NOVEL NEXT Chapter 82: Cultivation...
"System, how do I absorb celestial energy? Take the required origin energy you need."
There was a brief silence. Then, to Aleron's shock, five hundred origin energy points suddenly vanished from his reserves.
Immediately after, the system responded with a gleaming message in his mind.
[You can absorb celestial energy by using a celestial cultivation technique.]
"Celestial cultivation technique?" Aleron was slightly stunned.
He turned his attention to the system once more and asked cautiously, "What is a celestial cultivation technique?"
The system gleamed slightly, and another five hundred origin energy points were deducted.
Aleron felt his lips twitch in frustration.
[Celestial cultivation techniques are ranked into different grades. The academy should possess some celestial cultivation techniques, and as the Origin Devourer, you should possess one as well.]
Aleron widened his eyes at the system's words. He quickly asked, "How do I obtain the cultivation technique I possess as the Origin Devourer?"
However, after his question, the system fell silent, refusing to respond further. Aleron cursed the black-hearted system under his breath and sank into deep thought, searching his memories.
Sitting cross-legged, he exhaled slowly and closed his eyes, trying to focus. Since the system offered no further assistance, he had no choice but to rely on himself.
"Origin Devourer…" he muttered, letting the words slowly roll off his tongue.
He reached inward, combing through the vast labyrinth of his memories. After a while, faint fragments began to surface in his mind, flickering like reflections on rippling water.
Then, he grasped it.
Suddenly, his mind trembled. Symbols etched in golden starlight surged through his consciousness, flowing together like an intricate puzzle. He couldn't explain how he understood it, but the moment the final symbol locked into place, knowledge exploded within him like a silent roar.
The name of the technique thundered through his thoughts.
[Celestial Devourer's Codex – Level 1]
Aleron's eyes opened slowly, and a silver light gleamed in his pupils.
The technique required him to circulate his energy and form an origin core capable of absorbing various types of energy to enhance his cultivation.
Aleron was astonished. Without hesitation, he moved his thoughts in alignment with the guidance of the Celestial Devourer's Codex.
He placed his right palm over his chest, drew in a deep breath, and visualized the formation of the origin core. According to the codex, the core was to be formed near the heart.
A muffled explosion echoed from within.
A deep vibration coursed through him, and a strange suction force radiated from his chest. Almost instantly, the air around him began to stir.
Wisps of faint silver-blue light, previously invisible, shimmered into view. They floated around him like tiny stars, graceful and ethereal.
Celestial energy.
It surrounded him, and now he could sense it.
He lifted his hands, guiding the Celestial Devourer's Codex as instructed. The Devourer origin core spun gently within his chest, drawing the celestial wisps closer.
The silver-blue energy was pulled toward him as if magnetized. The moment they touched his skin, they sank inward, vanishing into the core.
A warm, invigorating sensation spread through his entire body. Unlike origin energy, this felt purer, sharper, and far more potent. It surged through his veins, reinforcing his bones, toughening his muscles, and sharpening his awareness.
His cultivation base trembled. A strange pressure coiled inside him before stabilizing.
His origin core absorbed the celestial energy eagerly.
Minute by minute, the flow became more consistent. His breathing slowed to a steady rhythm, his heartbeat gradually syncing with it.
After two hours, he finally exhaled deeply and opened his eyes.
A faint mist of silver light lingered around his body.
"…It worked."
He raised a hand, watching the remaining traces of celestial energy glimmer along his fingertips.
"I can absorb celestial energy now," he whispered, a faint grin forming on his lips.
Silently, his cultivation had risen. From Origin Adept level eight, he had reached Origin Adept level nine.
The increase was astonishing. Aleron could even sense that his dragons had benefited, their cultivation rising in tandem with his own.
Smiling lightly, he prepared to return to cultivation. However, just as he was about to enter a meditative state, a loud crash resounded in the distance.
His eyes snapped open. Something had happened.
Turning toward the source of the noise, his body flickered before vanishing entirely.
This was the A-grade movement ability he had acquired from the young man who had previously released that terrifying creature that nearly killed him.
The name of the ability was Space Jump, an A-grade skill that used origin energy to leap through space.
Appearing near the disturbance, Aleron glanced at a young man who stood at the center of a fractured clearing.
He appeared to be in his late teens, perhaps only a year or two older than Aleron. His short, dark hair was swept back with a careless touch, and a deep scar ran diagonally across his left cheek.
He wore simple clothing—silver-blue robes marked with the insignia of the Celestial Academy.
Dust clung to his sleeves, and a ripple of residual energy still shimmered on the cracked earth beneath him.
He looked startled, perhaps a little winded, but otherwise unhurt.
Aleron's voice came out cold and unwavering. "Who are you?"
The young man straightened and casually brushed the dirt off his shoulder. "Name's Kael," he replied calmly, as if they were meeting in a tavern and not in the ruins of a forest clearing.
Aleron's eyes narrowed. "You're not a summoner. I don't sense any beasts around you."
Back in the Origin World, Aleron had noticed a distinct energy signature that summoners gave off due to their connection with their beasts. Yet here, he sensed nothing from this stranger.
Kael shrugged slightly. "Never needed one. I've got something else."
"I've come to challenge you for your room. I think my strength is sufficient, and I prefer your room," Kael stated bluntly, showing no hint of hesitation.
"So soon?" Aleron recalled the instructor mentioning that higher-ranked rooms could be contested through combat. He just hadn't expected to defend his so soon.
He let out a tired sigh. It seemed he would have to teach a few people some lessons to keep his cultivation time uninterrupted.
"In that case, let's fight," Aleron said softly as the rods in the surrounding area began to tremble faintly.