bab 11

As the atmosphere in the main hall began to calm and the elders were about to rise from their seats, Eyang Pradipa suddenly spoke. His tone was calm, but firm enough to make everyone sit back down and look at him.

> "Wait a moment... Ancestors, elders. Before we disperse, allow me to say something. This... is not an ordinary matter."

The ancestors nodded slowly.

"What is it, Pradipa? You seem to have something to share."

Eyang Pradipa took a deep breath. His eyes scanned everyone present, then he leaned back slightly.

> "Seventeen years ago, my son—Teguh—married a woman named Tirta. At that time, not many knew... because we purposely kept it a secret for a while."

The elders exchanged glances. Some began to show curious expressions.

> "When Tirta was pregnant, it was not like a typical pregnancy. She carried the child for ten years. That child... was finally born, and now he is seven years old."

Suddenly, the room fell silent. Eyang Cakra Dara murmured softly, "Ten years...?"

Pradipa continued, his voice growing heavier.

> "That child... is Baskara. My grandchild. And he... is not an ordinary child. His body is far stronger than that of an average human. Even I—who have lived long and seen many talents—cannot measure this child's potential."

Some of the elders were silent, while others stared with expressions of disbelief.

> "I once gave him some techniques of level four... even five. Just to try... to test him. And what happened... he mastered them in one go."

The faces of the Ancestors slowly changed. From calm, they became full of attention.

> "Even without a teacher... without a guide... that child has reached the third realm. At the age of seven."

Astonished. That is the word that described the atmosphere in the room. Eyang Phasta even unconsciously said,

"That... is impossible..."

The Ancestors stood from their seats.

"Where is the child now?"

> "He has just returned to his parents' home."

The Ancestors wasted no time.

"Pradipa, take me to him. Right now. I must see him with my own eyes."

At the simple house's doorstep, the wind blew gently, carrying the scent of the earth that was still damp from last night's rain. Eight elders of the family and one venerable figure—the Ancestor who had just completed his decades-long meditation—arrived. Among them stood Eyang Pradipa, who knocked on the door with a slow but firm tap.

Knock knock knock...

"Teguh, it's father..." he said.

Not long after, the door opened. The person who greeted them was Tirta, Teguh's wife, and Baskara's mother. Her expression immediately turned to one of surprise, almost anxious, seeing the elders standing with great authority in front of their modest home. Her eyes caught a stranger emanating an extraordinary aura—someone she had never met, but clearly... very respected.

"Father... what's going on? Even the elders came... And this person...?" she asked, her voice faltering.

Eyang Pradipa gave a small smile. "Relax, Tirta. We only came for a visit. Don't worry."

With a slightly awkward but polite gesture, Tirta allowed them to enter. The simple house now felt full of powerful energy and spiritual pressure that almost made the roof tiles tremble. They sat on a rattan sofa, sipping warm herbal tea prepared by Tirta.

Soon after, Teguh came out from his room, looking much recovered from his illness. He welcomed the esteemed guests with full respect. Behind him, Baskara appeared, walking lightly and with a shy smile, like an ordinary child.

However, as soon as the elders and the Ancestor saw him... their expressions instantly changed.

In disbelief. Astonished. Amazed.

"He's... truly as you said, Pradipa..." murmured one of the elders.

Without saying much, the Ancestor took a step forward and grabbed Baskara's wrist. Silence. That moment felt as if the universe itself was holding its breath.

"Ah... Teguh, Tirta, Baskara..." Pradipa said. "This is our Ancestor who has just finished his meditation."

The three immediately paid their respects deeply.

"Respectful greetings, Ancestor."

"Please sit down." The Ancestor returned their respect and sat down slowly. He looked at Baskara with great meaning, then spoke:

> "This child... is truly a miracle. At first, I doubted Pradipa's words. But after seeing it with my own eyes... I am amazed."

"Child, come here. Tell me... is it true that you have mastered the Tapak Geni technique to perfection?"

Tirta and Teguh exchanged glances, stunned. Tapak Geni was a high-level inherited technique. To perfect it... one would need years, even decades. Even Teguh himself had never touched that technique.

