Awakening Power

Chapter 15: Awakening Power

Three days after the harrowing encounter in the alleyway, Sanjeev remained unconscious, his body slowly mending from the devastating lightning strike. The attack, delivered by the Lotus Blade Sect elder, had pushed his resilience to its absolute limit. On the fifth day, his eyes fluttered open.

The first thing he perceived was a soft, diffused light, and the worried faces of his family gathered around his bedside. His grandfather, Xue Rong, his face etched with deep concern, was closest. Xiner, her eyes red and swollen, held his hand tightly. His brother, Xia Xian, stood nearby, his usual confident demeanor replaced by a grim seriousness.

Sanjeev's throat was dry and his body ached, but his mind was clear. He needed to understand what had happened. "What… what happened?" he croaked, his voice raspy.

Xue Rong's expression hardened. "You were attacked," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "by a cultivator of the Lotus Blade Sect."

Sanjeev struggled to sit up, wincing at the lingering pain. As the memories flooded back, the image of the enraged elder and the crackling lightning filled his mind. He recounted the events in the alleyway, describing the confrontation with the young man, his use of the "Thunder from Heaven" technique, and the elder's sudden, devastating attack.

As Sanjeev spoke, Xue Rong's anger intensified. A palpable pressure filled the room, the very air seeming to vibrate with his barely restrained power. The ornate decorations on the walls rattled, and the candles flickered wildly. It was clear to everyone present that Xue Rong was far more powerful than the attacking elder, a fact that both surprised and unsettled Sanjeev. He had sensed a hint of this power before, but now, seeing it unleashed, even in a controlled manner, was awe-inspiring.

"That arrogant fool!" Xue Rong roared, his voice like thunder. "To attack a member of my family, and a guest of honor, in such a manner… it is an insult I will not forget!"

Despite the lingering pain, Sanjeev felt a surge of warmth at his grandfather's fierce protectiveness. He realized the depth of his family's love and the lengths they would go to defend him. However, the sheer power emanating from Xue Rong also made him uneasy. He sensed the immense responsibility and danger that came with such strength.

Xue Rong took a deep breath, visibly calming himself. He turned to Sanjeev, his expression softening. "You were fortunate," he said, his voice gentler now. "Your grandmother's bracelet… it protected you. It is an artifact of immense power, capable of withstanding even a Visuddha Clarity peak realm attack."

Sanjeev touched the bracelet on his wrist, a simple jade band that he had never fully understood its significance. Now, he realized the true extent of his grandmother's foresight and love.

Xue Rong then produced a vial filled with a shimmering, golden liquid. "Drink this," he instructed. "It is a rare elixir, a family treasure. It will accelerate your healing a hundredfold."

Sanjeev drank the elixir, and a wave of soothing warmth spread through his body. The pain began to subside, and he could feel his strength returning at an astonishing rate.

Just as Sanjeev was beginning to recover, a servant announced the arrival of Master Arman. The renowned blacksmith entered the room, carrying a long, elegantly wrapped bundle.

"Young Master Sanjeev," Master Arman said, his voice filled with pride, "I have brought you your weapon."

He carefully unwrapped the bundle, revealing a pair of pata that gleamed with an otherworldly light. The gauntlets were crafted from a dark, obsidian-like metal, intricately etched with glowing silver runes. The blades, extending from the knuckles, were razor-sharp and pulsed with a faint, contained energy. They were more beautiful and awe-inspiring than Sanjeev had imagined.

Xia Xian, who had been watching with keen interest, stepped forward. Even he, a seasoned warrior, could feel the raw power emanating from the pata. "These… these are incredible," he breathed, his eyes wide with admiration. "I can sense the immense energy within them."

Master Arman nodded, his chest swelling with pride. "They are imbued with a fragment of my own spiritual energy," he explained. "They are more than just weapons; they are extensions of the wielder's will."

He turned to Sanjeev. "They are yours, Young Master. What will you name them?"

Sanjeev gazed at the pata, feeling a deep connection to them. The name came to him instantly, resonating with the power and force they embodied. "Mountain Slashing Swords," he declared.

The name echoed in the room, carrying a weight that everyone could feel. It spoke of strength, of unwavering resolve, and of the ability to overcome any obstacle. Even the air seemed to vibrate with the power of the name.

A grin spread across Xia Xian's face. "Mountain Slashing Swords," he repeated, testing the weight of the words. "A fitting name. I can sense the challenge in them." He turned to Sanjeev, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Brother, I challenge you to a duel."

Sanjeev met his brother's gaze, a thrill of anticipation coursing through him. He was eager to test his new weapons and his newfound strength. "I accept," he replied, his voice firm.

Xia Xian, ever cautious, adjusted his cultivation level to match Sanjeev's, limiting himself to the Mūlādhāra Foundation 5th level. He wanted to gauge his brother's progress without overwhelming him.

"Brother," Sanjeev said, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I am no longer at the Mūlādhāra Foundation realm."

A collective gasp filled the room. Xia Xian's eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you saying?"

"During my… recovery," Sanjeev explained, "I broke through. I am now at the Svādhiṣṭhāna Flow realm."

The room fell silent, the implications of Sanjeev's words sinking in. To have advanced a whole realm in such a short time, especially after being so severely injured, was almost unheard of. It spoke of a talent that defied all expectations.

