Decision

Chapter 2: Decision

Xia Xian watched his younger brother with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "What are you thinking so deeply about, Sanjeev?" he asked.

Sanjeev hesitated for a moment, then spoke, his voice filled with a newfound resolve. "I was just reflecting on how much I've forgotten. But no matter. I've decided my path forward. I want to cultivate and become a god of this world."

His words were met with a chorus of incredulous laughter. Those present, a few family members and servants, exchanged skeptical glances.

"Cultivate? Become a god?" one of the servants scoffed. "Young Master, you couldn't achieve that even if you bathed in the most potent elixirs. You can't even sense the spiritual energy, let alone control it. You have to open your blocked meridians first."

Another chimed in, "Indeed. It's a fool's dream. Best to focus on your alchemy, Sanjeev."

Sanjeev's jaw tightened, but he held his temper in check. He understood their skepticism. In this life, he had been known as a weakling, someone incapable of cultivation. But he knew that his past life, his knowledge of yoga and inner energy, was the key to his success.

"I will do it," Sanjeev said, his voice firm and unwavering, silencing their laughter. "Regardless of the obstacles, I will find a way."

With that, he turned and left the room, his mind already racing with plans. He needed to learn more about this world, its history, and the intricacies of cultivation. He decided to immerse himself in the Xue family library.

Sanjeev took a long bath, washing away the grime and sweat, and then headed straight for the library. The Xue family library was a vast repository of knowledge, containing countless scrolls and tomes on various subjects.

He began by delving into the history of the Xue family. He discovered that the Xues were an ancient and highly respected lineage, renowned throughout the Xuen Continent for their mastery of medicine. Their influence extended far and wide, and they possessed vast treasures and properties, particularly in the capital city.

The realization of his family's esteemed position gave Sanjeev a sense of grounding and belonging. He was no longer just a transmigrated soul in a foreign land; he was a part of something ancient and powerful.

His focus then shifted to the subject of cultivation. He found detailed explanations of the seven major realms of cultivation, each further divided into seven sub-levels, totaling forty-nine stages on the path to immortality.

The names of the seven major realms resonated deeply within him:

Mūlādhāra Foundation

Svādhiṣṭhāna Flow

Maṇipūra Radiance

Anāhata Resonance

Viśuddha Clarity

Ājñā Insight

Sahasrāra Zenith

Sanjeev was astounded. The names of these realms were identical to the names of the seven chakras in Hindu spirituality, the seven energy centers of the human body. In his past life, he had learned that a sage who mastered all seven chakras could attain enlightenment, communicate with the divine, and wield incredible supernatural powers.

The similarity was striking. Could the path to godhood in this world be connected to the chakra system he knew so well? He wondered. Were the legends of sages in his world connected to the cultivators of this world? It seemed more than a coincidence.

A new understanding dawned upon Sanjeev. Just as the mastery of the seven chakras was the key to unlocking spiritual potential on Earth, perhaps mastering these seven realms was the key to unlocking the power of the gods in this world. But in his world, there were no further levels of attainment beyond the seven chakras. Here, there were.

The implications were staggering. Sanjeev realized that his knowledge of Earth's spiritual traditions might give him a unique advantage in his cultivation journey. He felt a surge of excitement and determination.

Sanjeev spent the rest of the day poring over cultivation manuals, absorbing their contents with incredible speed. He discovered that once he opened his blocked meridians, the knowledge contained within the books would seamlessly integrate into his mind. It was as if his past-life knowledge and his current-life experiences were converging, granting him an almost intuitive understanding of this world's mysteries.

By evening, Sanjeev had devoured a vast amount of information, his mind buzzing with newfound knowledge and ideas. He left the library, his steps purposeful. He knew what he had to do.

Back in his room, Sanjeev began to contemplate how to open his blocked meridians. The methods described in the cultivation manuals seemed inadequate, too focused on those who already had a foundation in cultivation. He needed a more radical approach.

Then, a memory surfaced, a technique from Ayurvedic medicine, the ancient Indian system of healing. He recalled a process for purifying the nadis, the subtle energy channels in the body, similar to the meridians of this world. It involved a combination of specific herbs and a carefully controlled alchemical process.

Sanjeev quickly wrote down a list of the required medicinal ingredients and summoned a servant. He instructed the servant to gather the herbs from the Xue family's extensive stores.

The servant, though surprised by the seemingly low-level nature of the prescription, obeyed without question and soon returned with the requested ingredients.

Sanjeev then set up a small furnace in his room and began the process of refining the herbs, drawing upon his alchemical knowledge to create a potent medicinal pill. He worked with focus and precision, carefully контролируя the temperature and the infusion times.

As the moon reached its zenith, casting its silvery light through his window, the pill was ready. Sanjeev swallowed it in one gulp.

Immediately, a searing heat erupted within his body. It felt as if his very blood was boiling, his meridians and nerves burning like molten metal. Every cell in his body screamed in protest. Sanjeev gritted his teeth, bearing the excruciating pain with an iron will. He knew that this was a crucial moment. If he could withstand this trial, he might finally break through the barriers that had held him back for so long.

Black impurities began to seep out of his pores, a foul-smelling substance that coated his skin. Sanjeev's body convulsed, his consciousness teetering on the edge of oblivion. Then, just as he thought he could endure no more, he succumbed to the overwhelming pain and lost consciousness.