Ren Tai sat quietly within the crimson-lit sanctum of his soul, focused entirely on the cauldron now fused with his spirit. He had survived the abyss, consumed an immortal soul, remembered his past life and awakened ancient legacies. Now, it was time to understand what those legacies meant.
He focused inward, reviewing the two foundational legacies now etched into his soul:
Cauldron-HeartBeast Physique Technique — a body/qi cultivation method that refined the physique and enhanced beast-like instinct, and purified qi received from heaven and earth and his defeated foes. His muscles were denser, his meridians tougher, his bones stronger, his organs reinforced to withstand greater strain.
Crimson Spirit Furnace — a soul-cultivation method that strengthened the soul through willpower and flame. His soul became a furnace that devoured weakness and absorbed the essence of defeated foes. The more he consumed, the stronger his soul grew.
Neither technique had a conventional rank. They didn't fall under the common classifications of Basic, Human, Profound, Earth, or Divine. Instead, they followed their own unique progression paths.
From the cauldron's imprint in his soul, knowledge flowed like a quiet stream:
(Universal Body/Qi Cultivation System)
Qi Initiate
Qi Condensation Realm
Foundation Establishment
Core Formation
Nascent Soul
Spirit Ascension
Divine Origin
Crimson Spirit Furnace Stages:
Mind Opening
Will Flame
Soul Nourishment
Spirit Manifestation
Mind Palace Realm
Soul Armor Realm
Divine Thought Realm
He noticed that when he reached the Divine Origin Realm equivalent of both techniques there seemed to be more but he could not pass a mental barrier, he suspected that he had to reach a particular level in both techniques to gain access.
He had only just entered Stage One in both paths, but the changes were noticeable. His body was sturdier than ever. His mind, clearer.
He turned his focus toward battle techniques.
He sifted through memories from his past life and Thalasar's. Countless techniques flickered — Flame-Manifester Palm, Lightning-Thrusting Spear, Crimson Void Incineration — each powerful, but far beyond his current level.
He searched deeper, until something caught his attention.
A saber technique from his previous life. A powerful saber technique he had taken from one of his past enemies and kept it because it was quite powerful. Now, it was useful again.
"A Thousand Cuts, One Breath" — a Profound Rank saber technique focused on speed.
It had four stages:
Stage One: Ten slashes in one breath.
Stage Two: One hundred slashes in one breath.
Stage Three: One thousand slashes in one breath.
Stage Four: Compress all one thousand into a single, overwhelming attack.
It emphasized control, stamina, precision and most importantly speed. It also demanded a resilient body, something his current physique could handle.
He summoned the lightning saber from the cauldron. The weapon responded immediately, appearing in his hand with a faint hum. The saber trembled in his grasp — not from instability, but from something closer to fear. As his Qi flowed through it, it recoiled slightly, as if recognizing what lay behind his soul. It wasn't just power the saber sensed, but the Crimson Cauldron — ancient, devouring, dominant. Then, as the Qi fully settled and the Cauldron's pressure receded slightly, the saber quieted. The static along its blade dimmed, the resistance vanished. It had yielded, not to force, but to authority. The saber was heavy in the hand, but perfectly balanced. Static danced along its edge, whispering of past storms.
He took a breath. And slowly moved the saber ten times. The technique demanded both physical endurance and rhythmic precision. Without flow between each strike, the chain would collapse so you had to link one slash onto the next.
Each strike was steady, controlled. He continued until the motion felt familiar.
Ten more.
Until he found his rhythm, and suddenly slashed ten times in one breath.
By the tenth slash, his arm tingled with heat, the muscles tightening. But the pain felt purposeful — a promise of strength.
With the Cauldron-HeartBeast physique supporting him, each movement became easier. He completed Stage One — ten slashes in a single breath.
He didn't celebrate. He simply noted it and moved forward. Although he had already completed Stage 1 and could continue onto the next he wanted to test it in combat first.
He sheathed the saber into the cauldron's space and looked around. The Screaming Abyss remained unchanged.
But he hadn't.
His next goal was survival and cultivation.
He turned toward the path once used by Thalasar.
It was time to leave the abyss and begin again.