Hearing the system's voice, I considered it, but accepting help felt like giving up, and I couldn't do that. What if, in the future, any of my disciples faced the same challenge? Would they also have to give up their progress to find stability? No, that would be wrong. This isn't just about progress; it's about my pride as a teacher. Sorry, system, I won't use your help. That would be like using a calculator for problems my students can't solve, and as a teacher, I oppose that.
With this in mind, I focused on my current situation. I concentrated fully and tried to visualize a solution. This would be my second time using my OP visualization since I created that mysterious fire. First, I needed to write down my problem, as doing so would solve half of it. My issue is that I'm advancing too quickly. After reaching the Nascent Soul realm, I still have enough energy to move to the Void Traveling realm, but I don't want to advance yet. Doing so would weaken my foundation, and I want the best. I also don't want to waste this energy, as my pride is on the line.
As I pondered my problem, I felt a sharp pain throughout my body, as if it were on slow burn. I redirected this energy into my three cultivation realms since I'm still at the early stages in all of them. Soon, the energy flowed evenly through my three power systems, helping them advance.
"DING HOST REACHED NASCENT SOUL REALM PEAK. CRITICAL SITUATION: HOST MUST ADVANCE OR RELEASE THIS ENERGY. OTHERWISE, HOST MAY SUFFER FROM A CULTIVATION DEVIATION."
"DING HOST REACHED 6TH STAGE MAGIC CIRCLE PEAK. CRITICAL SITUATION: HOST MUST ADVANCE OR RELEASE THIS ENERGY. OTHERWISE, HOST MAY SUFFER FROM A CULTIVATION DEVIATION."
"DING HOST REACHED 6TH STAGE BODY REFINING PEAK. CRITICAL SITUATION: HOST MUST ADVANCE OR RELEASE THIS ENERGY. OTHERWISE, HOST MAY SUFFER FROM A CULTIVATION DEVIATION."
"DING HOST: IF YOU DON'T MAKE ONE OF THE ABOVE CHOICES AND REACH A CRITICAL SITUATION WHERE YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER, THE SYSTEM WILL OVERRIDE YOUR CHOICES AND RELEASE THE ENERGY IMMEDIATELY. YOU HAVE HALF AN HOUR TO MAKE YOUR CHOICE."
I saw the system's messages flashing before my eyes. It was urging me to hurry, as I didn't have much time before the energy in my body would spiral out of control. But instead of panicking, I calmed my thoughts. At least after advancing my three realms to their peak, the pain in my body eased. Before it returned or the system interrupted me, I needed to find a solution.
I took a deep breath in and out. The transition between inhaling and exhaling struck me. I wasn't sure why, but I focused all my thoughts on this breathing process. Although I understood the scientific explanation behind it, I sensed that the solution to my problem lay therein. When I inhaled, I took in air that supported life. When I exhaled, I released impurities, which I could associate with death. Inhaling connected me to life, while exhaling linked me to death. These two extremes worked together to keep my body functioning.
Suddenly, I had an epiphany. These two were polar opposites, and what I needed was balance. My situation mirrored this; I could either use the excess energy in my body, akin to inhaling, or release it, like exhaling. I had to find a balance between the two and pause between inhaling and exhaling. I tried this, but it proved harder than cultivation. Each time I attempted to create balance, something went wrong.
To tackle this, I used spiritual energy to support my breathing, making the process easier, but there was still a gap I needed to bridge. No matter how hard I tried, this balance between inhaling and exhaling refused to establish. So, I decided to call upon my OP fire for support.
The mysterious fire that burned down the forest entered my body as I willed it. Just like before, it didn't harm me. I visualized the fire entering my respiratory system, aiming for perfect balance. Yet, I still hadn't achieved equilibrium between inhaling and exhaling. I realized that it wasn't just about respiration; my breath symbolized life and death.
Understanding this, I spread the fire evenly throughout my body, searching for the source of the imbalance. Despite several attempts, I couldn't locate it, and time was running out. The pain I had managed to ease earlier returned, more intense this time. Assessing my situation, I decided on a forceful method. I visualized my fire pressing to balance my breath and tried to pause in between. A sense that I was doing something wrong gripped me, but I ignored it. My fire responded to my will and, for the first time, struggled to create that balance.
Despite its difficulty, I poured all my energy into the fire, even the excess energy I had. Soon, I felt something strange, like I was making a critical mistake, akin to releasing something terrifying from a seal. Yet, I focused on my breath. My fire grew stronger with the influx of energy and began balancing my inhaling and exhaling. Not wanting to miss this chance, I used all my power to stop at that point, right at the intersection of inhalation and exhalation, more specifically between life and death. At that moment, my gut feeling peaked, and then something indescribable happened.