Cultivation Online

Yuan and Mei Xiaoyun stood calmly before Mei Feng in her office.

”How’s everything so far?” she asked them, her gaze mostly on Yuan.

”Boring,” Yuan answered without hesitation.

”Not surprising, considering you’ve just finished your classes.”

”When is the ceremony? I thought it was supposed to happen after the classes,” he then said.

”It will happen right before the others are sent to training. Although you won’t need to participate in the training, you still need to be present for the ceremony.”

”Why did you call us here?” Mei Xiaoyun asked.

”Are you in a rush to be somewhere?” Mei Feng remarked.

”...”

When Mei Xiaoyun fell silent, Mei Feng turned to look at Yuan and asked, ”Have you decided which Division you want to join?”

”Whichever Division will help me rank up and gain credentials the fastest.”

”In that case, you’d want to join the First Division. They are always the first to be considered for missions. Moreover, with your combat expertise, I also think it’s the most benefiting place for you.”

”The First Division it is, then.”

”A quick warning. The soldiers of the First Division tend to be more arrogant and prideful than those of the other Divisions because of their abilities. Since you’re both new and received a rapid promotion, you may run into some trouble during your first few months. Just don’t let it bother you,” Mei Feng warned.

”Are you asking me to ignore them?” Yuan remarked with a playful smile.

”To the best of your abilities,” she nodded.

”You should also be aware that although I command the First through Fourth Divisions, not everyone under me will be friendly. Some of them are even aligned with General Gu, so it would be wise to avoid unnecessary conflicts whenever possible.”

”I’ll do my best, but if it comes down to it, I’ll defend myself.”

Mei Feng nodded before clarifying, ”I’m not asking you to sit there and take it. I simply don’t want you drawing any more attention than you already have.”

Mei Feng then turned to Mei Xiaoyun. ”I won’t ask why you suddenly changed your mind about joining the military, but if you ever need anything, speak to Sergeant Quang or Sergeant Bing. They’ll do their best to accommodate you.”

Mei Xiaoyun narrowed her eyes slightly. ”I don’t want any special treatment.”

”As much as I’d like to leave you alone, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re my daughter, and as long as you’re in the military, there will always be people who try to take advantage of you—or use you to get to me. In a way, you’re in even more danger than Yuan.”

Mei Xiaoyun silently sighed at Mei Feng’s words. Even without being told, she was already aware of her own situation.

”I considered removing you from training, but ultimately decided against it. However, if anything happens, I’ll pull you out immediately. Understood?” Mei Feng said a moment later.

”I understand...”

”Now, back to you...” Mei Feng returned to looking at Yuan.

”After the ceremony tomorrow, come back here. I still have more things to tell you.”

”I understand.”

Yuan and Mei Xiaoyun were escorted back to their living quarters, where they remained for the rest of the day.

The following morning, they were escorted to a spacious area, where every new soldier received their insignia after swearing the military’s creed.

As the highest rank of all the new soldiers, Yuan received his insignia last.

After receiving his insignia, Yuan had to place his hand into a portal machine.

[Name: Yuan]

[Age: ???]

[Cultivation: Ninth Level Fifth Ascension]

[Military Rank: Corporal]

[Physique: Inexhaustible Heavenly Refinement]

[Credential Rank: 4]

[Cultivation Speed: 6]

Once everyone had received their insignias, all of the soldiers except Yuan were ordered to form a formation and march to their new training grounds, where they would spend the next year.

”See you later,” Yuan said to Mei Xiaoyun.

”See you in a year... if nothing happens between that time, that is,” she said.

”Let’s not jinx it.” Yuan chuckled. ”And I’m sure your mother will have someone watch over you during training, even if she didn’t mention it.”

Yuan remained until Mei Xiaoyun and the other soldiers vanished into the horizon.

”Let’s go see General Mei again,” Yuan said to Sergeant Bing and Sergeant Quang.

Some time later, Yuan stood before Mei Feng again.

”First and foremost, let me congratulate you on officially joining the military,” she said to him as she retrieved a piece of paper, placing it on the desk before her.

”Once you sign this, you’ll also officially join the First Division, as well as complete our contract. Any questions before you do?”

