A month later, Sullas opened his eyes, standing up from a cushion in a wide, empty room.

Exiting the room, he entered another, soon finding stacks of paper.

Taking out a magic pen, he continued to write.

Cultivators must be unwilling to appear, unwilling to stop if told or asked, unwilling to help no matter the situation, unwilling to submit even facing death. -Search why later Because they must behave like gods.

Cultivators never appear, never stop, never help, never submit.

Cultivators do not stop, always trying to be stronger, better and keep their born freedom.

Part 1 :

Mana orbit me, invade me, enhance me, circulate me circulate in me.

Mana orbit the world, invade the world, enhance Mana is everywhere, enhancing the world, circulating it's functions.

Search rest later

Part 2 :

Mana is pulled by me and it becomes the fondation for everything ? the path forward.

Mana Overload can make someone go past the limits, but it is dangerous. Mana has power gives talent has potential, but not just for a positive outcome, a negative one is also a possibility.

Mana is better controlled, it can make people fly like magicians do it can make people stronger, more talented and search rest later

Mana can be ruled, not only inside but outside as well, gifting the user possibilities.

Part 3 :

Go back to above part 1

I must not be kind hearted, evil is the only way. But why ? Search later

Part 4 :

Mana is inferior and so are we, it can be but won't. Why ? Because Mana has potential, but less than Qi (go back to line find which of the other room) We can be inferior, but won't be : lesson about mentality, must keep drive / fire or something.

Done editing his notes, Sullas looked ahead.

"[Status] !"

Name : Sullas Age : 17 Level : 0 Title : None HP : 1 / 1 MP : 0 / 0 STR : 0 AGI : 0 DEF : 0 INT : 0

Passive Skills :

[Deceit] : (lvl 1) [Locked]

[Hand to hand combat] : (lvl 2) [Locked]

[Swordsmanship] : (lvl 1) [Locked]

[Spearmanship] : (lvl 1) [Locked]

Active Skills :

[Appraisal] : (lvl MAX) [Locked]

I feel sick, I feel beyond weak...

Sighing, Sullas tried to forget the horrible experience he suffered, forced to cripple his level because of the cultivation technique's potential.

Becoming weaker than ever, even newborns rivaling him. Luckily however, the world did not restrain his physical prowess based on his status alone.

'I can't cultivate it without a perfect fondation first, or it says I will regret it. I don't dare play with something so great. This is my gamble !'

A few days later, once Sullas felt at peak condition with a perfect understanding of the cultivation technique's circulation pathways, he sat cross legged on the cushion in the middle of an empty room. Closing his eyes he started to pull Mana inside his body, assimilating it.

Circulating the controlled Mana, he began to rule it, his entire being now back to an acceptable level.

Making sure to do everything as perfect as possible, Sullas took his time, unwilling to suffer the same tragic outcome again.

Done with a first revolution, Sullas did not stop, spending over ten hours cultivating.

----

Opening his eyes, Sullas first checked his status screen.

Name : Sullas Age : 17 Level : 5 Title : Aura User HP : 14 / 14 MP : 14 / 14 STR : 7 AGI : 7 DEF : 7 INT : 7

Passive Skills :

[Deceit] : (lvl 1)

[Hand to hand combat] : (lvl 2)

[Swordsmanship] : (lvl 1)

[Spearmanship] : (lvl 1)

[Forging the path from below] : (lvl MAX)

Active Skills :

[Appraisal] : (lvl MAX)

Smiling, Sullas felt even more motivated, deciding on cultivating until he reached the User Veteran title. Once done, he would then practice the many martial arts present inside the other room.

-----

Exhaling, Sullas checked his status.

Name : Sullas Age : 18 Level : 16 Title : Aura Veteran HP : 50 / 50 MP : 50 / 50 STR : 25 AGI : 25 DEF : 25 INT : 25

Passive Skills :

[Deceit] : (lvl 1)

[Hand to hand combat] : (lvl 2)

[Swordsmanship] : (lvl 1)

[Spearmanship] : (lvl 1)

[Forging the path from below] : (lvl MAX)

Active Skills :

[Appraisal] : (lvl MAX)

'A shame this cultivation technique cannot be improved, at least for now.'

Stretching, the now 18 years old Sullas exited the room, quickly making his ways to the information filled room.

Studying the many engravings, be it words or drawings, he kept taking note after note, hypothesis after hypothesis forming.

A week later, Sullas witnessed a skill added to his status.

'Staff Arts at the first level, and my swordsmanship increased to the second level !'

Understanding the benefits of the drawings, Sullas felt pushed forward to advance more and more, his drive doubled.

Therefore, he did not waste time, editing his notes in the morning, cutlivating during the day and practicing martial arts the evening.

Growing more and more, his mental state did not escape unscathed from the many years spent in this cave system, working to improve himself each day.

Stressed out, Sullas took a look at his status a few years later.

