The simple response made Runar smile. For all its mechanical nature, there was something almost warm about that statement.
He pulled up his inventory, scrolling through the massive list of treasures. Everything was organized perfectly—pills sorted by type and grade, techniques categorized by function, weapons grouped by class.
His eyes caught on a few specific items:
The Primordial Essence Bloodline Serum was perfect. It wouldn't change his species or give him beast characteristics—just grant the beneficial traits. Phoenix regeneration, dragon vitality, kun peng adaptability, all while remaining 100% human.
The Physique Enhancement Essences—he had thirteen total now (three from the newbie package, ten from this reward)—could push his Divine-grade physique even higher.
The Time Dilation Token would make the Infinite Qi Realm even more broken—10x increase meant 1:10,000 time dilation instead of 1:1,000.
And the Advanced Cultivation Common Sense Jade would fill in all the social and cultural knowledge gaps he had about this world.
But most importantly, the pills.
He'd been planning to start cultivation today, but he'd had a problem. The Eternal Nexus Ascension, as a Supreme-grade technique, required massive amounts of qi just to initiate. The Foundation Establishing Pills in his original newbie package wouldn't be nearly enough.
He'd calculated that starting cultivation with this technique would require energy equivalent to at least 10,000 Heaven-grade pills—and even then, using low-quality resources would create an inferior foundation.
The better the resources used at the beginning, the stronger the foundation, he'd realized while designing the technique.
He'd considered sneaking into the Infinite Qi Realm to accumulate enough essence for an entry, but that wouldn't be possible—his mother came to check on him every few minutes when she was home, and when they were out, she was always with him. He'd never have the uninterrupted time needed.
Absorbing heaven and earth qi directly from the environment would be even worse—it would create a qi whirlpool visible for a thousand miles, destroying his low-key status entirely.
Both options were terrible.
But now? Now he had World Qi Pills—Divine-grade resources that contained refined essence from entire worlds. A single one would equal 10,000 normal pills.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Runar felt his consciousness beginning to strain. He'd been in the Comprehension Space for nearly two hours of subjective time—his baby brain was reaching its limit despite all the enhancements.
I need to exit soon. But first...
He organized everything mentally:
PREPARATION CHECKLIST:
Primordial Essence Bloodline Serum (use before cultivation) Physique Enhancement Essence x13 (use before cultivation) World Qi Pills x100 (primary energy source) Balance Qi Pills x1,000 (stabilization) Star Qi Pills x500 (supplementary power) Time Dilation Token (use to upgrade Infinite Qi Realm) Advanced Cultivation Common Sense Jade (study before interacting with society)
Tonight, he decided firmly. Tonight I become a true cultivator.
[RECOMMENDED: EXIT COMPREHENSION SPACE]
[HOST BRAIN APPROACHING SAFE LIMIT]
Alright, I'm going.
Reality snapped back.
Runar blinked, his infant body more coordinated than ever. The morning light was just beginning to filter through his nursery window, painting everything in soft golden hues. From the outside perspective, he'd been gone for less than a fraction of a second.
He could hear his parents stirring in their room. His father would leave for the Archive soon. His mother would open her shop.
The hours crawled by with agonizing slowness.
His mother fed him, changed him, played with him for a bit. His father stopped by before leaving for work, giving Runar's head a gentle pat.
"Growing so fast," Jake murmured. "Already holding your head up, tracking movement... our son is going to be a genius cultivator, Lirien."
If only you knew, Runar thought wryly.
The morning passed into afternoon. Runar spent the time in his crib, but not idle. He'd realized yesterday that he needed a way to observe the world more effectively—particularly cultivation bases and energy flows.
I should create runic eyes, he'd thought. Vision enhancement using runes inscribed directly on my retinas.
He'd spent an hour in the Comprehension Space this morning designing them. The runes were delicate, complex, and incredibly powerful:
RUNIC OMNISCIENT EYES:
Energy Vision: See all forms of energy (qi, mana, spiritual power, intent, laws) Cultivation Analysis: Instantly assess anyone's cultivation base, realm, and approximate power Penetrating Sight: See through objects and illusions up to Supreme-grade concealment Spectrum Shift: View different light spectrums (infrared, ultraviolet, spiritual wavelength) Night Vision: Perfect clarity in absolute darkness Microscopic Focus: Zoom in to see cellular and even molecular structures Runic Reading: Automatically identify and analyze any runes observed Meridian Mapping: See the complete meridian, vessel, and acupoint systems in any body Danger Sense: Energy fluctuations that indicate incoming threats glow with warning colors Distance Vision: Telescopic sight capable of seeing miles away with perfect clarity
He'd carefully inscribed the microscopic runes onto his retinas using pure intent and the system's assistance. The process had been uncomfortable but quick, and now his baby eyes held power that would make even Divine-realm cultivators envious.
