Chapter 19: True Path of Infinity

Adrian reached his room and closed the door behind him. Settling onto his modest bed, he arranged his few belongings on a small table nearby. The training manual lay there, unopened—a silent promise of the techniques and knowledge that would soon shape his journey. But before beginning his practice, a question still tugged at his mind.

He recalled the morning assembly: Elder Li Tian had explained the basic stages—Ember Awakening, Flowing Veins, and Tempered Meridian—but one point remained unresolved. In the novels, each realm is clearly divided, and a cultivator knows exactly when they have reached its peak. Is there a signal here? How does one know when to move on?

Unable to ignore his curiosity, Adrian closed his eyes and reached out with his thoughts to Cosmo.

Adrian reached out with his thoughts and asked, "Cosmo, how do we know when we've reached the peak of our current realm and are ready to advance? How would we know?"

Cosmo replied calmly, "In this world, cultivation is divided into four internal levels: low-level, mid-level, peak-level, and perfect-level. When you reach the perfect level in your current realm, you are ready to move on."

Adrian pressed further, "Then why didn't the instructor mention these levels clearly?"

Cosmo's voice was measured as he answered, "I will not answer that question for you, Adrian. Why don't you think for yourself? Consider what benefit the instructor gains by not telling you this. What do you think the other disciples will do? What do you believe will happen?"

After Cosmo's challenge, a heavy silence filled the space. Adrian sat quietly for several minutes, his mind churning with thoughts. Finally, his eyes brightened as understanding began to dawn on him.

He thought, If a disciple doesn't know what to do, the natural response is to ask the instructor—just as we were told to do if we are uncertain. But what do they gain from that? "They learn who among us reaches the peak of our current realm first. In other words, they find out who is progressing faster than the rest."

Adrian continued, "That way, the fastest among us become known, and if there happens to be a hidden gem among these talents, the elders can identify and nurture that exceptional potential. This system helps us not only gauge our own progress but also ensures that true talent is recognized."

At that moment, Cosmo's calm voice echoed in his mind once more, "Yes, Adrian, that is exactly what you gain. By observing your progress, you learn who among you is more talented. It is through this knowledge that the elders can identify those hidden gems."

Adrian paused, his mind buzzing with new questions. He said to himself, "I must keep a close watch on my peers—observe who is the first to reach the perfect level and note how long it takes them. This will help me gauge how my talent is and how much benefit I can gain. I want to demonstrate my talent, but I must be careful not to draw too much attention to myself. It's a delicate balance: I must progress steadily, so I can gain the advantages without standing out too much."

Adrian sat cross-legged in his room, the wooden floor cool beneath him. He took a deep breath, steadying his thoughts. Tonight marked the true beginning of his cultivation journey.

He reached out with his thoughts. "Cosmo, now I'm going to cultivate. Wish me luck."

A chuckle echoed in his mind. "Luck? Do you think I exist just to chat with you?" Cosmo teased. "I am here to guide you, Adrian. And I have something to offer that no one in this world—or even beyond—can."

Adrian's interest piqued. "Wait… Does that mean you're going to help me cultivate? Is there something I should know beforehand?"

"Indeed," Cosmo said, his voice turning serious. "I don't want you to follow the usual path that the cultivators of this world—and even those of the higher realms—walk upon. I will give you a path that once existed but was erased from the annals of history. A path so unique that even the primordial laws sought to eliminate it."

Adrian's brows furrowed. "Erased? You mean… this knowledge was deliberately destroyed?"

"Yes," Cosmo confirmed. "Those who were. accidentally on this road were wiped out. If someone were to even think of discovering this path, their thinking would be stopped and cognition would be blocked to think in that way."

Adrian's body tensed. "Then why are you telling me this? Wouldn't I be erased as well?"

"Of course not," Cosmo reassured him. "I would never offer you something that would lead to your destruction. Before I decided to offer this path, I made certain preparations—enough to shield you from any interference. But I must warn you, Adrian, this path is incredibly difficult. Even with your talent, your progress may be much slower than others. However, the rewards are beyond imagination. If your talent were even slightly lower, I wouldn't have even considered offering you this choice."

Adrian took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "If I plan to transcend everything, then I need the strongest foundation. If I don't take risks now, how will I ever stand at the peak?"

