Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

Chapter 11 Changes.

In the world of cultivation, manuals were classified by their grades, each signifying the level of power they could unlock. From the lowest to the highest, they ranked as follows:

Earth Grade

Mortal Grade

Heaven Grade

Spirit Grade

Divine Grade

But there was one more category—Incomplete Grade.

These were unique, misunderstood techniques. At a glance, they seemed defective, but in truth, they were tailored to a single individual. For anyone else, they were utterly useless. No matter how talented or resourceful, if a technique wasn't meant for them, they would never be able to cultivate it.

Currently, Ace was stuck cultivating with a mere Earth Grade manual—a technique so basic that even street beggars wouldn't want it. (Exaggeration. Ofcourse it's rare but still trash.)

The Xiao family, despite its size and prestige, possessed only two Mortal Grade cultivation techniques. And those were reserved for the 'worthy.' A so-called "trash" like Xiao Zhi? He wasn't even given a chance.

So, they had taught him the bare minimum to maintain some image.

An Earth Grade technique.

As Ace sat cross-legged, he took a deep breath, forcing himself into the familiar rhythm of cultivation.

The moment he activated the technique, his body resisted. A dull ache spread across his limbs, as though his meridians were clogged with sand. The energy seeped in sluggishly, like trying to drink through a blocked straw.

His chest tightened. His bones ached. His muscles felt stiff, as though rusted chains bound them.

This was the drawback of an Earth Grade technique—inefficient, painful, and utterly crude. It took twice the effort for half the result.

He gritted his teeth, pushing forward.

The flow of spiritual energy was weak, like a flickering candle struggling against the wind. It surged erratically—sometimes flowing, sometimes grinding to a halt. His meridians burned as if tiny needles were pricking them from the inside.

He exhaled sharply.

Frustration clawed at him. He wasn't new to this feeling. Every session was like this—an uphill battle against his own limitations.

But this time, something felt off.

The cultivation session was harder than usual. The energy refused to settle, slipping through his grasp no matter how much he focused.

A warning sign.

Then—

Crack.

A sharp pain shot through his meridians, making his entire body jolt. He coughed violently, the taste of iron filling his mouth. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips.

"Damn it..."

This wasn't just inefficient—it was damaging him. The flawed circulation method of the Earth Grade technique was tearing his body apart.

Ace clenched his fists. This was the best the Xiao family had given him.

Meanwhile...

Beside Ace, Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei were deep in cultivation, completely immersed in their newfound paths.

It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

It was calm.

Serene.

Peaceful.

A part of him never wanted to stop cultivating.

Then—

"Teacher, this is too hard! My stomach is empty!"

Shan Yifeng cracked an eye open, already regretting it.

"Like your head," he muttered under his breath.

Liu Mei nodded. As if she had just received sage wisdom, she turned back to Ace with the same complaint, completely unfazed.

Shan Yifeng sighed. He would never understand Liu Mei.

Other kids their age knew what was good and bad. Liu Mei? She didn't.

"Don't eat anything you see," people told her all the time.

And yet—

Just last week, when she was with Shan Yifeng, she had picked up a rock.

Sniffed it. Licked it. Bit into it.

Then, as if betrayal had smacked her in the face, she turned to him and said:

"Shan Yifeng, this rock tastes bad."

Of course it does! It's a rock!

Truly, it was his burden to be her guardian angel.

Before he could spiral deeper into his existential crisis, Ace suddenly tossed something at them.

"Both of you, take one and channel your energy into the stone."

Shan Yifeng instantly obeyed.

Liu Mei... also obeyed.

Shan Yifeng blinked.

Wait.

She followed instructions?

She didn't ask 'what is energy?' or 'what does channel mean?'

She just did it?

Was she... getting more intelligent?

Shan Yifeng simply stared at Liu Mei in confusion.