As Shen Yuan was returning from Gui Zuwang's dwelling, the clouds seemed to darken as sounds of lightning covered the skies. It started to rain.
The sound of heavy rainfall and the smell of the rain water seemed to ease Shen Yuan slightly. Just then when he was relishing in the cold rain water, he felt as if he heard a sound of flute playing, when he looked at his surrounding, there was no one as everyone went inside their adobe due to the rain, but he ignored the thought, thinking it was only his imagination due to the odd relaxation.
The rain soaked through his robes, but he still welcomed the discomfort, as he found the discomfort oddly relaxing, as if the anger in him was erased for a moment until the scene of his grandfather's death flashed in his mind.
As well as Gui Zuwang's words echoed in his mind: "One month, Shen Yuan. Show me that you can reach the Heaven Path Realm by then."
The demand was daunting, and to any other cultivator, it would have been dismissed as impossible. Shen Yuan, however, was undeterred. If there was one thing he despised more than his enemies, it was his limitations. And so, he continued his steady pace towards the graveyard, ignoring the mud that clung to his robes, the rain that stung his skin, and the nervous glances of fellow disciples who watched him from a distance.
As he approached the graveyard, the storm seemed to grow fiercer. Lightning crackled through the sky, illuminating the eerie rows of gravestones. A powerful wave of yin energy swept over him, prickling his skin, making his pulse quicken. The air was thick with the essence of death, heavier and richer than the yin energy he'd absorbed previously. It was exactly what he needed.
The disciples nearby whispered, "Is he truly going to cultivate in this storm? At the graveyard, no less…"
But Shen Yuan paid them no heed. His entire focus was on the yin energy that swirled around the graves, an endless sea of potential that he intended to tap into, even if it drained him. Without hesitation, he stepped deeper into the graveyard, far past the outer rows of modest gravestones, and into the heart of the ancestral burial ground, where the most ancient and powerful energies lay undisturbed. He didn't care if the other disciples saw him.
Finally, he sat cross-legged amidst the weathered stones, droplets streaming down his face. He closed his eyes, grounding himself as he steadied his breath. He let his consciousness dive into the surrounding energy, pulling in the yin essence from every corner of the graveyard. It was a dark, cold energy that seemed almost hostile, but Shen Yuan harnessed it, bending it to his will.
Minutes passed, then hours, as he sank into meditation. The rain continued to pour, drenching him completely, but he didn't notice. His mind was elsewhere, far beyond the material distractions, as he navigated the vast currents of yin energy that surged through the graves. Gradually, he began to feel his cultivation inching forward, the energy within him condensing, solidifying, preparing him for the breakthrough he sought.
"Gui Zuwang thinks he can set limits on me, demand time limits and tests of my worth?" he thought, a glint of defiance sparking within him. "I have no need to prove myself to anyone."
Yet, the allure of power pushed him forward, urging him to go beyond any limit he'd known. He had no loyalty to Gui Zuwang or his orders, but if meeting this impossible demand meant he could push his boundaries even further, then he would see it through.
After hours of intense cultivation, he felt a shift, a vibration within his dantian that signaled a breakthrough. From the depths of the eighth layer of the Purifying Realm, his power surged, elevating him to the ninth layer. A faint smile tugged at his lips, but he kept his focus. "One more step", he reminded himself. "One step closer". But this very last step was harder than anything before, if he could manage to take this step he would be in the heaven path realm.
Just as he absorbed the last remnants of yin energy, a subtle shift in the atmosphere alerted him. A presence was approaching, a familiar aura. An elder, patrolling the graveyard, had sensed his cultivation and was drawing near. Quickly, Shen Yuan sank deeper into the shadows, cloaking his presence.
The elder's footsteps were cautious, hesitant. His gaze swept over the graves, his expression one of mild curiosity, but he soon dismissed whatever suspicion had brought him here. Muttering something about the storm, the elder turned and disappeared back down the winding path.
Shen Yuan remained hidden until the elder's footsteps faded entirely. Then, emerging from his hiding place, he returned to his spot and resumed cultivating, letting the yin energy envelop him. He took a deep breath, feeling the cold chill of the rain and the dark energy within him intertwining. It was only then that he began to fully appreciate the gravity of the task ahead. To reach the Heaven Path Realm in one month would require a ruthless approach—he would need more than simple meditation and cultivation techniques.
As he meditated, he considered various ways to accelerate his progress. The Void Fire came to mind, its unique properties of erasure and transformation. It was a volatile force, yet he had already mastered the first step of it. Perhaps, if he could combine its essence with the dense yin energy around him, it would create an explosive boost in his cultivation. It was dangerous, a method no sane cultivator would even attempt, but Shen Yuan's hunger for strength knew no bounds.
He allowed his mind to drift, visualizing himself standing at the peak of power, unhindered by the confines of the Purifying Realm. In his vision, he was a shadow amidst flames, he could see himself in an empty space filled with stars as a a figure of a beautiful man took shape from blue rays of light that seemed to come out of nowhere, The image of the man was very pretty with his hands holding a flute and a peacock feather over his head. He recognized the image of the figure to be a god from the myths, but for an unknown reason he couldn't remember. And then he was pushed back to reality by an unknown force, he spat blood and thought what that was all about, but finding no answer, he ignored what he just saw. He went back to cultivating.
Gui Zuwang's warnings and deadlines meant little to him, mere words in the wind. He would break through, not for Gui Zuwang's approval, but because he had no intention of being restrained by anything or anyone.
As the night wore on, Shen Yuan's aura grew darker, more intense, and glowing with a shade of green. The energy he absorbed from the graveyard seemed to fuse with his very core, strengthening him in ways he hadn't anticipated. Even he was taken aback by the speed of his progress; never before had his cultivation advanced so rapidly.
When the storm finally began to subside, Shen Yuan opened his eyes, feeling a strange calmness settle over him. The rain had lessened to a drizzle, and the winds were no longer howling. Yet, the energy within him pulsed with a vitality that far surpassed anything he'd ever felt. He stood, soaked but invigorated, and cast a final glance at the graves around him.
"Finally…, reached the bottleneck of the purifying realm.", He thought, his gaze hardened with determination.
With his mind set on his goal, Shen Yuan took a step forward, feeling the weight of his resolve guiding him. He would push the limits of his cultivation, test the boundaries of his own power, and seize the strength he desired. No one—neither Gui Zuwang nor the clan elders—could control his destiny. His path was his own to carve, and he would do so without hesitation.
As he turned away from the graveyard, Shen Yuan's steps were slow but purposeful. The storm had cleared, but the air still held a chilling promise of what was to come. The disciples who had watched him from afar earlier had long since scattered, but a few lingered, catching a glimpse of his aura, now darker and more foreboding than before.
And as Shen Yuan strode back toward his abode, a faint smile curved his lips. His path forward was clear, and his ambition knew no bounds. With each step, he felt his strength solidifying, his purpose sharpening like a blade.
If reaching the Heaven Path Realm in one month was what it took to claim his place at the pinnacle of power, then so be it. He would not rest until the world lay at his feet!