The forest pulsed like a living heartbeat, its protective formation humming softly beneath the soil. Mist swirled around the trunks, tracing invisible glyphs in the air, as Yuan Liuyue knelt beside Xuan Mo. Though the boy had never left the forest, today, the mortal realm would come alive before him.
"Listen carefully, Xuan Mo," she said, her voice both gentle and commanding. "The world outside is vast, filled with cultivators, sects, dynasties, and races. You must understand them if you are to survive—and dominate."
With a flick of her wrist, the mist coalesced into holographic projections of lands, mountains, rivers, and cities. Towering sect palaces rose from the ground, their spires glittering in golden light. Castles of dynasties, some vast enough to stretch across continents, shimmered with protective wards.
"These are the major dynasties," Yuan Liuyue explained. "The mortal realm is divided, yet connected by bloodlines, treaties, and conflict. Dynasties command armies, sects train cultivators, and clans hold secrets that can alter the course of history."
She pointed to a floating city of silver and jade, its streets bustling with energy. "This is the Azure Dragon Dynasty. They excel in dragon-blooded cultivators. Their eldest heirs are considered paragons of martial talent. Every dynasty has its focus: some on formation mastery, some on pill refinement, some on martial technique."
The mist twisted, reshaping into small, humanoid figures, each representing a different race: humans, demonic dragons, tree spirits, phoenix-blood, serpent-blood, and other hybrid races.
"Every race carries unique traits," she said. "Demonic dragons have immense physical power and destructive potential. Tree spirits—like part of your lineage—resonate with nature and formations. Phoenix-blood cultivate fire and rebirth energy. Serpent-blood can manipulate poison and shadow. Bloodlines dictate potential and affinity for certain techniques, pills, or formations."
Roots shifted beneath Xuan Mo's feet, glowing faintly as they traced the paths of power connecting clans, sects, and dynasties. Each root pulsed in rhythm with his aura, teaching him energy flow, influence, and hierarchy.
"Now, spirit stones," Yuan Liuyue continued, lifting a hand to summon floating crystal shards, each glowing with inner light. "Spirit stones are essential for cultivation. They store power and can be used to refine pills, enhance techniques, or awaken hidden potential. Their ranks are: Mortal, Sect, Divine, Celestial, Supreme, and Legendary. Higher-ranked stones are rarer, more potent, and often guarded by entire sects."
A crystal floated near Xuan Mo, faintly resonating with his demonic aura. "You see this, little one? This is a Supreme Spirit Stone. Alone, it can enhance an adult cultivator's energy tenfold. In your hands…" Yuan Liuyue smiled faintly, "it will resonate with your hybrid bloodline, multiplying its effects beyond ordinary comprehension."
The projections shifted again. Battles of the past appeared—wars between dynasties and sects, formations collapsing, armies engulfed in elemental storms, and great masters wielding pills and artifacts with world-shaping power. Yuan Liuyue narrated each carefully, pausing for him to observe the outcomes.
"History teaches you strategy," she said. "The strongest are not those who strike first, but those who understand bloodlines, techniques, and formations. They exploit weakness, anticipate moves, and manipulate the world's energies like a painter with a brush."
She reached out, tracing lines of qi connecting rulers, sects, and bloodlines. "Every action leaves an imprint. Every family has strengths and vulnerabilities. Every sect has secrets and formations. You must see beyond surface power to the threads that bind the world together."
Xuan Mo's tiny hands flickered with light as he absorbed the knowledge. He saw the stratification of cultivation: Mortal cultivators, Core Formation cultivators, Sect Masters, Divine-level, Celestial-level, Supreme, and World-class legends who could bend reality with a thought. He felt the pulse of spirit stones and the resonance of bloodlines, understanding patterns previously hidden from all but the most seasoned masters.
"Remember," Yuan Liuyue whispered, "the world is vast. A single cultivator may rise to power, but only by understanding clans, races, bloodlines, and artifacts can they shape destiny. Knowledge is your weapon as much as your aura or heritage. One day, the mortal realm will tremble at your presence."
She paused, letting the visions fade. The forest returned to its quiet, golden serenity. The mist curled around Xuan Mo, and the roots beneath him pulsed in soft affirmation. Though he had not stepped beyond the formation, he felt the entirety of the mortal realm, its dangers, its opportunities, and its secrets.
"You will continue learning," she said, brushing his hair back. "Next, we will study clans, sects, and dynasties in detail—how they rise, fall, and intertwine. Knowledge without experience is incomplete, but in your case, experience will come later. For now, understand everything you can from within this sanctuary."
Xuan Mo's aura shimmered faintly, already absorbing centuries of cultivation history in mere moments. The forest stood watch, silent and eternal, a cradle of knowledge for the child who would one day rule realms far beyond its roots.