"In my heart, you are the brother I have long wanted, but it turns out that I am too presumptuous. My apologies", Nicholas remarks. Boh laughs and says, "not all. I am honored to be considered your brother. Starting today, I shall be your brother by witness of The Ancestor." That little ball of light that sat in Boh's Psionic Sea, emerges and greets them. The three men could not believe their eyes. The Ancestor is standing right before them, in the flesh. He declares, "A brother to Mateo is a brother to me. He is not my disciple but my Spiritual Brother whom I have chosen to guide. As you have joined the brotherhood, I shall guide you in kind. Although I am not as versed in sword arts as my old friend Ancestor Winn, I can help you grow strong enough to enter the 6th realm and receive his inheritance."
Never has Nicholas ever imagine that he would receive such an honor and was momentarily speechless. Before he could offer any praises, The Ancestor becomes serious and says, "I must confess somethings. There are no dark ancestors. It was simply a light test to evaluate your resolve. Infact, that little domain is but a trial site for physical cultivation that I wanted to you discover. However, there are dark forces out there. But before I tell you in-depth about the ones beyond, I must reveal the ones in your own world. In the east, are dangerous creatures sent by foreign beings intended to destroy us and take our world. In order to protect the world for as long as we could, myself and the other ancestors, erected a barrier after moving as many people as we could to the west.
- We then discovered that the creatures possessed energy cores, and some were even capable of cultivation. In response, the seven of us placed a restriction on the realm to limit the cultivation of all things we had the power to. We clearly underestimated our own power, as we managed to block 51 of the 52 energy veins of the realm. This also meant that the barrier would not last very long with such limited spiritual energy. To avoid the one remaining vein from being overwhelmed by the birth of cultivator's, we established a rule to have cultivators leave this realm and move to the higher realms. This was also beneficial to the cultivators as well.
- We also thought it was best to have them populate the 3rd realm more so than the 2nd. Over time, many of the creatures died out, being reborn into the human race, with many of them retaining their memories. This is the cause for the current war. The Region Master of Caspair is one of those creatures. Many nations have risen in the east, some influenced by the wicked creatures. You must dominate the west quickly and pool all the power you have to suppress the invaders. As we predicted, the barrier is failing, and the invasion will soon follow. Your birth is a blessing to this era Mateo. Having a brother like Nicholas is your blessing from the world. Your sister and the young master from the Min Family will receive my guidance to share your burdens to come. I do desire to remove the restriction, but we must at least reduce the number of foreign threats to the world."
Hearing such a history, Nicholas remarks, "the power of the ancestors are great indeed. Their intentions even more so. We will do our best not to disappoint the hard work of the ancestors and the expectations you have for us." Before leaving, The Ancestor touches Nicholas's forehead, imparting some techniques into his Psionic Sea. He also informs Mateo that he has already left some for him as well. He adds, "before you can come to the 6th realm to gain the inheritance, these old basic techniques should suffice. The realms of cultivation, I believe the headmaster can tell you more." After the departure of The Ancestor, Headmaster Tan takes them to his office to discuss the next steps.
He says, "by the words of The Ancestor, the reality of the world is much greater than we think. The wars we fought are nothing compared to what we have been sheltered from for over two thousand years. I have lived for 157 years, and I have never imagined such a history. Moreover, no one has ever thought of traveling beyond what we know. We had always thought that this is all we have. To think, the ancestors created a barrier that not only sealed the eastern lands, but also its existence. Such terrifying power. Anyway, at my silver core stage, I have 178 years left to break through to the Golden Core Stage if I want to prolong my life. In any regard, the youth must be prepared."
Boh looks at him and asks, "ascending your cultivation prolongs your life?" Headmaster Tan responds, "Yes. There are three levels of the Silver Core Stage. Once you have reached the third level, 300 years is added to your lifespan. That is the reward from Heaven for your hard work. It also gives you more time to solidify your cultivation before seeking the next stage of the Golden Core, the highest stage you can hold as a mortal. At the first level of this stage, 600 years is added to your lifespan. At the second level, 1,200 years is added. At the third level, 2,400 years. Beyond the Golden Core Stage, is the Stellar Domain, the first step to immortality.
- At this stage, a void appears within you, and your golden core becomes a star in the darkness, illuminating your Psionic Sea. You will be able to bring your physical body into this domain and cultivate there. You can then choose between two paths. You can choose to cultivate another star and expand the enlightened region of your domain, or attempt the world creation, forming a stellar system to secure your first star. The more stars in your domain, the more power you can cultivate, and you will ascend much faster. Forming planets around your star, adds a shield to your cultivation. Any cultivation destroying blow, will be accepted by that planet, with minimal damage to your star.
- With more than one planet, the blow will be accepted all planets, leaving your star untouched. According to the cultivation texts in the Grand Palace of Wisdom in the 5th realm, it is advised to attempt no more than 7 planets around your star before reaching the third level of the Stellar Domain. Extra life is only given at the first level of this stage, which is 5,000 years. After forming three stable stars, planets or not, you break through into the Transcendent Stage. At this stage, each level affords you 10,000 years, totaling 30,000, to get your domain to 7 stars. After Which, your seven stars become one, along with all planets, becoming your first Immortal Seal. Each seal grants 100,000 years.
- From then on, one star plus seven planets can becomes a seal until you have 7 sealed stars. This is where cultivation changes for you. With your Immortal Star surrounded by 7 seals, you can no longer form stars the usual way. You must re-enter the mortal stream. At least, some form of you must. Using the Soul Splitting Technique, you can send your second half to be reborn a mortal and restart the cultivation path in any family. Because it is only a half soul, its cultivation progress will take twice as long as the original. Using this technique requires you to sacrifice one of your seals. However, it means that your half soul has 100,000 years to reach the Immortal Star Stage, able to die and be reborn if unsuccessful within a 100,000-year time frame.
- Another method is you yourself returning to the mortal stream, being reborn to a family sharing your bloodline. Using this method, your powers are doubled the previous, each time it is used. After 7 fully sealed immortal stars, you enter the Deity Stage, the final known stage of cultivation, with powers to make all your dreams come true. Your seven fully sealed immortal stars become one Deity Star. Every new sealed immortal star becomes a deity seal, the process repeats endlessly. At this stage, the years lived no longer matters as you are now undying, with an eternity to cultivate. We are enough of a threat to each other without having to worry about foreign beings coming after us. If we can have at least one Human Deity, we may stand a chance. But it matters what human is allowed such power."
Nicholas and Boh could not believe the path that lies before them, but they both agree with Headmaster Tan that a human must reach the Deity Stage if they wish for the human race to survive. The Ancestors were only at the Transcendent Stage, with the power to suppress the realm's cultivation almost entirely, slightly alter reality and keep the foreign beings at bay for thousands of years. Perhaps at the Immortal Seal Stage, they can fight head on.