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Urban Ascent


20 episodes


Machine generated Fantasy Serial Audio Book


Synopsis:

In a world that barely believes in magic, Nathan stumbles into the ancient practice of cultivation, only to realize that it’s as thrilling—and dangerous—as the legends say. Follow Nathan’s path as he tries to make sense of newfound powers, encounters sinister figures, unlocks mystical spells, and learns the value of hard-fought battles.

Perfect for fans of urban fantasy, cultivation novels, and anyone who’s dreamed of escaping the grind, Ascending Reality brings you on an exhilarating journey into the world of modern magic and hidden forces.


Language: English

Format: Audio Book

Continuity: Serial

Writing: Scripted

Voices: Machine generated

Narrator: First Person

Genres: Fantasy

Soundscape: Voices only

Not tagged: [Maturity] [Creator demographics] [Character demographics] [Country of origin] [Transcript] [Completion status] [Content warnings]

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Episodes:

Chapter 20: Seeds of Trust

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 13:00:34 GMT

Returning to the flea market as instructed, the protagonist reflects on the whirlwind month that transformed him from a struggling office worker to a fledgling cultivator. Armed with a mysterious brooch and a newfound ability, he cautiously searches for the enigmatic old man who set this journey into motion. As the two reunite, the old man assesses his progress, commending his patience and solid foundations. Their exchange grows tense as the protagonist’s sharp tongue inadvertently tests the elder's humor. Despite this, the old man offers to teach him essential techniques for staying low-key, warning of the dangers of attracting unwanted attention. Their walk toward a secluded spot hints at lessons that may prove crucial in navigating the treacherous world of cultivation.

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Chapter 19: The Mana Matrix

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 13:00:47 GMT

Chapter 19: The Mana Matrix - With only days left until he meets the old man, Nathan works on creating a mana-gathering array using refined gold bars. After rigorous testing, he realizes arrays need specialized materials to hold mana effectively. He constructs his first array with gold, creating a stable “mana matrix” that accelerates his cultivation. He notes the humorous pentagram shape, but his success in creating a makeshift spirit stone reinforces his commitment to his journey.

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Chapter 18: From Fight to Flight

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 13:00:30 GMT

Chapter 18: From Fight to Flight - Nathan witnesses an elderly couple being mugged. Despite his limited power, he intervenes, overpowering the mugger with his newfound strength. This confrontation solidifies his understanding of his cultivation progress, and he recognizes that despite his power, he’s still vulnerable. This realization drives him to prioritize self-protection as he prepares to cultivate further.

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Chapter 17: Gold’s True Price

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 13:00:35 GMT

Chapter 17: Gold’s True Price - With newfound freedom, Nathan leaves his job to pursue cultivation. He realizes that gold’s high value could yield even greater profits through Karmic Exchange. His spell allows him to exchange undervalued items for higher returns, using gold’s smaller denominations to optimize his trade. This fuels his cultivation and financial independence, pushing him to embrace his journey fully.

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Chapter 16: Karmic Exchange

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 13:00:25 GMT

Chapter 16: Karmic Exchange - Nathan refines his spell, discovering he can swap items for fair market value if he matches the exact value of the trade. Testing this on silver coins and beer, he realizes “Karmic Exchange” is efficient yet taxing. Satisfied, he plans to use this spell to sustain himself without working a traditional job, aiming to perfect his mana control and cultivate stronger abilities.

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Chapter 15: Exchange of Power

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 13:00:37 GMT

Chapter 15: Exchange of Power - Nathan explores using the brooch’s stored spirit stones to supercharge his cultivation, achieving significant progress. He experiments with a spell called “Karmic Exchange,” enabling him to swap items with others. He successfully exchanges silver for cash, realizing the spell’s value as a moneymaker. Eager to master this spell and build wealth, he strategizes around using his new ability to sustain himself as he cultivates full-time.

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Chapter 14: In Plain Sight

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 13:00:30 GMT

Chapter 14: In Plain Sight - Frustrated, Nathan hides the brooch inside a fake wall outlet in his apartment, noting its creepy aura and potential dangers. He also realizes the brooch contains a hidden storage space with various items. With excitement, he retrieves a spirit stone, sensing its potency. As he begins to understand spatial laws, he muses on the brooch’s potential power, cautiously optimistic about his discovery.

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Chapter 13: Robbed

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 13:00:14 GMT

Chapter 13: Robbed - While returning from the restroom, Nathan is confronted by a man he delivered a dresser to earlier, demanding the brooch. The man senses Nathan's low-grade spiritual treasures, and despite Nathan’s deflection, he’s robbed of his remaining rings. But he uses his wits to get $2,300 from the man in return, vowing to reclaim his lost treasures when he’s stronger. This encounter underscores his need for greater strength.

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Chapter 12: A Price to Pay

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 13:00:20 GMT

Chapter 12: A Price to Pay - Energized by his progress, Nathan heads to a shopping center to sell his enchanted rings. He fields calls from Greg, who’s frantically searching for the brooch. Nathan deflects, hiding the artifact's importance. He sells one ring for a surprising amount, realizing he can achieve financial independence by selling just a few rings weekly. He heads to a restroom with growing confidence in his new path.

