The Weight of Destiny

The sensation of standing between worlds still lingered on Han Tianlong's skin as they left the ancient ruin behind. His mind raced with the revelations from the encounter, the vision of the cloaked figure, and the ominous words: "The price of power is great." The Eternal Dao—the mythical path to immortality—was not just a legend. It was real, and it had chosen him.

Tianlong glanced at the scroll in his hand, still unsure of what this meant for his future. His grandmother remained silent, her thoughts heavy as they made their way back through the Abyssal Forest. The oppressive atmosphere seemed lighter now, as if the forest itself recognized the change in him. Tianlong could feel the subtle hum of the Eternal Dao coursing through his body, settling deep within his core.

But with this newfound power came a responsibility and a danger he could hardly fathom.

"Grandmother," he began, breaking the silence that had stretched between them. "What do you know of the Eternal Dao?"

She glanced at him, her aged eyes filled with both pride and concern. "The Eternal Dao is more than just a cultivation technique. It is a path that transcends the natural order of the world. Many have sought it, but few have ever glimpsed its true form. Legends say that those who master the Eternal Dao are no longer bound by the cycle of life and death, nor the heavens themselves."

Tianlong's mind reeled at the implications. No longer bound by the heavens… That meant absolute freedom, the power to shape his fate and defy even the gods. But as the figure in the vision had warned, such power came at a cost.

"There must be more to it," Tianlong muttered, frowning as they continued their journey.

His grandmother nodded. "The Eternal Dao has existed since the dawn of cultivation itself. Long before the realms were divided, before even the sects and empires that now dominate the world, there were primordial beings who could wield the Dao itself. They shaped reality with their thoughts, transcending both time and space. But such power drew the attention of the Celestial Emperor, and a great war erupted between those who sought the Eternal Dao and the heavens."

"The heavens themselves?" Tianlong whispered in disbelief.

"Indeed. The war was catastrophic. Entire realms were destroyed, and those who sought the Eternal Dao were either annihilated or forced into hiding. The heavens imposed strict laws on cultivation to prevent another uprising, and the path to the Eternal Dao was lost… until now."

Tianlong's grip tightened on the scroll. This was the legacy he had stumbled upon, the hidden power that had chosen him as its heir. But if the heavens had once gone to such lengths to suppress it, how could he hope to master it without drawing their wrath?

As they neared the edge of the forest, the first faint rays of dawn began to pierce through the thick canopy, casting the world in a soft, golden light. But Tianlong felt no peace, only the growing weight of his destiny pressing down on him.

"I need to understand this power," he said quietly. "If I am to follow this path, I need to know how to cultivate it."

His grandmother nodded, but her expression remained grave. "It won't be easy, Tianlong. The Eternal Dao is not like other cultivation techniques. It will require more than just strength of body and spirit. You must master the very essence of the Dao itself."

She paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts before continuing. "Cultivation in this world is divided into many stages, each representing a different level of mastery over one's qi and understanding of the Dao. Most cultivators begin with the Body Refinement Stage, where they strengthen their physical bodies to withstand the flow of qi. From there, they move on to the Qi Condensation Stage, where they begin to gather and refine their internal energy."

Tianlong listened carefully, absorbing every word. He was familiar with these stages—many cultivators in the mortal world were content to spend their entire lives in the Body Refinement or Qi Condensation stages, never progressing beyond that.

"The next stage," his grandmother continued, "is the Foundation Establishment Stage, where a cultivator builds the foundation of their future path. It's a crucial stage, for if the foundation is flawed, their cultivation will be limited, no matter how far they progress. After that comes the Core Formation Stage, where one's qi condenses into a spiritual core, a source of immense power and stability."

Tianlong nodded. This was basic knowledge to any cultivator, though only a small number of the truly gifted ever reached Core Formation. But he could sense that his grandmother was leading to something far greater.

"Once a cultivator reaches the Nascent Soul Stage," she said, "they are no longer bound by the limitations of the mortal world. Their spiritual energy forms into a Nascent Soul, allowing them to manipulate the forces of nature around them. From there, the most powerful cultivators ascend to the Soul Formation Stage, where they begin to comprehend the deeper mysteries of the Dao itself."

Tianlong's heart raced. The Nascent Soul and Soul Formation stages were the stuff of legends in the mortal realm. Few cultivators ever reached such heights, and those who did were revered as sages or even demigods.

"And beyond that?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

His grandmother's gaze hardened. "Beyond the Soul Formation Stage lies the Void Transformation Stage, where one's soul becomes attuned to the void, allowing them to transcend space and time. And finally, the Dao Ascension Stage—a realm where one is said to become one with the Dao itself, achieving immortality and true mastery over reality."

Tianlong's breath caught in his throat. The Dao Ascension Stage… It was the pinnacle of cultivation, a stage that only the most powerful beings in the universe could hope to reach. And yet, even that was not enough to fully grasp the Eternal Dao.

"The Eternal Dao," his grandmother said slowly, "is a path that extends even beyond Dao Ascension. It is a cultivation path that defies the heavens and breaks free from the natural cycle. It is said that those who follow the Eternal Dao can shape their own fate, free from the interference of the gods."

Tianlong's mind raced as he processed her words. To transcend the Dao Ascension Stage was to achieve something that even the gods feared. But as he held the scroll in his hands, he felt the weight of that power settling over him. The Eternal Dao was no simple technique; it was a responsibility, one that would place him at odds with forces far greater than any he had ever imagined.

"How do I begin?" Tianlong asked, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him.

His grandmother smiled faintly. "You've already begun, Tianlong. The moment you were chosen by the Eternal Dao, your path was set. But remember, this is not a journey you can take lightly. You will need allies, strength, and most of all—patience."

Tianlong nodded. Patience had always been his greatest strength, and he would need every bit of it to walk the path before him. But as the first rays of sunlight broke through the trees, he knew one thing for certain: he would not turn back.

The Eternal Dao was his destiny, and he would pursue it, no matter the cost.