Shen Liqian left his Sea of Consciousness naturally.
The moment he opened his eyes, he gritted his teeth and clutched his chest, bestial instincts thumping in both hearts.
Raw instincts from the Cosmic Asura Hydra bloodline he had absorbed connected with the slumbering instincts of Shen Liqian's adolescent bloodline.
His eyes flashed gold and his vision turned gray.
He could see hidden, intricate patterns all over the abode, including the array he had shattered during his cultivation session.
Awe edged into dread as the world resolved into cold, precise lines.
He couldn't focus on them.
Thirst for blood, knowledge, and pleasure rippled in Shen Liqian's heart.
Feeling those hedonistic urges, Shen Liqian drooled like a beast and clutched at the floor, his fingers curled and his nails dug into his palms.
His chest heaved as though he were fighting for air.
You wanted to devour so much, didn't you?
But you died, and your bloodline became part of the Clan Cultivation System.
Your instincts match my desires, but I am not as selfish as you are.
My clan is my strength.
First Hydra, sever those instincts and swallow them up!
Within him, Shen Liqian's First Hydra reacted to his words and slithered toward his Spiritual Heart, cutting through foreign remnants several times, then gobbling each piece one by one.
Once the First Hydra properly sealed the remnants of the old Cosmic Asura Hydra, Shen Liqian exhaled with relief.
I won't let a dead beast steer my living heart.
He sat down and looked ahead.
Zhiyin's crimson feline eyes caught his attention.
"Golden Star Eyes of the Cosmic Asura Hydra… that's what you have awakened by cultivating your First Spiritual Heart and linking it with your vessel's heart.
"Instincts of the old beast will now slowly become one with yours as you have sealed them within your First Hydra.
"I advise you not to seal anything else until you completely assimilate with the old beast.
"It will help draw out the best of your bloodline."
Slow, or I'll break more than an array.
Shen Liqian nodded.
"It means I will have to sever those instincts from mine from time to time and carefully assimilate them piece by piece until I am one with it.
"I understand."
Zhiyin nodded with pride.
Her Liqian caught on fast.
Shen Liqian looked ahead, his eyes still shining gold.
"I have broken the unknown array."
Zhiyin nodded.
"Yes."
"It helped me greatly, and I reached the First Spiritual Heart in less than a day.
"I can see why someone would want to seal this Qi Vein or use it somewhere else.
"Since I have broken the array, I will focus on not deepening the cracks and on absorbing the leaking Qi to reach the First Realm of Qi Attunement with Cosmic Devourer Cultivation."
Shen Liqian closed his eyes and began cultivating again.
Zhiyin quickly took her place on his lap and went for a nap.
———
[Shen Liqian]
[Age: 18]
[Cultivation: First Realm of Qi Attunement]
[Body Cultivation: Meridian Awakening Realm(Heart Meridian Awakened)
[Intents: Sword Intent(Trace Realm), Sealing Intent(Trace Realm).]
[Spirit Cultivation: First Realm of Twelve Spiritual Hearts Realm.]
[Cultivation Method: Cosmic Devourer Cultivation(Transcendent), Cosmic Asura Hydra's Twelve-headed and Twelve-Handed Body Cultivation(Transcendent), Cosmic Asura Hydra's Twelve Spiritual Hearts(Transcendent).]
[Spiritual Roots: 1]
Power felt simple, but consequences didn't.
Once Shen Liqian forced his First Hydra to pierce through his Dantian, he reached the First Realm of Qi Attunement.
He was back where he used to be, but he was much stronger than before.
No one in the clan could handle him, and he could single-handedly take on the entire clan.
His Dantian had expanded, meaning Shen Liqian could now store more Qi and absorb it faster.
His Dantian also connected with his First Hydra, meaning Shen Liqian had touched a trace of Sealing Intent, which was the theme of his Spirit Seal Sword.
He instinctively knew how to seal things through his swordsmanship.
Through Body Cultivation and Spirit Cultivation, Shen Liqian opened his Heart Meridian and obtained Golden Star Eyes.
His reaction speed had surged, and he could see Qi in ways no cultivator could.
Cosmic Devourer Cultivation also ensured he could handle his bloodline and use the gifts it had bestowed upon him.
It meant he could now summon his Spiritual Root outside himself in the form of the First Hydra and expand his combat style.
Zhiyin's voice reached him.
"Your progress is immaculate and rapid.
"You have every right to stand tall over your peers and the entire clan with your chin held high.
"But I can tell that you are worried about the Qi leakage.
"You haven't completely broken the array, so you still have enough time to develop your clan before black clouds gather above the Shen Clan.
"If it were me, I'd use this leaked Qi to form all twelve Spiritual Roots."
She could tell that, above all, Shen Liqian was worried about his people's lives.
He didn't want anything worse to befall them.
He was that kind of person and Clan Chief.
Zhiyin could see her younger self in Shen Liqian, which made her eager to lend him any support he needed.
Shen Liqian noticed it from her softer tone.
He smiled.
"Thank you.
"I will do that.
"With twelve Spiritual Roots, I will be able to wield much more Qi, and in turn, that should make me less worried about this scheme of the past.
"I will be able to face anything that comes our way.
"Still, I have my duties as Clan Chief, so I will cultivate whenever I find time.
"I think it's already morning, isn't it?"
Zhiyin nodded.
"Yes, it's early morning."
Would Shen Liqian realize how much he had advanced in a short time and grow arrogant?
No.
He chuckled and said, "It means the second group of the youngest generation will soon come for my cultivation session.
"I can't wait to see what kind of dreams they harbor.
"Quick shower, and I am ready to welcome them!"
Zhiyin happily mewled and ran over to him.
Shen Liqian picked her up and tucked her under his arm.
Outside his cultivation abode, Shen Liqian met his mother.
Once their eyes met, Shen Lexi grew pale and horrified.
"Q-Qian'er?!" she asked weakly, scared.
Her fear hit harder than any backlash of Qi.