God-Tier System: Kill Beasts, Cultivate Forever-Chapter 12: Cultivation Realms

Liam wrestled with his thoughts. He wasn't afraid of Blake...they had once been best friends...but the Mist Forest was a treacherous place, and he didn't want his new companions risking their lives.

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After a long internal debate, he clenched his jaw and made his decision. "I'll accept your challenge, but only if the elders oversee our competition."

He was pleased with his clever stipulation. With the elders presiding, the chances of a life-or-death situation would be significantly reduced, and Blake wouldn't be able to resort to underhanded tricks.

Blake smirked. "I have no problem with that. Besides, this way, you won't be able to deny your defeat." He let out a confident laugh.

Liam chuckled in response and walked past him, his companions following closely behind.

Once they were a safe distance away, Tyler, Harry, and Meru bombarded Liam with questions.

"Is he the one competing with you?"

"What exactly is the Mist Forest?"

"Where is it located?"

Liam raised a hand, signaling them to slow down. "Alright, alright, I'll explain."

He took a deep breath before continuing, "His name is Blake Alphonso. We used to be good friends, but the rivalry between our families drove a wedge between us."

Tyler, uninterested in the personal history, steered the conversation back. "Tell us about the Mist Forest. You said even elites hesitate to enter. Why?"

Liam paused, his gaze drifting toward the sky as if lost in thought. His companions assumed he was either gathering his thoughts or recalling something unsettling.

Eventually, he spoke. "I was wondering how to explain it, but I suppose honesty is best. The Mist Forest isn't dangerous because of its beasts—although they are stronger than those found elsewhere, they aren't terrifying enough to make elites tremble."

He let the words settle before continuing, "Initially, hunters flocked to the forest because of the abundance of prey. Some never returned, but we dismissed it as a natural risk of hunting. Then, one day, a man from a higher city arrived—someone whose cultivation surpassed an Elemental Master's."

At this revelation, his companions' jaws dropped. They had never heard of a level beyond Elemental Master. Harry made a mental note to ask his system about the full hierarchy of cultivation levels.

Ignoring their astonishment, Liam continued, "Rumors say he came seeking a treasure hidden within the Mist Forest. But to this day, he has never returned."

A chill ran through the group as Liam's expression darkened. "That's when we started noticing a pattern—most people weren't found dead. They simply vanished. Even elite warriors disappeared without a trace. No one knows where they go."

Harry furrowed his brows, deeply intrigued. A cultivator stronger than an Elemental Master had gone missing? That was unsettling.

"Although disappearances are rare, if luck isn't on your side, you could be the next one to vanish," Liam concluded.

Harry exhaled slowly, processing the information. "Why would a high-level cultivator come to this city in the first place?" he asked, half-expecting no answer.

To his surprise, Liam responded with something even more intriguing.

"There are rumors of an ancient tomb—one belonging to a god-level cultivator. Some believe that those who disappear are chosen to undergo a test to inherit the cultivator's legacy... but they fail. No one knows if it's true."

Meru crossed her arms. "Then shouldn't people be deliberately trying to go missing, hoping for a chance at the inheritance?"

The others gave her a strange look, unable to fathom anyone willingly risking their life for a mere rumor.

Liam suddenly turned to them. "So, what do you all think?"

"Think about what?" they asked in unison, caught off guard by the sudden question.

"About whether you still want to enter the Mist Forest. Now that you know the risks, you can back out if you want. Even with the elders present, there's always a chance of danger."

The three exchanged glances, but none of them hesitated. Liam had already helped them immensely, and this was their chance to repay him. Without a word, they placed their hands together in a show of solidarity.

Liam hesitated for a moment, finding the gesture somewhat childish, but eventually, he joined in.

"Then let's start preparing," he said.

They followed Liam as he led them to the marketplace.

"Krish, tell me about the different cultivation levels," Harry asked his system as they walked.

["Certainly. The first stage is 'Foundation Building.' These individuals aren't full-fledged cultivators yet, and their strength isn't vastly superior to ordinary humans.

The next level is 'Elemental Master,' where one gains the ability to control elemental forces.

Beyond that is 'Spiritual Sage,' allowing control over spiritual energy and limited flight.

Then comes 'Celestial Sage,' who can fly freely and manipulate energy on a much grander scale.

There are higher levels still, but this should suffice for now."]

Harry nodded, excited at the prospect of flying. Yet, a part of him felt like a frog at the bottom of a well—completely unaware of the vast world above.

He took a deep breath, making a silent vow. He would enter the Philosophers Academy.

Not only would it grant him opportunities to visit high-tier cities—where he suspected his father and Maria might be—but it was also the best place to grow stronger and expand his knowledge of cultivation.

"Can anyone take the entrance exam for the Philosophers Academy?" he asked.

Liam was puzzled by the sudden topic shift but answered nonetheless. "Yes. They mainly assess your talent, so there's no strict level requirement."

Harry's expression remained neutral, but internally, he was relieved.

"I'm planning to take the exam. Can you tell me more about it?"

Hearing this, Tyler and Meru perked up, clearly interested as well.

Liam nodded. "The academy evaluates your talent based on the environment you grew up in. For example, in this city, reaching level 6 by your twenties is considered decent enough to qualify.

But considering you only recently awakened and are already at level 6, you could easily pass."

Harry didn't reveal that he was actually at level 7. There was no need to draw unnecessary attention—at least not until he was safely within the academy.

They arrived at the same shop as before and purchased a Body Tempering Serum for Tyler to help him level up. Unfortunately, they found nothing suitable for Meru.

Their next stop was a large store, which Liam identified as the Star Association's Official Shop.

"I've been saving up for this moment since I can't rely on my family," Liam admitted.

His friends understood what he meant as they stepped into a weapon shop lined with gleaming blades and artifacts.

"Since you're helping me, the least I can do is ensure our safety with better weapons. I have enough money to buy each of you an intermediate-tier weapon. Choose whatever suits you best."

Weapons were displayed on the walls, categorized by tier. Harry used his Inspect skill, but something puzzled him. Unlike basic-tier weapons, which all displayed specific skills, many intermediate weapons showed no skills at all.

Even more strangely, advanced-tier weapons lacked descriptions entirely and were instead labeled with cultivation levels like Foundation Building Level 7, 8, and 9.

'Is the system unable to detect their abilities?' he wondered.

To confirm, he pointed at one of the intermediate weapons that displayed no skill information. "What ability does this weapon have?" he asked Liam.

Liam glanced at the weapon before turning to the shop manager for clarification.

"It's an Original," he finally replied.

Harry frowned. "Original?"

What did that mean?