Better not activate it obviously though, Runar reminded himself. Glowing eyes on a one-month-old baby would be... problematic.
It was around 2 PM when his mother entered his nursery with an excited expression.
"Runar, sweetie," Lirien said, lifting him from his crib, "we're going out! My friend is back in the city, and I want her to meet you. Let me get you ready."
Wait, what?
Runar made a soft questioning noise as his mother carried him to the changing table. This was unexpected. He'd never left the house before—not since being reborn.
Lirien dressed him in a soft blue outfit, fussing over his appearance with maternal pride. "You're going to love Auntie Seraphina. She and I grew up together. And she has a daughter—Celestia, five years old! Maybe you two will be friends when you grow up."
She placed him in a stroller—a sleek, modern thing that hovered slightly off the ground using some kind of cultivation-tech hybrid.
Okay. First trip outside. This should be interesting.
They left the house, and Runar got his first real look at Velsinor City.
It was stunning.
The architecture was exactly as he'd imagined from the news broadcasts—a seamless blend of Eastern aesthetics and Western sci-fi. Buildings rose in elegant curves reminiscent of ancient pagodas, but their surfaces were smooth metal and glass embedded with glowing runes. Flying vehicles zipped between structures—some traditional flying swords, others sleek hovercars.
The streets were wide and clean, lined with trees that seemed to shimmer with faint spiritual energy. Holographic advertisements floated in the air, advertising everything from cultivation pills to the latest defensive artifacts.
But what really caught Runar's attention were the people.
Humans made up the majority, but scattered throughout the crowd were other races:
Tall, ethereal beings with slightly pointed ears and skin that seemed to shimmer with starlight—Astral Elves, his enhanced eyes identified, their energy signatures elegant and refined Short, stocky figures with metallic skin and geometric patterns glowing on their bodies—Runeforged, a construct race that had allied with humanity centuries ago Serpentine humanoids with scales that shifted colors, their cultivation bases surprisingly strong—Void Serpents from the outer colonies Beings that looked almost human but had crystals growing from their shoulders and foreheads—Crystal Kin, refugees from a world destroyed by the Kravix Even a few that appeared to be living energy contained in vaguely humanoid shapes—Energy Elementals, extremely rare
Allies and protected species, Runar realized. Races that allied with humanity or came under human protection.
It was a cosmopolitan society in the truest sense—multiple species coexisting, all using cultivation or their own power systems, all part of Telstra's civilization.
His mother navigated through the streets with practiced ease, greeting neighbors, stopping occasionally to chat. Several people cooed over Runar, complimenting Lirien on how alert and well-developed her baby was.
If only they knew I was analyzing their cultivation bases while they talked, Runar thought with amusement. His runic eyes were feeding him constant information—cultivation realms, energy types, even hints about their physiques and techniques.
After about twenty minutes, they arrived at their destination: an upscale restaurant called "Celestial Garden." The building was beautiful—traditional architecture with a modern twist, surrounded by actual gardens filled with spirit herbs and flowers that glowed softly with accumulated qi.
Lirien guided the stroller inside. The interior was elegant without being ostentatious—wooden tables and silk cushions, soft lighting, the gentle sound of water from an indoor stream.
They approached a table in a quiet corner where two figures were already seated.
The woman who stood to greet them was stunning. She had the same approximate build as Lirien—average height, graceful—but her features were sharper, more elegant. Long silver-white hair cascaded down her back, held in place by an ornate platinum hairpin. Her deep blue cultivation robes were embroidered with star patterns.
Runar's runic eyes automatically analyzed her: Meteor Forging Realm, Stage 7. Strong foundation, balanced cultivation. Specialized in water and ice techniques.
"Lirien!" the woman exclaimed, pulling Runar's mother into a warm embrace.
"Seraphina!" Lirien laughed, returning the hug. "It's been too long!"
Seated at the table, watching the reunion with bright, curious violet eyes, was a girl who looked about five years old.
She had delicate features that promised future beauty, long silver-white hair like her mother's tied in an elegant side braid, and an expression of intense curiosity. Her cultivation robes were miniature versions of her mother's, embroidered with moon and star patterns.
