Inside the Star Codex's world.
The Star Codex was the foremost mystic tome of heaven and earth, containing a realm almost identical to the outside: high mountains, flowing waters, even seas. It was dotted with all manner of plants, and at first glance, it looked just like the mortal world.
In front of a ten-thousand-pound boulder, a slightly thin young man stared at the rock with a solemn expression.
Hah!
Suddenly, he let out a fierce shout and punched forward with explosive speed!
Boom!
As his fist struck, a powerful aura burst from him. At that moment, two phantom dragons with bared fangs and claws appeared above his head!
With the young man's punch, the two dragons roared and swiftly intertwined, merging into a mighty surge of energy that slammed viciously into the boulder ahead.
Boom!
After a thunderous crash, the ground trembled, rocks shattered, and dust flew everywhere.
When the dust settled, the massive boulder that had stood firmly on the ground was gone. In its place was a pile of rubble.
The young man had smashed the ten-thousand-pound boulder to pieces with one punch.
"Two dragons' force—barely passable." At that moment, a young man stepped out from behind, speaking lightly.
Rowan Miles turned around, his face full of excitement. "Codex, I succeeded! I can finally cultivate, and I even achieved two dragons' force!"
"Just two dragons' force, and the lowest level at that—mere lesser dragons. Look at how thrilled you are. If you ever reach celestial dragon force, you'd probably die of excitement?" The Codex mocked, striking a blow.
Rowan just smiled, not minding at all.
No one could understand his feelings. From a waste who couldn't cultivate at all, he'd jumped to two dragons' force. It wasn't just the power that excited him—it was the transformation from cripple to cultivator.
"Two dragons' force should put me at the second level of the Acquired Realm, right?" Rowan looked at the Codex and asked.
Even though he'd been a waste unable to train before, growing up in the Miles family had given him a clear understanding of the world's power levels.
Acquired Realm first level: one lesser dragon's force. Second level: two dragons' force.
These "lesser dragons" weren't real divine beasts but phantom manifestations based on the cultivator's strength and realm.
The higher the dragon type and the greater the number, the more powerful the cultivator.
In the Acquired Realm for mortal warriors, lesser dragons were the limit. At the ninth level peak, heaven-defying talents could even reach ninety-nine lesser dragons' force!
Such power could shatter a mountain peak with a single punch.
Above the Acquired Realm was the Innate Realm. A key marker for entering it was manifesting horned dragon force.
Horned dragons were a higher species than lesser dragons. An Innate expert with one horned dragon's force could smash a Acquired peak cultivator with ninety-nine lesser dragons in one punch.
That was the chasm between realms.
Rowan's punch had summoned two lesser dragon phantoms. Normally, that meant he'd reached Acquired second level. And he'd done it in just two days!
If word got out, it would stun the Miles family and shake the entire Dawn Empire.
Watching Rowan's excitement, the Codex didn't want to dampen it but had to. He shook his head and sighed. "You're too optimistic. Even with the Chaotic Heavenly Body, two dragons' force after a single day? You've only just gotten started."
Rowan laughed. Even if it was just entry-level, he had the strength of an Acquired second-level cultivator. If he truly reached the second level, how many dragons' force would he have? Four? Or five?
Now, Rowan was brimming with confidence. He knew that as long as he kept cultivating, one day he'd rise spectacularly and trample all those who had looked down on him, mocked him, and bullied him.
At this point, Rowan finally understood why he couldn't cultivate before.
As the foremost physique in heaven and earth, the Chaotic Heavenly Body wasn't unable to practice ordinary methods. On the contrary, it made any technique twice as effective.
The reason Rowan had been a "waste" was because his meridians were severely blocked! When he'd been kicked off the cliff by Liam and crashed onto the Star Codex, he'd accidentally bound with it.
The Codex had discovered his physique and, while healing his injuries, cleared his meridians.
That's why, in just one day of cultivation, he'd entered the Acquired first level and achieved two dragons' force.
"Codex, thank you." Rowan said earnestly.
The Codex just smiled faintly. "If you're truly grateful, promise me one thing."
"Not just one—even ten or a hundred, as long as I can do it and it doesn't go against my principles." Rowan said sincerely.
He'd been looked down on since childhood, fostering an indifferent personality. But he wasn't heartless—from the core, Rowan was someone who repaid kindness.
The Codex had turned him from a waste into a cultivator—this grace was like that of a second parent. How could Rowan not repay it?
"You've promised, good. But your strength is too low now; knowing wouldn't help. When you're strong enough, I'll tell you naturally." The Codex looked at Rowan and said slowly.
Seeing the Codex wouldn't say, Rowan's eyes turned, and he asked, "If you won't tell me, at least say what level of strength I need? Give me a target to motivate myself."
"When you can stand supreme in the Celestial Realm, you'll have the power to fulfill that task." Sorrow flashed in the Codex's eyes, but Rowan didn't notice.
"The Celestial Realm?"
Rowan rolled his eyes and didn't ask further. If he kept pushing, he'd lose confidence to cultivate. Just hearing "Celestial Realm" told him it wasn't something he could reach easily.
The Celestial Realm? He didn't even know where the cultivation world was. Better to focus on training. Rowan rolled his eyes again and went back to cultivating.
Watching Rowan cultivate earnestly, a hint of ruthlessness appeared on the Codex's face: "Master, rest assured, I've found the young master. I'll train him well, avenge you, and slaughter all your old enemies—leaving none alive!"