Soon a week passed.
"Humans are above all creatures, Qi are the essence of heaven and earth. In this world there is spiritual energy called qi. Qi is everywhere around us – In the soil, in the bushes, even on the bodies of wild beasts."
"As humans continue to propagate and grow, the scholars of the past gradually uncovered the mysteries of the Qi. Those who have opened the aperture, using their own dantian to refine and use meridians to manipulate qi – people who have achieved these various purposes are what we call Martial Masters."
"And all of you have successfully opened your meridians in the Awakening Ceremony a week ago. With the coagulation of the dantian, right now you are all third rate martial artists."
In the clan's classroom, the instructor talked with confidence and composure. In front of him were 62 students, seated and listening attentively. The mystery and strength of a Martial Artists had been deeply rooted in the hearts of the youths a long time ago. Thus everything that the elder taught and said, the students were very interested in. At this moment a young teen raised his hand. With the elder's permission he stood up and asked, "Sir, I've known this since I was small. There are Third rate Masters, Second rate masters and so on, can you explain in more detail to us?"
The instructor nodded and gestured for the youth to sit down.
"You have all awakened your spiritual roots and formed your dantians. From this moment onward, you are no longer ordinary children—you are martial artists."
He slowly clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing before the class.
"In the martial world, strength is divided into realms. There are Eleven Orders, each representing a vast difference in power."
The students immediately straightened their backs.
"The First Order is Third Rate. This is the beginner level. Those at this realm have only just begun sensing and gathering qi. They are the weakest within Murim, barely able to circulate internal energy properly. To advance, one must pass the First Test."
"The Second Order is Second Rate. These are experienced warriors who have grasped the basics of internal energy and begun learning proper combat techniques. Their qi circulation becomes stable, and they can fight with discipline rather than instinct. Advancement requires passing the Second Test."
"The Third Order is First Rate."
At these words, many of the children inhaled sharply.
"First Rate martial artists are elites. They have completed their foundation and can shape qi with precision. Their internal energy grows rapidly, and their techniques begin to take true form. To reach this stage, one must pass the Third Test."
The instructor paused briefly, letting the information sink in.
"The Fourth Order is known as Master realm."
His voice deepened slightly.
"At the Entry stage, one is acknowledged as an expert. Martial artists of this realm can unleash qi beyond their bodies and fully display the might of their techniques. From this level onward, cultivation is divided into sub-stages—Entry, Proficient, and Peak."
"To even stand at the Entry level of Master Realm, one must pass the Fourth Test."
Many of the younger students swallowed nervously.
"The Fifth Order is the Transcendent Realm—also called Supreme Peak."
His gaze swept across the room.
"These are the top masters of major forces. They possess deep understanding of qi control and can wield Force Qi—Weapon Aura. They can sense the flow of energy around them and react accordingly. Entry into this realm requires passing the Fifth Test."
He continued calmly.
"The Sixth Order is the Unrestrained Realm."
A hush fell.
"Masters of this level are among the hundred strongest in Murim. Their understanding of qi allows them to suppress lower-ranked martial artists through mere presence. They can control internal energy with complete mastery."
"The Seventh Order is the Profound Realm."
His voice carried faint reverence.
"Those at this level can wield Air Sword and replenish internal energy directly from the environment. They stand among the supreme masters of Murim. Fewer than twenty in ancient history have reached such heights."
"The Eighth Order is the Life and Death Realm."
Even the instructor's tone shifted subtly.
"Divine Masters. They can produce the Invisible Sword and float in the sky. At this level, martial arts are no longer mere techniques—they become manifestations of will."
"The Ninth Order is the Natural Realm."
His eyes seemed distant.
"A realm where one becomes one with nature itself. Those who reach this state are known as Heavenly Masters. They can control the energy of their surroundings freely and may even touch immortality."
A faint murmur spread across the room.
"The Tenth Order is the Void Realm."
He paused.
"A realm beyond nature itself. Masters of this level are said to manipulate space, tear open chaotic voids, and possess infinite internal energy."
The students stared in stunned silence.
"And finally—the Eleventh Order."
The instructor's voice lowered.
"The Will Realm. A state beyond humanity. Those who step into this realm transcend the limits of space, time, and reality itself."
He stopped pacing and faced the class.
"However, do not let your imagination run wild. Even reaching First Rate requires immense effort. Peak Realm alone is already considered extraordinary within the Dongwa Plains."
He looked at the students carefully.
"Your spiritual root determines your starting efficiency."
"For D-grade talent, qi absorption is inefficient. Reaching First Rate will require tremendous resources and discipline. Many remain stuck at Third or Second Rate their entire lives."
"For C-grade talent, advancement to First Rate is achievable with hard work. With luck and support, some may touch the Entry stage of Master Realm."
"For B-grade talent, reaching Master Realm is realistic. Given sufficient time and resources, Transcendent Realm is not impossible."
"And A-grade…"
His gaze instinctively shifted toward the front rows.
"A-grade talents possess overwhelming absorption efficiency. With proper nurturing, they may reach Transcendent and even Unrestrained Realm. Such individuals become pillars of forces."
The classroom buzzed with excitement.
Many of the students glanced toward Do Mu-Jinhe, who sat straight-backed, calm and radiant.
Their eyes were filled with envy.
Others, however, turned subtly toward the back of the room.
Near the window, seated without expression, was Do Mu-Jin.
He did not appear excited.
He did not appear discouraged.
He merely listened.
As if these realms were not distant dreams—
But familiar landmarks.