Runar's eyes analyzed her immediately: Stardust Awakening, Stage 3. Exceptional foundation for her age. Meridians developing rapidly, qi circulation smooth and practiced. Ice-Water affinity physique—rare dual-element constitution.
This girl is a genuine genius by normal standards, Runar realized with interest.
The girl's violet eyes locked onto Runar's stroller, and her face lit up with delight.
"Mama," she said, her voice clear and melodious, "is that the baby Auntie Lirien told you about?"
"Yes, darling," Seraphina said, releasing Lirien and kneeling beside the stroller. "Oh, Lirien, he's precious! And his eyes... so clear and alert. How old is he?"
"Just turned one month," Lirien said proudly, lifting Runar from the stroller and settling into a chair.
One month old and already being shown off to family friends, Runar thought. This is fine. Just act like a normal baby. Don't activate the runic eyes visibly. Normal baby things.
Seraphina gestured for her daughter to come closer. "This is my daughter, Celestia. Celestia, say hello to Auntie Lirien and baby Runar."
The girl—Celestia—stepped forward with surprising grace for a five-year-old. She executed a perfect formal bow, her movements showing cultivation training.
"Hello, Auntie Lirien," she said clearly, her voice carrying a musicality that suggested future mastery of sound-based techniques. Then, looking at Runar with undisguised fascination and a bright smile, "Hello, Baby Runar! You're so cute! I'm Celestia. We're going to be best friends!"
Her hand reached out toward Runar's, and he instinctively grasped her finger in his tiny grip.
Normal baby behavior, he reminded himself. Just a normal baby.
Celestia's eyes widened in surprise. "Mama, his grip is really strong! And look at his eyes—they're so clear, like he's really looking at me and understands what I'm saying!"
She leaned in closer, studying him with intense focus. "I've never seen a baby this aware before. Are all babies like this?"
"No, sweetheart," Seraphina said with a knowing smile. "Runar is special. I can sense it—his spiritual foundation is already forming, even at one month. He's going to be an extraordinary cultivator someday."
Lirien beamed with maternal pride. "The healer said the same thing. Advanced development, strong spiritual roots. We're very lucky."
Abort. Abort. Too much attention, Runar thought frantically, deliberately letting his eyes lose focus and making a random cooing noise while waving his tiny hand.
Celestia giggled, delighted. "He's so adorable! Mama, can I hold him?"
"Let's wait until he's a bit bigger, darling," Seraphina said gently. "But you can talk to him. He seems to enjoy the attention."
Celestia immediately launched into animated chatter, telling Runar about her cultivation training, her favorite techniques, the spirit beasts she'd seen at the zoo, everything a five-year-old genius thought was important.
The two mothers settled into conversation, catching up on years of separation. Apparently Seraphina had been traveling for the past few years, visiting other continents with her husband—a successful cultivator named Aldric Stormwind who'd reached Star Fusion realm and worked as a special operations commander for one of the major cultivation corporations.
"Actually," Seraphina said, her voice carrying excitement, "that's why I wanted to meet today. Aldric's been transferred! We're moving back to Velsinor City permanently."
Lirien's face lit up. "Really? That's wonderful!"
"We're looking at houses in the Starlight District," Seraphina continued. "It's not far from here—maybe a ten minute flight. Celestia will be starting at the Continental Academy's junior program next month."
Celestia perked up at this news, turning to Runar with sparkling eyes. "Did you hear that, Baby Runar? We're going to be neighbors! I can visit you all the time! I'll bring you treats—spirit-infused candies and crystallized fruit. Oh, and when you're older, I'll teach you cultivation! I'm really good at ice techniques!"
She turned to her mother. "Can we visit them often, Mama? Please?"
Seraphina laughed warmly. "Of course, darling. I'm sure Auntie Lirien won't mind."
"Mind? I'd love it!" Lirien said enthusiastically. "Having you nearby again will be wonderful. And Celestia is welcome anytime."
Celestia clapped her hands together, practically bouncing with excitement. "I'm going to be the best big sister ever! I'll protect Baby Runar from bullies and teach him all the best techniques and—oh! I'll even share my spirit candies with him!"
This girl has fully adopted me as her little brother in the span of five minutes, Runar observed with a mixture of amusement and affection. Well, there are worse fates than having a talented cultivator as a protective older sister figure.
He made an approving cooing noise, which Celestia took as complete agreement with all her plans.