Tianxu was still floating near Yang Qi, an enigmatic smile on his lips, ready to begin a new lesson. The young master, despite the incredible changes he had just undergone, remained thirsty for knowledge.
—"Master, now that your physique is awakened, it is time to immerse yourself in cultivation. The Disciple Realm will be your first step on this long path."
Yang Qi nodded, already familiar with this concept. In his previous life, he had studied the fundamentals of cultivation, but something about the way Tianxu approached it seemed different to him.
—"The Disciple Realm…" Yang Qi thought, "according to the memories of the real Yang Qi, this realm has nine stages. However, in my previous life, there were only five. How can this be?"
Tianxu continued to speak to him:
—"What most cultivators learn is incomplete. Many people don't know that the Disciple Realm is not limited to just nine stages. In reality, there are two other stages that few know about. Even some people in the heavenly realm only know about one."
Yang Qi frowned, puzzled.
"Two other stages?"
"Yes, Master. The Disciple Realm as cultivators know it is divided into nine levels consisting of: the Spirit Stage; the Blood Refining Stage; the Muscle Refining Stage; the Bone Refining Stage; the Marrow Refining Stage; the Viscera Refining Stage; the Brain Refining Stage; the Circulation Stage; and the Condensed Yuan Stage. After the Condensed Yuan Stage, most people think that they have completed the Disciple Realm. But this is just an illusion. The last two stages are of utmost importance for a more than perfect foundation. The first is the opening of the eight extraordinary meridians, a process that will allow you to completely unlock the latent potential within your body…" Tianxu paused for a moment to let the suspense build, before continuing, "The second stage is known as the fusion of the spiritual pillars. It is a process where spiritual energy reaches its peak, merging with your essence, creating an unshakable foundation for the higher realms."
Yang Qi was stunned. This revelation changed everything. Even in his past life, he had never heard of such steps.
—"Fusion of the Spirit Pillars…" he murmured. "So this is the perfection of the Disciple Realm."
—"Exactly." Tianxu folded his arms. "Few have the privilege of discovering these truths, and even fewer have the strength to break through these steps. Even my creator master only stopped at the 10th level. It was a long time after he had learned of this 11th level. But you, Master, now have the potential to reach true perfection."
Yang Qi felt a wave of determination wash over him. He knew that he could no longer be satisfied with half measures. Every step had to be reached to its maximum.
Tianxu, seeing this determination in his master's eyes, brought his index finger to Yang Qi's forehead.
— "Master, I will pass on to you a foundation technique, to be worked exclusively in the realm of the disciple. It is one of the best in the cosmos. It will allow you to cross the first stages of the Realm of the Disciple with unparalleled efficiency. In addition, it goes perfectly with your Supreme Yang physique. Concentrate."
Yang Qi closed his eyes as Tianxu's index finger touched his forehead. A feeling of warmth and light invaded his mind. Ancient symbols and words appeared in his mind, forming a complex but incredibly powerful technique. Each sentence resonated in him like an ancestral truth.
— "This technique is called the [Sutra of the Radiant Dawn]. It will allow you to absorb spiritual energy in a pure and direct way, without impurities. In addition to that, your spiritual energy will be converted into yang energy as you go. Recite it and concentrate."
Yang Qi nodded, his concentration at its maximum. He settled into the lotus position, closing his eyes and softly reciting the incantations of the Sutra of Radiant Dawn. Gradually, he felt the surrounding energy moving toward him, penetrating his body.
The spirit phase began, marked by a feeling of lightening in his mind. He felt every thought become clearer, more precise, as if his perceptions were expanding. Filaments of spiritual energy penetrated his body, awakening his senses. At this moment he broke through to the first level of disciple.
Next came the blood refining phase. An intense heat coursed through his veins, burning away every impurity, leaving his blood purer, more vibrant. His heartbeat became regular and powerful, like a drum beating to the rhythm of music. He then broke through to the second level of the disciple.
The heat then spread to his muscles like a devouring fire refining his muscles in the muscle refining phase. He felt every fiber tense and strengthen. The pain was there, but it was nothing compared to the pain he had suffered when he awakened his Supreme Yang Physique. His muscles were firming up, consolidating like tempered steel. He then broke through to the third level of the disciple.
The bone refining phase was an even harder ordeal. He felt his bones break and rebuild, each crack closing with new energy. The cracking of his bones echoed through his body, but instead of weakening, he felt stronger, more solid. This was the fourth level of disciple.
