Chapter 9: From Cores to Crowns
As for cultivation?
We made a discovery. A strange one.
Energy didn't just flow through our veins randomly. When I consciously guided it toward the third eye, something peculiar happened.
There was a hole. Smaller than nano—so subtle I almost missed it. But the energy slipped through, and inside was… our core.
Our true center. Hidden behind a veil of perception, tucked deep within the mind's eye. Most people would never even sense it. But we weren't most people.
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Another major discovery came about a year ago.
Apparently, we could convert energy types. Something the natives of this world couldn't do as they lacked control, maybe even they can do it in future, their current state is that energy flows directly from core to spirit, and that's it. But for us? We could do more.
To use aura, I had to guide spiritual energy from my third eye down to the sacral region, where I found another hole. Energy slipped in, and when it came out—it had become aura. Simple in theory, not so simple in practice.
Then I got curious. I tried moving that energy lower, to the root.
That's where I lost control.
Energy surged into my bones, straight from the bottom of the spine. It didn't just power me—it merged with my body. Strengthened it. Hardened it. That was ki.
But unlike aura, ki conversion consumed energy permanently. If I used 100 spiritual energy, I got about 60–70 in aura form and could recover the rest. But with ki? Gone. Infused into the body like forging steel with fire.
I had to rebuild it from scratch. But the results were worth it.
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As for teaching our parents cultivation?
We tried. Hard.
First, we attempted creating techniques from scratch—epic fail. Then we had a better idea: buy lower-grade techniques from the system and modify them with our traits.
Still didn't work.
So, we just gave them our base techniques to our parents. Said it was a "miracle discovery" and asked them to publish them freely for the good of the world.
That was four months ago.
And the results?
Each of us received millions karma points. Each. And that was supposedly less than 1% of the total karmic wave those techniques generated.
Insane.
We laid low after that, although give out few techniques once in a while. We focused on refining our foundations. Met our parents more often now that they'd gained some semblance of control over their power. Instead of being wrapped like roll in a cloak.
With the karma we earned, we bought a complete cultivation technique from the system. One week with it, and we achieved what we had taken two years to do. Some of us were already knocking on the door of Ruby Core—but only for one core each.
I told everyone to slow down.
No point sprinting if the road cracks beneath us. So we shifted focus to refining our bodies using ki. Brannor, Meilin, and I all had spiritual-based spirits, so we didn't notice it at first—but others discovered something strange:
Spiritual energy, like ki once converted into spiritual energy for those didn't have spiritual based spirit, seemed to permanently enhance memory, mental clarity, reaction speed, and even magical control.
I tested it. Compared myself to Liora.
I was twice as fast at mental calculations. Her spirit was aura-based, so while her body strength was 1.5 times higher than mine, my mental awareness outpaced hers.
Turns out, aura is more physical. Ki is foundation of physical strength. And spiritual energy? It's the foundational energy for mind. Those who had spirits of particular energy were better compared to those who didn't.
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Now, nearly all of us were ready to become Ruby-level.
And maybe… awaken our spirits naturally without spending karma.
There was only one problem.
We weren't sure if spirit awakening would trigger a light show. You know, lightning, glowing tattoos, exploding walls. Not ideal for children of nobles living under watchful eyes.
So we made a plan.
One person would rank up first—quietly—and report the effects back to the group. Logical. Safe. Perfect.
Everyone unanimously agreed.
Kael would go first. Well after a few days and preparation.
Kael, of course, was not thrilled.
Kael: Why meee?
But before he could whine further, his maids showed up. Apparently, he was being prepped for a royal ball. As today was the Royal ball for declaration start of Royal nursery in preparation for awakening ceremony, it was told to us a month ago.
Everyone else's maids and servants started preparing them too.
That's how we ended up here—all twelve of us, the OP reincarnated babies, dressed up like tiny nobles in a gilded hall.
The ballroom was too elegant. You know the kind—marble floors, enchanted crystal chandeliers, glowing ceiling murals depicting warriors slaying monsters, and more velvet than a noble's ego.
And in the middle of it all, we sat. Twelve overpowered toddlers, dressed up like porcelain dolls for political theater.
Brannor squirmed in his tiny suit.
"By the forge, if I sneeze, this collar's gonna snap my neck."
Kael fiddled with his cuffs. "Do you think if I fake fainting, I'll be excused?"
Lysandra smirked beside him.
Me? I just watched the nobles pouring in. Their outfits glittered, their faces stiff with pride. Dozens of ducal and marquess families had gathered. Each child present had some bloodline of status—but only we sat at the center. A perfect circle of twelve chairs surrounded by curious stares.
Then the music shifted.
The crowd straightened. Conversations died.
He had arrived.
*****
Hi, dear readers! 🌟
This is my very first attempt at writing a novel, and I'm both nervous and excited to share it with you. The story draws inspiration from the ancient concept of Kundalini, which I'll explain briefly across the early chapters—just enough to give you the foundation without slowing down the plot.
Your support, feedback, and votes mean a lot. I hope you enjoy the journey ahead!