The sun rose lazily over the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of gold and crimson. The village was already awake — the rhythmic clang of hammers echoed from the blacksmith's hut, and the smell of cooked grains filled the air.
Aarav stretched lightly and stepped outside. His senses were sharper now: he could hear conversations from afar, smell herbs in the wind, and even feel faint mana fluctuations from the earth below.
"Body Tempering stage… it really changes everything," he muttered with a smile.
But his gaze soon shifted to the distant mountains. He could still hear the words of the System from last night:
[Hint: Search for a weapon. The next form needs the harmony of steel and soul.]
He had no weapon of his own, yet something inside whispered to him that the weapon wasn't something he'd find, it was something that would find him.
Elder Lin noticed his distant gaze and approached with his usual gentle smile. "Planning to leave the village, traveler?"
Aarav nodded. "Yes. I think it's time I find a weapon… or perhaps, a companion made of steel."
The old man chuckled softly. "You have the spirit of a cultivator already. If it's a weapon you seek, follow the river north. There's an old mountain called Echoing Peak. Many say strange things rest there — relics of warriors who once fought the heavens."
Aarav gave a deep bow. "Thank you, Elder Lin. I owe you much."
"Then repay me by living long enough to tell the tale," said Elder Lin with a wink.
The journey to the top of Echoing Peak took half a day. The path twisted through deep forests and rocky trails. The air grew colder as he reached higher up, with faint mist surrounding the mountain like a sleeping dragon.
With every step he took, his Infinite Comprehension System was observing the surroundings, mapping the flow of energy, the ley lines, the density of spiritual essence.
[Environmental Analysis: Spirit Energy Density – 320% of baseline.]
[Warning: Minor spatial distortion detected.]
"Spatial distortion?" Aarav muttered. "So there really is something hidden here."
Halfway up, he came to a large clearing. The ground was littered with broken weaponry: swords, spears, and pieces of armor-all ancient and covered in dust.
But even in decay, they carried a faint, oppressive aura. Aarav could almost feel their history — the blood they'd drunk, the battles they'd witnessed.
"This must be a battlefield from long ago."
His steps slowed. Each fragment seemed to whisper something-fragments of will left behind by their owners.
Suddenly, a soft humming echoed in the air. A fragment of a sword lying among the rocks vibrated softly, glowing with a faint blue light.
[Resonance detected.]
[Weapon fragment contains a trace of Divine Sword energy.]
Aarav's heartbeat quickened. "Divine Sword. could it be related to the technique my father passed down?"
He knelt beside the fragment. The metal was cold to the touch, yet strangely alive. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, the Heavenly Divine Demon Technique inside him stirred — reacting as if it recognized an old friend.
A blinding flash of light enveloped him in a swirling mass of blue and black energy.
[System synchronization started.]
[Integrating weapon fragment…]
Comprehension: 12% → 18%.
[You have initiated resonance with the Sword of the Heavens.]
Aarav found his mind flooded with visions — of two silhouettes clashing in the sky, one radiating divine light, the other surrounded by demonic shadows. The sheer power of their clash tore the heavens apart.
"The Heavenly Demon… and the Divine Sword…"
Their voices still echoed in his mind:
"Balance is not peace, mortal. It is the understanding of the edge between creation and destruction.
When the light faded, the fragment had melted into a liquid glow that seeped into his right hand, making a faint tattoo out of it-a simple mark of a blade made of light and shadow.
You have awakened the Second Form of the Heavenly Divine Demon Technique.
[Form II – Blade of Dual Realms unlocked.]
[Passive Ability: Weapon Resonance.]
[Effect: Any weapon you wield can become an extension of your will.]
Aarav took a deep breath as his entire body shook slightly, not out of fear, but in awe. The connection could now be felt, and it was as if the whole world of weapons had opened its eyes unto him.
To test it, he picked up a broken spear lying nearby. The moment his hand touched it, the rusty weapon vibrated and straightened, the cracks vanishing. Its surface gleamed faintly under the sunlight.
[Weapon Resonance: Active.]
Aarav swung it gently through the air — and a crescent wave of energy shot out, slicing through a nearby boulder effortlessly.
He blinked in surprise. "That… was just a casual swing."
[System Notice: Energy Output – 0.4% of your full potential.]
Aarav chuckled softly. "So that's only point four percent, huh? Then what happens when I use one hundred?"
A smile spread across his face, calm yet filled with excitement.
After a few hours of practice, he sat on a rock near the peak, watching the sunset paint the horizon in orange and violet.
For the first time, he saw why warriors of this world strived for strength-not just for survival, but for comprehension. Every swing of the blade, every breath of mana disclosed another layer of the universe.
"To fight is to understand," he had whispered. "To understand is to ascend."
The System responded with a faint glow.
Comprehension +2%. Current Progress: 20%.
[New Path Unlocked: Weapon Soul Cultivation.]
A new screen appeared in front of his eyes, eight glowing circles highlighting the different stages of mastery in Weapon Resonance. The first one was already lit.
"Eight stages…" Aarav muttered. "Just like the Heavenly Divine Demon Technique."
Almost immediately after that realization, it was as if the sky above rumbled faintly. A streak of light zipped across the clouds — not a star, but alive. It stopped mid-air and fell slowly before turning into a floating orb of light.
An ancient yet serene voice echoed inside his mind.
"Child of Comprehension, you touched the path which only two beings ever reached. The Heavenly Demon and the Divine Sword still watch this world.
Aarav's body froze; his mind tried to respond, but the voice kept murmuring softly.
"Do not hurry. Understanding is timeless. When you understand the flow of everything, the universe itself will bow to you."
The light faded, and a faint shimmer remained that entered his chest.
[Hidden Blessing Acquired: Will of the Dual Founders.]
[Effect: 1000-fold increase in comprehension while meditating on divine or demonic techniques.]
Slowly, Aarav exhaled. His System was changing, its path seemingly chalked out by the hands of fate.
He closed his eyes to meditate, and the energy suddenly swirled around him, forming two dragons of light and darkness circling his body before merging into one flowing aura.
His heartbeat synchronized with the mountain. The winds danced. The ground pulsed with rhythm. Cultivation Progress: Body Tempering – Peak Stage. [Path to Spirit Awakening Unlocked.]
When he finally opened his eyes, the world felt different - clearer, more alive. He could feel the flow of energy miles away. "Now I understand," he whispered softly. "The path of cultivation isn't about fighting… it's about harmony. As the last rays of the sun faded, Aarav looked towards the horizon, where the stars started to twinkle. He could feel this was just the beginning. Somewhere far away, in the deepest corners of the world, powerful beings stirred — feeling the awakening of a new force. The reincarnated soul with infinite comprehension had taken his first real step. And the world would never be the same again.