The Path through the Heavens: A LitRPG Wuxia Series (The Heavenly Throne Book 6)
Page 42
Kai’s soul completed its transformation and his astral body was finally formed. The Ki Vortex slowly began to form inside his stomach.
The process was complete.
Kai opened his eyes.
Attention!
You have reached the Exorcist Stage.
Level: Initial
Life expectancy increased to 400 years.
...
Attention!
There has been a change in status.
Current status: True Master
...
Attention!
There have been significant changes in the stats.
• Ki reserve capacity has been increased to 1,000 units in correspondence to a 10.0 points foundation at the initial level of the Exorcist Stage.
• [Small Energy Shield] has been replaced with [Medium Energy Shield].
• You have received a passive shield that depends on energy density.
• You have acquired Soul Opening [Energy Expansion]. Ki reserve capacity has been permanently increased by 500 units in correspondence to 50% of the ki reserve of the initial level of the Exorcist stage with a 10.0 point foundation.
• [True Source of Cold Void] has been replaced by [True Astral Body of Cold Void]. Your maximum energy supply has been increased by 15%. The maximum number of summoned Force particles has been increased by 15%.
• [Manifestation of Soul: Ultimate Focus] has been replaced with [Manifestation of Soul: Ultimate Focus (level 2)]. Restrictions removed. The duration of [Manifestation of Soul: Ultimate Focus (level 2)] will from now on depend only on the amount of spirit stamina.
...
Attention!
Completing calculations...
You have reached the maximum level of strength.
Appropriate measures have been taken.
[Yin Yang Ghost Tattoo] development has been increased.
Progress: 75%
Further development: + 2.5% per level; + 5% per stage
2 abilities Unlocked [Yin Yang Ghost Tattoo]:
• [Primal Flash] Concept: Yang. Progress: 100%
• [Touch of Nothingness] Concept: Yin. Progress: 100%
Information about the final abilities of [Yin Yang Ghost Tattoo] has been obtained.
• [Yang Form] Yang Concept. Progress: Locked
• [Yin Form] Yin Concept. Progress: Locked
100% required to unlock these concepts.
...
Attention!
There has been an increase in development.
You have reached the Exorcist Stage.
The power of the Yin and Yang concepts has been increased to low quality, Royal-rank.
...
Attention!
The power of the [True Descendant of the Nine-Headed Heavenly Hydra] has been increased.
• The [Six Body Gates] ability has become passive and permanent. The initial stats will receive an increase of 250% of their value as long as more than 5% of energy remains in the astral body.
• [Rampage of Life] has been replaced with [Rampage of Life (level 2)].
Your stats will increase by 300% for an hour.
This ability can be used once per day and it does not conflict with the [Six Body Gates]. It only affects the initial stats, not the increased ones.
...
Attention!
[Medium Sword Spirit] has evolved into an [Senior Sword Spirit].
...
Attention!
[Flesh and Soul: Double Breakthrough Technique] has been successfully completed! Due to the favorable conditions for breaking through to the Exorcist stage, your physical characteristics have been increased by 50%.
...
You have mastered the [Darkbody Technique].
Rank: Royal
Quality: Low
You have mastered the [Living Storage Technique, Volume 7].
Rank: Gold
Quality: Peak
After a whole list of system messages appeared in front of Kai, he finally opened his significantly changed stats.
