The Story Never Ends
Chapter 26 - The Cultivation Hierarchy

After returning to his cave, he sat on the bed cross-legged and recollected all the information he read today.

According to that book, cultivation started when an otherworldly being came into this world from who knows where and guided a small group of people to achieve longevity and power so that they could protect themselves. Later those teachings were passed from centuries to centuries and finally arrived on this day.

"Did that otherworldly being come from the Central Mainland where nobody knows where it is?"

"I finally found out about the Cultivation Hierarchy in this world. They are Body refining state, Qi refining state, Golden Core state, Nascent Soul State, and Domain Realm. The Nascent Soul State and Domain Realm cultivators are only present in the middle-grade sects and above. That book didn't contain much information about these two realms. It looks like I have to visit this library more often."

"It's getting late. I should rest now."

Early the next day,

Davion heard the bell ringing. So, he dressed and walked out of his cave, then immediately caught sight of Isla who was waiting there.

"Junior Brother, today is your first day. So, I will show you the way to the Lecture Hall. Sect Master will be giving us lectures." Isla said while moving forward.

Davion nodded and followed behind her.

When they reached the Lecture Hall, Davion saw two people were already waiting there. The man had handsome features and was wearing a white robe and the female was looking average in a black robe.

The female didn't really care about Davion and turned blind eye to it. But the male was seizing up Davion from top to bottom.

"Finally, someone who joined the sect," the man mumbled.

Seeing that they didn't have any interest in him, he considered for a moment and didn't talk with them. Rather he approached and waited with them outside the door.

The handsome man frowned as he stared at Davion again.

He had not expected that there would still be someone willing to join the Bone and Devil Sect when it was already in such dire straits. There were no resources supplied and one even had to do free labor and missions for the sect and face the bullying of other rival sects. Had it not been for that Secret Art which the Sect Master had been keeping to himself, he, Hendrix would long since have deserted them.

"Maybe it's a disciple who has poor talent and couldn't join any other sects."

"But, if he's really come for the secret art, trying to score an easy kill, then he's got to ask if I would agree to it." Hendrix had a vicious thought flashed across his mind.

He gave the lady behind him a sidelong glance.

Presently, his greatest rival was Isla, who stood behind him. This lady might not have many talents and was weak in cultivation, but she was extremely hardworking. She could even give her life to the sect and the Sect Master valued her very much.

"Come in." Just then, the Sect Master's composed voice rang out from within the cave.

The door opened and they could see that the Sect Master was sitting on a mat on the ground with a desk in front of him.

A few other mats were laid out before him, clearly meant for the disciples.

"Take a seat."

"Yes," they bowed in unison and took their seats.

"You are early." At the sight of Hendrix, a look of satisfaction appeared on Thaddeus's face.

Although the sect was in poor condition, some loyal disciples had been willing to stay in support of him. Among them, Hendrix and Isla were the most prominent.

Especially Hendrix, his character was decent and he had pretty good talent. He was also thinking about giving the Secret Art and passing his legacy to Hendrix. But he still had not made up his mind.

Although Isla was good, she paled in comparison. While she was honest and hardworking, her cultivation and talent were seriously too mediocre. Despite all her hard work, she lagged behind Hendrix, even though she cultivated for 5 years more.

Time trickled by. Before long, some disciples streamed into the cave. After some time, more than half of the twenty praying mats were still unoccupied.

As more time passed, Thaddeus's expression grew cold and disheartened as his gaze swept across the empty mats.

"Alright, let's begin this morning's lesson. Davion is a new disciple, so he should be taught from the start. He can cultivate the foundational Body Tempering Art of our sect and Isla, you'll instruct him. The rest of you, let's begin the morning lesson."

"Yes."

The dozen of disciples replied in unison.

Thaddeus tapped his finger on the table and a cloud of black smoke started to flow from the corners of the room.

Then, they shut their eyes, and streams of black smoke began gushing into their body. Davion used his Mind-Eye and could see that these black smokes contained rich dark elemental particles which flowed inside their body.

Isla came near him and said in a small voice, "This is the Dark Elemental Energy gathering formation which gathers all the dark particles from the sect. Every sect has a spirit vein from which they draw energy but the foundation of our sect is not those spirit veins but the source of this Dark energy that comes from the ground. Even our Sect Master doesn't know its exact location."

"These are the things; you can know from the library.. Let me first impart to you the foundational Body Tempering Art of this sect."