Aftermeditating for half an hour, Fu Yang lay back on his bed, eyes narrowing as he traced the possibilities in his mind. His body, though stronger than a normal ten-year-old, was still far from capable of enduring the first stage of skin tempering. He had to be cautious; one wrong move now could collapse his body entirely.
"Mmm… my body is still weak. If I start now, I'll faint… cultivation will fail," he muttered under his breath. His brows knitted tightly as he thought further. "I could use a simple, mundane technique. Nothing risky. It wouldn't even hurt…"
But his ambition would not allow it. He would use the path he created himself. The path no one else had walked.
(Author's note: the next section explains cultivation in a simplified way for understanding. Thank you.)
"I don't need these worthless techniques," he whispered, his lips curling in disdain. "They only create limits in the human body. I will walk my own path, not the paths others carved."
In this world, cultivation began with spiritual beasts. Hides, bones, blood, and essences served as the foundation for advancement. Cultivators relied not only on beasts but also on plants, minerals, and even insects. Progress was divided into two great paths: Body Cultivation and Core Cultivation.
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The First Path: Body Cultivation (Physical Path)
This path tempered the flesh, bones, and blood, forging the body into a weapon capable of withstanding immense power. Its stages were methodical, relentless:
1. Skin Tempering – the skin hardens, resistant to cuts, burns, and blunt force.
2. Flesh Forging – muscles condense, coiling with raw strength.
3. Bone Marrow Refinement – bones gleam like polished jade, marrow produces vigorous qi.
4. Blood Condensation – blood becomes fiery, vitality surging through every vein.
5. Organ Tempering – internal organs fortify, resistant to poisons and injury.
6. Spirit Veins Awakening – meridians expand, energy courses freely; the body becomes a vessel of immense potential.
Each stage had three tiers: initial, intermediate, and peak—the final stage, the breaking point of mortal limitation.
Once a cultivator reached the end of Spirit Veins Awakening, there existed the chance to break past mortal boundaries and form a core. The probability of survival, however, was slim—only thirty-eight percent. Most died trying.
Fu Yang's mind wandered to the whispered stories of the Immortal Body Path, an extension of this physical cultivation. It was said that those who reached it could regenerate flesh, become nearly indestructible, and live thousands of years. Seven people in history had achieved it: two brought peace, four ruled selfishly, and the last… a legend whose aura alone declared him an immortal before vanishing forever.
Fu Yang's lips twitched. "I will surpass even them," he muttered silently. "Even if it takes everything… I will survive, I will dominate."
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The Second Path: Core Cultivation
In his past life, Fu Yang had never reached this stage. He had walked only the Physical Path, stopping at the peak of spirit vein stage. That limitation had left him vulnerable, suffering endlessly. But now, he had knowledge the old Fu Yang never possessed.
He had devised a new possibility: a different kind of core. A gamble. A dangerous unknown. He called it the Yin-Yang Core.
If it succeeded, he wouldn't need to break through Spirit Vein Awakening to form a core. He could bypass conventional limits entirely—but the risk was lethal. Mistakes could shatter his body, destroy his soul, and erase the chance to cultivate forever.
"Mmm… if I don't take this risk, I will suffer as I did before," he thought, fists clenching. His gaze burned with determination. "But… not yet. I must wait. I need the right materials. I need preparation. Only when everything is in place can I step onto this path fully."
He lay back, eyes fixed on the ceiling, mind racing. The first step was clear: acquire the hide of a beast. Only with it could he temper his skin properly. And yet, he could not rush. Too early, too careless, and his body would betray him. Every decision now carried the weight of life or death.
Fu Yang inhaled deeply, the silence of the dormitory pressing in. Outside, the world moved slowly. For him, time was an instrument—a tool to sharpen patience, to gather resources, and to plan every next step. Every shadow, every whisper, every creature in the mountains could be a potential advantage.
He had survived centuries before; he would survive these years too. This body, this mind, this chance at cultivation—it was his alone. The world would not wait, and neither would he.
Haaa… the path stretched before him. Painful, dangerous, but inevitable. And Fu Yang would walk it.