'Father is right. I've only mastered one technique—I shouldn't let arrogance blind me. But this old man is really too much! How dare he curse me? I reject that!'

  Feeling indignant, Jin Yu popped another nut into his mouth and crunched loudly.

  Across from him, Jin Wei’s eye twitched. This brat still had the heart to eat?

  "..."

  Forget it. If he gets too arrogant, I'll just have Lin beat some sense into him.

  "Old man," Jin Yu said between bites, "I feel like I’m missing something despite reaching the peak of the Sanctum Sword Technique."

  Jin Wei shot him a glare. "Didn’t I tell you to perform the technique?"

  "Alright, alright." Jin Yu sighed dramatically, placing his bowl of nuts on the table like it was the heaviest burden in the world. He stood up, stretched lazily, then executed the technique.

  Jin Wei watched in silence. Then, he sighed.

  "You’re still too slow. It might look fast to you, or to ordinary people, but that’s because your level is too low. In front of a true martial artist, you’re just a turtle."

  Jin Yu’s movement froze mid-strike.

  ...A what?

  His eye twitched. Turtle?

  He placed his hands back at his side and turned to his father, utterly offended. "Are you serious? My sword is so fast I could shave a mosquito’s legs midair!"

  Jin Wei looked at him flatly then throw him a sword that appeared in his hands. "Try swinging at me."

  Jin Yu caught it clumsily and swing it at his father.

  Before his sword could even get close, Jin Wei casually raised a finger—just one—and tapped Jin Yu’s blade. The force sent him staggering three steps back.

  Jin Yu: "..."

  What the hell?!

  Suppressing his frustration, he plopped down on the chair, stuffing another handful of nuts into his mouth in protest. 'Fine, old man. You win this round.'

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Jin Yu Wei continued, unfazed. "You’re only at Human Realm Two, the second level out of five in the Human Realm. You still have a long way to go. Don’t underestimate the next three levels—many people are stuck in them for life, and some take decades to break through."

  Jin Yu yawned. "Decades? That's way too long—"

  Influence +10

  (Emotion provoked: Irritation)

  Jin Wei narrowed his eyes. "Then get stronger faster, brat!"

  Jin Yu coughed lightly and adjusted his position. "Ahem. Please continue."

  Jin Wei snorted but continued. "After the Human Realm comes the Essence Core Realm, which has five levels. This is the foundation of all true martial artists. In this stage, you refine your energy into an Essence Core, stabilizing your strength and laying the groundwork for future breakthroughs. Without it, even if you reach higher realms, your foundation will be weak, and you'll never reach true power."

  Jin Yu scratched his head. "So basically, this is where people stop being weaklings?"

  Jin Wei sighed. "Something like that. After mastering the Essence Core, you enter the Nascent Soul Realm, where your Essence Core evolves into a Nascent Soul, marking your transition from a mortal to someone capable of wielding true spiritual power. It's a stage where your consciousness and soul become more defined, granting you greater control over your energy. Once you reach this realm, you can start touching the edges of immortality. After that, you enter the Transcendent Realm, where you surpass human limitations. There are five levels in this realm, and each one increases your lifespan by a hundred years."

  Jin Yu blinked. Wait, wait, wait—did he just say a hundred years?

  He suddenly sat up straight. "So if I hit Transcendent Five, I’ll live for five hundred years?"

  Jin Yu Wei shot him a glare. "If you don’t die first."

  Jin Yu coughed again and wisely stayed silent.

  Jin Wei continued, "Next is the Deity Realm. Your body will rejuvenate—your old bones will grow younger and stronger. A single strike from a deity can kill thousands of transcendents. In some regions, deities are considered overlords. This realm is also the minimum requirement for founding a sect."

  "Then comes the Immortal Realm. That’s where I stand. With one swing of my sword, I could turn an entire city into a wasteland, never to rise again… or maybe after thousands of years. That’s the power of an immortal. We are the protectors of the Four Regions—North, South, East, and West.

  "But what truly makes the Immortal Realm terrifying is its lack of levels. Unlike other realms, it isn't measured by progression because every immortal follows their own unique Dao path.

  There is no strongest path—only the one most suited to you. I cultivated the Sword Dao, influenced by the Sanctum Technique I once learned. But that’s just one factor. When you reach that stage, you’ll find your own path."

  "Wow!" Jin Yu’s eyes widened. "The cultivation path is really long… no wonder I never had any interest."

  Influence +50

  (Emotion provoked: Anger)

  Jin Wei’s brows twitched. "Brat! If you don’t cultivate, you’ll be stuck in this city for life. Your peers will surpass you, and your enemies will come knocking. You have no choice!"

  Jin Yu pouted. "What’s wrong with living in the city? I can eat, sleep, and flirt with—"

  Before he could finish, a teacup flew toward him.

  Jin Yu barely dodged as it shattered against the wall behind him.

  Influence +100

  (Emotion provoked: Anger)

  "Flirt with who?!" Jin Yu Wei’s voice was cold.

  Jin Yu gulped. Damn! Why did I say that out loud?

  "Ahem, cough, I mean train hard and seek enlightenment "

  "Good" Jin Wei gave him the 'that better be' look before he tossed a stack of books at him, who barely caught them.

  "Now, take these and scram! As for your earlier question—what you're missing is Spiritual cultivation. The Sanctum Technique requires perception, and perception comes from spiritual energy. Without it, your sword is blind and crippled. You might still use it, but it’ll be no different from a blind swordsman swinging wildly.

  There are enemies you won’t see, attacks you won’t perceive. That’s where spiritual cultivation comes in. I’ll send the technique to you later."

  "Oh—crunch!" Jin Yu bit into another nut.

  [Fury +10]

  Jin Wei clenched his fists. "Scram!"

  Jin Yu quickly changed the subject. "Ahem! Anyway, now that I remember! Why did you tell that maniac uncle to train me? Are you both looking down on me?"

  Jin Wei gave him a sideways glance.

  Jin Yu crossed his arms. "Just because I never had interest doesn’t mean I lack talent! Both of you are bullies!"

  A heavy shadow loomed over him.

  Before he could react—PAH!

  A sharp smack landed on the back of his head. Jin Yu yelped, clutching his skull.

  Who the hell—?!

  "Who are you calling a maniac, brat?"

  A deep voice rang out behind him. Jin Yu spun around in his chair, and his stomach dropped.

  A towering figure stood behind him, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

  Uncle Lin smirked. "Your father has spoiled you rotten."

  Jin Yu gulped.

  "...Why did you smack me?" Jin Yu felt indignant. Tears stung his eyes.

  Uncle Lin cracked his knuckles. "You want me to do it again?"

  Jin Yu instantly sat up straight. "No, sir!"

  Jin Wei chuckled from the side. This brat still has a long way to go.