The two of them were talking quietly among themselves when, all of a sudden, one of them spoke up. His name was Su Hao. Turning his head slightly, his eyes still fixed on the drifting clouds above, he asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for years.
There was genuine curiosity in his voice, After spending so much time together, the silence around that mask had begun to feel heavier than words. Unable to hold it in any longer, Su Hao finally asked why the other always kept his face hidden, why he never once removed the mask, no matter the place or the time.
Hearing the question, the masked boy smiled faintly beneath the mask, as if he had already known that this moment would come. It didn't surprise him at all—Su Hao had always been like this, curious by nature, unable to ignore the things he didn't understand. The masked boy, whose name was Gu Zhe, spoke in a light, playful tone, a hint of mischief hidden in his words.
"That's because if I ever take this mask off, every guy out there would turn into my enemy—after all, I'm just that handsome."
Seeing him praise himself so shamelessly, Su Hao snapped back in annoyance. There was a hint of irritation in his voice,
"Yeah, yeah, I get it—you're the most handsome one here,"
Su Hao said with a scoff.
"If you don't want to tell me, just say so. There's no need to praise yourself like that… it really doesn't look good."
Trying to shift the attention away from himself, Gu Zhe said casually.
"Alright, forget all that," he said, deliberately changing the subject.
"Tell me instead—what level has your cultivation reached today?"
Hearing this, Su Hao jumped to his feet at once. Straightening his posture, he released the energy within his body without holding back. A powerful aura surged outward, making the air tremble faintly around him.
Pride was clear on his face as he spoke, his voice filled with confidence and satisfaction, eager to show just how far he had come.
"I'm only a few steps away from the Practitioner level now, from now on, anyone who thinks of troubling us will have to think twice."
In this world, cultivation was everything. Those without strength had no value here—no voice, no standing, no future. Power decided status, and cultivation was the only path to power.
The path of cultivation itself was divided into many realms. The first was Disciple, followed by Practitioner, then Master and Grand Master. Beyond them stood the truly rare realms—King, Emperor, and Ancestor. Above even those were the legendary stages: Venerate, Half-Saint, and finally, Saint.
Each realm was separated by an almost insurmountable gap. To advance even a single level required immense talent, relentless effort, and sometimes sheer luck. Because of this, very few people in the entire world had ever managed to reach the higher stages. Those who did were no longer seen as mere individuals—they were living legends, beings whose names alone could shake nations.
Hearing Su Hao's words, he reacted as if he could hardly believe them. Surprise flickered through him, and in a voice filled with disbelief and astonishment, he said.
"Which technique did you choose from the library that your cultivation level is increasing so rapidly?"
He smiled and slowly raised his palm upward. As he focused, energy began to gather in his hand, swirling and condensing at his command. In the next moment, crimson lightning crackled into existence, wrapping itself around his entire palm. Then, with a touch of pride in his voice, he spoke.
"This is called the Crimson Lightning Technique."
Hearing his words, Gu Zhe slowly sat back down. He lowered his head slightly, pretending to think deeply.After a brief pause, he spoke in an incredulous tone,
"Hmm… it's no wonder your cultivation level is rising so quickly."
Su Hao nodded proudly in agreement, clearly pleased with himself. A confident smile lingered on his face, but just then, a thought crossed his mind.
Gu Zhe's presence suddenly surfaced in his thoughts, and the more he thought about it, the harder it became to ignore. Curiosity stirred within him once again. Unable to hold it back, Su Hao turned toward Gu Zhe, the question already forming on his lips, knowing he wouldn't be at ease until he asked it.
"So, which technique did you choose? I've never seen you practice—not even once."
Gu Zhe already knew that this question would come sooner or later. As expected, it had finally been asked.
He let out a light sigh, as if releasing something he had been holding in for a long time. Then, in a voice filled with quiet resignation and a hint of weariness, he spoke.
"Nothing much,Just the Refining God Technique."
The moment he heard that Gu Zhe had chosen the Refining God Technique, Su Hao burst out laughing. He laughed so hard that his shoulders shook, the sound ringing out across the quiet meadow. It was as if he had just heard the most unbelievable joke in the world.
After a while, he tried to rein in his laughter, pressing his lips together and taking a few deep breaths. Even then, a grin stubbornly remained on his face, and his eyes were still filled with amusement. Shaking his head slightly, he finally spoke, his voice trembling as he struggled to keep his laughter under control.
"Did you choose it just because the word god is in its name?" he said, still chuckling.
"Do you even realize that even the elders of the sect are afraid to touch that technique? It's infamous. Everyone knows it's nothing but a complete waste of time—an empty path that leads nowhere."
His laughter slowly faded, replaced by a look of disbelief. To him, choosing such a technique was not bravery or ambition—it was foolishness. In his eyes, Gu Zhe had willingly picked a road that promised nothing but failure.
Then he spoke again, this time with concern for Gu Zhe. His tone was no longer mocking, but serious, showing that he was genuinely worried.
"So… were you successful? And what level are you at right now?"