Stats
Age: 21
Race: Human
Status: True Master
Stage: Exorcist Stage
Level: Initial
Characteristics
• [Power]: 1323.49
• [Speed]: 1299.35
• [Endurance]: 1336.51
• [Stamina]: 1406.12
• [Mind]: 743.7
• [Energy]: 1725
Available points: 0
Abilities
[Low-rank Techniques: View]
[Earth-rank Techniques: View]
• [Impenetrable Repelling Field Technique] Rank: Gold. Quality: Peak
• [Sword with Fluttering Wings Technique] Rank: Gold. Quality: Peak
• [Living Storage Technique, Volume 7] Rank: Gold. Quality: Peak
[The rest of the Gold-rank techniques: View]
• [Eight Flashes of Yang Technique] Rank: Royal. Quality: Low
• [Flesh and Soul: Double Breakthrough Technique] Rank: Royal. Quality: Low
• [Step Through the Snow] Rank: Royal. Quality: Low
• [Bloody Snowfall Technique] Rank: Royal. Quality: Low
• [Weapon Technique: Fortified Ice of the Void] Rank: Royal. Quality: Low
• [Darkbody Technique] Rank: Royal. Quality: Low
Forces
• Path of Sword (Hearing stage [Perfect understanding]): Reflection Force, Speed Force, Endurance Force, Strength Force, Slashing Force, Piercing Force, Intent Force
• Path of Sword (Seer Stage [Perfect understanding]): Force of Form
• Path of Space (Hearing Stage [Perfect understanding]): Force of Repulsion, Force of Attraction, Force of Creation, Force of Destruction.
• Path of Space (Seer Stage [Perfect understanding]): Force of Form
• Concepts
❖ Cold Void: maximum understanding
❖ Yin: maximum understanding
❖ Yang: maximum understanding
The quality and quantity of Cold Void / Yin / Yang particles you summon will depend only on your level of development.
Current level: Low-quality Royal-rank
Features and equipment
• [True Descendant of the Nine-Headed Heavenly Hydra]
❖ [Six Body Gates]
❖ [No Limits]
❖ [Life Rampage (level 2)]
• [Phantom Yin-Yang Tattoo]. Progress: 75%
❖ [Yang Concentration] Concept: Yang. Progress: 100%
❖ [Yin Concentration] Concept: Yin. Progress: 100%
❖ [Primal Flash] Concept: Yang. Progress: 100%
❖ [Touch of Nothingness] Concept: Yin. Progress: 100%
❖ [Yang Form] Yang Concept. Progress: Locked
❖ [Yin Form] Yin Concept. Progress: Locked
• [Oaths made to you: View]
• [Favorite of the Forces]
You are able to see what is invisible to others.
• [Medium Energy Shield]
Physical characteristics increased by 10% of the total energy reserve.
Permanent protection.
• [Manifestation of Soul: Ultimate Focus (level 2)]
• [Full Aura Disguise]
• [Senior Sword Spirit]
Progress: 0%
• [Senior Space Spirit]
Attribute: destruction
Progress: 0.84%
• [True Astral Body of Cold Void]
Maximum energy supply increased by 15%.
Maximum number of summoned particles increased by 15%.
• [Master’s Will]
• [Field of Superiority]
• [Energy Expansion]
Energy supply permanently increased by 500 units (corresponding to 50% of the energy supply of the initial level of the Exorcist stage with 10.0 point foundation).
Achievements
[Great growth! (7)]
For the simultaneous achievement of 7 levels of Body Endurance, you get 7 free point
s of characteristics that you can distribute as you wish.
Minimum division: 0.01 points
[Quality Leap!]
Based on your previous successes in the study of Forces, as well as the sharp increase in the amount of Soul Energy, you receive the trait [The Favorite of the Forces].
[Overcoming mortal boundaries! (1)]
For a single victory over a Master (an Exorcist), while being mortal (Soul Stage, Source Creation level), you get [Memory Jade] (automatic selection).
[Almost defeating an Elementalist]
As a mortal (Soul Stage, Source Creation level), you were almost able to defeat the Initial-level Elementalist on your own, but in the end, you had help.
Reward: [Scroll of Darkbody Technique] (automatic selection).
[Before deadline]
As a mortal (Soul Stage, Source Creation level), you were able to develop your will to such a level that it was transformed into Master’s Will before you reached the Exorcist Stage.
Reward: [Field of Superiority] (automatic selection).
[Ideal Foundation]
You have managed to improve the quality of your development on your own to ten points.
