"Ok, that was a lot of info dump!"
Listening to the old man's speech on television, Damon said as he finished watching the program.
Everyone could become a cultivator in theory? Yes. But in reality? No.
Absorbing Qi—through some means, anyone could be made an Awakened capable of absorbing Qi. That's the most crucial step. But the real challenge begins after awakening.
'Talent and resources.' Without proper or adequate talent, even after awakening, some may not step into the path of cultivation. It's the biggest and most uncontrollable factor for anyone.
As for resources? Money, connections, guidance—a lot of things need to be invested in to venture onto this path.
Without even one of these, one may not be able to take a single step on the road of cultivation.
"In four days... the ceremony will be held." Damon, a high school student in his final years, was already 18 years old and was supposed to awaken his senses to Qi during this ceremony.
Due to the event, a period of 10 days was given as holidays to the students by the school so as not to stress them out.
"..Qi and talent." Supernatural Talents—something innate that only a small portion of the Awakened possess. These range from control over the elements to even things like mind control and regeneration.
These individuals are of high potential and in demand by all organizations in the world, holding elite rank even among cultivators based on their talents.
Recalling the contents of the original work, Damon frowned. In the starting chapter, the protagonist did participate in the ceremony and awakened his senses to Qi but didn't possess any supernatural talents.
Later on, he gained a few, but innately, he never possessed any talent—making him part of the majority and common group of the cultivation world.
Recalling the chapters and the arc, Damon noted down the important things in his memory. Being cliché scenarios, it wasn't hard for Damon to remember these, but he still held them in high regard.
"The meta-knowledge I possess... with it, I can avoid the dangers and just grab the opportunities!" Evading danger—maybe this is not something a protagonist should say.
But...
'Realistically speaking, even if I am a protagonist, have plot armor... it's still risky for my life.' Cowardly? You may call him that, but knowing the dangers the upcoming future has in store for him, Damon doesn't plan to blindly follow the plot and get into some life-threatening scenarios!
"Now what to do... for now, let's just attend the ceremony and take my first step." Awakening and setting foot on the fantasy path of cultivation is now the priority for Damon.
"There are other ways to awaken too... but yeah, let's just follow this path." Special physiques, treasures—to awaken, there are a lot of ways. The ceremony is just one method followed in this country for mass awakening of civilians.
"There are other ways, but... the ceremony is the fastest and most efficient way." To awaken by some other methods—yeah, Damon could try that if he wished to. Now that he possesses almost infinite wealth, taking those paths would be a piece of cake. But still—'It's not even four days remaining...'
Yeah, in just four days, the ceremony will be held. Wasting time on other ways would be foolish and would certainly require more time.
Thinking of this, Damon just shook his head and continued on with his daily life while actively recalling the contents of the novel, drawing the most suitable and ideal road map for himself.
Days passed as Damon created his ideal plan while living a life of indulgence, enjoying his newfound wealth. And soon, it was time for the ceremony.
***
The moon shone brightly as the stars adorned the night sky. In Black Dragon City of Dragon Country, on the night before the auspicious day of awakening, the city bathed in peace.
"Jiang Yu! Meng Yan! I will kill you!"
...Or was bathed in peace.
Inside an old apartment complex, a teenager with a handsome face suddenly shouted, breaking the peace. His head was covered in sweat as his cold black eyes reddened in anger, roaring with rage.
His chest heaved heavily as he took deep and rapid breaths. Still wearing nightclothes, he appeared to have just awakened from a nightmare!
"What—where is this place?!" Looking around his room, he questioned with caution, adapting a defensive stance as he swept the room with his cold gaze.
"Wait... isn't this my old room? The one I used to live in before awakening?" the man said, puzzled, as confusion clouded his eyes.
"Could it be?..." Scrambling to the table nearby, he picked up his old mobile phone, his gaze fixated on the screen, looking at the date.
"22nd September, 2025? This can't be..." His eyes widened in realization as he stared at the screen. "I have travelled through time!"
"I have travelled through time! Ten years back in time!" Excitement rushed through his body as his breathing quickened, his pulse breaking records as he realized the situation he was in—back in the past, without questioning anything about the possibility.
"Oh Meng Yan! In my past life, I showered you with all my love, licking you like a dog, spending my entire life for your sake..." Cheng Jing said as he clenched his fist hard. "...But you not only took my love for granted but also gave me a green hat, throwing yourself into the arms of that Jiang Yu!"
Cheng Jing's mouth clenched hard in anger as he gritted his teeth. Cheng Jing, a teenager currently residing in Black Dragon City. A citizen of the great Dragon Country. A regressor who, for mysterious reasons even unknown to him, has travelled ten years into the past—on the day of his awakening.
In his previous life, he awakened as a cultivator with the talent of beast taming—a very weak talent—making him recorded as the weakest cultivator with supernatural talents. A person of ridicule, who licked his previous girlfriend's ass like a dog.
But due to some lucky encounters, he prevailed against everything the world threw at him and emerged as one of the strongest in the era. But later got betrayed by his fiancée and girlfriend, who, along with his best friend Jiang Yu, poisoned him and stabbed his back during a fight with a powerhouse of Sakura Country.
"Damn Meng Yan, damn Jiang Yu, damn Sakura Country! For all the pain you inflicted upon me, I, Cheng Jing, shall pay you back with tens of thousands of times the pain!"
Cheng Jing boldly declared as he recalled the scene before his death—where Meng Yan and Jiang Yu had sex in front of his dying self, mocking him, humiliating him.
Rage flowed through his veins as he felt an uncomfortable feeling below his waist... a feeling he hadn't experienced in over a decade, as his little brother in his pants saluted him, recalling the derogatory remarks Meng Yan threw at him while Jiang Yu pounded her from behind.
"...Meng Yan, Jiang Yu, you two idiots, just wait for me! There are also people who ridiculed and suppressed me. I remember all those accounts!"
"In this life, I will become the strongest, suppress all weirdness, kill all those who betray me, and reverse the outcome of the world's destruction!"
"Hahahahaha!!!"
With a loud roar, he declared before a loud banging sound came from the wall.
"Why are you so crazy in the middle of the night?! You can't let anyone sleep!"
***
Ok that was all for this chapter.
Ok guys I know it's just day since the release and shouldn't expect much at this moment for you all but please do comment or add this to collection.
Writing this without this response feels like a waste of time so please even if it's about something you don't like please do comment it out for me.
Anyways I forgot now have a question to ask.
The next protagonist has appeared. Regressed Beast Tamer.. yeah so what cheat should be hold for our mc to plunder?
Option 1: System?.. I am against this, I mean MC already got a system that too with ease so granting him another so soon isn't what I desire
Option 2: Supernatural Talent.. Eye Of Evolution or likes
Option 3: Nothing, let's just have mc keep an eye on regressor taking all the opportunities he knows of about future in advance through his life script.. though this is something he would do anyways