”I do, but I doubt you’ll answer them even if I asked.”

”If it’s related to Gaia, I cannot answer them.”

”Then can you tell me about the sirens and the underground city? It’s the first thing I experienced after coming to this world, and I still have no idea why it happened.”

”Sure, I can explain that, since it’s something you should know at your rank, but only after you sign this.”

Yuan signed the documents a moment later.

”Great. Now you’re officially part of the First Division.”

”Now, about your question...”

”I’m sure you’ve already learned this during your class, but our world is in danger.”

”Yes, but I was not given any details.”

”Because it’s for your safety. If this information is something we can reveal freely, we would’ve already done so long ago. Unfortunately, that is not the case.”

”Is it because this information is harmful? That it could literally kill?” Yuan asked.

Mei Feng narrowed her eyes at such words, a look of surprise in them.

”Where did you learn this information?” she asked him in a wary tone.

Yuan shrugged and said, ”I am dealing with something similar in my world.”

He continued, ”Since I am already in the loop, you might as well tell me everything.”

”That’s not how things work,” she swiftly responded. ”Even if you know the reason we cannot reveal such information, it doesn’t change the fact that you don’t qualify to learn it.”

”And how does one qualify? Let me guess... through my Credential Rank.”

Mei Feng nodded. ”The credential system isn’t merely used to measure an individual’s clearance and trustworthiness. It also determines whether they’re capable of handling the information. You have no idea how many people have died from learning something they weren’t supposed to learn.”

”If you say so,” said Yuan. ”Let’s return to the subject. Why is this world in danger?”

”Because that’s what Gaia told us.”

”Gaia told you the world is in danger...?” Yuan raised his eyebrows, looking puzzled.

”So you’ve spoken to Gaia before?”

”Of course. What kind of question is that?” Mei Feng stared at him with a weird expression.

”How do you speak to Gaia?”

”I don’t understand your question.”

”It’s exactly as it sounds. How do you speak to them? Through the system? In person?”

”Obviously, we speak to Gaia through the system. However, it’s also possible to speak to them in person, albeit much rarer.”

”Is Gaia... human?” Yuan swallowed nervously before asking.

”What else would they be? An animal?” Mei Feng shook her head at his bizarre questions.

’So a human created Gaia’s System...?’ Yuan thought to himself after learning this new information.

’No... It’s also entirely possible that it’s an Eternal disguised as a human. If I want to know the truth, I will have to meet them in person.’

”Then how does one meet Gaia?” he then asked.

”You don’t... at least not in your current state. If you want to even have a chance of meeting Gaia, you’ll need at least Credential Rank 8.”

”What a pain in the ass,” Yuan sighed out loud.

”Gaia is literally the most important individual in this world. There’s no way we’d let you meet them just because you want to.”

”Even though Gaia told me to find them?” Yuan asked.

”Huh?” Mei Feng’s eyes widened at his words, looking baffled by it.

”You heard that right. Gaia asked me to find them through the system.”

”Even if you say that, there’s no proof. Moreover, if Gaia really wants to meet you, they would’ve summoned you already. Anyways, enough about this subject.”

Mei Feng then said, ”According to Gaia, this world will be under attack in the near future by powerful beings from beyond our sky.”

Yuan narrowed his eyes, immediately connecting these beings to Eternals.

”How will they attack?” Yuan asked a moment later.

”They will invade our world and enslave us, using humans for their experiments.”

”...”

”You don’t look surprised,” Mei Feng remarked, noticing Yuan’s lack of reaction.

Most people who first learned of the prophecy reacted with shock or fear, but Yuan gave the impression that he already knew or had been expecting it.

”Should I be surprised?” Yuan shrugged before asking, ”Did Gaia reveal when they will attack this world?”

”No... but it will happen soon.” Mei Feng sighed.

”And when they attack, this entire world will be engulfed in flames, hence why we created the underground city.”

”So the sirens and escaping underground... It’s just a practice drill for when the real thing happens? I heard that it would sometimes last for years at a time.”

”That’s correct.” Mei Feng confirmed. ”When the real attack happens, we will likely spend decades, if not longer, underground at a time, so it’s for the best that we start early and familiarize ourselves with such a lifestyle.”