The first rays of morning sunlight slipped through the wooden windows of Zeravon's room. There was a soft chill in the air, but within him… a strange warmth—like a new beginning.
Zeravon slowly opened his eyes. His breath was calm, steady. The meditation from last night still echoed within him. His Astral Core felt more alive than ever—every heartbeat carried a wave of cultivation through his dantian.
He stood up, stepping to the side of his small training space. Zeravon began practicing martial moves—fluid and sharp. His body moved with better control, speed, and balance than ever before.
As his hands cut through the morning air, even the rustling branches seemed to sway with his rhythm.
He stopped, eyes shimmering with a quiet determination.
> "Something feels different today… like something inside me is finally opening."
He returned to his room.
Zeravon gently picked up the family photo from beside his bed. His mother's smile. His father's strong face. They stared back at him with silent strength.
> "Mom... Dad... I promise… I'll return stronger than ever."
> "One day, I'll be so strong that even fate won't be able to hold me back."
He pressed the photo close to his chest… then stood up to get ready.
---
Meeting Elder Jinyao Mei
Suddenly, he remembered—Elder Jinyao Mei had summoned him this morning.
Fully dressed, he made his way to the Elder's courtyard.
There was a deep stillness there. Even the wind passing through the trees felt… spiritual.
Elder Jinyao Mei sat on a stone bench, her eyes deep, her expression calm.
> "You're right on time, Zeravon. Good. There are things you need to know now."
Zeravon bowed respectfully. "You called for me, Elder. I'm here."
She observed his face for a few seconds before asking:
> "Tell me… how much do you know about the Lower Realm?"
Zeravon paused. "Just that… there are 10 major sects here. The Top 3 have powerful Ancestral Cultivators. Our sect is one of them, right?"
Jinyao Mei raised her eyebrows. "That's all?"
He lowered his head. "Yes, Elder…"
---
The Ten Great Sects of the Lower Realm
Elder Jinyao Mei unfurled a glowing scroll in front of him. Spiritual energy lit up the air — forming a 3D map. Sects, locations, and specializations appeared like constellations.
> "Listen carefully, Zeravon. Today begins your true training."
She pointed at each one in turn:
1. Skyblaze Temple – Ashen Flame Barrens
→ Masters of Fire Dao and Flame Spirit Manipulation.
→ Elder Varka Flamehowl is a legend.
2. Thousand Echoes Pavilion – Crystal Plains
→ Sound Dao, Soul Vibration Arts.
3. Lightning Blade Sect – Thunderfall Expanse
→ Lightning Qi, speed body cultivation.
4. Drifting Sword Valley – Wind Abyss Canyon
→ Swordsmanship in wind and flow style.
5. Frostcoil Sect – Glacial Rift Valley
→ Cold-hearted emotion-severing cultivation.
6. Obsidian Moon Sect – Forgotten Moon Basin
→ Secretive, forbidden dark arts and shadow techniques.
7. Heavenly Lotus Sect – Lotus Mirror Lake
→ Illusions, healing, soul arts. All-female.
8. Dome of Heaven Sect's– Hollow Iron Mountains
→ Heavy Body Tempering and forging mastery.
9. Mist Veil Sect – Whispering Forest Domain
→ Poison, mist, stealth arts.
10. StormHeaven Sect – Azure Wind Region
→ Balanced cultivation. But due to a tragic war, now the weakest of the top ten.
Zeravon stared wide-eyed at the glowing map.
> "If our sect feels so vast and powerful… what must the top 3 be like?!"
Jinyao Mei smiled slightly, "You look stunned."
Zeravon chuckled nervously, "Yes… it's beyond anything I imagined."
---
The Cultivation Path of the Lower Realm
"Now tell me," she said, "do you know the cultivation levels of this realm?"
He shook his head. "No, Elder."
Another glowing scroll came to life, listing out the sacred path.
> "Then listen. This… is the journey ahead of you."
🔹 Sacred God Cultivation Path:
1. Qi Condensation
→ Activates spiritual veins & Absorbing Spirtual Energy
2. Foundation Establishment
→ Qi flows like liquid through meridians so the body would be more suited for cultivation.
3. Sacred Veins Realm
→ Survive lightning trials; veins evolve
4. Mystic Core Formation Realm
→ Core forms in dantian; projects energy
5. Nascent soul
-- Break the Core to produce a Nascent Soul.
6. Soul Sense Awakening
→ Soul detects danger, lies, and beasts
7. Sacred Manifestation Realm
→ Dao manifests as aura; multiplies growth speed
8. Celestial Sovereign
→ Sense astral veins; manipulate weather & space
9. Heaven Vein Ascendance
→ Connect veins to Heaven's Law
10. Voidheart Realm
→ Emotions vanish; no aura, only silence
11. Origin Dust Realm
→ Return to dust; bend space-time & laws
So rare… it's said none in the Lower Realm have reached it yet.
> "It is said… that no one from the Lower Realm has been able to make a breakthrough in the Origin Dust Realm so far. But rumor has it… the leader of the Top 1 Sect is close to it."
Zeravon was stunned. His throat was dry.
> "And where am I now…?" he asked.
> "You are at Mystic Core Formation Peak," she replied.
> "Each breakthrough will demand more understanding, more inner strength."
He sat up straighter, thoughts racing.
> "I'm just a beginner… and yet these people can bend the laws of space and time?!"
He asked her, "Elder… how far is each sect from the other?"
Jinyao Mei laughed gently.
> "You can't even imagine. One sect is like a world of its own."
Zeravon asked curiously, "Then… how fast can a Soul Sense powerhouse move?"
She answered with calm pride:
> "With just one step… I can cross 100 Million meters easily. Now imagine what true powerhouses can do."
Zeravon swallowed hard.
> "Elder… do you think I could ever stand among them?"
Her voice softened, but every word cut like a blade.
> "If you have the strength… yes. But more than power, you need unbreakable will."
She looked away for a moment… remembering something.
> "There once was a boy… just like you. He too dreamed of reaching the Origin Dust Realm…"
"…but his fate was… different."
---
That Night – A Silent Oath
That night, Zeravon sat in meditation again.
But this time, something had awakened.
> "If they ignore me… I'll shatter their expectations."
The light from his Astral Core began glowing across the room. His Qi was circulating faster than ever.
Then suddenly—a dream flashed.
A dark sky, broken by cracks. A figure stood… unmoving. Voice deep like eternity:
> "What was never real... now lives in all things.
You are not yourself… yet everything flows from you."
Zeravon opened his eyes, gasping.
> "That dream… again?"
But a moment later—the memory vanished, like someone had erased it from his very soul.
Sleep would not return.
He walked to the rooftop, staring at the starry sky.
One star streaked across the heavens—a shooting star.
> "These stars… this sky… why do I feel like they're calling me?
But where… and what am I supposed to become?"
---
To Be Continued…