Baskara simply nodded, a bit confused as to how everyone knew.

"Yes, Ancestor... I have perfected it... along with some other techniques like Langkah Tanpa Suara, Jari Geni, and... Golok Penghancur Jiwa."

Silence.

All the elders froze.

Even Eyang Pradipa—who had been calm—slowly furrowed his brow, as if just realizing that the techniques he had given to Baskara for testing had been completely mastered.

> "Incredible..." whispered one of the elders. "This child seems as if born from the womb of the universe itself..."

The Ancestor gazed at Baskara deeply.

"Would you show us a little, child?"

Baskara looked at his mother, hesitating.

"Mother... may I?"

Tirta, still looking a bit confused, nodded quickly.

"Ah... yes, of course... child."

The morning wind blew, sweeping away the mist that hung over the mountain slopes. On a steep cliff, the esteemed group from Baskara's family stood, gazing at the vast, greenish-blue mountain range stretching as far as the eye could see. Below, a calm lake lay, hiding a mysterious depth that reflected the sky and clouds.

A heavy yet authoritative voice broke the silence.

> "Try the first layer of the Tapak Geni technique on that Ki Sabrang tree, child," the Ancestor said, pointing to a large tree not far from the cliff. Its trunk was as thick as the belly of an old buffalo, its bark tough and layered.

Baskara nodded. "Alright, Ancestor."

Though firm on the outside, inside, he felt nervous. This was the first time he would demonstrate the technique he had been practicing alone in solitude. And now, nine pairs of eyes—the elders and his own Ancestors—were watching him in silence, full of pressure.

He took a deep breath. The once calm wind began to stir. It was as though nature itself responded to the spiritual pulse leaking from Baskara's small body. The grass beneath his feet trembled, twisting as if drawn to the center of his power.

The third-level Nature Aura radiated from his body. The wind howled louder, shaking the ancient trees around, and at that moment—Baskara began circulating his spiritual energy into his right arm. His small arm felt hot, like embers crawling under his skin.

With one steady movement, he stepped forward and slapped the Ki Sabrang tree trunk.

> "Tapak Geni...!"

CRACK!

Instantly, the tough wood had a hole, perfectly in the shape of a small hand. From within the hole, flames still licked like embers refusing to die out.

Silence.

At once, the elders held their breath. Their eyes widened in awe, unable to believe that a seven-year-old child could penetrate such a large tree with a technique that should have taken decades to master.

"Good... very good, child," the Ancestor said, nodding slowly, his voice trembling in amazement.

In fact, if only using his physical strength, Baskara could have probably made a hole in the tree. However, the Ancestor wanted to witness the Tapak Geni technique, not just brute force—and Baskara had exceeded expectations.

However, before their admiration had fully subsided, the Ancestor spoke again.

> "Now... try the third layer, child."

Baskara smiled faintly, now with a little confidence that bordered on youthful arrogance.

"Ready, Ancestor!"

He prepared himself. Both feet grounded, his body unified with the earth, and his spiritual aura grew even larger than before. The surrounding air grew hot, like a furnace ready to explode. The eyes of the elders were now sharply focused on him.

Baskara raised his right hand, concentrating his power... and as he moved his palm toward the lake below, something unusual occurred.

From his small palm, a second hand appeared—a giant spiritual hand, burning like red-hot charcoal. As it neared the lake, the hand grew larger, setting the air around it ablaze.

> BOOM!!

As it touched the surface of the lake, a sound like hot iron being dipped into water echoed. Steam exploded into the sky, creating thick fog, while massive waves surged toward the lake's shore, flooding its banks.

The water churned. Thick mist enveloped everything. The ground beneath the cliff shook.

The elders were frozen. Their mouths hung open in disbelief. Not one of them—even the Ancestor himself—had imagined that a seven-year-old child could unleash such a force with the third layer of the Tapak Geni technique.

The Ancestor looked toward the lake, then back at Baskara, who still stood calmly, though his breath was slightly heavy.