Now I need to figure out which cultivation technique suits me best.
The one that fits me the most is the Heaven Devouring Sutra. It's absurdly powerful, no doubt. But if I start cultivating it, there's a guaranteed chance the entire cultivation world will hunt me down. That technique is banned in whole cultivation world—it screams danger.
Then there's the Blood Immortal Technique. The name alone is enough to tell you how messed up it is. It demands constant sacrifices to fuel its growth. I'm not ready to walk that path. Not yet, at least.
Which leaves me with the Heavenly Immortal Dao Codex. It's not forbidden, and it's strong enough to support long-term growth. I found this scripture once, in a past life, inside the tomb of a Half-Step Immortal Emperor. That place was a death trap—full of experts and traps from the upper realms. I nearly lost my life just retrieving the codex.
"System," Avinash said quietly, "Can you suppress my spiritual fluctuations while I cultivate?"
[Ding! Affirmative, Host.]
A gentle golden light shimmered around him, forming a silent barrier that muffled all energy ripples.
With that handled, he sat cross-legged on the bed. From his system storage, he pulled out hundreds of spirit stones—each one clear and glowing faintly with blue spiritual light. They gave off a soft warmth as he arranged them in a formation around him.
"These should be enough to push me to the peak of the Body Refining Realm," he muttered. "With the Heavenly Immortal Dao Codex, I don't even need a Foundation Pill."
But his expression turned serious a moment later.
"What I lack most is time. I only have one night… let's see how far I can go."
He picked up a spirit stone and began cycling the Heavenly Immortal Dao Codex.
The spiritual energy entered his body slowly at first. Then, like floodgates breaking open, it surged into his meridians. The codex split the flow into two—one cycling clockwise through the main meridians, and another counterclockwise through the minor ones. Both rotated exactly eleven times before merging.
As the cycles stabilized, his body trembled faintly. His consciousness entered a trance.
BOOM—
Inside his dantian, a small vortex formed. It devoured the incoming spirit energy at a terrifying pace. The suction pulled harder with every passing second.
Avinash frowned slightly.
"This pressure… if I mess up, I could rupture a meridian."
But he focused, stabilizing his breath. He let the codex do its work. The circulation method had been refined by countless powerhouses. He just needed to trust the process.
Crack.
A soft sound came from within his body. His dantian had expanded. The next wave of spiritual energy rushed in like a tide—and this time, his body welcomed it. The pain faded. Power surged.
He had broken through.
Straight to the ninth level of the Qi realm.
Even Avinash looked stunned for a moment. Seven hours of focused cultivation, and he had reached the peak of Qi realm. His strength had shot up dramatically—and more importantly, the backlash from removing his previous bloodline had been completely healed.
As the energy settled, a symbol began to form between his collarbone and shoulder—shaped like an infinity sign, glowing faintly with seven shifting colors. It wasn't complete yet, but it pulsed with strange energy.
With a flicker of thought, he activated it briefly. The pressure released from it was intense—like a celestial weight pressing down on reality.
"Haaah…" He exhaled slowly and opened his eyes. "This is a good start. No need to rush the next stage."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of wooden clappers echoed from the street outside. Night patrol.
Avinash looked out the window. The moon was hidden behind clouds, and light rain had begun to fall. The smell of wet leaves and fresh earth drifted in.
The city was quiet.
He didn't bother with the door. He stepped onto a wooden beam and leapt silently through the window, his figure vanishing into the mist.
Mountain Behind Sumeru City
The mountain loomed like a sleeping beast in the dark. Rain fell steadily, and the narrow paths were slippery. Avinash moved quickly but carefully—light on his feet, his presence barely noticeable.
He was masked, just in case. In a place like this, being careful was just smart.
"This mountain… it was a battlefield during ancient times. Now it's where the Awakening Ceremony is held."
He climbed for nearly an hour before reaching a massive stone wall, sealed by spiritual arrays. A plaque above it read:
"Awakening Ceremony House."
He wasn't strong enough to break the seal—not yet. But there was a crack. A secret passage he remembered from his past life.
He started searching.
Thirty minutes later, he found it—hidden under ivy and moss. A narrow crevice, just big enough for a slim person to squeeze through.
Without hesitation, he slipped inside.
Inside the Cavern
The tunnel opened into a large, empty hall. It was silent, cold, and untouched. The air carried a faint charge—remnants of old formations.
"This place hasn't been used for five years. The ceremony happens once every cycle."
He walked to the center and placed his palm on the stone floor.
"System. Activate illusion formation. Set it to show a 'barely passable' talent. I want my results to match Abhimanyu's."
[Ding! Illusion Formation deployed. Activation set for sunrise.]
Faint lines lit up on the ground, forming a subtle array that quickly vanished from sight.
Avinash stood slowly.
"That's step one."
He turned to look at the sealed entrance and narrowed his eyes.
"If everything goes according to plan, by the end of this, I'll be in full control of my own destiny."
He walked back through the tunnel.
Rain continued to fall.
He didn't rush. Instead, he walked calmly, letting the rain soak through his robes.
His eyes glowed faintly—seven colors swirling like galaxies.
He smiled faintly, almost coldly.
"Heaven… are you trying to warn me? Or are you just afraid of what's coming?"
The sky rumbled in response.
Avinash laughed under his breath.
"We'll see who gets the last word."
He vanished—space itself folding around him like paper.
Back in His Room
He reappeared with a soft flicker. His body was wet, his breath heavy—but his eyes gleamed with power.
"Celestial Reincarnation Eyes—First Way: The Space."