Name : Sullas Age : 22 Level : 28 Title : Aura Expert HP : 340 / 340 MP : 340 / 340 STR : 170 AGI : 170 DEF : 170 INT : 170

Passive Skills :

[Deceit] : (lvl 1)

[Martial Arts] : (lvl 3)

[Vaxus' Swordsmanship] : (lvl 1)

[Forging the path from below] : (lvl MAX)

Active Skills :

[Appraisal] : (lvl MAX)

[Aura Strike] : (lvl 4)

[Aura Shield] : (lvl 4)

"How long will I have to live here ?!!" Shouting madly, Sullas' roar caused the ground to tremble, the rare furnitures to move.

"I'm already an Aura Expert ! What is next ? Aura Master ?! I've spent five whole years trapped in here !! I don't even know how I can still breath !"

His eyes gleaming, Sullas realized that he never ran out of oxygen.

'There might be a way out !' Running around, Sullas did not leave a single stone unturned, making sure to not miss anything. Spending hours upon hours, he managed to find the source of the air he breathed, but alas, the sudden outcome took his hopes off guard, crushing them into pieces.

"I...It's...a..." Muttering beneath his breath, Sullas looked beyond dejected, falling on his knees, his head hung low.

"A magic circle..." His eyes empty, Sullas slowly stood up, before going back to cultivate.

Two years later, Sullas looked at his status. His face dried, he felt his mind break.

'Level 33, I have the same stats as the puppets from back then... I think... I can't remember...' His bones creaking, he stood up, exiting the cultivation room, the usual silence of the cave ringing inside his ears, giving him the feeling of deep solitude, the sound of utter nothingness making his ears bleed.

Now back inside the main hall, a somewhat bigger cave. He read the words written on the wall for the thousandth time.

His soul defeated, his body deflated, Sullas was just about to crumble on the floor when...

*Rumble !*

The familiar yet distant sound of rocks moving, Sullas stabilized his falling self, his eyes wide open, glistening in anticipation.

"Finally !! Please be the exit !" Looking over, he saw the mural of engraved words slide down, a doorway made visible.

From it, Sullas watched with incredulity as a wooden puppet walked out.

Using his appraising skill, Sullas was baffled by it's content.

Name : Trial Puppet Age : 9 883 Level : 33 Title : Aura Expert HP : 998 / 998 MP : 998 / 998 STR : 499 AGI : 499 DEF : 499 INT : 499

'A peak D-Rank... Exactly the same as back then...' His trauma gripping his mind, fear crushing his heart, Sullas took a step back.

Hoping for the puppet to simply ignore him, he had no choice but to think otherwise, words shining from the depths behind, illuminating the dark place where the puppet came from.

Defeat this little puppet and you will be free !

Not reading any longer, Sullas was too overwhelmed by the comforting words that he simply did not read the rest. Kicking the ground, his image blurred slightly.

*BOOOM !*

Colliding with the puppet's defensive maneuver, blocking his right fist with it's crossed wooden arms, Sullas felt his hand go numb.

'Hard !' His right foot strongly pushing the ground, he hoped to get back, but ended up a step too late.

*Creak*

Switfly reacting to the puppet's left hook, Sullas defended himself using his right arm supported by his left from the elbow, his right forearm connecting with the puppet's left fist, the bone inside creaking.

'Isn't this- ?!' Surprised, Sullas immediately blocked the puppet's right foot, using his left arm, unfortunately he was unable to fully supress the raging force behind, the puppet's kick still striking his abdomen, bypassing his futile attempt at defending.

"Urgh !"

*Splatter !*

Coughing up blood, his body stumbled on the ground. Clutching his stomach, he felt his insides churn.

'Isn't that a move from the martial arts I learned ?!'

Luckily having somewhat reduced the kick's power, Sullas still felt well enough to fight. And so he did, running around the puppet, he waited for it to strike.

'Now !' The puppet jumping on it's left, towards him, Sullas did not dwindle, inversing his momentum, going backward, dodging the incomming fist with ease.

The wind howling as the puppet's fist flew, Sullas regained forward momentum, sliding right after, sweeping the puppet's legs.

'?!' Caught off guard, the puppet had no time to evade, it's balance destroyed.

Now fallen on it's right side, the puppet's head was the closest to Sullas, who did not waste this opportunity, recovering from his sliding position, using his right leg to send a reversed kick. Making use of his active skill [Aura Strike], his sole was imbued in Mana, increasing it's power and defense exponentially.

*Crack !*

An evasive maneuver impossible, the puppet's head was crushed to bits by the powerful foot, shockwaves of energy rippling with might.

Dusting himself, Sullas took a few moments to stabilize his condition.

Once done, he looked around, but could not see anything resembling an exit of any kind. Scratching his head, he decided to read the illuminated words more carefully. But could only feel his heart tighen in despair.

Free to cultivate that is !! Hahaha !

'There was such a phrase ?! How come I didn't read it prior ? My hopes ! Give them back !!'