Chapter 2

Part 1

"Oh, that's right, have you decided what you're going to do?"

In Heaven Dou Empire, the noblest profession was that of a Spirit Master, they were the weapons and the foundation of the empire. The backbone that kept the empire straight and unwavering in front of its many enemies and surrounding threats like powerful beasts, terrorists, evil cultists, and so on.

Being of such a high stand, they were also the most desired profession, unfortunately, not many are capable of following this path.

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A few days ago...

In a church-like building, a young woman dressed in luxurious golden trimmed robes stared at the crowd of children in front of her with a distressed look in her eyes.

As much as she wanted to, she couldn't get used to the sequence of disappointments, but all that changed at the moment one of the last remaining children stepped forward.

"Dong Quiao, your spirit is the Crystal Gauntlet and you are an Innate Full Spirit Power!" When the representative of the Spirit Hall said those words, there was a glimmer of joy in her eyes. After visiting so many inconspicuous villages in this barren land she finally managed to find a treasure!

"What is this full something that you just said?" Dong Quiao questioned in curiosity.

In a good mood, the representative unconsciously replied without even thinking. "Whenever a child undergoes an awakening, there are two things that are tested, one is the awakened Martial Soul or Spirit, and the other is their innate Spiritual Power. Only those with a Spiritual Power above level 0 are able to cultivate and as you have seen, from the twenty children that came before you, only you had spiritual power. Not only that but yours was an Innate Full Spirit Power which means that your cultivation will be extremely smooth and that the upper limits of your spiritual power are the highest. When coupled with your rare Spirit, it means that your potential is very high!"

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On that day, Cao De also tested his Spirit Power and discovered that he was just like Dong Quiao.

The so-called Spirit Power was just another name for the energy inside the body. Based on the feedback he got from the object used to test his talent, he was sure that no matter what, even if it was Mana, Qi, or Internal Force, any of those energies would have been absorbed and considered as Spirit Power.

It was on that day that he realized how backward their cultivation method was, to not even be able to properly distinguish between various types of energy and assess them as the same proved that they had very little understanding of it.

Not to mention the claim that people without level 1 or above of Spirit Power couldn't cultivate.

As a human born in a high-level immortal world, he knew that even the lowest of mortals can embark on the path of immortality so long as they started by refining their bodies with external martial arts and managed to produce internal force before the age of thirty. At that point, all they had to do is practice internal martial arts as a foundational course, and once they reached the apex of this path, they would be able to connect their soul and body with the help of Yuan Qi to start their path to immortality.

As difficult and complex as it may sound, it was indeed a suitable path for the less talented and could be directly skipped if one was rich enough to buy certain precious resources like Spirit Beasts meat and Immortal Herbs and Vegetables.

Cao De initially felt extremely disdainful of a world like this, but after thinking a little, he simply assumed that their civilization was too young and simply didn't have enough time to properly realize their Dao. This would explain why their methods were so bad.

After all, just how old was the civilization of Cao De's world when he was born? He wouldn't be surprised if the answer was around a few universal cycles as it was common sense that their highest experts were always able to protect their world from the calamity of a universe approaching the end of its lifespan.

This world might be so young that it never experienced such a thing, in that case, it would be totally comprehensible that their cultivation method has yet to develop to an acceptable level.

"I want to follow the Spirit Hall's representative back to Heaven Dou City and become a Spirit Master."

Hearing his words, Cao Tung-Mei glanced straight into his eyes and sighed. "Alright, if that's your goal I won't stop you, however, I hope you can remember my teachings after you leave. Don't become like those conceited bastards, alright? Life is precious and there's no reason to treat those lower than you in strength with spite."

"Don't worry mother, I won't disappoint you."

"Good! Because if you do, I'll beat some sense into your head, got it?"

Gulping, Cao De smiled nervously with a nod.

In his heart, though he couldn't help but sigh. Life is precious? Nah, the only lives that mattered were his and those of his loved ones, the rest had zero meaning for him. He wouldn't wantonly kill without reason, but he wouldn't hesitate to kill even children if they posed any sort of threat towards him or the people he loves.

Part 2

It was almost time, tomorrow he would depart from Cloud Peak Village and it would be many years before he came back.

Standing on the edge of the mountain and observing the darkness below, he pondered over his goals and the future.

The immortal path is always changing and there's was never one answer to achieve it. Now that his future prospects were even higher than in his previous life, he knew that it would be a waste of time and effort to follow his previous path.

"Before, I mostly dedicated myself towards the path of Smithing. Seizing the synthesis of heavens and incorporating the creation of all things into my Dao Heart, I created a peerless Dao of Forging that allowed me to stand among the strongest even though my Dao was never one aimed at killing. Now, I'm not satisfied with just that..."

Thinking of his grievances and regrets in life, his fist clenched, producing a loud popping sound as an airwave spread around his fists.

His ultimate goal in life is to reach that legendary realm. The Empyrean realm, said to be the amalgamation of the Dao, was nothing more than a concept that couldn't be proved. The idea was to elevate one's own Dao above the Great Dao. To surpass the primordial chaos and step over the ashes of the Creation Gods.

