The Tenth Awakening

As Kane left, Arya chuckled lightly and sat down to meditate, restoring his consumed energy. After half an hour, his elemental energy was back at its peak, and he resumed training with his weapon. From today's sparring match with Kane, he gained new insights into using his weapon more effectively and skillfully.

His weapon was excellent for both offense and defense, and after infusing it with elemental energy, its power increased even further. He also realized the true potential of his Seed Ring Skill—under level 40, there might not be anyone with a controlling skill as powerful as his. Once Arya reached level 40, his skill would evolve and become even more powerful. Its function might even change from a controlling skill to a killing skill.

After practicing with his Seed Weapon for two more hours, Arya returned home. It was already afternoon when he arrived. After eating, he started cultivating his elemental energy. This had become his daily routine—practicing, eating, and cultivating. Occasionally, Kane would visit to spar, sometimes once a week or even once a month.

Just like that, nearly six months passed. The Village's Younger Generation Competition and the Four Villages' Younger Generation Competition were about to begin. Every young cultivator under the age of 15 was training hard, excited for the upcoming battles. In just two days, the Village's Younger Generation Competition would start.

Arya continued practicing his weapon techniques and skills at the back of the village, where a small wilderness lay. After six months of daily training and cultivation, both his elemental energy and weapon skills had improved significantly. He eagerly awaited the village competition—and even more so, the Four Villages' Younger Generation Competition.

During this time, Arya's cultivation level had risen from level 14 to level 17—a much faster improvement than before. This was because he had dedicated himself completely to training, sometimes even forgetting to eat. Most of his days were spent cultivating and practicing, allowing him to advance three levels in just six months.

For a cultivator relying on normal methods, this was a remarkable feat. From level 3 to level 10, it had taken him about one and a half years. But now, he had gained three levels in just six months, proving how much effort he had put in. Arya was satisfied with his progress, but another challenge awaited him—choosing his second seed.

He couldn't absorb another fire-type seed because it would disrupt the balance of elements in his body, causing severe issues. If the two elements clashed, he would lose the ability to use elemental energy, rendering his Seed Weapon and Seed Ring Skill useless. It could even cause serious physical or mental damage, which would be disastrous for his future.

Therefore, his second seed had to be either water-type or ice-type to maintain balance. However, obtaining a second seed was not easy. Arya didn't want to ask his father for one, even though his father, as the village chief, could help him. The village's total income wasn't very high, and Arya had already received the most powerful ancestral seed from the village. He didn't want to depend entirely on others for his cultivation and future needs.

In his previous life, he had gained vast experience. Although this life was different, he himself had changed. He now possessed power and abilities, making survival much easier than before. This was one of the main reasons he aimed to achieve a high ranking in both competitions—to earn his own resources rather than relying on his family.

His father had once spoken about seeds, explaining that common, uncommon, and rare seeds could be purchased with money. However, their value was beyond the reach of their village. The village could barely afford a common seed with all its wealth, and those were only given to the most talented children.

Arya had already planned how to obtain his second seed. His goal was to place in the top seven in the Village's Younger Generation Competition, which offered prize money. Then, if he achieved a high ranking in the Four Villages' Younger Generation Competition, he would have enough to buy a second seed. While he knew both competitions awarded money, he wasn't sure what other rewards they offered.

For the next two days, Arya focused entirely on preparing for the competition.

Two days later...

Excitement filled the village. The younger generation was eager to prove their strength, while the elders and parents looked forward to seeing their children's abilities. More importantly, they wanted to know who would represent their village in the Four Villages' Younger Generation Competition and who was the strongest under the age of 15.

Arya was also prepared. His father had already left earlier to oversee the competition's preparations, and his mother had accompanied him. Now, Arya was the only one left at home. After making his final preparations, he headed toward the competition grounds.

After walking for a few minutes, he arrived at the competition area. Seeing the huge crowd gathered to watch, he couldn't help but sigh. At the same time, he felt excitement bubbling inside him.

As he scanned the area, he spotted his father sitting in the leader's position, surrounded by the village elders. His mother was also there. He had the right to sit with them, but Arya never liked drawing unnecessary attention. Instead, he chose to sit among the other village children, blending in rather than standing out as the village chief's son.