Ten days flew by. Ankit had gathered essence flow steadily, filling his root core halfway.
Previously he had said that it will take decades to fill core he was just trying to pressure himself.
Because he knows that while gathering essence flow to fill his core will only take around 10 to 20 days of cultivation but if he wants to become stronger and acheive god like feats it will take many years.
He can accelerate this process by going to that hut.
His father Kamal's office leave came up tomorrow, so Ankit planned to ask him right after he got home from work today.
He still played Free Fire, but only two hours a day now, down from ten. The rest went to editing YouTube videos. Friends kept asking why he played less.
Ankit had no motivation—his ranks stayed top, levels far ahead of others.He remained number one without grinding.
His parents noticed and felt relieved. Before, all-day gaming frustrated them; they almost punished him but held back, knowing his stubbornness aimed at family happiness.
Now reduced playtime and long meditation sessions seemed healthy.
They wondered why he meditated for hours lately. It felt abnormal. Ankit always said he was doing something great. His parents thought their son had gone really mad.
After dinner that night, Ankit sat on the sofa with his father. "Dad, tomorrow is your leave, right?"
Kamal sensed his rest day vanishing. Ankit continued, "I know, I know—you have leave, don't say it. Let's go to that mountain hut again."
Kamal wanted to refuse outright. But he remembered Ankit used to stay home playing Free Fire all day. After the hut trip, he cut gaming, started meditating, and now wanted to return.
Kamal asked seriously, "Why go to that abandoned hut again? You've changed after coming from there. Are you really my son, or a ghost taking over his body?"
Kamal stood abruptly, ready to find a temple priest to purify Ankit.
Ankit stopped him quickly. "Father, father, please don't go. At least listen to me."
Kamal paused. Ankit explained fast to avoid more confusion. "Father, I am really your son, not a ghost. I want to go because there I will get stronger."
Kamal yelled, "You really are a ghost! Now you say the hut makes you stronger—that's your place to power up and harm us. I am calling the temple priest."
His loud voice brought Ankit's mother and sister to the room. They saw Kamal holding his phone, trying to call, and Ankit shocked.
Ankit's mother asked, "Why are you shouting? Ankit, tell me."
Ankit recounted everything quickly. His mother said, "Right, right—quickly call the temple priest."
Ankit felt shocked, not understanding their thinking. He looked at his sister Sanya, who hesitated. He thought that his sister will support him so he said, "Sanya, say what you want to say."
Sanya hid behind her mother. "Mom, the ghost is talking to me—save me! He wants me. Mom, dad, go, call the temple priest, but save me."
Ankit had enough. He said loudly over everyone, "Stop, all of you. Mom, dad, listen to me please."
It worked. They stopped and stared at him.
Ankit spoke fast. "Dad, I discovered an energy I named essence flow. It can make me stronger. You can get stronger too. It's like novels where they cultivate using qi or mana. After discovering it at the hut, I cultivate through meditation. That's why I reduced game time—becoming stronger matters more. Any questions?"
Kamal asked, "Really not a ghost?"
"Yes," Ankit said."Okay, I believe you. You are not a ghost—instead you are a mental patient. Instead of priest, I should call a doctor."
Kamal held his phone for another call.
Ankit stopped arguing. He gathered essence flow in his hand with his thoughts and crushed the heavy wood dining table corner.
"Now, do you believe me?"
Silence followed the cracking sound.