[PAGE ONE: THE FIRST THRESHOLD]
~~~
The writing was beautiful—elegant script that seemed to glow with inner light against pages cut from actual starlight. The letters shifted as Jin watched, rearranging themselves into perfect readability. His chest tightened with something between anticipation and dread.
In the timeless epochs when gods walked among mortals and the boundaries between thought and reality were but threads of gossamer, the ancient Sage Emperor Kytharian gazed upon the ten thousand realms and spoke thus:
"The flesh is prison, the soul is key, but consciousness—consciousness is the crown that makes even Heaven bow."
Jin's lips curved despite himself. "Okay, that's some seriously epic opening flavor text." His fingers traced the glowing words. "Sage Emperor Kytharian... never heard of him in any of the novels, but if he founded this cultivation path, he must have been ridiculously powerful."
The phrase echoed in his mind. Consciousness is the crown that makes even Heaven bow. Strong words. Bold claim.
Mortal seeker who holds this tome, know that you stand before the Gate of Stars. Beyond lies the Path of Eternal Sovereign—the cultivation way that transforms mere thought into universal law. Those who succeed become beings whose will shapes reality itself. Those who fail... are consumed by the very forces they sought to master.
Jin's grin faltered. "Well, that's ominous." He shook his head. "Can't promise power without the death flags, can it?"
THE NATURE OF THE SOVEREIGN PATH
Unlike the crude paths that strengthen flesh or gather essence through external means, the Sovereign Path acknowledges a fundamental truth: All of creation springs from consciousness. The mountain exists because minds perceive it. The storm rages because awareness gives it form. Even death itself bows to the absolute certainty of an enlightened soul.
"Holy shit," Jin whispered. The words hung strange in the mental space, echoing off unseen walls. His pulse quickened as the implications hit him. "If consciousness really is the foundation of reality, then someone who masters their own consciousness could theoretically..."
He swallowed hard. "Could theoretically rewrite the laws of physics through sheer force of will."
This path walks three Sacred Transformations:
Essence becomes Astral Essence (energy that resonates with pure thought)
Astral Essence becomes Myra
Myra becomes Origin
Jin nodded slowly. "My essence type—no, it's the type of energy I wield that's getting transformed."
He pressed his hand against his chest, feeling the familiar warmth of his essence heart. "I know essence is the basic form of energy. Like I remember those in martial paths transform their essence into qi."
A frown creased his brow. "Though I've never heard of transforming essence twice, much less three times..."
No idea what to expect from this…
Warning: Many cultivators have lost themselves forever in the spaces between mortal understanding and cosmic truth.
Jin scoffed. "Seriously?" But the warning sent a chill down his spine, despite his dismissal.
THE FIRST STAR FORMATION
Foundation of Will
"Before the sovereign commands reality, the sovereign must first command the self."
Jin's breath caught. "Wait, wasn't the first trial in the initiation chamber something like this? Control over self?" The memory surfaced—the dungeon's voice telling him to come to terms with himself, his fears. "That wasn't a coincidence."
The initiation requires forging a Star of Pure Cosmic Essence within your Essence Heart—a microscopic stellar core where consciousness and raw energy achieve perfect fusion. This star becomes the foundation upon which all future cultivation rests.
Jin paused, pressing his hand against his chest. Something new pulsed there—a tiny point of warmth that beat in rhythm with his heart but remained somehow separate from it. Foreign yet familiar.
"That's the star." His voice dropped to barely a whisper. "It's not yet formed, but everything for its birth is present." He searched for words. "I don't have words for this sensation."
Sacred Requirements:
Jin's face fell as the list appeared. "Oh, come on! Are there more requirements?"
The list that followed made Jin's head spin.
The materials that followed made his head spin—Mind-Opening Elixir, Stellar Dust, and Consciousness Anchoring Crystals. Each item sounded impossibly rare and expensive.
"Thank god for the dungeon providing all this," he muttered, relief flooding through him. "Finding these things would have taken months. Years, maybe."
Seven Cycles of Starless Meditation: Absolute silence and darkness for 7 consecutive nights, allowing consciousness to touch the void between thoughts
Understanding lit Jin's eyes. "Wait, there was time compression in the spell array the dungeon used." He nodded to himself. "I think this step is already done."
Neural Pathway Restructuring: Daily circulation of essence through specific meridian sequences, condensing and accumulating Astral essence.
"Okay, this looks like an exercise." Jin studied the complex diagram showing intricate energy flow patterns. Lines and nodes created a three-dimensional map inside his head. "This is ridiculously complicated..."
Sighing, he focused on the patterns and began breathing according to the rhythm shown. Immediately, something shifted inside his chest—the proto-star pulsing with new energy. Heat bloomed outward, then contracted back to that single point.
"This will take time." He could already feel the mental strain. "Probably my new meditation method."
The Great Compression: Using refined will to compress Astral Essence until it achieves fusion density—failure results in essence explosion and permanent cultivation crippling
Jin shivered. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. "Why does this step feel like it can and will permanently cripple me if I screw up?"
But as he continued reading, something strange happened. The techniques felt familiar. Not like he'd read them before, but like his body already knew how to perform them. Muscle memory downloads directly into his nervous system.
