Chapter 28 : The Surprise
Shen Yuan stood in his cave, his eyes blazing with newfound resolve. He now had a clear goal:
to become the strongest in this world. To achieve that, he needed to push his body beyond its limits, gather the necessary resources, and ascend the ladder of cultivation with the unique advantage that set him apart from others. The cornerstone of his plan was to collect beast cores—the source of power that would pave his path to the top.
As he prepared to leave the cave, the Elder's voice resounded in his mind, carrying an authoritative tone.
"Complete your cultivation first. You must reach the Ninth Layer of Body Refinement before chasing after beasts again."
Shen Yuan froze, taken aback. His thoughts churned in confusion for a moment. Wasn't his current strength enough to face Second Star beasts? Only a few posed any real threat to him. Why was the Elder telling him to stop now?
"Why?" he asked, bewildered. "Wasn't the goal to confront stronger beasts to hone my senses and combat skills?"
The Elder let out a light chuckle before responding.
"You're not wrong, but my primary goal in pushing you to face those beasts wasn't just to train you. I wanted to drive you to the edge of despair—to awaken the true origin of your spirit. And look, it worked!"
Shen Yuan's eyes widened in shock. How did the Elder know? How could he be so certain that his spirit's origin had awakened? But then he remembered the Elder's identity—a stronger version of himself from another timeline—and his questions faded. If the Elder said it, it must be true.
"So, what do I do now?" he asked, trying to process the situation.
The Elder replied with a touch of mystery.
"Advance to the Ninth Layer of Body Refinement. Then, hunt beasts to gather their cores until you reach the strength of a Ninth Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator. After that… a surprise awaits you."
Shen Yuan frowned, his curiosity ignited. "What's the surprise?"
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, would it?" the Elder retorted with a mocking tone.
Shen Yuan sighed in resignation. He knew the Elder wouldn't reveal more. So, he decided to follow his instructions.
Settling back into the cave, Shen Yuan began his cultivation. He was already at the Eighth Layer of Body Refinement, so breaking through to the Ninth Layer wasn't too far off.
For two weeks, he dedicated himself to cultivation, interspersed with hunting smaller beasts for food and their cores. The Elder had instructed him never to leave the forest during this time, keeping his senses on constant alert, even while sleeping. He had to remain vigilant, always wary of a sudden attack.
The forest became his home, the cave his sanctuary. Shen Yuan grew accustomed to this lifestyle, noticing steady improvements in his senses and reflexes. He didn't question the Elder's guidance—his trust in him was absolute.
After two weeks of grueling training, Shen Yuan finally broke through to the Ninth Layer of Body Refinement. A surge of newfound power coursed through his veins, his strength now equaling—and slightly surpassing—that of a Seventh Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator.
But he knew it wasn't enough. To reach the Ninth Layer of Foundation Establishment, he needed an immense number of beast cores to enhance his Primordial Body Technique.
Over the next three months, Shen Yuan became a phantom of the forest. He moved like a madman, raiding Second Star beast lairs, darting from one to another without pause. Each core he collected brought him closer to his goal. As his strength grew, lower-grade cores became less effective, forcing him to gather massive quantities to achieve the breakthrough he sought.
Finally, he returned to his cave, panting from exhaustion. "I've gathered enough," he muttered, settling into a meditative stance.
He began consuming the cores one by one, absorbing their energy with intense focus. Even the lower-grade cores he swallowed in batches, as if challenging his body to withstand the influx of energy.
For seven days, he did nothing but absorb the cores' energy. On the seventh day, with the final core he had collected, a familiar wave of agony surged through his body. His skin turned a deep crimson, as if scorched by an invisible flame. His veins bulged, and small wounds opened, blood seeping out. The pain was unbearable, but Shen Yuan endured, clinging to the promise of the power that would follow this torment.
After six agonizing hours that felt like an eternity, the pain finally subsided. His body was drenched in sweat and blood, his chest heaving violently. Yet, despite it all, he broke into a radiant smile. He had done it.
He had reached the strength of a Ninth Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator!!!
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