Reward: [Memory Jade] (automatic selection).
Tasks
[Search for the Ancient Truth]
Find out the reason for the disappearance of the Divine Empire of Belteise.
Reward: ???
Should you fail, you will receive a fine of 1,000 units of each of your characteristics or death.
Remaining time: 9,994 years
Power surged through Kai’s body. It was intoxicating. His current strength couldn’t be compared with the one which he possessed a month ago.
The increase in the amount of ki alone made him several times stronger. With perfect energy control, he was able to use up to fifty percent of ki at a time. And given that it was no longer required of him to spend energy on maintaining the Body Gates in fights, theoretically, he could invest up to eight hundred and seventy-five units of energy in each of his attacks. For comparison, most cultivators in the Abode could use a maximum of a third of their energy per technique. It made him almost three times stronger in this regard than an ordinary initial-level Exorcist.
But that wasn’t all.
The Flesh and Soul Double Breakthrough Technique let Kai increase not only the energy reserve after a breakthrough but his physical stats as well, making his body stronger by fifty percent. Taking into account the Body Gates, which were from now on always open, his stats in his normal state already almost reached the value that he had at the peak of his strength a month ago. But the power of his bloodline had also increased. Rampage of Life reached its second level, allowing Kai to increase his strength, speed, endurance, and stamina up to a total of almost two thousand two hundred units.
Energy Shield had also changed. It now provided a constant field around him, and since it depended on energy density, from now on, Kai didn’t need to worry about most attacks hitting him. With his energy control, he was able to artificially raise its density. Now, everyone who had less than nine hundred ki units had no chance of inflicting damage on him at all unless they possessed certain unique abilities or had merged with Spirits.
Apart from other buffs related to his bloodline, Sword Spirit, the Tattoo, and the concepts of Yin and Yang, Kai’s breakthrough process was better than most in two ways.
First, the Manifestation of the Sword, which came to him for a couple of minutes, not only increased his understanding of the Forces of this element but also gave him knowledge on how to strengthen his sword techniques and fix some of the weak points in his fighting style.
Second, a breakthrough was inherently a test. Not only for Kai’s talent, knowledge, experience, and luck but also his will. Becoming an Exorcist made one’s will, and therefore the Field of Superiority, even stronger. From now on, with this ability, Kai could deprive even mid-level Exorcists of consciousness and significantly reduce the abilities of the end-level ones if their willpower didn’t exceed the average.
On top of all that, Kai mastered and perfected two techniques at once: the Darkbody he got after killing Zirx, and the seventh volume of the Living Storage Technique, the knowledge of which he received from Acilla through their connection.
He’s a beast! the vampiress thought, looking at him. I passed on the knowledge of all seven volumes of the technique to him. He should’ve memorized only the first, and then gradually master all the rest! It’d take the cultivators of the Central World a year and a half, and he did it in a month. How can an Exorcist learn at such a speed? Eidetic memory? No... That’s not enough. There’s something else... Something like perfect energy control! But isn’t that just a myth?
“Seems I didn’t make a mistake by becoming his mentor,” she muttered softly and grinned.
Initially, it was more of an impulsive decision in order to bind Kai to herself and bring him to her mother’s sect in order to strengthen her forces with someone who possessed the Yin-Yang Ghost Tattoo. But now, thanks to their connection as well as the fact that during the breakthrough, Kai’s soul was completely open to her, she realized that Kai wasn’t your typical cultivator and a favorite of the fates. Yes, luck was on his side. Yes, he possessed the unique ability to subdue any neutral energy (it took Acilla a considerable effort to overcome the shock), had a powerful bloodline, and the ancient tattoo. But did all of this just fall from the sky? She wondered how many trials, capable of breaking or destroying similar cultivators, had he endured. She knew that without perseverance, willpower, and ingenuity, even with his unique abilities, Kai would’ve hardly been able to reach his current level with talent alone. Most likely, he would’ve died long ago.
