Kael stood at the heart of the Ardent Family's secret realm, the bodies of magical beasts strewn around him like discarded remnants of his relentless pursuit of power. The crimson glow of the Devouring Sword had dimmed slightly, its hunger momentarily sated by the souls and blood Qi it had consumed. But Kael's desire for strength remained insatiable. His body trembled not with exhaustion, but with the overwhelming energy that surged through his veins.
He could feel it now—the threshold of the Soul Transformation Realm, beckoning him forward. This was a critical juncture in his cultivation, where the boundaries between body and soul would be blurred, and his connection to the profound mysteries of the world would deepen. For anyone else, this might have been a daunting moment, but for Kael, it was merely another step toward supremacy.
"To ascend, I must devour more," Kael muttered, his voice a low growl. He glanced at the Devouring Sword, which pulsed faintly in response. It had been a long time since he had last read about the Soul Transformation Realm, but the memories from his past life were clear enough.
The Soul Transformation Realm was where a cultivator's soul was tempered and fused with their physical body, allowing them to not only cultivate their Qi but also tap into the ethereal power of their soul. Upon reaching this realm, a cultivator could manipulate the essence of the world around them with greater ease, commanding both life and death through sheer will. Their soul would no longer be a mere formless entity—it would take shape, becoming a powerful weapon in its own right.
It was said that once a cultivator reached the Soul Transformation Realm, they would begin to perceive the laws of the world, gaining insight into the natural order. For Kael, this meant unlocking even more of the Devouring Sword's potential and setting the stage for his rise to even greater heights.
With a deep breath, Kael closed his eyes and allowed his consciousness to focus inward. The blood Qi he had absorbed from the countless magical beasts coursed through his meridians like a raging river. His soul pulsed in rhythm with the flow of Qi, and he could feel the two forces beginning to intertwine. This was the key to the Soul Transformation Realm—merging one's soul with their Qi to create a new, higher form of power.
As Kael continued to meditate, the world around him seemed to fade away. The corpses of the magical beasts disappeared from his awareness, as did the thick fog that had once obscured his vision. In their place, Kael saw only darkness—an endless void where the only light came from his own soul.
It was faint, a pale glow at first, but as he focused on it, the light began to intensify. His soul was taking form, reshaping itself according to his will. He could feel it now—the boundless potential that lay within him. The souls of the beasts he had devoured swirled around him, their essence feeding into his own. They were fuel for his ascension, their power now his to command.
Suddenly, the darkness shattered, and Kael's body was flooded with an overwhelming surge of energy. His soul expanded, filling every corner of his being. He gasped as his veins burned with newfound strength, and his Qi roared like a tempest. The barrier to the Soul Transformation Realm crumbled before him, and Kael stepped forward into a realm of power he had never known before.
His body shimmered with a dark crimson aura, the mark of someone who had tempered both their soul and Qi to perfection. He opened his eyes, feeling the immense power coursing through him. Every fiber of his being hummed with energy, and his connection to the world around him had deepened. He could now sense the flow of life in the realm—the pulse of every living creature, the whispers of their souls.
Kael clenched his fist, and the air around him distorted. With a mere thought, he summoned the Devouring Sword into his hand. Its once-dark blade now gleamed with a deeper, more ominous light, its hunger amplified by Kael's breakthrough. The sword had been feeding on the blood and souls of beasts, but now, with Kael in the Soul Transformation Realm, it would become an even more formidable tool in his quest for domination.
"So this is the Soul Transformation Realm," Kael mused, his voice low but filled with satisfaction. His body felt lighter, his reflexes sharper. He could sense the subtle flow of energy around him in a way that had been impossible before. The world itself seemed to bend to his will.
But Kael knew that this was only the beginning. The true power of the Soul Transformation Realm lay in the manipulation of the soul itself. With enough mastery, a cultivator could launch soul attacks, invade the minds of others, or even control the souls of the dead. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but Kael relished the thought.
As Kael surveyed the silent realm around him, he couldn't help but smirk. The breakthrough had gone smoother than he had anticipated, and his body now pulsed with strength. There were still more beasts lurking in the depths of the realm, but they were no longer a threat to him. They were prey, waiting to be devoured.
With his newfound strength, Kael's thoughts shifted back to Robert Voss—the protagonist. The Soul Transformation Realm had granted Kael an edge, but it wouldn't be enough to fully counter Robert's luck and fortune. No, for that, he would need more. He would need to break through the subsequent realms faster than anyone in this world had ever done.
"The Devouring Sword will guide me," Kael whispered, his voice barely audible over the faint breeze. He could feel the blade's hunger mirroring his own. The path of devouring was relentless, consuming all in its way. But Kael had no intention of stopping. The blood Qi that now surged within him was proof of his unyielding determination.
Stepping forward, Kael raised his hand and drew upon the blood Qi that he had absorbed from the Crimson Scale Bear. His body surged with power, and a dark crimson light enveloped him. He had ascended, and with this new strength, he would continue his pursuit of Robert Voss.
The secret realm was vast, and there were countless opportunities hidden within. But Kael knew that to truly transcend, he would need to push beyond the limits of the Devouring Sword and unlock the full potential of his blood Qi. He would combine his supreme devouring path with the subsidiary blood path, creating a unique combination that no one could predict.
And when the time came, even Robert Voss, with all his protagonist's fortune, would fall before him.
Kael's eyes gleamed with dangerous intent as he ventured deeper into the realm, his Devouring Sword eager for more.