Chapter 3: Cultivation and Talent
While eating, the old man and woman continued to talk to him warmly. The old man, Fresh Wood was the Sword Clan's strongest expert as a peak Immortal Body Forming Stage and the one who assures the existence of their clan, was very amiable and kind. Michael was very touched, to the point that he already thought of Fresh Wood as a blood relative.
Though Michael was happy, he knew that there were things he need to do. He wants to get stronger to not be a burden to his benefactors and also because he wants to survive in this universe where the mighty reigns and the weak are trampled upon. A world that disregards figures like him who lack the power.
"Please teach me cultivation!", Michael said with a serious look on his face.
Hearing this, Fresh Wood's face became serious and said, "Child, I examined your body and I know that you are injured permanently already, and I believe you already know that from your experience yesterday."
Michael felt a stab of pain in his heart. He felt hopeless and worthless, like trash that nobody wants to touch.
"The path of cultivation would be extremely hard for you, in fact, its progress may as well be a thousand times harder than the normal.", the old man continued.
"I know these things sir, but I am decided, this is a path I must take.", Michael replied with extreme decisiveness.
Fresh Wood looked at the young man in front of him and saw the stubbornness in his eyes, having seen this, he sighed deeply. It was not for him to decide what path Michael would tread and thus he nodded and said, "I am an idiot who only knows about the sword so I will not be teaching you. Instead, I will give you access to the Sword clan's cultivation resources that are from the Sea God Sect.".
Michael felt excited, he was thankful to the old man for being generous, and so, he finished his meal happily. He proceeded to his room and slept early to prepare himself for tomorrow.
The next morning, Michael received several scrolls on cultivation and decided to read them. He learned that the process needed to start cultivation is basically the thing he was boggled with and just can't seem to do, absorbing spiritual essence and refining the body through it, this was the basics of all basics. Knowing this, Michael gritted his teeth and tried absorbing the strands of spiritual essence near him again, using the Sea God breathing technique which was of course something provided by the sect.
As the spiritual energy drew closer to him, he noticed that his left eye felt hotter, seemingly retaliating to the foreign things nearing its host, the spiritual energy inside him seemed to oppose the spiritual energy of the outside world. He smiled faintly, now knowing fully well the truth of the matter. He raised his hand while his faint smile began to widen with a hint of madness.
His right hand went towards his left eye and began to dig it out. He felt pain, utter pain, so much that he began to howl like an animal. He was just a normal man, a few days before, and here he was digging his own eyes out. Pulling it out, he felt the spiritual energy around him gradually begin to enter his body, ever so slowly but still something he was happy with. Though he can now absorb spiritual energy, his qi passageways, dantian, and other body parts needed for cultivation were severely injured, so bad that they may as well be crippled.
Not minding his bleeding eye, he practiced the Sea God Breathing Technique and absorbed whatever meager amount of energy he can. As time passed, he noticed that most of the energy he absorbed dispersed, he was like a pot full of cracks. He smiled bitterly and finally stopped.
"In the end, it seems there is no hope for me in cultivation.", he muttered blankly.
The door opened and Fresh Wood appeared he looked at Michael sadly, placed a sword in front of him, and said, "Child, it seems that you already see the case of the matter. I will give you this sword, it may not give you strength, but a sword in itself is an object of power, and by wielding it, you will wield power."
"That would not make me strong! Many would be able to kill me like when they are killing ants! I don't want to feel worthless anymore. I don't want to be useless!", Michael raved madly.
With a cold glint in his eyes, Fresh Wood slapped Michael. After a few moments of silence, he gave him a book on sword arts then left the room hastily, leaving Michael alone.
Staring blankly at the sword and the book blankly, he muttered, "So in the end, this is the only path left for me."
He read the book and began to practice the instructions there. He lifted the sword and slashed downwards repeatedly until collapsing, after doing it 4059 times, a number impossible if not for his anger and madness. Sleeping soundly after all the tiredness, time passed.
Two days passed, but Michael was still asleep, seemingly not willing to awaken, but his sleep was suddenly disturbed by a loud noise.
"Sister Tiger! Sister Tiger! Did you bring me a gift?", a child's voice happily shouted.
"Yeah, Sister Tiger is back! Grandfather would be delighted!", another voice said.
Rising from his sleep, he looked through the window and found the two children and an unfamiliar young woman with jade-white skin but an icy demeanor despite smiling slightly. She seemed like a doll crafted by a master craftsman, simply beautiful.
He stared at her and the woman also looked in his direction. As her gaze penetrated him, he felt pressure. He knew this feeling.
"So, a young woman like her is actually a hundred times stronger than me. The world of cultivation is really harsh, there are those gifted with immense talent and those cursed with utter misfortune.", he said, feeling pain in his heart.
Not wanting to do anything, he lied-down and slept once more, this time, really not wanting to wake up.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
IFeelLazy
IFeelLazy Its really hard to express ideas. Please inform me of mistakes or errors you noticed. Thanks as always.
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