"Confirm random summon of a Forbidden-Grade cultivation technique?"
The System's voice remained devoid of emotion.
"Yes," Lan An replied, his breath quickening. This was a pivotal moment that would shape his future. To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie.
Clang! "Initiating summon of Forbidden-Grade cultivation technique."
Clang! "Countdown begins: 3600, 3599, … 3588…"
The System's ticking countdown echoed in his mind.
Lan An drew a sharp breath, his dry lips swallowing hard as his heart pounded uncontrollably. He knew that even an Earth-Grade artifact summon took only eight seconds. He had anticipated that a Forbidden-Grade technique would require a longer summon time—perhaps a few hundred seconds—but the System's countdown of 3600 seconds, a full half-hour, was beyond comprehension.
According to Jin'er, the stronger the item, the longer the summon. Just how terrifying was a Forbidden-Grade technique?
Lan An's mind couldn't fathom it. As a mere teenager, the prospect of wielding such a legendary existence was overwhelming. That he didn't leap up and scream in excitement was a testament to his remarkable composure.
"There's nothing surprising about it," Jin'er said softly, her small lips parting, her expression unusually grave. "Summoning a Forbidden-Grade technique is no easy feat, even for the System. It's only at Level 1 right now. As it upgrades in the future, things will be different."
"1800, 1799, … 1790…" The System's voice droned on methodically.
"Let's leave the Spirit Realm Pearl first," Lan An decided with a thought.
He didn't want any unexpected complications. The Spirit Realm Pearl was only a Mid-Tier Earth-Grade artifact, and summoning something as colossal as a Forbidden-Grade technique inside it felt unwise.
His figure reappeared in the small wooden room. Sensing the Spirit Realm Pearl's location on the floor, he tucked it into his long hair, where it remained smaller than a speck of dust.
As the seconds ticked by, Lan An sat cross-legged on the pile of straw, his heart gradually calming. Whatever technique he received, he would cultivate it without hesitation, be it righteous or demonic.
Jin'er, too, sat cross-legged in midair, her demeanor unusually solemn.
The room was cloaked in silence, broken only by the System's relentless countdown.
"10, 9, 8, 7, … 3, 2, 1."
Clang! "Summon complete."
Lan An's face tightened with anticipation. The half-hour wait had felt like decades.
"Congratulations, host, for obtaining the Forbidden-Grade cultivation technique: Immortal Genesis Scripture."
The System's cold, mechanical tone seemed to carry a faint tremor, though Lan An wasn't sure if he imagined it.
"Immortal Genesis Scripture… Immortal… Genesis…" Lan An whispered, the name alone exuding an aura of awe-inspiring power. Suppressing his excitement, he turned to Jin'er for clarification.
"This… This Forbidden-Grade technique…" Jin'er stammered, visibly shaken. "While other Forbidden-Grade techniques have appeared in the universe, I've never heard of the Immortal Genesis Scripture."
Clang! "The Forbidden technique has been sealed. Does the host accept cultivation?" The System prompted again.
Lan An didn't dwell on questions. He nodded decisively.
Clang! "Initiating transmission."
In that instant, Lan An felt his soul detach from his body. The world plunged into darkness, and all his senses were sealed.
After an indeterminate time, Lan An awoke to find himself in a boundless, starless void—a vast expanse of eternal night. His soul floated weightlessly in this infinite space, ethereal and untethered.
At the heart of this dark cosmos, a small, radiant orb pulsed with countless colors, as if it had existed for millennia, perhaps eons. It was the most mesmerizing star in a universe of filth, exuding mystery and nobility.
That was Lan An's impression of the orb.
He yearned to know what lay within its light, but its glow, while not blinding, obscured its contents like a woman of modest beauty cloaked in unshakable pride.
Surrounding the orb were countless interlocking chains, which Lan An studied closely. He realized they formed the ancient character for "Suppress."
Understanding dawned.
This endless dark void was the System's isolated space. The mysterious chains were seals meant to restrain. And within the radiant orb, suppressed by those chains, was his Immortal Genesis Scripture.
Compelled by an inexplicable urge, Lan An reached out with both hands to embrace the orb and its seals. The chains loosened ever so slightly.
Then, a cataclysmic change erupted.
A terrifying force surged from the orb, assaulting Lan An's frail soul with the intent to obliterate the one who dared claim it. His soul quaked violently, ripples of agony distorting his face. He wanted to roar to alleviate the pain, but no sound emerged.
The torment of the soul was a million times worse than physical pain, and with no outlet for release, death seemed to loom over his fragile form. His soul grew fainter, teetering on the brink of dissolution.
Lan An knew that letting go of the orb would end the agony, but it would also mean failure.
Was he willing to give up? Absolutely not.
He recalled his past life, buried in flames alongside his adoptive father, and the countless humiliations of this life, culminating in an unjust death. Lan An understood the value of life, but even more precious was dignity.
What was the point of living without dignity?
In this ruthless world, without absolute strength, who would grant you dignity?
Lan An wanted to live, but more than that, he wanted dignity.
"The opportunity is right before me. Even if my soul scatters, even if the outcome is tragic, I must take this gamble!"
That singular thought anchored his mind.
He clung to the orb with unyielding resolve, enduring the relentless waves of pain as his soul rippled violently, on the verge of collapse.
After an eternity, as his soul grew transparent, nearly merging with the dark void, and his consciousness teetered on the edge of oblivion, his soul's arms stubbornly held fast to the orb.
As if approving of his tenacity, a miracle occurred.
The orb spun rapidly within its seals. Countless ancient runes, shimmering with every color, poured from the orb into Lan An's soul. His weakened soul suddenly solidified, now etched with those radiant runes, perfectly fused with his essence.
His consciousness, lost to pain, began to awaken.
Lan An sensed his soul's state—it was now a million times stronger than when he entered the System's space. For a mortal like him, this was unimaginable.
Before he could rejoice, he focused on the runes etched into his soul. Miraculously, he could comprehend their meaning.
What is Mortal?
What is Immortal?
Seek the Immortal,
All beings equal.
No need for physique,
No regard for talent.
Seek Genesis,
Will alone reigns supreme.
Immortal Genesis Scripture, First Layer: Cauldron Condensation - Soul Forging