.....
Half a day had passed since Azmodeus 'took care' of the assassins sent by the Black Tiger Family. In that time, he hadn't taken a single break. Things like sleep had become much less essential after reaching the Early Pulse Condensation Stage.
It was at such a moment that an entire day had passed since he died and the system came into his life. Thinking of this, he decided to open up his system interface and check how much it had changed.
The next moment, a bright blue and golden light flashed!
BLING!
__________
{[Infinite Evolution System]}
[Host: Azmodeus]
[Race: Human]
[Lifespan: 12/88]
[Cultivation: Absolute Peak Stages of the Early Pulse Condensation Minor Realm (Body Refinement Major Realm.)]
[Overall combat power: Absolute Peak Stages of the Early Pulse Condensation Minor Realm]
[Level: 19]
[Evolution Essence needed for stepping into the next level: 1,500]
[Evolution Essence Bank: 600]
{[Stats:]}
[Strength: 36]
[Speed: 35]
[Defense: 34]
[Qi: 38]
[Cultivation Talent: 32]
[Spiritual Roots: Crystallized Embryo] (Rank: ???)
{[Assimilated Evolution Traits/Qualities]}
[Inherited Traits and Active Species Alterations:
[Stealth - Level 3] (J Rank)] → [0/10,000]
__________
"Everything looks good so far. Furthermore, I can sense that my cultivation is beginning to approach the Middle Pulse Condensation Stage."
A small smile appeared on Azmodeus's slightly handsome face as he scanned his recent gains. Once again, he felt immense gratitude toward the system that had made all this possible.
_____
The cultivation stages went like such: Bone Forging, Early Pulse Condensation, Middle Pulse Condensation, Late Pulse Condensation, and finally, Peak Pulse Condensation Stages.
In the Bone Forging Stage, the cultivator was required to refine and strengthen the fortitude of their bones through various uses.
Among many such methods, one could use Bone Refining Powder concocted by an alchemist, or they could temper their bones the more old-fashioned way, otherwise known as 'Beating the sh*t out of yourself until you make or break!'
On the other hand, the Pulse Condensation Stages, from Early to Peak, were the realms when the cultivator began preparing for their advancement into the Qi Condensation Realm.
This was because the Pulse Condensation Stages was where one had to activate and fill up these things called meridians inside the body, specifically across their entire physical form.
After filling up 27 Meridians, the cultivator would make it to the peak of the Early Pulse Condensation Stage. Filling up their 28th Meridian would push the cultivator into the Middle Pulse Condensation Stage.
Meridian 55 to 81 were marked for the Late Pulse Condensation Stage, while 82 to 108 completed the Peak Pulse Condensation Stage.
And in Azmodeus's case, he was able to fill up his meridians with a little assistance from the system.
However, he had already stopped just relying on the Infinite Evolution System for everything that was related to his cultivation. The system would often remind him to consolidate his cultivation and improve things by himself.
After all, he had the 'Cultivation Talent' stat for a reason.
In fact, it was because of this stat that his cultivation speed had skyrocketed by leaps and bounds compared to his speed during the pre-system days!
So it wasn't wrong to say that Azmodeus was able to cultivate way faster than how he could before! Hundreds of times faster!
In less than a few hours of trying things out by himself, along with the system aiding him in laying down the foundations, he had managed to establish a flawless cultivation base with 27 of his Meridians being completely filled!
"This seems like the right time to head back to the Sect," Azmodeus muttered, his brows furrowed as he gazed down at the pile of dozens of beast corpses he was sitting on.
After hunting in this forest for a while, most of the Spiritual Beasts had already learned to recognize his face and would run away upon seeing him. This ultimately led to quite the hassle when it came to acquiring more Evolution Essence.
So in the end, he had two choices: either venture into the deepest depths of the Yang Forest to face the beasts of the Peak Pulse Condensation Stage and above, or head back to the Yang Sect and seek out some new opportunities there.
The choice was quite obvious for Azmodeus, and the weight of his pack-full storage bag only confirmed it. It was literally begging to be emptied out in exchange for Copper and Silver Coins!
"Yang Sect it is. Time to become what the old me wished to become… an Inner Sect Disciple…"
His voice, slightly tinged with excitement, echoed out as his short yet muscular figure vanished from atop the mound of corpses beneath him.
FWIP!
His nimble body darted through the Yang Forest at speeds exceeding fifty meters per second, and it barely took him any longer than three or four minutes to reach the outer edge of the forest.
There, as he found himself standing at the line that separated the Yang Forest from the Yang Sect, a new world opened up before him.
"The Yang Sect," he murmured softly.
This would be the start of a whole new chapter in his story, one that could mean everything in his journey. It was his key to gaining more strength and surviving in this ruthless world.
'This is a new beginning… a new start.'
For the first time in years, his eyes lit up and his sword-like brows knitted together in determination.
One might even think that he looked like a youth who had just discovered that there was far more to this vast world than the countryside he had come from…
However, Azmodeus wasn't coming to realize that he had been a frog looking at the sky from within a well. Instead, it was the realization that there were far stronger cultivators than him that made him see the vast horizon!
There was more power to reach for! More power to grasp!
"A new beginning, and also a new goal," he murmured with a sense of anticipation swelling within him.
FWIP!
He disappeared into the crowd of cultivators entering the Yang Sect.
_____
"Have you heard the recent rumors spreading around, Brother Yang Fan?"
"What rumors??"
"The ones about that trash Trial Disciple who suddenly went rogue and ultimately killed four Outer Sect Disciples! From what I hear, he has even killed the third Young Master of the Black Tiger Family!"
"The Black Tiger Family!? Does this Trial Disciple have a death wish or something!?"
"I have no idea! But what confuses me is how a trash Trial Disciple, who was considered to be the slowest when it came to cultivating, had suddenly managed to overcome Outer Sect Disciples at the Viscera Training Large Success Stage!?"
"Maybe he was blessed with a random bout of luck, or it could be that he caught them off guard?"
The chatter of those on the gray cobblestoned streets of the Yang Sect's entry grounds reached the ears of a short boy who was weaving in and out of the crowds.
'It looks like word spreads fast in places like Spirit River City and the Yang Sect…'
Azmodeus listened to numerous conversations for a brief moment before refocusing his attention on making his way to the Sect Registry Grounds.
.....