Nascent Soul Rebirth: Starting as a Wizard

Holding the scroll of "Introduction to Basic Rune Construction and Modeling" given to him by Catherine, he felt its cool touch, and the edges of the parchment shimmered with a faint glow of knowledge that only those with keen spiritual senses could perceive.

Without a doubt, this is a precious key for the system to step onto the path of wizards in this world and knock on the door of intermediate apprenticeship, and it also includes the notes of Catherine, an advanced wizard apprentice.

The notes of a high-ranking wizard apprentice are invaluable to any beginner.

Solo calmly flipped through a few pages. On the yellowed pages, the geometric shapes and energy node diagrams outlined in strange ink seemed to contain the rhythm of manipulating the underlying rules of the world.

He can understand it, and can even instantly grasp the principles behind many basic structures—

After all, all things return to the same source. Although the guidance and application of energy may appear different in different worlds, there are always some fundamental logics that are the same.

He gently placed the book back on the table, as casually as if he were putting down any ordinary object.

The path of the wizard is undoubtedly an essential stepping stone to understanding the laws of this world, acquiring a public identity and resources, and may even be a smooth road to heaven.

But Solo's heart was like a deep, clear well, reflecting only the one true truth:

The true foundation and the source of immortality have always been the righteous path of cultivation that begins with the primordial chaos and is perfected by the Great Dao!

This is not blind rejection, but rather a result of extremely clear-headed weighing of options.

He examined himself and found that his deepest reliance was his complete experience and advanced perspective, which far surpassed that of a wizarding apprentice in this world and originated from another power system.

That was the cultivation experience accumulated over eight hundred years in his previous life as a Nascent Soul cultivator, a profound understanding of the nature of energy, and insight into the obstacles and opportunities at each stage of the path.

While combat experience and secret techniques are valuable, they pale in comparison to the cognitive framework and path-predicting ability that permeate the entire cultivation process.

Imagine if he were to devote himself entirely to this completely unfamiliar path of wizardry.

So, in terms of these most fundamental "experiences" and "perspectives," how much of a difference is there between him and any other local apprentice who has just started learning?

Perhaps his instincts as a high-level cultivator and his general knowledge across different systems allow him to get started a little faster and understand certain principles more easily.

But this is ultimately walking on an unfamiliar road that I have never personally measured before, with completely different rules and details.

Every step may encounter obstacles and cognitive barriers based on the unique rules of this world, which cannot be directly resolved by past life experiences.

He will lose his greatest advantage, putting himself on the same starting line as everyone else, and may even make misjudgments due to preconceived notions.

Indeed, the path of cultivation requires a massive amount of spiritual energy for nourishment and various rare and precious materials to solidify the foundation of one's cultivation and break through bottlenecks.

On this completely unfamiliar Emerald Island, he started from almost nothing, penniless and facing a real shortage of resources.

but--

A faint, unwavering composure, the kind of certainty that only those who have witnessed the vicissitudes of life and the rise and fall of dynasties could possess, swept across his eyes.

Resources can be found, and environments can be adapted to, but the unique "level of spiritual cultivation" and "complete experience" that are deeply rooted in the soul and memory are the irreplaceable core assets.

With his knowledge and experience as a Nascent Soul cultivator, retracing the path of cultivation, his efficiency, his insight into the optimal path at each stage, his ability to avoid common traps and dangers, and his keenness in seizing and even creating small opportunities are remarkable.

How could they be compared to ordinary wizard apprentices in this world who mostly follow the rules and rely on fixed meditation methods and mentor guidance?

Perhaps the path of the wizard has its own mysteries, conveniences, and unique strengths, which are worth learning from and even trying to integrate in the future.

But Solo firmly believes that with his deep-rooted "family heritage," he can retrace the path of cultivation that he already knows by heart, and understands not only how it works but also why it works.

Its speed and stability in the early stages will certainly far exceed that of exploring a completely new and unknown wizarding system from scratch!

This is not blind arrogance, but a rational judgment based on a calm assessment of its own intrinsic value.

It is also a profound understanding and firm conviction of the essence of one's own path, originating from the depths of one's soul.

The outline of the "open road" is already faintly visible, but the "hidden road" must be laid immediately!

He could not place all his hopes and time on the college he was about to enter.

He needs a pair of eyes, a pair of hands, and a reliable support that can penetrate to the deepest levels of society, like hidden roots silently drawing nourishment from the vast world for him.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the ornate windows of the mansion and the hazy mist in the distance.

The gaze was cast upon the shadow that would never appear on any tourist map, yet was bound to exist like a scar beneath the gleaming body of this city—the slums.

No matter which world you're in—whether it's the mortal realm of the Xuanhuang Realm, the distant homeland called Blue Star etched in your memory, or this strange world before you where steam roars and magical light intertwine—it's a place of wonder.

There are always corners that cannot be illuminated by the sun, and behind the curtain of prosperity, there are always similar poverty, filth, and silent despair.

The people there, repeatedly crushed by the burden of survival, have long been mired in the dust.

For a mere breath to prolong their lives, they are often willing to pay a price that is unimaginable to ordinary people.

Solo deeply trusts the "blood pact" that originates from the very essence of his soul. It is the most solid shackle that ensures loyalty, pointing straight to the core and difficult to break free from.

But he is not a ruthless plunderer who only knows how to seize and plunder, at least not to humans.

Pure violence may have a miraculous effect at first, but once the seeds of resentment are sown, they will sooner or later grow into a poisonous vine of betrayal.

What he needs is someone who hasn't completely succumbed to despair in the mire, who still retains a sliver of resilience, and who has an unyielding pull in their heart.

In other words, it's about exploiting weaknesses!

At this moment, his public identity and wealth are limited, so he uses "the hope of survival" and "the power to change his fate" as the most tempting currencies.

To engage in a seemingly "fair" negotiation with those souls who are starving and on the verge of complete collapse.

This is undoubtedly the best option at present, and the one most likely to select a "qualified" contract slave.

The "Rust District" of Emerald City is the most concrete and cruel embodiment of this shadow.

This place is like a piece of necrotic tissue on the city's bright and vibrant body; the low, crooked shacks are like festering sores, densely clinging to the damp earth.

The building materials were an ugly patchwork of rusted iron sheets, moldy and blackened wooden boards, broken bricks and stones, and hardened mortar, picked up at random, without any planning, just to barely keep out the wind and rain.

The so-called roads are nothing more than narrow ditches formed naturally between buildings, overflowing with sewage and filled with all sorts of unidentifiable garbage that have accumulated and fermented.

The air was perpetually filled with the pungent sulfur smell of burning low-quality coal, the sour stench of rotting organic matter, and the foul odor of human excrement rising in the sweltering heat.

And a more fundamental, somber, and despairing atmosphere, a mixture of chronic pain, long-term malnutrition, and utter numbness.

The massive steam pipes overhead resembled the exposed black veins of an industrial behemoth, tangled and emitting a low, humming vibration.

Every now and then, a sizzling white steam would hiss out from the rusted joints or cracks, scalding the already murky air.

Occasionally, it also burns homeless people who are huddled in a corner and don't have time to dodge.