"The more I study these techniques, the more natural they feel."
Signs of Success:
When the Star of Pure Cosmic Essence stabilizes, the cultivator will experience:
- Thoughts are accelerating to process information three times faster than baseline human cognition.
- Minor reality alterations within arm's reach (5-second duration, requiring intense focus).
- Astral Sight: The ability to perceive through multiple dimensional layers simultaneously.
- A constant, subtle awareness that the world responds to their deepest intentions.
The rest of the page detailed the nurturing process—feeding the newborn star with abstract concepts like willpower and experience rather than physical matter.
"This is fascinating," Jin said, his mind racing through the implications. "Instead of cultivating with herbs and beast cores like most paths, I'm literally feeding my cultivation with my own thoughts and experiences. The more I learn, the more I grow. The more I overcome, the stronger I become."
At the bottom of the page, an oath waited.
THE SOVEREIGN'S OATH
Jin stared at the words. They seemed to pulse with their own inner weight, pressing against his consciousness like a physical thing.
"Once I speak these words, there's no going back." His throat felt dry. "This is the trigger for the birth of the first star."
But was there ever really a choice? The thought came unbidden. He'd come to this world to prevent a calamity that would destroy everything. He couldn't do that with normal human limitations.
He thought about the world counting on him to prevent a catastrophe he'd only read about in novels. The weight of that responsibility pressed down on his shoulders.
"I was never going to be content with normal human power levels anyway." The admission came easier than expected. "If I'm going to save this world, I need capabilities that go beyond conventional cultivation. I need to become something that can stand against cosmic-level threats."
And honestly? He wanted this. Not just the power, but the understanding. The ability to see reality as it truly was, instead of just how humans perceived it.
Jin took a deep breath. He stood alone on the dark ocean of his own mind, waves lapping at his feet, and spoke the oath with absolute conviction:
"I walk the path of mind made manifest,
Where thought becomes the law that governs all.
Let consciousness be my sword and crown,
Let will be the force that makes gods crawl.
I reject the limitations of mere flesh,
I transcend the boundaries of mortal sight.
From this moment until eternity's end,
I claim dominion through sovereign might."
The words echoed across the mental ocean, and Jin felt them settle into his very soul like molten metal cooling into unbreakable chains.
"That was a weird feeling," he muttered. The sensation reminded him of when he force-evolved his Mantle—that ancient presence that had looked at him with cosmic awareness. Jin shuddered at the memory.
The tome dissolved back into his consciousness. Instead of the jarring sensation from before, it felt like puzzle pieces clicking into place. Knowledge settling where it belonged.
And then Jin felt the Star of Pure Cosmic Essence within his chest begin to pulse with new energy.
Oh. Oh wow.
It started as warmth, then became light, then became something that was neither light nor heat but somehow both. He could feel his consciousness expanding in real-time, his perception sharpening, his understanding of reality itself beginning to shift.
This is incredible.
It started as warmth, then became light, then became something that was neither light nor heat but somehow both. He could feel his consciousness expanding in real-time, his perception sharpening, his understanding of reality itself beginning to shift.
This is incredible.
The formation process was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. Jin watched as runes of power floated in his soul, forming the patterns of cosmic law. But as they settled into their final configuration, they resembled something beautiful.
A star.
"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
It wasn't just light or energy—it was pure potential made manifest. The mathematical perfection of a stellar core, but built from consciousness instead of nuclear fusion. He felt the weight of cultivation coursing through him, inscribed into his soul, letting him channel forces that went beyond mere magic.
Fa ri do la si ma net~~
"My soul is singing." Wonder filled his voice. "Actually singing… this is soothing too for some reason"
When the sensation finally stabilized, Jin found himself humming the song while back in the cozy cabin. But now everything looked different.
"Holy shit. This is..." He blinked rapidly, overwhelmed by the flood of new perception. "I can see EVERYTHING. This is also very overwhelming."
He could see the magical formations woven into the walls like living tapestries, could sense the dungeon presence's consciousness like a warm flame in the corner of his awareness, could feel the way reality bent subtly around his intentions like space-time curving around a massive object.
Well done, young Harvest.
You have successfully formed your first star. The Path of Eternal Sovereign has truly begun for you.
Jin grinned, flexing his fingers and watching reality ripple slightly in response to his focused intent. Tiny distortions, like heat waves, followed his movements. "It's weird getting used to seeing so much more."
Careful—your newfound powers may not be that strong in regular reality yet. Though I have faith your other unique ability will help you adapt.
"Hmm?" Jin tilted his head, then understanding dawned. "Reader's Dominion. I suppose it would help filter all the sensory junk and process the important information."
Now, shall we reunite you with your friend? I believe he has had his own... transformative experience.
A door materialized on the far wall of the cabin, warm light spilling through its edges like liquid gold.
"Time to see what kind of badass Rudy became." Jin walked toward the door, excitement and curiosity warring in his chest. "I just hope he's still recognizably himself. The Asura path sounded intense, and I'd hate for him to come out all serious and stoic. I really need Rudy's particular brand of optimistic chaos."
Jin walked toward the door, excited to share what he'd learned and curious to discover what his best friend had become.
~~~