His lips parted in awe,
"The Cultivation World."
Omari felt a sharp pain all over his body.The world became blurry and he collapsed to the ground, exhausted. As he slowly closed his eyes, the barrier also vanished.
He woke hours later under a blanket of stars and dragged his exhausted body back to the inn.Once in his room, a thrill of excitement cut through his fatigue. His body didn't just feel sore; it felt different. He stood in the center of the room and closed his eyes. "So this is the Awakened stage..." he whispered, focusing inward. For the first time, he didn't just feel his own strength; he could feel the spiritual energy inside him, a vibrant, humming force waiting for his command. A light glow of orange Qi flickered around his body like a candle flame, and with a thought, he released it in a wave of air pressure that ruffled the pages of a book on the table.
"By focusing,I can now use the natural energy in my body to strengthen my body. My senses have sharpened; I can see the world in finer detail."
"But,most importantly, I can see past the veil and perceive the hidden cultivation world," he smiled.
He sat down cross-legged and began his meditation.After only two minutes he opened his eyes; he couldn't focus because of the excitement of becoming an Awakened and finally seeing the cultivation world.
With a smile tugging on his face,he lay on his bed, "I'll have to depart from the mortal world tomorrow after one quick stop."
The next day he woke up after being tormented by his three victims and made his bed,cleaned his room, and took a bath. He opened the wardrobe and removed one robe that was in there, and adorned himself in it. It was the robe he got from the cultivator he slew, remade to fit his size.
Omari walked down the stairs with grace and finesse,leaving the key to his room at the counter, and made his way out.
Outside,he walked around watching the city one last time, taking in every view as he walked.
When he passed through the city square,he saw the storyteller doing what he loves most, telling stories. With a swift nod, he thanked him and continued walking.
"A new story begins;this kid, he actually did it. He is definitely too mature for his age, and that energy..." The storyteller thought.
Once he was nearing his village,Omari started running, then leaped into the air, jumping from one tree to another with ease. Once he was close, he went a bit higher up in the tree and watched.
With his enhanced sight,he could see everything in the village without entering. Outside he saw his brothers training their spear techniques. His vision zoomed in on his hut, and through the window he saw her, his mother, cleaning the hut. She went outside and called his brothers to fix the bedding for her medicinal herbs. He watched her for a few minutes; the thought of leaving without talking to her hurt him more than anything.
She turned and looked in his direction.Instantly he pulled back his vision and sighed. Even though she couldn't see him, he felt like she could.
He turned around and jumped onto the ground.With one last look at the village, his eyes glowed green; he focused his eyes and the watery barrier appeared. With a deep breath, he walked into the barrier.
A wave of different air hit him in the face.Every breath he took was invigorating. The air itself tingled with spiritual energy, each gasp making the energy inside him swirl faster in response. He was now standing on a hilltop; behind him was a huge forest and ahead was a huge city.
Woosh!
Woosh!
Two cultivators on flying swords flew above him,leaving him in awe. He could feel a tingling sensation from the air in the atmosphere.
Ignoring the sensation,he made his way down the small hill, heading for the city. The city gates loomed tall and imposing, their surfaces traced with intricate golden patterns that shimmered like flowing script.
Two armored guards stood watch,their expressions stern yet indifferent, granting him passage without question. In truth, they had already measured him with their spiritual sense.
While walking into the city,"Why would an immortal cultivator stand guard dressed like a knight guarding a city? This is a bit like the mortal world; these men are pathetic," he thought.
In the city he was greeted by a dazzling sight.The main street stretched for miles, lined with stalls overflowing with spirit herbs, weapons, cultivation manuals, beast cores, skins, poisons, and treasures of every kind.
There were other streets that stretched to the sides from the main street.The deeper Omari went into the city through the main street, the people on the sides selling became less, replaced by big shops and big huge houses that took enough space to accommodate at least five hundred people.
After sightseeing for a bit,Omari realized how broke he was and that he needed a lot of resources to be able to live an enjoyable life and continue his cultivation journey.
A few minutes later he was standing on the hill he appeared on after entering the cultivation world.This time his eyes were fixed on the forest ahead.
"If I can kill a beast,I may be able to sell its parts and get my life started here, and this may be the best time to test my new Awakened abilities; I saw a few shops that were buying beasts."
Jumping from tree to tree with ease,Omari made his way deep into the forest. He came across different beasts: a deer with antlers made of shimmering crystal, a towering, spectral wolf with bone-like spikes protruding from its back, and a few more.
Continuing his journey deeper into the forest,he heard a roar that shook parts of the forest. Intrigued, he followed the sounds, and from above in the trees, he saw a huge white lion feasting on a deer like the one he saw before.
"He looks like he might be a challenge;I'll pick him," Omari thought.
He focused,his knife in hand, clutching its handle tightly, ready to strike. His eyes glowed and he jumped with all his might and incredible speed, heading straight for the white lion.
The majestic,massive lion's ears twitched and it roared. A huge ball of white light started to grow from inside its body, growing outwards.
Omari was inches away when he drove his blade at the colossal lion,but the glowing light barrier hurled him back like a rag doll, slamming him into a tree, back first.
The lion walked forward,head held high, its mane rippling like silver flames, breath steaming as it looked down on the young boy. Its golden eyes shone with the radiance of true dominance.
Omari stood up and tightened his grip on his short blade,its edge gleaming cold and sharp. He exhaled slowly, lowering his stance, waiting.
The lion growled,the sound shaking the trees, and lunged, its jaws wide enough to swallow Omari whole.
He darted sideways,barely a blur, the beast's claws tearing a crater where he had stood.
With a quick twist of his wrist,his blade flashed, but a blinding light exploded from the lion's body and Omari quickly used his arm to cover his eyes.
The lion's growl rumbled like thunder,and its paw shot forward faster than he could follow. The impact hit him like a falling boulder, hurling him across the ground. Blood sprayed from his lips as he struggled to stand.
Groaning his way back up,Omari held his knife, ready to fight. The lion roared again and his ears started ringing; his blood felt like it was boiling. With him not being used to his Awakened abilities, his senses were on high alert, which made the lion's sonic attack all the more painful and effective.
Ahhhhhh!!
Omari roared in pain.Fear surged through him, cold, overwhelming. He knew then this was no fight he could win. Clutching his bruised ribs, he turned and bolted into the trees, stumbling over roots, branches whipping his face.
Behind him,the white lion watched with disdain, its gaze following him until the forest swallowed his fleeing figure.
Only then did the beast lower its head,as if the fight hadn't even been worth the effort; it had only been a trivial irritation.
"This damn lion,it's not even chasing me; it doesn't even consider me a threat."
Ngrr!!He gritted his teeth, "I'll be back for you; next time I'll make you my prey."
After he was out of the forest,he made his way back into the city, looking a bit bruised. "I need information, knowledge, but how...." his eyes widened in realization.
He walked for a while,looking for a place to spend the night.
"It's hard to find a place to sleep out here;cultivators don't use money, gold, or silver. Only spirit stones, pills, or treasures," he sighed.
Looking around for anything,he stopped, his eyes fixed on the letters above a gate: The Rising Sky Academy.
"That's it;everything I need is here, the best place to acquire knowledge and information, a school."
A smirk curled up on his lips,
"Rising Sky Academy,I'll rob the place clean."