"Look at him, he's still sleeping," someone whispered from the middle row.
"He's been like that for a whole week now. Has he even attended a single class properly?"
Another voice cut in quietly, though not quietly enough.
"There's more. I heard he wanders around near the outer gates at night."
Whispers spread from desk to desk like a creeping draft.
"Ah… the blow must have been too heavy."
"That's not even the worst part."
A student leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.
"His own little sister awakened A-grade. Now she's the clan's treasure. Surrounded by elders, receiving the best resources."
"Tch… the younger sister rises to the heavens while the older brother falls into the dust."
"Fate really is cruel."
The murmurs gradually grew louder.
At the front of the room, the instructor's brows furrowed deeply.
The classroom was otherwise orderly. The young disciples sat upright, listening attentively, eager to cultivate and improve. Their faces carried ambition and expectation.
And in the last row, by the window—
Do Mu-Jin rested his head on his folded arms, eyes closed, breathing slow and steady.
He stood out.
Not because he sought attention—
But because he did not care to hide his indifference.
"It has already been a week…" the instructor thought irritably. "Yet he still behaves like this."
When Mu-Jin first awakened, many had paid attention to him. His intelligence in childhood had drawn expectation. Some elders even speculated that he might surprise them.
But D-grade.
That single result had silenced everything.
The instructor had spoken to him several times, advising him to focus, to train harder, to compensate through effort. Yet Mu-Jin showed no visible response. He neither argued nor protested. He simply… continued as he pleased.
Sleeping during lectures.
Arriving late.
Leaving early.
"Perhaps I was mistaken from the start," the elder thought with growing dissatisfaction. "Genius? Hmph. A D-grade root and such temperament. If he cannot even withstand this level of setback, investing resources into him would only be wasteful."
Disappointment gradually replaced expectation.
From the elder's perspective, talent determined ceiling, and attitude determined worth.
Mu-Jin possessed neither.
At least—
That was what everyone believed.
Mu-Jin was only a D-grade talent.
Compared to his younger sister Mu-Jinhe, who had awakened A-grade spiritual root, the difference was like heaven and earth. One was destined to receive the clan's full support, while the other would merely scrape by with the bare minimum.
The instructor, while answering questions, could not help but glance faintly toward Mu-Jin before continuing his explanation.
"In the history of our Do Clan, there have been many strong masters," the elder said calmly. "Among them, two reached the Transcendent Realm."
The students' eyes lit up instantly.
"The first was the founding ancestor. He was the one who led our people from the Central Lands and established the Do Clan here in the Dongwa Plains. It was he who discovered the spirit vein beneath our pavilion and secured our foundation."
"The second was the Third Clan Head. His talent was extraordinary, and through relentless cultivation he reached the Transcendent Realm as well. It was said that if he had been given more time, he might have stepped into the Unrestrained Realm…"
The elder's expression darkened slightly.
"But fate was unkind."
"He was assassinated by the Evil Poison King."
The classroom immediately erupted into whispers.
"That vile demon!"
"He used poison during a negotiation, didn't he?"
"I heard he crippled half the clan guards before even revealing himself!"
The elder nodded gravely.
"The Evil Poison King was a notorious master of toxins. His techniques were insidious and unpredictable. During what was meant to be peace negotiations, he secretly poisoned the Third Clan Head. Though our ancestor fought back fiercely and severely injured him, the poison had already seeped into his meridians."
"The Third Clan Head managed to slay the Evil Poison King in the end…"
The elder paused.
"But the toxin was incurable. His meridians corroded from within, and he passed away shortly after."
The youths clenched their fists in anger.
"If I had been born back then, I would have killed that demon myself!"
"Poison users are all cowards!"
"Our ancestor was too righteous. If he had killed him earlier, he would not have died!"
In the hearts of the Do Clan, the Third Clan Head was a tragic hero—powerful, righteous, and ultimately sacrificed due to treachery.
"Evil Poison King…"
Mu-Jin slowly opened his eyes, awakened by the heated discussion.
His gaze was calm, almost amused.
Where did you die?
In his previous life, there had been a minor disciple—D-grade talent, mediocre in every way. A nobody.
About two months after the Awakening Ceremony, that disciple had been found heavily drunk outside the village gates. While lying there unconscious, a beast had tried to attack him.
He fled into the wilderness, and the disciple, half-sober and desperate to stay alive, had gone into the forest.
That chase had led him to a concealed cave.
Inside that cave—
Were bones.
Poison-stained.
And beside those bones lay storage pouches, sealed pill bottles, and scrolls detailing advanced poison cultivation techniques.
The corpse belonged to the Evil Poison King.
The demon had crawled away after poisoning the Third Clan Head and hidden himself to recover—but had died from his own accumulated toxin backlash before completing his recovery.
The D-grade disciple who discovered that cave had consumed the medicinal pills and secretly cultivated the poison techniques.
Within a year, his strength soared.
Within three years, he was already First Rate.
The clan had believed he experienced a miraculous breakthrough.
No one suspected inheritance.
Overnight, a useless D-grade had transformed into a rising genius. But his wife spilled beans to her friends and his secret got out.
Mu-Jin's gaze darkened slightly.
Unfortunately, in his previous life, he had only heard fragments of the story. The exact location of that cave had never been revealed publicly.
He had searched discreetly for days.
But found nothing.
How could he have known that one day he would be reborn to this moment?
Evil Poison King…
Where exactly did you crawl off to die?
Mu-Jin leaned back slightly in his chair.
This time—
That inheritance would not fall into someone else's hands.