Cosmo askes him again, "Are you sure you want to walk this path because if you do, you not will have to follow what maybe the hardest path ever to exist but you will also not be able to really enjoy the benefits of enjoying the speed of cultivation with your talent, your talent could help you breeze through the realms quite easily and soon reach the top of cultivation realms and get a vast knowledge reserve to satisfy your curiosity."

Adrian eyes waver for a second after hearing the benefits but in the next second it becomes unwaveringly determined, " I'll take the more demanding road"

Cosmo tones sounds quite happy, "I am happy here that you at least choose this path and i will make it that you will not regret it.

"Wait.. what exactly do you mean," Adrian gets confused and asks but before he could continue the cosmo continues, so he quickly pays attention to it and thinks about asking him this sometimes else.

Cosmo continued more formally, "Very well. You have made your decision. Then listen carefully, Adrian. The path I offer you is called… the Path of Infinity."

__ __ __

Meanwhile—at that same pivotal moment, in a parallel reality—Cosmo poses the exact same question:

"Do you want to choose the harder path, or will you take the easier route to satisfy your curiosity?"

In this alternate realm, Adrian's eyes flicker with hesitation. "If I can still transcend the universe on the easier path… why bother with all the hardship? I'll choose the simpler route."

Cosmo nods. "Yes, you'll still be able to transcend, but without the more extreme challenges. That path remains open."

Adrian relaxes. "Then that settles it. If I can reach my goal with less risk, I see no reason to struggle. By the way, can you tell me about the other path?"

Cosmo offers a cryptic shrug. "If you had chosen it, I would have told you more. But now… it isn't really relevant for you."

Adrian looks briefly confused but doesn't press.

__ __ __ 

Adrian's eyes widened. "Path of Infinity? That sounds… powerful. What does it mean?"

"It is exactly as it sounds," Cosmo said. "This path is limitless. It is a path that defies conventional cultivation methods. Let me explain."

Cosmo's voice took on a lecturing tone. "You already know that in the first three realms, Ember Awakening and Flowing Veins and Tempered Meridian's, your body strengthens itself, washing away impurities and preparing for cultivation. But have you ever wondered why? What is the purpose?"

Adrian thought for a moment before responding, "To build a foundation for storing Qi?"

"Exactly," Cosmo said. "But what comes next? What is the purpose of all this refinement?"

Adrian frowned slightly. "I don't know. What comes after?"

Cosmo paused before admitting, "In the next major realm, cultivators form something inside their body to store Qi. This is an important step because it allows them to hold Qi even in places where Qi is scarce. Without it, they would be unable to cultivate or fight efficiently."

Adrian nodded. "That makes sense. So cultivators strengthen their body first, and then they develop a way to store energy inside them."

"Correct," Cosmo affirmed. "But this method has a weakness."

Adrian looked puzzled. "What Weakness?"

"This storage is limited," Cosmo explained. "Once a cultivator depletes the Qi they have stored inside, they become powerless. They must constantly replenish it and they can only make the core larger and stronger by reaching a higher level of cultivation. But the Path of Infinity changes everything."

Adrian leaned forward, intrigued. "How?"

Cosmo chuckled. "Because you will not create a storage system at all."

Adrian froze. "Wait… what do you mean? If I don't have a way to store Qi, then how will I use it?"

"You won't store Qi. You will become the source itself."

Adrian's mind reeled. "Become the source? How is that possible?"

"Instead of forming a single point to contain Qi, your entire body will continuously absorb and circulate Qi from the environment. You will never run out of energy because you will never be reliant on a single storage system. As long as Qi exists in the world, you will always have it flowing through you."

A deep silence filled the room. Adrian slowly processed what he had just heard. If this was true, then—

"This means… I won't have a limit," Adrian whispered.

"Precisely," Cosmo said. "This is just the beginning of the Path of Infinity. There are many more aspects to it, which you will uncover as you progress. But for now, all you need to know is this: unlike others who rely on what is within, you will rely on what is infinite."

Adrian clenched his fists. This wasn't just a technique—it was a revolution in cultivation itself. If this path truly had no limits, then his growth would be unshackled from all traditional constraints.

"Alright," he said, his eyes filled with determination. "Let's begin."

Cosmo chuckled. "Good. Then listen carefully…"

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