Damian had already opened his 12 primary meridians.
Over the following ten days, he utilized nearly one-sixth of the pond water infused with thick natural energy, pushing himself with utmost concentration and mental power to force open the 8 extraordinary meridians.
The entire process was excruciating.
It felt as though he was submerged in boiling water, his blood boiling from within, pressing against his skin as if trying to escape.
His nerves screamed in agony, as though they were being continuously electrocuted.
For ten days, Damian endured this torment.
However, his talent, [Boundless Refinement], greatly enhanced his adaptability to all forms of conditions and environments.
This allowed him to gradually develop resistance to the pain.
His body, nerves, skin, and organs rapidly adjusted to the relentless strain, growing tougher and more resilient with each passing moment.
Deep within the cave, where a large circular pond about 35 meters in diameter lay, the air was thick with dense, hot steam, making it difficult to see.
In the center of this suffocating environment, a figure sat cross-legged in a lotus position, his intense breathing echoing through the space.
With every exhale, streams of Qi and hot air escaped his lips.
His body was drenched in sweat, and as his lips parted slightly, a pair of intensely glowing neon-blue eyes appeared.
[You have completely opened the 20th meridian.]
[Your resistance to pain has significantly improved.]
[Due to continuous expansion caused by a large amount of unstable Qi, your Dantian has significantly expanded.]
[Due to continuous expansion caused by a large amount of unstable Qi, your meridians have significantly expanded.]
[Your nervous system has been significantly strengthened.]
[Your energy nerves have been significantly strengthened.]
[Your spiritual circuits have been significantly strengthened.]
[Congratulations, you have completely opened up all the meridians in your body.]
[Your Qi absorption efficiency has increased by 200%.]
[You have reached the highest stage of the Qi Condensation Realm that is physically and spiritually possible.]
[You have reached the hidden stage of the Qi Condensation Realm that is considered impossible to achieve.]
[You have reached the Supreme Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm.]
"I did it... I opened all 20 meridians," Damian said with a grin, his breaths deep and steady as he felt the incredible transformation coursing through him.
"Supreme stage, huh? So, this is the highest stage possible? Does that mean for every cultivation realm, there is a supreme stage beyond the peak stage?"
A crazy thought began to form in Damian's mind, and the grin on his face grew wider.
"Time to start cultivating."
[3rd Cultivation Realm: Foundation Establishment Realm]
[In the Foundation Establishment Realm, the cultivator must form a seed inside their dantian. The growth of the seed is classified into four stages of the realm:
-Lower Stage: Drawing the seed
-Middle Stage: Filling the seed with Qi
-Upper Stage: Forming the seed shell
-Peak Stage: Condensing the entire seed]
[Once you reach the peak stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, you can break through to the 4th cultivation realm.]
Damian glanced at the pond, and his figure blurred as he appeared at its center, sitting cross-legged and letting himself submerge.
Although the pond was about 35 meters in diameter and very deep, its water level was surprisingly low.
Sitting cross-legged, the water barely reached Damian's neck.
"Wait a minute, why do I even have to cultivate like others when I can simply extract Qi and increase my cultivation?"
A strange expression formed on his face as he activated his extraction ability.
[Extraction: Unique Innate Ability Activated]
The water level of the energy-filled pond began to decrease as Damian's extraction ability absorbed about one-sixth of the remaining water.
A surplus amount of Qi surged into Damian's dantian.
Unlike the last time, his dantian didn't feel pressured, as it had already expanded significantly.
Following the directions of the [Path of Sacred Arts] cultivation method, Damian circulated the Qi throughout his body.
The Qi flowed like a river, reaching every part of his body: organs, bones, skin, and down to the cells.
Everything was strengthened before the energy gathered at the center of his dantian, rapidly beginning to take the shape of a seed.
[You have reached the Lower Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[Your Strength increased: +1]
[Your Stamina increased: +1]
[Your Agility increased: +1]
[Your Vitality increased: +1]
[Your Perception increased: +1]
[Your Qi increased: +2]
Damian ignored the system notifications and the warm sensation spreading through his body.
The surplus Qi he absorbed was far from being fully utilized.
He continued circulating the Qi in his dantian like a whirlpool, filling the seed rapidly until it could take no more.
[You have reached the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[All Your Physical Attributes increased: +1]
[Your Qi increased: +2]
Damian didn't stop for a moment.
The Qi flowed unhindered, as if there were no obstacles or shackles within him.
The seed began to form a shell, encased by the dense Qi.
[You have reached the Upper Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[All Your Physical Attributes increased: +1]
[Your Qi increased: +2]
Finally, the Qi in his dantian began to coalesce and poured directly into the shell of the seed.
The seed grew stronger, condensing further until it reached its limit.
[You have reached the Peak Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[All Your Physical Attributes increased: +1]
[Your Qi increased: +2]
Damian didn't stop.
Instead of breaking through to the next cultivation realm, he began to do something extraordinary; he started forming additional Seeds.
[You have formed the 2nd Foundation Seed.]
[You have formed the 3rd Foundation Seed.]
.
.
.
[You have formed the 9th Foundation Seed.]
[You have reached the Supreme Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.]
[Your Strength increased: +8.]
[Your Stamina increased: +8.]
[Your Agility increased: +8.]
[Your Vitality increased: +8.]
[Your Perception increased: +8.]
[Your Qi increased: +8.]
"Ha," Damian let out a long sigh of relief.
After forming the 1st Foundation Seed, every subsequent seed up to the 9th provided him with only a single-point increase in each stat, unlike the 1st Seed, which had increased his stats by 4 points and his Qi by 8 points.
"The Supreme Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm," Damian said, a grin spreading across his face.
Then, suddenly, a series of notifications appeared before his eyes.
[You are the first person to reach the supreme stages of two consecutive cultivation realms.]
[You have taken the path of a Supreme Cultivator.]
[Your physical body has been refined to the highest degree and has taken the first step toward the path of human evolution.]
[You are slowly stepping closer to evolving into the next stage of human evolution.]
[You have triggered the mission function.]
[Mission: Walking the Road of Human Evolution]
[You must complete the following conditions:]
[Increase Your Level: 45/150]
[Defeat Awakeners 50 levels higher than you: 0/20.]
[Obtain Source Cores of Monsters 50 levels higher than you: 0/30.]
[Increase your Vitality: 92/200]
[Increase your Perception: 94/200]
"Jesus Christ, have I already grown that strong? To think I would receive a system mission to evolve my race!" Damian's eyes widened in surprise.
He was well aware of the concept called Human Evolution.
Before his regression, he had heard of some humans from his homeworld triggering the system to grant them such missions.
Upon completing these missions, they would evolve into an entirely different race.
Humans were one of the weakest species.
Their only racial ability was a slightly enhanced capacity to adapt.
While this might seem like a beneficial trait, it paled in comparison to the abilities of higher-level races.
These races could fly, regenerate limbs, spit fire, or possess skin as tough as armor.
By contrast, humans were often considered insignificant.
However, humans could also acquire racial abilities by evolving.
And now, Damian was staring at such a mission.
The conditions for the mission were not exactly what he had anticipated.
"These mission conditions... am I tripping, or do they seem way too easy?" Damian rubbed his head in confusion.
From his knowledge before his regression, he knew these missions were supposed to be extraordinarily difficult, yet to him, they seemed almost manageable.
Just What's happening?
???
<<<>>>
[A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider supporting it with a few Power Stones, maybe some GOLDEN TICKETS, or even a gift! The author may be a little naive, but your support means the world to me. Arigato!]