The next morning, sunlight streamed across Hao Zan's training grounds. The air was crisp, filled with the subtle hum of Qi, waiting to be tamed. Today, he would integrate the Eternal Heaven-Devouring Sutra—the cornerstone of his cultivation path in this life.
He placed both hands upon the Sutra, feeling its wisdom flow through him. The Sutra was not merely a martial technique; it was a philosophy, a synthesis of heaven and earth, life and death, patience and wrath. Its teachings allowed one to bend time, space, and energy with precision, and Hao Zan intended to master every iota.
[System Update: Eternal Heaven-Devouring Sutra Activated]
Level 1–10: Core cultivation stages.
Physique and Body Enhancement: Multiplicative growth with each mastery level.
Soul Integration: Allows preservation and recall of past-life experiences.
Combat Techniques: Integrates sword, fist, spear, hidden weapon, and movement with Sutra principles.
Strategic Awareness: Enhances perception and tactical acumen exponentially.
Hao Zan's first step was the harmonization of his Qi with the Sutra. As he drew breath, the air around him shivered, bending in response to his presence. Every inhale was a channeling of heaven's essence; every exhale a release of stored power.
Minutes turned into hours, and hours into days. Through the Sutra, Hao Zan's soul expanded, resonating with every particle of energy in the surrounding world. By the time he paused, he could feel the threshold of the Deva Realm opening before him.
Yet, the Sutra demanded more than mere cultivation—it required understanding. Hao Zan closed his eyes and envisioned the threads of existence, the flow of energy through realms, and the intricate dance between life and death. It was patience that allowed him to dominate wrath, clarity that allowed him to master chaos.
A flicker of movement caught his attention. Even in isolation, the world tested him. A minor demon, sensing his growing power, surged forward in a futile attack. Hao Zan's lips curved into a faint smile. This was perfect.
He moved like a shadow, a blur of motion, and the Sutra guided every strike. The demon had no chance—their strike was dismantled before it could even form. With a final motion, Hao Zan crushed the Qi core within the creature, absorbing its energy and integrating it into his Sutra mastery.
The breakthrough was clear. Hao Zan's cultivation had moved beyond the confines of mere mortal understanding. The Deva Realm was no longer a distant goal; it was his reality. The system recorded each metric, noting progress, and storing the data for future regression loops.
Yet even with power, Hao Zan did not forget humanity. He thought of Xue Jiying, waiting in her kingdom, overseeing her people. He thought of his other wives and children, and the empire he would one day forge. Power alone was meaningless without purpose.
The Sutra whispered its final lesson: patience, precision, and awareness were the keys to true strength. The moment one lost them, even an Eternity Sovereign could fall. Hao Zan opened his eyes, clarity and resolve etched into every line of his face.
The first real chapter of his new life had begun. And with the Sutra as his guide, nothing—not demons, not tyrants, not fate itself—could stop him.
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