For many days, Li Wei remained locked in his room, tirelessly deciphering the mysterious mantra. Using his new method, he drew energy not from within himself, but from the very life around him.
With every passing moment, he could feel a power growing inside him—something he had never experienced before.
Then—
Boom!
A surge of energy exploded from his body. His eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with a golden light.
He clenched his fists, for he felt a terrifying realization—
He had succeeded.
Not slowly, not step-by-step like ordinary cultivators. No—he had skipped the first three stages entirely and leapt straight into the fourth stage of power.
His breath was heavy. His heart pounded.
"Is this the power of the mantra?"
A wave of excitement surged through him. He raised his hand and flicked his fingers toward a tree outside his window—
Shrraak!
The tree split cleanly in two, as if an invisible blade had sliced through it like paper.
Li Wei's eyes widened.
This power… it was more than just cultivation. It was something far greater.
Then, he discovered another shocking truth—the source of his energy was limitless.
Unlike other cultivators, he no longer needed to store spiritual energy. They had to absorb qi, refine it slowly, and carefully manage their reserves. But him? He had an infinite supply.
He didn't need to store energy because he was directly connected to the endless flow of the world's essence.
A smile spread across his face.
"I can cultivate again."
Not just cultivate—surpass all.
Li Wei clenched his fists. His enemies thought he was crippled. His sect had abandoned him.
But they had no idea...
A storm was coming.
Far beyond the mortal world, in a realm untouched by time, a young boy sat before his master. The master's appearance was deceiving—he didn't look older than twenty, yet his eyes bore the weight of millions of years.
The boy's voice was filled with awe. "Master… he has taken a step toward destiny."
The master chuckled softly, a knowing smile on his lips.
"You know… I chose him."
The boy blinked in surprise. "Master, why? Why him?"
The master sighed, his gaze distant. "Forgive me. I don't fully know the reason. But… every act of a master holds meaning."
His voice was calm yet absolute. The boy listened intently.
"There was a time when I was given a task—to find someone. Someone who could truly understand the weight of destiny. Someone who could not only face great dangers but also see them coming… and survive."
The boy remained silent, his heart racing. The master's eyes gleamed with ancient wisdom.
"That boy… Li Wei… he has seen death. He has fought countless battles, endured pain, betrayal. He knows what it means to lose. To endure."
His voice softened.
"And that's why I chose him."
The young disciple lowered his head in thought. He had read countless prophecies, studied thousands of fates. But this was different.
The master's choice was never wrong.
But the question remained—why now? Why him?
The master closed his eyes. In his heart, he already knew the answer.
Because Li Wei was no ordinary cultivator.
He was meant for something far greater.
And soon... the entire universe would understand why.
Li Wei sat deep in thought. He had reached the fourth stage of cultivation. But to enter the fifth stage, he needed to undergo a transformation—his spiritual energy had to become liquid.
But there was a problem.
Normally, cultivators in the mortal realm advanced through one of two paths:
1. Absorb spiritual energy into their dantian and refine it over time.
2. Temper the body, forging it like steel to face the heavens.
The first method was the most commonly used. Easier, less painful, and allowed faster progress.
But the second path…
Body tempering was brutal. The pain was unbearable, the suffering endless. It had long been abandoned and forgotten in the sands of time.
Yet, as he examined an ancient page, a soft glow emitted from the script.
A lost body-tempering technique.
Li Wei's heart raced.
"This method… it can forge my body to reach the foundational stage. But to endure it, I need cultivation at the fourth stage."
He clenched his fists.
"I must do it. If I follow the normal path, I'll always be limited. But if I strengthen my body… I'll become unstoppable."
But then—another challenge arose.
To begin the process, he needed rare materials. Some were common—easily found in markets or forests. But others…
They were priceless treasures, hidden in dangerous places, guarded by deadly beasts, or held by powerful sects.
If he wanted to succeed, he would have to fight for them.
A smile crept onto Li Wei's face.
"Let the hunt begin."
Li Wei took a deep breath, determination blazing in his eyes. He had reached the fourth stage, which meant he could finally begin body tempering.
But he needed four rare materials:
1. Bones of a 6th-stage demonic beast – the foundation to fortify his body.
2. Core of a 6th-stage demonic beast – to refine raw energy and infuse it into his body.
3. A 5th-tier Bone-Crushing Pill – a mythical pill capable of breaking his weak bones and reforging them stronger.
4. Golden Sand – a mysterious and extremely rare element that, when fused with his body, could make him unbreakable.
And finally, he needed two to four short, stout creatures, though he still didn't know their purpose.
"First, I need to hunt a 6th-stage demonic beast."
He clenched his fists. A 6th-stage beast was far beyond his current strength. Even a 5th-stage cultivator would struggle against one.
But he had no choice.
Such creatures lurked in the Silent Death Forest—a place where weak cultivators never returned.
"If I can't survive this… then I'm not worthy of advancing."
Li Wei gripped his sword and stepped out of his room. The hunt had begun.
Li Wei stood before his master, determination blazing in his eyes.
"Master, I'm going among the suffering of this world."
His master, usually calm and unreadable, was taken aback.
But upon closer inspection, he saw it—Li Wei had reached the fourth stage again.
A deep sigh escaped his lips. He didn't ask how or why. He simply nodded, as if fate had revealed this moment to him long ago.
Without a word, the master pulled out a small, ancient-looking ring and placed it in Li Wei's palm.
"This ring," the master said, "you will wear it for life. Everything I have safeguarded is within it. Keep it—it may ease some of your pain."
Li Wei's fingers curled around the ring, feeling the weight of responsibility it carried.
His heart swelled with gratitude.
Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees, bowing deeply in respect.
Boom!
His forehead struck the ground so hard that the floor cracked, despite being forged from the strongest material. Blood trickled from his face, but he didn't flinch.
"Master, I will always honor the name of our sect. I will keep its legacy alive."
The power behind that bow made the master's eyes narrow slightly.
"This strength…"
The force of that single motion had shattered the unbreakable floor.
A faint smile touched the master's lips. He said nothing. Instead, he chuckled quietly and walked away.
For the next few days, Li Wei stayed in the nearby city, gathering information and observing. Soon, he heard an intriguing rumor—
An auction was about to be held.
But not just any auction. Rare and powerful items were to be sold, attracting cultivators from across the land.
That evening, before heading to the auction house, Li Wei donned a mask to hide his identity.
The grand hall was packed with powerful figures—noble families, mighty sects, and renowned cultivators, all seeking treasures to strengthen themselves.
The Mortal Realm was divided into five regions:
Eastern Region
Western Region
Northern Region
Southern Region
Central Region
Right now, Li Wei was in Jadeborn City, located in the Eastern Region. The city was controlled by four major families and four dominant sects.
One of these sects was none other than the Heavenly Sword Sect—a name known for immense power and influence.
The auction began. One by one, rare items were presented—ancient weapons, high-grade pills, spiritual herbs, and even low-level beast cores.
Prices skyrocketed as powerful individuals competed for the best treasures.
But then, something caught Li Wei's attention.
A small bone was placed on the stage. But this was no ordinary bone. It belonged to a 7th-stage beast.
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Even a small piece from such a beast was considered an invaluable treasure in the Mortal Realm.
Many eyes burned with greed.
Li Wei's heartbeat quickened.
This was his chance.
If he could obtain that bone, it would be a major leap in his body tempering journey.
But the real question was—
Could he afford it?
Or… would he have to take it by force?