In front of a real Empyrean, even the elusive Pangu and the God Mother of the human race, Nuwa, would look like helpless babies. It was truly a path of defiance towards the natural and all things, where one has control of everything.

Sitting cross-legged, Cao De took a deep breath as he took grasp of the Essence in his Dantian. Manually controlling Essence was a very dangerous thing, usually, one would only start practicing cultivation sutras once they became a Xiantian Expert, however, it wasn't impossible to start from the Body Refinement Realm with external help.

Cao De himself didn't need it, as someone who once grasped the Dao of creation, reversion of all things was something he was familiar with and as such, he knew the human body like the back of his hand.

He started by exploring, the energy in his datian moved from one corner to the other, following specific pathways without any direction in mind, almost as if looking for something.

In his mind, words were repeated constantly. 'Seize the heavens, seize the earth, the infinite and indescribable Dao belongs to me, and I replace the Dao, for I'm the Dao itself and the Dao is me. Seize the yin and seize the yang, connate spirits rejoice in their connection as one promotes the other. It starts from above and descends, chaos gives birth to yin and yang that gives birth to the five great elements. Wood feeds the everlasting Fire. Fire creates the ash of the Earth. Earth gives birth to celestial Metal. Metal enriches the Water. Water revolves for life, nourishing Wood. I'm chaos, I'm yin and yang, and I'm all in the five revolving elements.'

As the sutra containing his deepest understandings of Heaven and Earth were recited, the Essence in his body became more and more vigorous. The dark sky once clear slowly disappeared as divine wrath attracted the ferocity of heavenly thunder.

As clouds gathered above Cloud Peak, many people noticed what seemed to be the eye of a storm forming above.

"Good heavens! I-Is that a storm!?"

"W-what's happening!?"

No matter if it was on Cloud Peak itself or the surrounding areas, everyone stared at the clouds with fear as heavy pressure descended and pressed all living beings towards the ground. Something that many would think was illusory had the Spirit Masters on high alert.

When they looked up and stared at the serpentine golden lightning swimming on the clouds, all of them trembled as the hairs on their body raised and cold sweat poured down their backs.

At this moment, a thunderous clap resounded. Cao De who had his eyes closed didn't even flinch under the threat of Heavenly Punishment. He continued to explore until he found it, it was a path a lot smoother compared to the others and it directly connected to one of his meridians.

"It's you!" Having decided, he formed a seal with his hand and commanded all the Essence in his body to move towards it. At this time, the meridian suddenly assumed the illusory appearance of a door while his Essence took the shape of a hammer.

With a swing full of boundless might, the hammer knocked on the door and destroyed it with a single move. The wisp of Essence Cao De cultivated in a few days rushed inside and filled the meridian before continuing forward without rest.

For each one of the twelve principal meridians he opened, several dozens of acupoints were unlocked as well and every time this happened, a loud thunder would echo throughout the lands.

Knowing exactly what this meant, Cao De steeled his heart and resolve and pressed forward. When the last of the twelve principal meridians was opened, the world suddenly lost color and sound as a bolt of lightning descended.

Nobody in the vicinity of Cloud Peak could move, they instinctively felt that if they did so, the heavenly punishment would target them as well.

When the bolt of golden lightning struck his body, Cao De's mind went blank. Momentarily, it looked like nothing had changed.

Only Cao De knew exactly what happened as blood seeped from his ears. Still, with the recovery of his mind, he kept reciting the sutra as if nothing had happened.

At this point, Cao De couldn't hear a thing and only his eyes could prepare him for the next bolt of lightning that came crashing down. Unfortunately, it didn't last long... With this bolt of lightning, his eyes became dull and gray.

Then, another bolt struck and it was Cao De's body that lost all feeling. The grass beneath him, the wind cutting his skin, the heat of the lightning, nothing could be felt beside the pain of his internal organs burning and withering away.

Five lightning bolts, five senses. Cao De couldn't breathe, couldn't feel, nor could he do anything besides continue reciting his sutra amidst total isolation in darkness.

With the sixth lightning bolt, his body became frail and weak, full of wrinkles and smelly. With the seventh, all the energy in his body disappeared as if it was never there, to begin with. The eighth was like a dragon, it roared angrily and descended with divine might. The moment it hit, even Cao De's mind was lost.

Like a broken doll, he remained stiff, seating in the same position, but the heavenly punishment didn't end, it wouldn't end until it consumed everything.

The ninth lightning bolt, unlike the others, was shrouded in white and seemed ethereal, it curved mid-flight and struck his chest, his heart.

At this moment, what appeared before the last glimpse of consciousness in Cao De's heart was a scene, a scene of a woman that he couldn't forget.

She stood aloft on her throne, her caring eyes saw everything under the heavens in her dominion, and like a divine emperor, her will was the will of the land. When the farmers clamored and prayed for rain, a move of her fingers would cause the droplets of water to appear even if the skies were clear and no cloud was present.

Cao De observed her from the side with an admiring and worshipful gaze. She was his everything, and the person he would give everything to if it could help her solve her troubles.

