hands on his knees, feeling the subtle tremor of the mountain's pulse beneath him. His breath deepened as he focused inward, attempting to locate that core of power within. He could feel it—faint, like a flickering flame inside him—but it was there.
His alchemical training had taught him to manipulate substances, to transmute one material into another. But this? This was different. This was raw power. It was as if his very soul was reaching for the sky, desperate for release.
"You're resisting," Mara's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Stop thinking. Just feel. Cultivation isn't a method to understand; it's a way to become."
Edil took a deep breath, pushing aside the thoughts that clouded his mind. He let the spiritual energy flood through him, a wave of heat and cold in tandem. His body flared with sudden vitality, and the faint glow of his Diwa core grew brighter.
"That's it," Mara said approvingly. "Now, push it forward. Release your Qi."
Edil focused, feeling the core begin to shift. It was like trying to channel a force that wasn't his own, a power that came from the earth, the sky, and every living thing around him. His body ached, as if it were being pulled apart and reforged at the same time.
With a final push, the energy surged outward, a stream of light that erupted from his chest and flowed through his limbs. His muscles tensed, and his skin prickled with the rawness of the power now coursing through him. For a moment, it felt like he could do anything. But then, a sudden jolt of pain shot through his head, and the energy flickered. He gasped for breath as the light around him dimmed.
Mara was at his side in an instant. "You're weak. Your control is minimal. But this is the beginning. Don't be discouraged."
Edil wiped the sweat from his brow, panting. His chest heaved with the effort, and his heart beat wildly. "That felt…" He trailed off, unsure how to explain it. "Powerful. But it was fleeting. Why?"
Mara's gaze was sharp, her tone cold but not unkind. "Because you're still in the Diwa Seedling phase. You've barely begun. In the cultivation world, everything has its rank, Edil. In cultivation, we measure power in stages—Diwa Seedling, Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment and so on. Every stage has its own power. Every rank determines who you are and how far you can go."
Edil nodded slowly, absorbing her words. "I've heard of the ranks. The top alchemists and cultivators have reached the Nascent Soul rank, right? But I'm stuck at Seedling Rank." His fists clenched, frustration creeping back into his voice. "I can't let that hold me back."
"No," Mara said with a dry chuckle. "You won't stay there long. But you must remember: rank isn't everything. It's control, balance. The higher you go, the more dangerous it gets. And you'll have rivals at every level."
Edil's mind raced. "Rivals?"
"Yes." Mara's smile faded as she stood up, looking out at the distant horizon where the high peaks of Spirit Mountain met the sky. "You'll meet them soon enough. Cultivation isn't just a path to power; it's a game of politics. The sects, the families, the alchemists—each one wants to be the best. And they will stop at nothing to get there."
Edil's gaze sharpened, his determination returning. "Then I'll play."
Mara's smile returned, a flicker of respect in her eyes. "Good. You're not the first to think that way, Edil. You won't be the last. But remember: this is just the first step. You'll need more than just power to reach the top. You'll need allies, strategy, and the will to survive."
Edil stood, feeling the energy within him shifting, changing. The rank of Diwa Seedling might be the lowest in the cultivation world, but it wouldn't be for long. He would rise. He would climb the ranks. And he would crush anyone who stood in his way.