Next came the marrow refining phase. A chilling sensation ran through his spine, radiating from his bones into his bone marrow. Energy penetrated deep into his foundations, rejuvenating and purifying his body on a cellular level.
The viscera refining phase was even more impressive. Each organ contracted and relaxed, absorbing and rejecting impurities in a painful but necessary process. His stomach, lungs, liver, and other organs became more efficient, like well-oiled machines.
Finally, the brain refining phase threw him into a state of heightened awareness. He felt his mind open to new dimensions, each thought becoming faster, deeper. His senses were heightened, and he perceived the world with newfound acuity. His memories became clearer, every detail of his past life coming back to him with incredible precision.
After a long time, Yang Qi opened his eyes. His body had changed, but more than that, his mind had transformed. He felt an incredible power.
Tianxu smiled.
—"Congratulations, Master. You have reached the brain refining stage. Your strength has increased considerably."
Yang Qi nodded, grateful for this valuable guidance.
Tianxu nodded.
—"Now that you have reached this stage, you need techniques to fight and move. Within the Starry Pagoda, there are priceless treasures, and among them, evolutionary techniques. Treat yourself, master."
Yang Qi approached the rows of ancient, glowing scrolls. His gaze first fell on a movement technique.
—"[Shadow Traversing Steps]" he read aloud. "A technique that allows me to move with the speed and agility of shadows. It evolves with my cultivation level."
He then picked up a combat technique.
—"[Burning Sun Fist]," he murmured. "A fist technique that channels Yang energy. The more powerful I am, the greater the strength of this fist." »
Tianxu, still by his side, watched his master with a certain pride in his eyes. He knew that Yang Qi's path to greatness had only just begun.
—"Tianxu," Yang Qi said as he broke the silence. "It is time for me to go out."
The divine spirit's smile widened slightly. He had been expecting this moment.
With a simple gesture from Tianxu, the Starry Pagoda seemed to open. A door of light appeared, and together, they stepped through it.
As they stepped out, they were greeted by the bright blue sky of the outside world. The air seemed crisper, purer, and Yang Qi, although he was physically in a familiar place, now felt the world differently. Every breath of air, every vibration of the energy around him, everything seemed intensified. They then set off for the city.
....
Meanwhile, far, far above the spiritual realm, in a part of the heavens that only the most powerful could approach, there was a place that seemed to be taken from a dream or a heavenly paradise.
The lands were a brilliant green, the rivers of a crystal clearness that reflected every ray of light like diamond shards. Trees of unimaginable height rose to the sky, their leaves glistening like liquid gold, while floating mountains pierced the soft, snow-white clouds. Gigantic, magnificent flowers bloomed silently, their luminescent petals spreading an enchanting fragrance.
In this place of pure magnificence, where the air seemed to be woven with light and divine tranquility, a solitary figure levitated gently above a lake of unreal purity. This being, a man with an almost divine appearance, was meditating in the lotus position, his flaming red hair, almost transparent, falling gently around him like a cascade of flames. He wore immaculate white clothes, embroidered with golden patterns evoking the sun and flames, and his flowing sleeves barely moved in the peaceful air.
Behind him, a golden halo, in the shape of a flaming sun, pulsed slowly, emanating a gentle but intense heat, like the very heart of a star. Each pulse seemed to harmonize the space around him, and his mere presence made the surrounding energy vibrate.
After a long moment of absolute silence, his eyelids quivered slightly, then his eyes slowly opened. His irises were a deep red, almost hypnotic, like incandescent embers. A small smile played on his lips as he sensed something, or rather someone, in the vast energies of the cosmos.
—"Oh, how intriguing," he murmured, his voice soft and powerful at the same time, echoing like a distant echo in the divine vastness around him.
He gently raised his hand, as if to sense the energy currents of the lower world, his eyes narrowing slightly.
—"There is a new holder of the Supreme Yang Physique," he continued, his words tinged with amusement. "Moreover, he is in the spiritual realm. How interesting."
Slowly, he lowered his hand and half-closed his eyes, looking thoughtful.
—"Unfortunately, I cannot meet him until he enters the celestial realm." The laws of the spiritual realm are too regulated by the universal consciousnesses, and I do not want to suffer a karmic challenge for breaking these rules."
He sighed slightly, but an amused smile danced on his lips.
—"Well, anyway… it's an immortal physique," he said with a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "It's destined to ascend to the divine realm. I just have to wait."
With one last glance into the distance, the mysterious being gently closed his eyes, returning to his meditation, a serene smile still hanging on his lips, his burning aura bathing the space in infinite warmth once again.