Whispers filled the air as Reece walked away from Huaje and the others. They were scared and no one dared to move a muscle even Vandice was afraid. Everyone whispered as they called him the crazy crimson disciple, they muttered in low voices afraid of being overheard and they knew what that killing intent was capable of.
"I guess now you don't have to worry about not getting the resources or anyone attacking you in that matter" Reece told his fellow disciples as he smiled at them and stared again intently at Baihua empire campsite.
" Thank you, senior brother we'll at least get some resources to take back to the master." Hwang replied as he and the other disciples were happy about the result.
"Hey, brat what was up with that killing intent, you never said anything about you having such a terrible killing intent," Terraria asked as she was shocked by the killing intent which was equivalent to walking through death in hell and coming back.
"Okay I'll be going now, if you need help or anyone tries to do anything don't hesitate to light up your flares and I'll come to your aid." Reece told Hwang and the rest as he left heading to the path's direction.
Reece took out his flying sword and soared to the skies flying over the campsites and other disciples. With his hands behind his back, he flew like an immortal on a sacred mission, Katia looked in awe as he flew above them and muttered to herself," He's so cool and still way out of my league."
"You better get down now, for you to climb up those steps on the path you'll need to walk through each phase till you get to the top. The higher you climb the more the pressure will be added onto you. The top is Tianxun mountain even I have never seen what's on top of it." Terraria advised Reece as he was about to begin his ascent on the path.
Andrea and the rest of Lariel's disciples stood up to watch Reece as he took his first steps on the path. As they watched on, Baihua empire disciples decided to make their move and also follow Reece onto the path. The rest watched as it now looked like a race between to foes to rush to the top.
Taking his first step on the path, the pressure that fell on him had tripled that of any normal cultivator. Reece struggled to keep himself standing as he moved up the pressure quadrupled, as he watched around thinking of a solution, he saw the chains and shackles around him start to move and shake.
The Baihua empire also followed slowly climbing and closely following Reece, though the pressure was intense on them too they still managed to try and keep up with Reece who was now climbing on fast as if the pressure on him had suddenly disappeared.
" Try using your Tao essence Reece, that way you can reduce the pressure on you." Terraria advised Reece who was struggling to stay on his feet and his breath had escaped his lungs.
Reece sat down on the steps after completing the first few steps before him. He sat in a meditative position and submerged himself in a deep meditative state to try and utilize the Tao essence to his advantage.
"To realize the way of Tao is to realize the way of the universe and going against the heavens. You need to realize your own Tao way and to create a martial art that corresponds with your way of Tao and be one with nature and the elements." Terraria added as Reece further dived into the meditative state.
The Baihua disciples saw this as they passed Reece on the steps, they stopped and led by the empire's prince, Prince Li Ziran, he wondered why Reece suddenly stopped and decided to meditate. He ordered the others to also stop and do what Reece was doing immediately and try to meditate and cultivate. Thinking that maybe Reece had found a loophole into the way to cultivate on the steps they did as they were ordered and began cultivating on the steps.
Andrea and the rest of the disciples who were left on the campsite watched as they meditated and cultivated on the steps.
"Aaah, so it was that simple, if you want to advance in the steps. you cultivate yourself on them." Andrea stuttered as the realization hit in her mind," Stand up we are moving out everyone start climbing those steps again."
The Lariel disciples took on the steps again and after completing the first phase they also sat down to meditate and cultivate too. Tongtian disciples and Tranquil Lotus clan also followed and climbed up the steps. Seeing they could be left out from the chance to advance the cultivation realm the others also reluctantly followed and began walking up the steps. All the sects and families from the four empires were now all walking the path and climbing up. After struggling to complete the first part of the steps they all sat around Reece and meditated intensely.
Reece on the other hand was realizing the Tao way and trying to create his own martial art techniques that will go hand in hand with his own way.
"You passed the test of the heart and soul, and you were pure that's why you are able to practice the Tao Soul, but you still haven't realized your own way, and you need it if you going to breakthrough into the Domain breaking realm." Terraria added as she helped Reece fully realize his way.
"What do I need to do now to realize it?" Reece asked as he seemed lost and confused.
" You need to find what you believe in, feel the laws of heaven and earth understand them and finally bridge the gap between them and your soul is Yin-Yang soul as long as you maintain its balance with the laws you can realize your own way. Okay you continue while I sleep for a while wake me when you reach the top of the mountain." Terraria said as she dozed off into a deep slumber.
"Find what I believe in, understand the laws and feel them. Maintain balance in the soul." Reece repeatedly said the words over and over again as he meditated. He focused on the energy within himself, seeking to balance his soul with the laws of heaven and earth. As he delved deeper into his meditation, he felt his consciousness expand, extending beyond the confines of his physical body.
A gentle breeze whispered through the steps, carrying the scents of blooming flowers and ancient trees from the top of the mountain. Reece felt the subtle shifts in the air, the ebb and flow of the world's energies and the universe shifting around him. It was as if he were a part of a grand tapestry, intricately woven with threads of Tao, the life force that flowed within him and what he was trying to realize.
Reece began to sense the laws governing the natural world. He felt the earth's stability beneath him, its unyielding strength and nurturing support and unbreakable strength. He recognized the ceaseless dance of the elements, the interplay of fire, water, earth, wood, thunder, light, darkness and air, each with its own unique properties and rhythms that resounded to the flow of essence in his meridians and veins.
Above, the heavens unfurled like an endless expanse of cosmic wonder. The stars twinkled with secrets, and the moon bathed the world in its silvery light. Reece's awareness reached out to the constellations, as if they held the ancient wisdom of the universe within their patterns. The cosmos unfolded before him as he gazed deep into the abyss of the heavens seeing the patterns that lay down the foundation of life itself.
Reece's heartbeat resonated with the heartbeat of the world. The laws of heaven and earth were not separate entities but interconnected facets of a greater truth. They were the symphony of existence, the blueprint of creation, and the foundation of cultivation. As he meditated, the balance in his soul deepened, and he could feel his understanding of the laws expanding with each passing moment. With each moment he stared into the abyss of heaven the more he was grasping the laws.
At the final stretch Reece had understood more than three laws of heaven: Space laws, Reincarnation Laws and the Law of Creation itself. He struggled to maintain the balance between the laws and his soul as he had now not only understood the laws of heaven and earth but also realized his way of the Tao.
Reece had successfully created a new martial technique that aid in his cultivation of the Tao. The laws harmonized successfully with his Yin-Yang soul achieving complete balance leading to Reece creating the Yin-Yang martial art technique that encompassed the laws of heaven each alternating to provide power and strength to Reece. After creating his own martial art Reece's cultivation realm advanced to the Domain Breaking Realm.
The advance caused the skies to shutter as his aura pierced through the skies and spilt the heavens turning day and night to consequently appear simultaneously. The earth shuttering breakthrough disrupted the others from their meditation as they wondered what was happening around them. All eyes were on Reece again as he broke through the shackles of the cultivation to advance causing the shifts in the heavens and earth. His aura continued to rise through the sky as its strength quadrupled too, his killing intent too was released, and it soared through the skies.
The sky was lit up with aura clashing with killing intent, the phenomena extended through the sky. It was visible for miles and miles away from the forest and everyone in the continent sensed the aura and killing intent that emanated and spread through the sky. The enlightenment realm cultivators felt the shift in the heavens and knew somebody had successfully understood the laws of heaven.
STRENGTH IS NOT GRANTED BUT HARNESSED BY THOSE WHO SEEK AND STRIVE TO ACHIEVE IT. THE TAO BALANCES THE DESIRE AND STRENGTH TO HAVE IT.