Xia Xian's shock quickly turned into excitement. He grinned, his eyes sparkling with pride and a competitive fire. "Very well, little brother," he said, increasing his cultivation level to match Sanjeev's. "Let us see the power of the Svādhiṣṭhāna Flow realm."

They moved to the training yard, a large open space behind the Xue family estate. A crowd gathered to watch the duel, a mixture of family members, servants, and guards, all eager to witness the clash between the two brothers.

The duel was a spectacle of speed, power, and skill. Xia Xian, a seasoned warrior, fought with a fluid grace, his movements precise and controlled. Sanjeev, wielding the Mountain Slashing Swords, fought with a raw, untamed energy. The pata became extensions of his arms, allowing him to unleash a flurry of attacks, each strike carrying the force of a battering ram.

Sanjeev moved with an almost unnatural agility, his body weaving and flowing like water, a testament to the Svādhiṣṭhāna Flow realm. He parried Xia Xian's attacks with lightning speed, the pata singing as they clashed against his brother's sword. He countered with a series of devastating blows, forcing Xia Xian to fight defensively.

The crowd watched in awe as Sanjeev gradually gained the upper hand. His attacks became more fluid, more powerful, and more unpredictable. He moved with a speed that blurred the lines of sight, leaving afterimages in his wake.

Finally, with a powerful roar, Sanjeev unleashed a technique he had instinctively developed, a combination of his Agni flame and the force of the pata. A torrent of fire erupted from the blades, engulfing Xia Xian in a vortex of heat and energy.

Xia Xian, though skilled, was overwhelmed by the sheer power and ferocity of Sanjeev's attack. He was forced to concede defeat, his body battered but his spirit soaring.

The crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating Sanjeev's victory. Xue Rong watched with a mixture of pride and awe, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Sanjeev had not only survived a near-fatal attack but had emerged stronger, proving himself to be a true prodigy.

In the days that followed, Sanjeev dedicated himself to mastering his new powers and the Mountain Slashing Swords. He trained tirelessly, pushing his limits, and honing his skills. He knew that the Lotus Blade Sect entrance exam was fast approaching, and he wanted to be fully prepared.

One evening, while searching for advanced cultivation techniques in the Xue family library, Sanjeev felt an inexplicable pull towards a particular scroll. It was tucked away in a dusty corner, seemingly forgotten.

Curiosity piqued, Sanjeev carefully unrolled the scroll. The ancient parchment was covered in intricate symbols and archaic script. As he began to decipher the words, he realized that it was a soul cultivation technique, a rare and highly coveted art, rumored to grant unimaginable power.

Suddenly, the symbols on the scroll glowed with an intense golden light. The light enveloped Sanjeev, and the ancient words flowed directly into his mind, imbuing him with a wealth of knowledge that transcended his understanding.

He saw visions of his past life, fragments of ancient texts and forgotten lore. He recalled reading about the soul in his world's holy books, the concept of the atman. He remembered the teachings: that the soul is eternal, indestructible, and immutable; that it cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed; that it is the essence of being, the spark of divinity within every living thing.

As the knowledge integrated into his very being, Sanjeev experienced a profound awakening. He understood the true nature of the soul, its boundless potential, and its connection to the divine. He felt an overwhelming sense of peace, clarity, and enlightenment.

His own soul underwent a transformation. It resonated with a pure, golden light, reaching a level of strength and resilience that was almost divine. He realized that his soul was now virtually indestructible, capable of withstanding forces that would obliterate ordinary beings.

In that moment, Sanjeev's consciousness expanded. His soul separated from his body, soaring through the air like a liberated bird. He saw the world stretched out before him, a tapestry of vibrant colors and energies. He saw the flow of spiritual energy, the interconnectedness of all living things, and the vastness of the cosmos.

His soul ascended higher, passing through the city, the continent, and even beyond the planet. He saw other realms, other dimensions, breathtaking in their beauty and complexity. But then, he encountered a barrier, a shimmering, impenetrable wall that seemed to separate the mortal world from something… more.

His soul strained against the barrier, but it would not yield. After a long moment of contemplation, Sanjeev's soul returned to his body, the memories and insights of its journey etched into his very being.

Sanjeev returned to his room, his mind reeling from the experience. He felt a profound shift within him, a sense of power and understanding that transcended anything he had ever known. He knew that he had unlocked a potential that would change his destiny forever.

Later that night, as he lay in bed with Xiner, he drifted into a dream. He saw Lord Krishna again, the same serene smile on his face, the same knowing eyes. The vision was brief but powerful, leaving Sanjeev with a sense of anticipation and a feeling that his journey was far from over.

The next morning, Sanjeev awoke to Xiner's warm embrace and a chorus of cheerful voices.

"Happy birthday, Sanjeev!" Xiner exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Sanjeev was momentarily disoriented. He had completely forgotten that today was his seventeenth birthday. His family, however, had not.

His parents, his grandfather, and Xia Xian gathered around him, showering him with birthday wishes and gifts. In this world, a person's seventeenth birthday was a significant milestone, a time when they could undergo a special ceremony to awaken their "god spirit."

The god spirit was a manifestation of a person's potential to connect with and draw power from the gods. The gods themselves would choose those they deemed worthy, and if a person was chosen by a significant number of gods, they were considered exceptionally talented and destined for greatness.

Sanjeev and his family prepared to attend the God Spirit Awakening Hall, a grand and sacred place where the ceremony would take place.