Ascension of the Forsaken Genius

The faint glow of candlelight flickered across the ancient pages of the tome Sylas held open, his keen eyes scanning each passage with unwavering focus. The Principles of Cultivation, though comprehensive for a kingdom like Ardentia, barely scratched the surface of the vast and complex paths of ascension beyond its borders.

Cultivation began with energy absorption, refining ambient energy into one's core. However, unlike the common belief that energy was uniform, the truth was far more intricate. There were multiple energy types—Solar, Lunar, Abyssal, Astral, Earthly, Elemental, and even Pure Energy.

Ardentia’s records detailed three primary cultivation paths:

Energy Cultivation, the most widespread, focused on absorbing energy into an innate core, refining and expanding it to enhance strength, endurance, and longevity. Those with strong elemental affinities could manifest their power into raw destructive force or intricate techniques.

Body Cultivation merged energy with the physical form, reinforcing bones, muscles, and senses to superhuman levels. Practitioners of this path often displayed monstrous endurance, able to fight even when grievously wounded.

Spirit Cultivation strengthened the mind and soul, unlocking abilities that could bend reality—illusions, divine perception, or even glimpses into the flow of fate. Those who excelled in this path could manipulate unseen forces, influence emotions, or perceive the world beyond physical limitations.

Yet, despite these structured paths, the scrolls held no profound techniques—only basic methodologies any noble family would possess. A lower-tier kingdom has no real secrets, Sylas mused. Ardentia lacked the knowledge held by empires and ancient sects, leaving its nobles with an incomplete understanding of cultivation.

The noble houses of Ardentia wielded distinct elemental affinities, shaping their strengths and weaknesses:

House Aldreth (his own) wielded Solar and Earth energy, a balance between unyielding defense and overwhelming counterattacks. Solar energy granted explosive bursts of power, while Earth energy provided resilience and fortification. Yet, despite this balance, their techniques seemed... stagnant. Had they once been greater?

House Valecourt commanded Lightning energy, excelling in speed and precision. Their combat style revolved around striking before an enemy could react, their techniques ruthless in execution.

House Ravencroft specialized in Shadow energy, mastering assassination and illusionary arts. Their warriors thrived in deception, striking unseen and disrupting the minds of their enemies.

House Emberlane cultivated Fire energy, their techniques embodying aggressive, destructive power. Their warriors favored overwhelming offense, burning through all obstacles in their path.

As Sylas closed the book, footsteps echoed outside the library. A moment later, the distant toll of the summoning bell rang. A meeting had been called.

---

Seated at the grand oval table in Aldreth’s war hall, Duke Aldreth’s piercing gaze swept across the assembled family members.

“The Grand Selection is upon us,” the Duke began, his voice firm. “Ardentia’s future talents will be unveiled, and our house must not falter."

The Grand Selection was not merely a test of skill—it was a battlefield for prestige, alliances, and political maneuvering. Yet, despite the weight of this event, Sylas’s role had already been decided.

“You are not to partake in the trials,” his father had stated days prior. The reason? Pure Energy was not acknowledged as a worthy path.

Sylas had said nothing. There was no point in arguing—not yet. Instead, he had spent his days gathering knowledge, understanding the framework of cultivation. He was beginning to see it for what it truly was. A rigid structure designed for those who fit within its rules.

But what of those who did not?

---

As House Aldreth deliberated on their strategies, the other ducal houses held their own war councils.

In the Valecourt War Hall, banners of crackling lightning adorned the walls. Lord Valecourt surveyed his gathered children with an intense gaze. “Speed and precision dictate victory. Exploit weaknesses before the enemy reacts.” His eldest son, Lucien Valecourt, smirked in confidence. He was the undisputed prodigy of their house, his lightning arts already feared by many.

In the Shadow Assembly of House Ravencroft, masked figures sat in a dimly lit chamber, their patriarch speaking in a hushed but commanding voice. “We do not fight wars head-on. We control them from the shadows.” Their youngest heir, Seraphina Ravencroft, watched with calculating eyes—her illusions already enough to drive lesser minds to madness.

At House Emberlane’s Flames of Conquest, the air shimmered with heat as warriors sparred. Lord Emberlane observed them before speaking. “Fire is not just destruction. It is dominance. Burn your name into the world.” His daughter, Cassandra Emberlane, flared her crimson flames, eager to prove herself.

Each house sought to showcase their younger generation, using the Selection as a stage to shape their future influence.

---

Days later, the capital of Ardentia was alive with anticipation. Nobles, guild leaders, and even members of the royal family assembled in the grand hall. The Grand Selection was not merely a competition—it was a hunt for talent, a display of potential that could shape the kingdom’s fate.

Sylas stood at the edge of the hall, an unseen observer amidst the grandeur. His presence was an afterthought to the nobles, who viewed him as little more than a failed heir.

Yet, as he quietly observed, his eyes met Lucien Valecourt’s from across the room. The lightning-wielding prodigy studied him for a moment—his gaze was not filled with the same disdain as the others. Instead, there was something else. Curiosity. Calculation.

Then, with a smirk, Lucien looked away.

He sees me as an anomaly, Sylas realized. Not worth fearing, but worth watching.

It was a small moment, but it confirmed what Sylas had suspected. Even among those who dismissed him, there would always be those who recognized an outlier.

And outliers could not be predicted.

As the Selection proceeded, Sylas remained in the shadows, his mind piecing together fragments of knowledge. The world believed Pure Energy to be weak, a path leading nowhere.

But what if they were wrong?

He would find the answer.

And one day, he would redefine the very foundations of cultivation.