The night was deep in, and the moon was now hidden behind a layer of clouds. The cold fog was cold enough to make the ones exposed to them shiver.

The snow season had yet to come, even though it was already rather freezing. But on this cold night, on top of his home's roof, Han Li sat up after explaining what he had already read in the book to his mother.

Everything about the requirements, sacred demon, and what it all meant.

And his mother sat at his side, also filled with hope and expectations. They were both born here and grew up in these cold lands; the cold was nothing new to them.

Yue Li kept looking into the blank page with her gaze, but she couldn't see anything; it was just yellowed ancient paper, whereas Han Li, who could see it, started reading the demonic, dark-covered book.

The pages were detailed, and there were in-depth explanations of what to do in order to get what. It was clear-cut and concise. Yet, it was hard for him to see the whole picture; most of it seemed unidentifiable jibberish.

Those were some chants—that was all he could tell. It was confusing; thus, he skipped such details.

Even though he was born in one of the three big clans of the city, Starlight Family, he was born without a Starlight Spark—or any Power spark for that matter—and was thus ignored by the higher-ups and never even taught the basics. There was no reason to.

And he had never gone out of his way to study the Power Path either; it was all very confusing to him except the most common of common knowledge.

So, reading the book, he couldn't understand most of what it was saying, so he didn't try to get more confused and focused on only one part.

How can he start cultivation without a Power Spark?

Only that was important.

The rest was filler, as his mother smilingly commented.

It was common knowledge that people like him, scarce as they were, born without a Spark, could never cultivate.

So how can he cultivate?

Looking further, he found exactly what he was looking for and read on with interest, everything he knew about Sparks and such streaming through his head.

'In ordinary people's Power Cultivation, being born with a Spark and going through the three Awakenings was normal.

'First, at 13 years of age. 𝓯𝒓𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝒃𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝙢

'Second at 15 and the third Awakening at 18.

'By making the spark within them ignite with higher and higher intensity until, in the third awakening, the spark materializes outside the body.'

That was common sense.

But in this book, he could see it was different. Even before the first Awakening, there was something in its guidance: acquiring his own Power Spark.

His forehead started to sweat slightly.

Nobody had ever gone on to become a Cultivator from someone without a Spark. He was making a legend now. More than that, he could get a Spark of his own.

That was his greatest dream!

Something that had been beyond him till this very moment.

He took a deep, deep breath and steadied his beating heart. The only reason he thought it was real was his mother, who could not see the words on the page.

'First step in the path...' he read, and his heart skipped, 'was giving birth to a Lust Spark.'

His eyes shined.

'Lust spark, it sounds a bit Immoral...'

But then his eyes turned determined; it was a Spark that he was talking about. As long as he had it, his and his mother's life would be far different.

So he read on, 'To cultivate a Lust Spark in the Soul, you have to recite the sutra below while copulating with a Virgin Woman. Be mindful not to go wrong with the words even slightly as the chance would be lost.' And below it was one of the jibberish that he couldn't understand, filled with meaningless words.

But one thing was sure: this sutra was similar to those infamous Dual Cultivation Sutras he had heard about.

He couldn't help but find his heart skipping another beat.

Copulate with a Virgin woman? Where the hell was he supposed to find one?

Yue Li poked him with a finger and asked, "Xiao Li, what does it say? Can you cultivate it now?"

Han Li hesitated but said, "...It Says I have to find a wife to begin cultivating it."

Startled, Yue Li's eyes trembled. She couldn't help but suddenly become scared and silent...

And Han Li immediately saw through her emotions. He had seen her his whole life; he could read her like a book.

"What, Mom, are you sad?" he asked gently.

Yue Li didn't speak and stayed silent; what kind of bad mother would she be if she wanted to keep him sealed in her small world? She knew the world was vast and that her Xiao Li deserved more.

Even though they were as close as a mother and son could possibly be, a wife in a man's life was only natural. Her Xiao Li marrying someone was also natural.

She should be ashamed of herself for even thinking like that. Her son deserved all the happiness; she should be happy for him now. He just had to find a girl to marry, and his dream would be fulfilled.

She shook her head and asked with a smile, "Nothing, Xiao Li, so what are you going to do?"

Han Li frowned and went closer to her, then hugged her from the back and laid his chin on her shoulders, "Mom, what are you trying to hide in your little head? Tell me?"

Yue Li smiled and patted his head, "I was wondering if you would not sit alone with me on this roof again after you get married, whether you will become busy with your wife."

Han Li looked at her gentle face on the side and muttered in his heart, 'You know that's impossible.'

But he gave her a slight nod and said, "Hmm, I am really sorry, Mom. Now I will have to spend all my time with my upcoming Wife and forget about you."

Yue Li shifted away from his hug and looked at him with wide, moist, frightened eyes, "Xi...Xiao Li!"

Chuckling, Han Li took her hands, brought her back into his embrace, and then fell back on the thatched floor. Silently looking up at the sky with Yue Li atop his chest.

They stayed like that for a while before Yue Li asked with a meek tone, "So, that was a joke, Xiao Li?"

"No," he said while tightening his hug around her.

Yue Li fumed, this brat! Always making fun of her.

But whatever, she smiled slightly and rested her head on his chest, and before they knew it, both of them silently drifted off to sleep.