She realized that the person in front of her wasn’t some arrogant brat who grew up in a sect, but someone who had fought tooth and nail for their life, sacrificing all they had to get where they were now. She was intrigued by what he’d become. She was already imagining the look on her mother’s face when she brought him into her sect, someone who clearly had a chance to become what others could only dream of.
Acilla almost made it to the platform where Kai was sitting. Her sensitive nose caught the indescribable aroma of Kai’s blood. Having reached the Exorcist Stage, this smell became many times stronger. It wasn’t like what the other descendants of the Nine-Headed Heavenly Hydra had. The power of the Yang concept in Kai’s body made his blood different from theirs.
In the blink of an eye, Acilla appeared in front of Kai and sank her fangs into his neck. This time he wasn’t constrained by anything, but he didn’t interfere with her feeding. She couldn’t harm him in any way due to their Pact.
After taking three sips, she let go of Kai, whose regeneration kicked in immediately and restored the missing blood. The sweet taste still lingered on her tongue and lips. Its intoxicating smell was making her drunk.
“Oh, I haven’t made a mistake when I picked you,” she repeated, this time aloud, and smiled wide. “Come, there’s still much to be done.”
Chapter 35
ESCAPE FROM THE DUNGEON
The water in the kettle boiled in just a few seconds. Once the weak stream of steam began to leave the sprout, Kai stopped pouring energy into the artifact and poured the boiling water into two cups, which already contained the leaves of one of the most common teas in this world. Turning the water a soft yellow-green color, the tea leaves saturated the drink with energy and rare particles of the Forces of Life. Just one sip would be enough to rejuvenate the drinker and shield them from any health problems for several months.
Exactly one hundred and thirty-two breaths later, Kai placed his palm over both cups, and then, subtly manipulating the Force of Gravity, removed the tea leaves from the drink and destroyed them with Yin. Taking both cups, he went to the table, at which Acilla was already sitting.
“I think it’s time you finally explain where we are and what’s happening,” Kai said, putting the cups on the table.
Acilla
sipped her drink and smiled lightly.
“You’ll need to be more specific.”
“This dimension is a dungeon if I understand correctly. Who is imprisoned here? You? Those people? Or all of you?”
“You’re right, this is a dungeon.” Acilla nodded. “This is the prison for the remaining representatives of the Sinam Heavenly Clan. I was just passing by…”
“The Sinam Heavenly Clan? Are they the ones with those tattoos with five eyes?”
“Yes. During the Age of Shattering, which preceded the current Age of Silence, their clan was destroyed. But their enemies couldn’t kill the strongest among them, so the remaining members of the Sinam Clan were sealed in this dimension. One of their enemies, the demon you’ve undoubtedly already met, remained forever outside, becoming the jailer and guardian of this place.”
“They didn’t look like strong men who could fight against such a monster.”
“They don’t look like it now.” Acilla grinned. “They weren’t always like that. The dimension was deliberately filled with Yin, gradually weakening the Sinam people. By now, all their gods have died, and the current generation of the clan won’t even be able to reach the Divine Stage. Even their Holy Lords aren’t as strong as some outside this dungeon.”
“Who are they? This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this tattoo. What does it mean?”
Acilla took another sip of tea, thought for a moment, and then finally answered.
“The tattoo means that its owner belongs to one of the five clans that serve the strongest god of the Central World and probably the entire Ecumene — La’Gert — the leader of the Heavenly Throne Sect. The Nine-Headed Heavenly Hydra Clan also serves him.”
I remember Rune’Tan telling me about a war between three parties, one of which was a certain Or’drok Okka Yashnir, and another that consisted of five servants with special marks, Kai recalled. So this La’Gert is one of the three? If I recall correctly the engraving on Or’drok’s statue in the Azure Cube, La’Gert was the one who won the war... I mean, he’s still alive and even Acilla has heard of him.