As Sumanth asked the question, Aerum was the first to respond. Her tone was measured but uncertain. "We don't have much information about 'Will.' All we know is that everything—whether living or non-living—has a 'Will.' And controlling it can help fight beings from the Negative Plane."
Sumanth nodded slightly, his expression unreadable. "Correct, but not entirely."
He leaned forward, his voice taking on a tone of reverence. "Before I can explain the true nature of 'Will,' you must first understand the history behind its invention."
The room grew silent as Sumanth began his tale.
"When the universe was first born, it was an era we now call the 'Age of Beginning.' During this time, 3,000 chaotic beings came into existence, born from the primordial chaos itself."
Sumanth's voice lowered, carrying the weight of a long-forgotten age. "The 'Age of Beginning' was a time of pure chaos. There were no laws—only the unbridled, tumultuous force of creation. Among the 3,000 chaotic beings, one rose above the rest. His name was Pang Ju. He cleaved through the chaos to bring order, creating the fundamental laws we now know—time, space, and the five elements."
Aerum listened intently, the gravity of the tale sinking into her mind.
"As a reward for his unparalleled feat," Sumanth continued, "the universe gifted Pang Ju the 'Twelve-Extreme Yang Lotus,' a treasure of unimaginable power. Inspired by his accomplishment, other chaotic beings sought to achieve similar greatness, striving for their own rewards."
He paused for a moment, as if weighing the importance of his next words. "The next to succeed was Nuwa. Unlike other beings who embodied a single Dao, Nuwa shattered the chains of limitation and mastered a second law, an act that defied the very nature of her existence. For this, the universe rewarded her with the 'Twelve-Extreme Yin Lotus.'"
Sumanth's voice softened, as though speaking of an old friend. "Nuwa's journey was extraordinary. During her exploration of the cosmos, she witnessed another being attempting to create life. This inspired her to begin her own project—one that would change the fate of the universe itself. She decided to create humanity."
Aerum's breath caught, her curiosity swelling.
"The process was arduous," Sumanth continued, his words deliberate. "To create a soul, Nuwa poured her own essence into her work, even sacrificing the energy of her reward—the 'Twelve-Extreme Yin Lotus.' The soul was finally born, and with it, the foundation of humanity."
Sumanth gestured as though painting the scene before them. "But the soul needed a vessel. After traveling the universe, Nuwa discovered a material known as the 'Sand of Beginning.' Its unparalleled adaptability, survivability, and capacity for evolution made it the perfect building block."
His voice grew rhythmic, almost poetic, as he described the process. "First, she shaped the skeleton. Then came the nervous system, the organs, the muscles, and tendons, and finally, the skin. The final step was placing the soul into the 'third eye'—what you know as the pineal gland. It was then that the soul truly merged with the body."
Aerum's heart raced as Sumanth continued. "To complete her creation, Nuwa drew upon the energy of the 'Twelve-Extreme Yang Lotus,' which she had taken from Pang Ju. She infused this energy into the body, bringing it to life. And thus, the first humans were born—Adam and Eve."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle. "Being the first creation of the universe, Adam and Eve were blessed by its very essence. The energies of the 'Twelve-Extreme Yin Lotus' and the 'Twelve-Extreme Yang Lotus' fully fused within their bodies and souls. This was the genesis of the human race."
Aerum and the others sat frozen, their minds reeling from the profound story.
After a long silence, Misaki broke the spell. "What does that story have to do with 'Will'?"
Sumanth smiled enigmatically. "You will understand in due time why I shared the story of humanity's birth."
Sumanth continued his tale, his voice steady but carrying the weight of ancient truths.
"The Age of Beginning was quiet, as every chaotic being busied themselves with creating or discovering something new. But this peace was shattered by the arrival of unwelcome guests."
He paused, letting the tension settle. "They were invaders from another universe. For the first time, the chaotic beings learned they were not alone. These invaders sparked battles that turned the cosmos into a battlefield. Blood flowed like rivers, and even some of the mighty chaotic beings met their end."
Sumanth's gaze grew distant, as if envisioning the epic clashes. "It was during this era that Adam and Eve, the creations of Nuwa, joined the fray. At first, they were insignificant compared to the chaos and destruction around them. But as time passed, facing stronger and stronger opponents, they grew in strength and skill."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "During one of these battles, Adam faced a foe far beyond his strength—a being from the 'Nyxalites race.'"
