[Author's Note]
{This is an auxiliary chapter focused on the power system.
⚠ It may contain light spoilers for readers who are not caught up.
However, I promise not to reveal anything that hasn't already appeared in the story. Think of this as a structured breakdown for clarity.}
In this world, all existence originates from Chaos Energy — the primal force that forms heaven, earth, and all living beings.
Cultivation is the act of absorbing Chaos Energy to create and strengthen one's inner world, known as the Chaos World.
To cultivate is to go against Heaven, because Heaven creates one world — cultivators attempt to create another within themselves.
*The Three Cores of Existence
Within every human were three foundations.
The Mind Core.
The Soul Core.
The Chaos Core.
Together, they determined how far one could walk the path of defiance.
*The Mind Sea
Located within the brain, the Mind Core manifested in the Chaos World as the sky — stars, moon, sun, and endless firmament.
This was called the Mind Sea.
It could not be cultivated through pills or absorption.
Only through:
Enlightenment
Rune comprehension
Life-and-death battle
Sheer mental strain
The stronger the Mind Sea, the clearer one's will.The deeper it became, the brighter the stars in the inner sky.
A weak mind shattered under pressure.A strong mind bent reality.
*The Soul Light
At the center of the Chaos World floated the Soul Core — a transparent being shaped like oneself.
This was the difference between the living and the dead.
Most souls could only endure.
But in legends, there were rare existences whose soul could absorb energy, condense it, and form a core of its own.
This was called the Soul Sea.
Its method of growth was unknown.Its secrets lost.
And perhaps it was better that way.
*The Chaos Core
At the foundation lay the Chaos Core — the world itself.
This was what most called cultivation.
Through absorbing Chaos Energy, refining the body, and stabilizing their inner world, cultivators progressed through realms.
The stronger the realm, the larger and more stable the Chaos World.
In the early stages, the world was fragile — a cracked land under a dim sky.
At higher stages, it became a true domain capable of being projected into reality.
*The Phases of Defiance
Cultivation was divided into Phases.
Each Phase marked a qualitative change — not just strength, but existence.
Mortal Phase
Master Phase