The mountains did not change.
Mist still drifted between ancient pines, sunlight still filtered through leaves in fractured patterns, and the world still breathed at its own unhurried pace. Yet Dao Xuan Tian felt as though he had stepped onto a road whose end he could no longer see.
He stood outside his hut, hands clasped behind his back, eyes half-closed.
Qi Condensation Realm.
Only hours ago, those words would have felt distant—something written in manuals, spoken of by others. Now, it was the state of his own existence. His qi circulated smoothly, no longer chaotic, no longer borrowed. It belonged to him.
Dao exhaled slowly.
"Foundation," he murmured.
Everything came back to that word.
The assassin's manual.
The system's restraint.
The sudden emphasis on structure over growth.
As if responding to his thoughts, the system interface shimmered into full clarity.
This time, there was no countdown.
No multiplier.
Only text.
System Information Disclosure Authorized.
Dao's posture straightened.
Reason: User has entered a true cultivation realm.
Lines of light unfolded, forming a vertical sequence—far longer than anything he had seen before.
---
Cultivation Realms – Complete Pathway
1. Qi Condensation Realm
– Condense ambient qi into a stable internal circulation
– Establish the foundation of cultivation
– Divided into Early, Mid, Late stages
2. Foundation Establishment Realm
– Reinforce meridians, bones, organs, and dantian
– Transform mortal flesh into a cultivation vessel
– Failure rate: High
3. Core Formation Realm
– Condense qi into a permanent core
– Determines long-term ceiling
– Core Variants:
• Void Core – Potential-focused, unstable, limitless growth
• Golden Core – Balanced, stable, widely accepted
• Nascent Core – Rare, soul-aligned, extreme difficulty
4. Nascent Soul Realm
– Core gives birth to a nascent soul
– Consciousness gains partial independence
– Lifespan undergoes qualitative change
5. Soul Formation Realm
– Soul stabilizes and matures
– Capable of long-range manifestation
– Domain awareness begins
6. Soul Transcendent Realm
– Soul partially transcends physical form
– Existence no longer fully bound to flesh
7. Body and Soul Fusion Realm
– Perfect unification of body, soul, and will
– True immortal foundation formed
8. Mahayana Realm
– Transcendence of worldly cultivation
– Dao comprehension supersedes form
– Entry conditions: Unknown
---
Dao read the list once.
Then again.
Then a third time.
Each realm felt heavier than the last—not because of the power implied, but because of the commitment. There were no shortcuts written here. No promises of ease.
Only survival.
And choice.
Dao's gaze lingered on Core Formation.
Void.
Golden.
Nascent.
Three paths.
Three futures.
Before he could dwell further, a new line appeared beneath the list.
---
Additional Data Unlocked.
User Core Status: Detected.
Dao's heart skipped a beat.
"…Detected?"
The interface expanded again, this time forming a circular diagram—abstract, layered, and impossibly complex.
At its center was a shadowed core, not solid, not radiant, but empty in a way that felt profound rather than lacking.
---
Base Core Classification
Core Type: Void Core
Stage: Mid Stage
Status: Dormant / Restricted
Reason: Cultivation Realm Mismatch
---
The world went silent.
No wind.
No birds.
No rustle of leaves.
Dao stared at the words until they burned into his vision.
"Mid… stage?"
Void Core.
Not potential.
Not blueprint.
Already formed.
His breathing slowed—not from shock, but from instinctive control. Panic would achieve nothing.
"System," Dao said calmly, "explain."
The response was immediate.
Void Core detected as an inherent existence.
Not formed through cultivation progression.
Current cultivation realm insufficient to access or manifest core authority.
Dao closed his eyes.
Images surfaced unbidden—moments since his arrival in this world. His absurd base strength. His unnatural adaptability. His compatibility with qi despite no prior cultivation. His Infinity Eyes resonating with absence rather than presence.
This was not coincidence.
"…So I didn't start from zero," Dao whispered.
He opened his eyes, gaze sharp.
"I started locked."
The system did not deny it.
Void Core Characteristics:
– Extreme potential growth
– High instability without foundation
– Requires superior Mind, Body, and Soul harmony
– Early exposure results in self-collapse
Dao felt a chill.
If the system had allowed his core to awaken earlier—
He would already be dead.
Slowly, a sense of gratitude replaced unease.
"Thank you," Dao said quietly.
The system paused.
Acknowledged.
Dao laughed softly.
Void Core.
Among the three paths, it was the most dangerous—and the most demanding. Golden Cores dominated sects because they were reliable. Nascent Cores were legends because few survived their formation.
Void Cores?
They were spoken of in warnings.
Yet here he was.
Mid-stage.
Dormant.
Dao clenched his fist, feeling the controlled might in his body.
"So that's why Foundation matters so much," he said. "If I rush… the void eats me."
The mountains answered with silence.
Dao sat down on the stone step outside his hut, gazing at the distant peaks. For the first time, he truly saw the scale of the world ahead.
Qi Condensation was a step.
Foundation Establishment was a gamble.
Core Formation was a choice that defined eternity.
And beyond that—
Soul.
Transcendence.
Fusion.
Mahayana.
Dao exhaled.
"I don't need to hurry."
His Infinity Eyes flickered faintly—not advancing, not revealing futures—simply observing. Waiting.
The system interface dimmed, leaving only one final line hovering before fading entirely.
Recommendation:
Stabilize foundation before core interaction.
Dao nodded.
"I was planning to."
The sun dipped lower, shadows stretching across the mountainside. The day that had begun with breakthrough now ended with understanding.
Dao rose and returned to his hut.
Tonight, he would not cultivate.
Tonight, he would plan.
Because now, he finally knew the shape of the path—and the cost of walking it.
And somewhere, far beyond the mountains, a world full of cultivators climbed blindly toward peaks they barely understood.
Dao Xuan Tian would not be one of them.