Sumanth described the adversary with vivid precision. "The Nyxalites were a terrifying race. Tall and gaunt humanoids with elongated limbs and sharp, angular features, their starless void-like skin shifted with patterns resembling constellations or cracks of light. Their glowing crimson or pure white eyes radiated malice and cold intelligence, and their oppressive aura weakened and disoriented anyone nearby."
He added, "They had semi-corporeal shadow appendages, capable of manifesting as deadly weapons or extra limbs. Facing such a creature was a nightmare even for the strongest beings."
Sumanth's tone darkened. "In that life-and-death struggle, Adam awakened a unique gift—an ability that changed everything. His eyes suddenly saw the essence of all beings, the very 'Will' that defined them. It was not just a vision but an insight into their core existence."
"With this newfound ability, Adam managed to escape the Nyxalite, narrowly avoiding certain death. Afterward, he shared his experience with Eve and their children, planting the seeds of an idea that would reshape their destiny."
Sumanth's expression softened. "After extensive research and countless real-life battles, they created a system—a way to harness the 'Will' of beings. They discovered that 'Will' is the belief of oneself. Everything, whether living or non-living, possesses a belief, and that belief is its 'Will.'"
Maximo's curiosity got the better of him. "Sir, I can understand how living beings have belief, but how can non-living things, which have no soul or thought, have a 'Will'?"
Sumanth smiled at the question. "A good question, but who said only beings with a soul or the ability to think can have belief? Non-living things have the purest belief of all because they cannot think, so their belief remains uncontaminated. A mountain has the belief of being a mountain, a river the belief of being a river. Their 'Will' is granted by the heavens and earth that created them."
He gestured broadly, as if encompassing the entire universe. "When the heavens and earth create anything, they grant it the opportunity to exist. That opportunity is 'Will.' If a non-living thing remains true to its belief for long enough, it can even gain sentience. This is how undead beings and spirits of resentment are formed."
Kori interjected, her brows furrowed. "Sir, if that's true, shouldn't all mountains and rivers have gained sentience by now?"
Sumanth's smile grew wider, his tone patient. "To understand that, you must first grasp how long it takes for 'Will' to manifest into sentience. It varies for each thing, depending on its nature and environment. Factors like spiritual energy, faith, and even the thing's desire to gain sentience play a role."
His voice grew quieter, almost contemplative. "Most non-living things are content to remain as they are. They do not aspire to change. Those that do are rare and often influenced by extraordinary circumstances."
As Sumanth finished, a profound silence filled the room. Aerum and the others sat in deep thought, their understanding of the universe—and themselves—shaken and expanded by the tale.
Sumanth's voice took on a more instructional tone as he continued, his words steady and deliberate.
"Now let's talk about the system Adam and Eve created after their thorough research. They discovered that 'Will' could be categorized into five types, each representing a different level of strength and understanding."
He held up a finger. "The first type is called Basic Will. This is the Will present in all common people who have never cultivated—mortals, in other words."
Raising another finger, he said, "The second type is Bronze Will. It naturally manifests in beings who have entered the Spiritual Realm."
"The third type," he continued, "is Silver Will. This belongs to those who have reached the Immortal Realm."
He then raised a fourth finger. "The fourth type is Gold Will, possessed by beings in the Transcendent Realm."
Finally, he lifted his entire hand, emphasizing his words. "The fifth type is Diamond Will. All chaotic beings are born with this level of Will. It is the purest and most powerful form, unparalleled in its strength and clarity."
Valdir, curious and slightly confused, interjected, "Sir, what are the Immortal and Transcendent Realms?"
Sumanth's eyes widened, surprise flickering across his face. "Your master never taught you about the major realms of cultivation?"
When even Aerum shook her head in silent agreement with the others, Sumanth sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "I see. Since your master has chosen to withhold this knowledge, I will not delve too deeply. But I'll give you a brief explanation."
He straightened in his chair. "There are three major realms of cultivation: the Spiritual Realm, the Immortal Realm, and the Transcendent Realm. Each of these major realms is divided into several minor realms, each requiring immense effort and understanding to progress through. Your master will explain this in more detail when the time is right."
The group nodded, absorbing this new fragment of knowledge.
Sumanth leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Now that you understand the history of 'Will,' let's discuss how one can acquire it—and the abilities it grants."
From the Author:
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