Chapter 7: Awakening Paths
The deep hum of spiritual energy pulsed through the newly cleansed ruins of the Supreme Immortal Sect. Within the Spirit-Gathering Array, golden light circled Alex's body like a spiral galaxy. He sat cross-legged in silent meditation, his breathing steady, slow, and profound.
Inside his dantian, spiritual energy compressed violently. The golden spiritual power, forged by 30 years of pure energy and refined through a thousand cycles, now surged toward a critical bottleneck.
Ding! Cultivation Bottleneck Detected
Martial Apprentice 9-Star → Martial Master Realm
Life Span Increase: +200 Years
Alex's eyes snapped open, glowing like twin suns. He exhaled slowly, and the pressure in the surrounding forest exploded outward.
A loud BOOM echoed through the mountain as trees bent, birds scattered, and the skies trembled faintly.
Wild beasts in the forest immediately fled, their instincts screaming. Even the weak ones felt it—a new apex predator had awakened.
Ding! Breakthrough Successful
Current Cultivation: Martial Master – 1 Star
Life Span: +200 Years
Bonus Reward: Martial Master Realm Package Unlocked
Within his system inventory, a new scroll appeared: Heaven-Crushing Palm (Yellow-Perfect Martial Art)—a powerful technique designed for explosive short-range combat. Alongside it came three Mid-Level Spirit Nourishment Pills and one Black-Low Defensive Robe.
Alex gripped his sword tightly. "One step closer… Earth Immortal isn't a dream. It's a path I will walk again."
Meanwhile, not far from the central platform, Lina sat on a stone cushion, holding the Sunroot Foundation Technique scroll across her lap. Her breathing was uneven, and her forehead was dotted with sweat. For two nights, she had tried—and failed—to draw spiritual energy into her body.
Today was different.
Alex approached silently, observing her posture. "Relax your mind. Don't force it. Let the energy flow through you, not into you."
She nodded, adjusting her breathing.
Then it happened.
A faint glow emerged from her chest, spreading along her meridians like a slow river of light. It was weak—but it was real.
Ding! Lina has stepped onto the path of cultivation.
Cultivation: Martial Apprentice – 1 Star
Spirit Root: Ordinary
Constitution: Balanced Yin-Yang
Aptitude: Mid-Tier
Alex raised a brow. "Balanced Yin-Yang Constitution… Not bad. With the right pills, she could break past limits."
Lina opened her eyes, startled. "I… did it?"
"You've begun your path," he said with a slight smile. "Welcome to the world of true power."
The next day, Lina returned with the twins she'd mentioned earlier—two scrawny, curious children no older than nine. The boy, Kai, had untamed hair and a wooden practice sword strapped to his back. His sister, Aya, was quieter, clutching a satchel of herbs.
"They're orphans," Lina said. "They've survived by gathering herbs and selling them to healers."
Alex examined them with his spiritual sense. Both had low-tier spirit roots, but... Aya's soul pulse showed strange flickers, and Kai's body had raw physical potential.
"Do you wish to become cultivators?" he asked them directly.
Aya bowed her head. "Yes, Master."
Kai clenched his fists. "I want to protect people like my sister."
Alex nodded. "Then you'll train under Lina first. If you pass her teachings, you'll earn your place as outer disciples."
Ding! 3 Disciples Recruited
Quest Complete: Sect Growth I
Reward: Sect Plaque (Basic), +100 Origin Points
Sect Rank: Grass-Root Sect → Budding Sect
Hidden Quest Progress: 7%
He took out the newly received Sect Plaque, engraved it with spiritual energy, and embedded it into the central altar stone.
Glowing golden words appeared:
Supreme Immortal Sect
Where mortals transcend the heavens.
Later that night, Alex stood at the highest cliff of the island. The world below was quiet, unaware. But above… he could feel it.
The flow of fate was shifting.
His cultivation had risen. His sect had begun. Disciples now walked the immortal path.
And far across the sea, kingdoms and pirate fleets were beginning to whisper about strange phenomena—spiritual zones, wild beasts becoming docile, and children awakening unnatural strength.
The era of cultivation had begun to crack the surface of the One Piece world.
And Alex—once an Immortal Emperor, now a hidden master—was only getting started.