Chapter 42: Awakening of Cultivation
Time passed.
Not slowly.
Not dramatically.
Just… steadily.
Two Years Later
The planet had changed.
Not in one place—but everywhere.
The green Life Energy flowing from the World Seed had grown denser, smoother, and more stable. It no longer felt like something newly introduced.
It had become part of the world itself.
Spiritual Veins
All three Spiritual Veins had advanced.
The Deep Forest Vein stabilized at a higher mid-grade.
The Central River Plains Vein had finally broken past its initial stage, becoming more active beneath the soil.
The Highlands Vein followed last, but its growth was steady, reinforcing the rocky terrain with stronger internal flow.
None of them became overwhelmingly powerful.
But all of them improved.
And that alone was enough to change everything.
Alicia observed quietly.
"…So even without me pushing, they keep growing."
That confirmed what she had already learned.
Life Energy didn't just create change.
It sustained it.
Beasts and Humans
The biggest change, however, wasn't the land.
It was the life on it.
At some point during these two years—
both beasts and humans crossed a line.
A very important one.
They discovered cultivation.
Not as a system.
Not as knowledge.
But as instinct.
Beasts were the first.
Some began absorbing the surrounding energy naturally. Not efficiently, not consciously—but enough to strengthen themselves over time.
Stronger bodies.
Sharper senses.
Better endurance.
Then—
a few changed further.
Ding!
[Beast Evolution Detected]
Condition Met: Energy Resonance
Result:
Martial Soul Awakening (Low Probability)
Alicia focused immediately.
"…Martial Soul?"
She watched closely.
One beast—larger than the rest—stood still, its body trembling slightly.
A faint outline formed behind it.
Not physical.
Not solid.
But present.
A projection.
A manifestation.
"…So that's the key," Alicia said.
Because the moment that form appeared—
the beast's energy changed completely.
It stopped being passive.
It started being directed.
Martial Soul
The system confirmed it.
[System Information]
Martial Soul
A core manifestation of internal potential.
Function:
allows lifeforms to actively absorb and control energy
forms the foundation of cultivation
determines growth path and potential
Warning:
Without a Martial Soul, true cultivation cannot begin.
Alicia understood immediately.
"…So this is the requirement."
Before this, everything had been:
passive growth
environmental adaptation
Now?
It became active cultivation.
And not everyone could do it.
Humans
Humans followed later.
Slower.
Less stable.
But it happened.
In one of the plains groups, Alicia observed it directly.
A young human sat near a Vital Grass cluster.
Still.
Quiet.
Breathing slowly.
Something about the environment aligned.
Life Energy gathered.
Then—
it condensed.
A faint shape appeared behind them.
Unclear.
Weak.
But real.
Alicia focused.
"…You did it."
The first human Martial Soul had awakened.
Not many followed.
In fact—
very few did.
Most humans remained unchanged.
The same was true for beasts.
Only a small number managed to awaken.
But that didn't matter.
Because the path had opened.
Planet Core Advancement
The system chimed.
Ding!
[Host Level Up]
Alicia — Planet Core
Previous: Primitive Lv2
Current: Primitive Lv5
Alicia paused.
"…That's a bigger jump than usual."
She checked the details.
Reason:
planetary life density increased
Spiritual Veins upgraded
cultivation system initiated (Martial Soul awakening)
ecosystem stability improved
"…So starting cultivation boosts everything," she said.
That made sense.
It raised the ceiling of the entire world.
But then—
another panel appeared.
[Next Advancement Requirements]
To reach Primitive Lv6, the following must be met:
Increase total Life Energy capacity
Expand resource generation
Unlock foundational planetary function
Acquire required skill: Mineral Creation
Alicia focused on the last one.
"…Skill?"
She opened the shop.
[System Shop]
Skill: Mineral Creation
Description:
Allows creation of basic energy-based minerals.
Cost:
10,000 Life Energy
1,000 Space Energy
Alicia froze.
"…What?"
She checked again.
Same number.
No mistake.
"…That's not a price," she said flatly.
"That's a robbery."
Even with her current reserves, that was a heavy cost.
Very heavy.
But she didn't close it.
Because the description mattered.
Effects:
create Life Stones
create Space Stones
unlock future elemental mineral creation
Current Limitation:
At Lv1, only Low-Grade Life Stones can be created
Alicia went quiet.
Then said:
"…Worth it."
Because she understood immediately.
Life Stones
Instead of raw Life Energy flowing everywhere—
it could be condensed.
Stored.
Used.
That changed everything.
She imagined it:
bury Life Stones underground → create cultivation zones
beasts gather → competition increases
humans discover → structured growth begins
resources stabilize → long-term development improves
Or—
she could store them.
Use them instantly when needed.
"…So this is the next stage," Alicia said.
Not just growing energy.
But shaping it into resources.
Still—
the cost hurt.
"…10,000 Life Energy…" she muttered.
Her nonexistent jaw would've dropped if she had one.
She looked at her planet again.
Forests evolving.
Plains stabilizing.
Humans awakening.
Beasts growing.
Then back at the skill.
"…Fine."
"I'll get you."
Because she already knew—
without this skill, her world would hit a limit.
With it?
Everything would accelerate again.
Deep beneath the forest—
that familiar, hidden pulse stirred again.
Stronger this time.
More active.
Alicia noticed it immediately.
"…You're still there."
This time—
it didn't feel passive.
It felt like it was waiting.
Author Note
Cultivation has officially begun.
Martial Souls are rare—but they change everything.
What should Alicia prioritize next?
Save for Mineral Creation
Boost Life Energy production
Or develop humans further?
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