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Chapter 11: The First Breakthrough

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 13:00:15 GMT

Chapter 11: The First Breakthrough - Nathan grapples with the boredom of cultivating, only to realize he needs a structured approach. Inspired, he develops his own cultivation system with nine realms and names the first three. This newfound clarity propels him forward, and he has a genuine breakthrough, reaching the first stage of the Gathering Realm. Excited yet grounded, he begins to feel the weight and thrill of his journey into true cultivation.

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Chapter 10: Whispers of Power

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 13:00:17 GMT

Chapter 10: Whispers of Power, Nathan returns from an eerie delivery to find a mysterious brooch left in his truck. Recognizing a similar yet far more intense energy within the brooch, he suspects it’s an artifact of unknown origins. Wary, he hides it among his silver stash to avoid its unsettling presence. Driven by newfound resolve, he returns to inscribing rings, discovering the power of pure intent to command mana. The experience brings a surge of pride, awakening a deep sense of purpose in him. Nathan realizes that cultivating isn’t just a path to power—it’s his true calling.

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Chapter 9: Encounters and Unease

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 13:00:21 GMT

Chapter 9: Encounters and Unease, Nathan continues honing his enchantment skills, successfully creating five mana-infused rings. However, his plans for a quiet day take a turn when Greg, a flea market acquaintance, asks for help delivering an antique dresser. Nathan reluctantly agrees, using his cultivated strength to handle the weight. The delivery brings them to a mysterious, wealthy client whose unsettling demeanor leaves Nathan uneasy. Despite the generous payout, the experience leaves him with a lingering sense of being watched, hinting at a deeper, unforeseen tension.

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Chapter 8: Mana and Metal

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 13:00:13 GMT

Chapter 8: Mana and Metal, Nathan dives into his first experiment with enchanting, focusing on refining a silver ring to store mana. Though he encounters significant energy loss, he successfully creates a “core” in the ring, enabling it to hold mana for the first time. Despite the inefficient mana exchange, he’s thrilled by his progress and resolves to improve his technique, driven by the dream of making his newfound skills profitable enough to leave his regular job behind.

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Chapter 7: Silver Strategy

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 13:00:44 GMT

Chapter 7: Silver Strategy, Nathan strategizes on how to discreetly advance his cultivation by practicing enchantment on jewelry, using Walmart’s affordable silver as his base. Guided by the old man's advice, he avoids using obvious charm magic in public, focusing instead on imbuing small items with mana at home to stay low-key. With a plan in place, Nathan works on strengthening his energy flow, eager to start enchanting but pacing himself to avoid burnout.

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Chapter 6: Meeting the Unexpected

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 13:00:17 GMT

Chapter 6: Meeting the Unexpected, Nathan encounters an old man at the flea market who sees through his charm magic effortlessly. The man, a seasoned cultivator, offers wisdom about Nathan’s undeveloped techniques and warns him about the dangers of drawing attention without a solid foundation. Encouraged but cautious, Nathan considers the old man's advice and resolves to strengthen his cultivation with patience, understanding that he has much to learn on his newfound path.

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Chapter 5: Charm and Chance

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 12:00:20 GMT

Chapter 5: Charm and Chance, Nathan puts his charm magic to the test at a local flea market, aiming to subtly influence customers into buying his trinkets and snacks. The day starts slow, but with practice, he discovers how to project a gentle aura that attracts customers. As he fine-tunes his approach, sales start flowing, and he earns more than expected, confirming that magic might just be his ticket to something greater.

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Chapter 4: Crossroads of Fate

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 12:01:22 GMT

Chapter 4: Crossroads of Fate, Nathan experiences a breakthrough in self-discovery, realizing his desire to seek truth and a higher purpose. With newfound clarity and determination, he plans to test his cultivation abilities by selling magically enhanced trinkets. As he preps for this experiment, he also reflects on his life, motivations, and the possibilities this power could bring, igniting a strong sense of purpose for the journey ahead.

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Chapter 3: Ignition Point

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:01:16 GMT

Chapter 3: Ignition Point, the protagonist continues experimenting with their newfound powers, aiming to create a flame through sheer concentration and the flow of mana. This small act sparks a profound realization, merging their physical efforts with a deeper understanding of their connection to a powerful, primal force. Their success ignites more than a flame—it opens a doorway to self-discovery and a sense of purpose beyond anything they've known before.

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Chapter 2: First Sparks

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:00:47 GMT

Chapter 2: First Sparks, the protagonist dives deeper into the basics of cultivation, experimenting with newfound energy and testing the boundaries of their abilities. As they explore the flow of mana, they begin to uncover subtle, intriguing effects, sparking a desire to push their powers even further.

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Chapter 1: Awakening the Mundane

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 18:46:26 GMT

In Chapter 1 of Urban Ascent, the 32-year-old protagonist, stuck in a monotonous life, turns to Chinese cultivation web novels for escape. Inspired by a character, they try meditation and unexpectedly begin sensing and circulating mana. Despite skepticism, they complete several cycles, feeling energized and proud of their newfound practice.

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