Kael sat cross-legged beneath the towering trees, his thoughts focused on the next step of his cultivation journey. Having reached the peak of the first realm, his body was a masterpiece of resilience and power, but he knew it was only a foundation. The path to true greatness required more than a perfected body—it demanded mastery over the internal energies that lay dormant within him.
Drawing upon the insights granted by The Body's Heart of the World, Kael began to construct the secondary chapter of his cultivation art. This new realm would target the dantian—the energy core located in the lower abdomen—and the network of acupoints scattered throughout the human body. These acupoints, sealed and untapped, held immense potential, and unlocking them would elevate him to unimaginable heights.
The realm was divided into four stages: Lower, Middle, Upper, and Top.
The Lower Stage would focus on opening the dantian, forming the central reservoir of energy within his body. This step alone would grant him immense strength, increasing his raw power by 1,000,000 kilograms. The Middle Stage would involve opening a third of the body's acupoints, each of which would add 10,000 kilograms of strength to his already formidable power. The Upper Stage would unlock half of the remaining acupoints, while the Top Stage would open the rest, completing the energy network within him.
Kael began by visualizing the dantian, a point of potential that he could sense but not yet access. He focused his mind, allowing the energy in his body to flow toward that single spot. Using Ethereal Insight,Kael adjusted the method as he progressed, refining the techniques to align perfectly with his body. The process was arduous, requiring immense concentration and precision, but Kael remained undeterred.
After days of focused effort, he felt a spark within him—a faint flicker of energy igniting in his lower abdomen. The dantian had begun to form. Like a seed taking root, it grew steadily, expanding with every breath he took. The energy within his body surged, drawn to the dantian like rivers converging into a vast ocean. When the process was complete, Kael's entire being resonated with newfound power.
His strength had surged by 1,000,000 kilograms. Kael clenched his fists, the ground beneath him trembling as a faint ripple of energy spread outward. Yet, he knew this was only the beginning.
The Middle Stage required him to open the first third of the acupoints in his body. Kael had calculated that the human body contained 360 acupoints, each sealed and dormant. Unlocking even a fraction of these points would amplify his strength significantly.
He began by focusing on the first cluster of acupoints, visualizing them as tiny nodes of light scattered throughout his body. With meticulous precision, he guided the energy from his dantian toward these points, breaking the seals that bound them. One by one, the acupoints opened, releasing a flood of energy that coursed through his meridians and into his muscles, bones, and skin.
Each opened acupoint added 10,000 kilograms to his strength, and by the time he had unlocked the first 120 points, he had gained an additional 1,200,000 kilograms.
The process of opening acupoints was both exhilarating and exhausting. Each point required careful manipulation of energy, and the strain on his body was immense. Yet, with every success, Kael could feel himself growing stronger, his potential expanding far beyond the limits of ordinary humans.
When he advanced to the Upper Stage, Kael turned his attention to the remaining sealed acupoints. With 240 points left, his goal was to open half of them—another 120. The energy within his dantian surged in waves, coursing through his body with relentless force. Kael's control over the process had improved significantly, allowing him to open multiple acupoints simultaneously.
The ground around him cracked and trembled as his strength surged again, increasing by another 1,200,000 kilograms. By the time he had reached the Top Stage, only 120 acupoints remained.
In the final stage, Kael faced the most challenging test yet. The remaining acupoints were the most tightly sealed, requiring immense precision and effort to unlock. He pushed himself to the limit, drawing upon every ounce of strength and knowledge he possessed.
As the last acupoint opened, a thunderous wave of energy erupted from within him, radiating outward and shaking the very forest around him. His body pulsed with unimaginable power, the culmination of his efforts in the second realm. The golden glow of his skin intensified, his meridians thrumming like mighty rivers, and his entire being felt alive with energy.
Kael stood in silence, his mind calculating the total strength he had gained.
• Strength from the dantian: 1,000,000 kilograms
• Strength from 360 acupoints: 3,600,000 kilograms (360 × 10,000)
Total strength: 4,600,000 kilograms.
Kael marveled at the transformation. He had transcended the limits of mortality, his body now a vessel of unparalleled power. Yet, as he stood in the stillness of the forest, he knew this was only the beginning. The second realm of The Body's Heart of the World was complete, but the path ahead remained vast and uncharted.
With a deep breath, Kael gazed at the sky, his determination unwavering. His journey was far from over, and the heights he sought were still beyond reach. But he would continue, step by step, realm by realm, until the world itself bowed before his strength.