At this moment though, the glorious and divine scene took on a darker turn. The sky became dark and Yang Xiaofan frowned.

Looking at him, her voice full of rage and disgust resounded. "Unfilial disciple, I treated you so well, gave you divine techniques, taught you wholeheartedly, and yet, your turn your back on me!"

"W-what, master, what are you talking about?"

"When everything is good and peaceful you're thankful to me, but when troubles arrive you turn your back and flee. Disappointed can't even begin to describe how I feel about you! I thought we had a connection, I thought that in this world of self-righteous hypocrites, I could rest my head ease on your shoulders, but it seems that I was wrong."

Too shocked to answer, Cao De could only fall to his knees as a heartbreaking pain spread from his chest. "M-master, I... I didn't mean to abandon you, they were too many and too strong, I don't understand how they managed to found your cultivation chamber so quickly!"

"So... it wasn't your fault?" Yang Xiaofan asked with some hope in her voice. However, before Cao De could continue a voice he hadn't heard in a long time reached his ears.

"Lies! This damn traitor, you still have the guts to return after what you did!? Do you think we don't know the truth, do you think we are fools?! Begone ingrate, you from this point forth are banned from ever setting foot on the sect territory again!"

It was Jiang Liang, the grand elder ruling over most of the sect's affairs.

"No, master! Don't listen to this old fool, I would never betray you."

Yang Xiaofan trembled and stood up, she walked towards him until they were a meter away from each other and lifted the cloak that covered her robes. "If that's the case, then tell me, Cheng'er, why is it then that I'm injured?

"Who is the one responsible for this fatal injury?" Yang Xiaofan continued as she pointed towards the hole on the left side of her body where not even organs could be seen anymore. "If not for you who betrayed me, who else could be responsible for this?"

"Master..." Cao De opened his mouth, his dry mouth wished to speak, but no words came out.

"Insolence!" Jiang Liang exclaimed as he pointed his old and disgusting finger toward him. "Lin Wencheng! EVEN WHEN THE SECT MASTER CONFRONTS YOU WITH UNDENIABLE FACTS YOU STILL LIE! DEATH! YOU DESERVE DEATH!"

A cloud swept his vision and Cao De found himself in front of a house. Blood seeped from each of the windows as wails of anguish and pain came from inside.

It was the Lin residence belonging to one of the elders, and more precisely, Lin Wencheng's grandfather himself.

"Chen- no, you don't deserve to hear me calling you like this again." Cao De's master voice came from behind him. He turned to look and stared with a broken heart towards his crying master as she pointed her pitch-black sword, a Jian he had personally crafted for her, towards the house. "As part of your punishment, I decided to torture and kill every single person who carries your blood. Your siblings, cousins... each and every single parent of yours is being tortured inside. So tell me, now that I took away your position, took away your loved ones, and confiscated your savings, do you hate me?"

"Master... how could I hate you? You're my everything!"

"Am I? What about now?" Yang Xiaofan's beautiful red hair fluttered as she took a step forward and waved her sword. It moved faster than his eyes could see, but the painful feeling below his chest instantly told him where he was injured.

"I also took away the power you painstakingly cultivated. Do you hate me now?"

Cao De shook his head, making her frown.

Again, with another move, she dismembered his body, cutting each and every one of his limbs except for his head.

"Even now that you're a cripple, you still don't hate me?"

Cao De hoarsely laughed when he heard those words. "Even if you kill me, the one who gave me this life was you... When I was sick and weak, couldn't even stand on my two legs or see, it was you who gave the order to keep me alive. At most, I'm just returning something that you gave to me. It's only fair to accept this fate, but... do you want to know why? Why I don't hate you?"

"Why?" Yang Xiaofan asked pain and regret shining in her hazel diamond-like eyes.

"Because... master..." Cao De coughed as blood slipped out of his mouth. "I love you... I always loved you... If my death and torture can ease the pain in your heart... then... it was all worth it."

Even at his last breath, Cao De's heart never wavered, it remained strong and resolute, always faithful to his beliefs.

At this moment, Yang Xiaofan who seemed to have a look of disdain on her face suddenly smiled.

"Foolish disciple, to think that you even confessed your love to your master. If the forces of the nine continents were to hear this, I would become the biggest laughing stock of the generation. You have always liked controversial things, huh, I guess it would be expected that you would pursue me, your master. Very well then, I forgive you and I hope we can see each other again. At that time, If I hear that you eloped with another girl, I will definitely cut something and it won't be your arms or legs."

When those words reached his ears, Cao De opened his eyes with a start and breathed heavily.

Looking at the forest around him, the clear blue sky above, and the singing of the birds, he couldn't help but open his mouth, but no sound came out.

Sighing he looked upwards and shook his head. 'What a heavy tribulation. five decays, demon hearts, loss of cultivation, the destruction of the mind, and even the destruction of the Dao Heart... if my Dao Heart wasn't so strong... if not for my unwavering feelings for her...'

Cao De didn't even want to think about it. All he wanted to think about now was whether or not he had succeeded in creating his own Cultivation Sutra.

"If this succeeds, I will be able to greatly increase the speed at which my body produces Essence... Let's see..."