I woke to find myself in a large cave. The cave was illuminated by shiny crystals of a multitude of colors, then I looked around to find a hideously huge gate. Obsidian black, and filled to the brim with golden
runes and inscriptions that I couldn't make sense of,
[Host. Gargantuan amounts of Yin Qi will flood your Dantian. Host is advised to cultivate.]
'System!? Where the fuck were you all those years! Why did abandon me! And why are you back all a sudden!?' I yelled in my mind at the system. Frustrated and angry at it.
[Host. Gargantuan amounts of Yin Qi will flood your Dantian. Host is advised to cultivate.]
'Fine!'
I wrote engravings on the ground around me. And some hand seals…. Voila! A protective formation of middle Earth grade! Not bad for my level I guess… it will do since I don't sense anyone around anyways. But is doesn't hurt to be cautious.
I sat down and began cultivating. I felt the Yin Qi flooding from my Mana Core in copious amounts. Within seconds I broke through to the Inner Sea Realm. My Spirit Core started spilling Crimson red liquid into the ground. I felt my Dantian expand. Soon the core that was filled with Spirit Qi was fully emptied.
'Why is my sea… so… creepy…'
All I could see around me was the crimson red sea, it looked like a blood sea...
Above it in the sky was my Mana Core. Suddenly, a small opening appeared. And the Yin Qi of my Olivia in the form of an ethereal river came crashing down.
[Host is advised to refine what he can through the use of Harmonious Serenity Breathing Technique. The System will handle the rest.]
I nodded in my head and began refining using the technique. I fell into a meditative state so deep, It felt like I was in a dream.
Middle stage of the Inner Sea Realm…
I felt my Inner Sea expanding rapidly. Olivia's Yin Qi was pure and in large amounts. But it was calming to me…
High stage of the Inner Sea Realm…
It felt like an infinite amounts of energy was provided to me… It felt surreal… Olivia never told me the difference in our cultivation. But I'm sure she's at least an ascendant… will I reach the Inner Universe Realm like this?
Peak Stage of the Inner Sea Realm…
[Host. You will breakthrough to the Martial Spirit Realm shortly.]
The System shocked me awake! Martial Spirit Realm!? How!? How long did it take me to reach this?
[A week. If anyone else was provided with this much Yin Qi, they will take about a month to refine it all. Your talent, your Breathing Technique and the System's help are the reason for this, Host.]
I guess I'm lucky huh…
The Martial Spirit Realm is a pivotal point in cultivation. It allows me to manifest a phantom of my Martial Spirit outside of my body. Allowing me to reach the Martial Apprentice in my Body Cultivation. Not to mention since I have an Inner Sea, I can store beast companions and interact with them through the use of my Martial Spirit like I was inside of my own body!
I closed my eyes again and concentrated. I must use the excess Spirit Qi of my Inner Sea to form the Martial Spirit. First is the heart…
*Badum…Badum…Badum…*
Took a while… This was… surprisingly easy? I thought people go days in seclusion to form the heart…
[Again. Your talent, Breathing Technique and the Systems help. You also solidified your foundation.]
I guess…
I returned to my concentration. I still need to for the body. The torso first, then the limps…
Days gone by… Every limp took at least a day. And the torso took two. Mainly for the auxillary organs that imitates only the form and not the function. The Martial Spirit must be formed with my own body in mind.
It feels like I'm Frankenstein…
Now for the main event… conjoining all of these parts together and forming the head… this should take a week.
It felt straining and tiring as I joined the limps together… I had to be mindfull of every nerve and muscle tissue… but it was finally complete… a headless red phantom…
I concentrated even more. I had to make my eyes and ears in this inner world of mine. It took me another week of converting my excess Spirit Qi from my Inner Sea to finally complete my Martial Spirit…
'Awaken!' I screamed in my mind. And my Martial Spirit opened it's eyes.
It was golden…
The highest tier of Martial Spirits…
Olivia told me that… she said she has a golden eyed Martial Spirit… now we match.
Olivia… Olivia!
'System! Where is Olivia!'
[The System would need more information. The System has been in a hibernation state for… three years now.]
'So you at least know how long I was in there! Now tell me where can find Olivia!'
[Host. The System does not know who that person is. Please explain.]
I had to explain to the System what happened to me those past three years.
'-In the end I was forced out of that secret realm against my will… and now I'm here in this cave with a huge gate next to me…'
[Host. This gate is part of a much bigger formation. A Grand Formation that spans the world.]
'And?'
[It is no coincidence that you woke up next to it. It must have a connection to that world you were stuck in.]
'And how can I enter?' my heart beat out of my chest. I wanted to desperately take my Olivia out of that cursed prison.
[You need to be at least in the Inner Universe Realm.]
…
What!? You can't be serious!?
'System! This isn't a joking matter! I need to enter that realm as soon as possible! Olivia is counting on me!'
[The System doesn't have a sense of humor, that is the System's analysis of this gate thanks in part to your knowledge of formations. I'm sorry, Host. But that is one of the requirements needed to open that realm to you.]
No… I can't let her stay there all alone again…