The valley was quiet under the early morning sun. Mist curled along the cliffs, and the faint hum of spiritual energy vibrated in the air. Sushant sat cross-legged on a rocky ledge, eyes closed, focusing every ounce of his being on the flow of energy in his body. The final sub-stage of Origin Vein – Bloom awaited him, and he knew this breakthrough could change everything.
Normally, advancing to Bloom would take weeks, maybe months, for ordinary cultivators. But Sushant was no ordinary cultivator. There was something inside him—hidden, dormant, and ancient. Something that had lain silent in his body since his rebirth.
A faint warmth pulsed in his chest. Subtle at first, almost imperceptible, but growing steadily. His artifact had stirred. He did not fully understand it yet, but instinct told him it was a relic of great power. A soft glow of energy shimmered within him, unseen by anyone else.
He inhaled deeply and focused. The artifact's first function activated: slowing the flow of time for cultivation. The effect was immediate. To the world outside, only minutes passed. But in the expanded flow of time inside him, hours stretched into days. Every subtle movement of energy, every pulse of meridian flow, every minor correction to his spiritual roots could be felt, analyzed, and refined with painstaking precision.
So this is… my advantage, he thought, a thrill running through him. I can cultivate faster… I can refine my body and energy in ways others can't.
Sushant's spiritual roots trembled as they absorbed ambient energy from the valley. His body ached, sweat dripping down his temples, but the slowed time allowed him to endure the pain, adjust his energy circulation, and push himself further than ever before. Every block in his meridians could be corrected instantly. Every inefficiency in his energy flow could be refined to perfection.
Minutes passed in real time, yet within his slowed bubble, it felt like two full days of cultivation. By the time he opened his eyes, he could feel subtle changes in his body—strength, awareness, and endurance had all improved. The Bloom sub-stage of Origin Vein was within reach.
A tingling pulse ran through him as energy surged violently through his meridians. Pain lanced sharp through his body, but he endured, letting the artifact guide him. Every mistake he might have made without the artifact was corrected. Every misaligned energy channel was refined. Finally, a feeling of completeness washed over him. The breakthrough was successful.
Bloom… achieved.
Sushant rose slowly, feeling the refined pulse of his spiritual roots. The world outside remained normal, yet inside, he had lived the equivalent of two days of perfect cultivation. Movements that once required effort now flowed naturally. His perception of energy had sharpened, his body had strengthened, and his reflexes were faster.
From the shadows, a senior disciple of the sect observed silently. Origin Vein… and yet his aura is far stronger than it should be. Something is different about him.
Sushant ignored the gaze. He turned his eyes toward the distant mountains, fire of determination blazing in his chest. The Lower World was vast, filled with danger, sects, treasures, and hidden knowledge. With the artifact's first function, he could refine energy faster, learn faster, and grow stronger with every breakthrough.
Step by step, sub-stage by sub-stage… I will survive. I will grow. One day, I will surpass all who dare stand in my path.
The sun climbed higher, spilling golden light across the valley. A boy reborn, slightly stronger, had begun his immortal cultivation journey in earnest. An hour in real time had felt like two days of cultivation—and this was only the beginning.
The artifact… this is only the start of its power… Sushant whispered, a faint smile touching his lips.