Chapter 10 - The History of Cultivation (1)

"Huh. My body really feels great," Guo Yang said as he stretched.

A week had passed since he formed a Yin Yang divine tattoo. He woke up half an hour after the tattoo had formed and spent the last five days adjusting to his new, improved body. It felt so comfortable and powerful that he sometimes cringed. It was as if he were a ghost who had found a better host body to inhabit. When he woke up, he learned about the history of cultivation.

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Legend had it that the Mortal Realm, Immortal Realm, and Divine Realm were once one complete realm. There were many versions of how the realms used to be, but the people of the Pangu continent believed in one particular version. Legend had it that this one realm was once known as the Yin Yang Realm. Seven beings, known as the Elemental Sovereigns, ruled over the Yin Yang Realm.

The Yin Yang Realm was peaceful until two Elemental Sovereigns waged war. The Elemental Sovereign of Lightning wanted the seven to be the kings and gods of all life that began to appear in the Yin Yang Realm. The Elemental Sovereign of Fire argued that the minor life forms should be free to live as they wished, leading to a brutal conflict between the two. Many worlds and species were lost during their clash. In the end, the Sovereign of Lightning was slain, and the Elemental Sovereign of Fire scattered its body all over the Yin Yang Realm. The Elemental Sovereigns of Light, Water, Wind, Earth, and Darkness remained neutral throughout the war, choosing to help neither side.

None of the other Elemental Sovereigns discovered the hidden plot of one of their own until the Elemental Sovereign of Darkness made its move. Using its very omniscient life force, it divided the Yin Yang Realm into the three known realms of today. The weaker worlds were dispersed across an infinite number of galaxies and universes, becoming what is now known as the Mortal Realm. The Immortal Realm contained life forms created by the Elemental Sovereigns themselves. The segregated realms allowed ascension to the higher realm upon reaching a certain level of spiritual cultivation.

The five living Elemental Sovereigns were segregated into the Divine Realm so that no more worlds would be destroyed. It was not a realm of divinity, as some other legends claimed. The legend of the Pangu continent, named after the Sovereign of Darkness, knew the truth: the Divine Realm was actually a prison. Pangu had the power to see into the souls of the other Elemental Sovereigns and discovered that they were dissatisfied with the Yin Yang Realm. They wanted to destroy all worlds and begin anew. That was why they did not interfere with the war. It was Pangu's sacrifice that saved all life, but Pangu regretted imprisoning the Elemental Sovereign of Fire along with the others, as Fire was the only one without thoughts of utter annihilation.

After the death of Darkness, known as Pangu, the true creators of the Yin Yang Realm appeared. They could not be described by legend and were simply known as the Heavens. The Heavens created sixty-three Sovereigns, nine for each of the seven elements. They would oversee the Immortal Realm and prevent any life from freeing the Elemental Sovereigns. The only way to become a Sovereign was to kill one. The Heavens decreed that those of the Immortal Realm could not descend into the Mortal Realm.

The Heavens also decreed that no life form should ever possess the power of the fragments of the Sovereigns. These fragments were golden blood from the bodies of the Sovereigns that fell onto the Mortal Realm. It is said that golden rain signified the death of a Sovereign. Those who possessed these fragments would suffer tribulations from the Heavens. Their fates would be seized by their own hands, their talent for cultivation magnified, allowing them to gain power close to that of a Sovereign. Such power would sow chaos in both lesser realms. The Pangu continent was said to contain fragments of the dead Elemental Sovereign of Darkness. Only there would gold rain fall, as it was the life force of the Elemental Sovereign of Darkness that divided the Yin Yang Realm into three.

The Immortal Realm was said to contain pieces of the body of the Elemental Sovereign of Lightning. People believed that fragments of that dead Elemental Sovereign also lay in the Pangu continent. One thing was clear: those who gained their power would set the imprisoned Elemental Sovereigns free and sow chaos in the Yin Yang Realm. Not even the Heavens would be able to preserve life if the Elemental Sovereign of Lightning were resurrected.

People believed in this legend, as the most powerful practitioners were said to be blessed by gold rain, according to several records and journals of their respective clans and hometowns. When day turns to night under black clouds, a tribulation would prevent the immortal ascension of anyone claiming the power of the Sovereigns' golden blood. Only nineteen have been recorded in history. Their fates in the Immortal Realm remain forever a mystery.

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"No matter how many times I read it, I still can't believe such a thing," Guo Yang muttered as he read the copy of the legend his grandfather had given him.

"Ha. Believe it, Yang'er. The Guo Clan has long believed that we have the blood of one of the two dead Elemental Sovereigns in our veins. It is just buried deep inside us. The earliest record of the clan founder's wife stated that he died upon awakening the power of the Elemental Sovereign of Lightning. The imperial clan also claims that their blood contains that of the Elemental Sovereign of Darkness. Lots of other clans believe their own versions of the legend of the origin of cultivation. Those other legends are all lies. Now, can you guess what the divine tattoos are?" Guo Jing asked.

"Could they be connected to the Sovereigns?" Guo Yang replied as his two elder siblings entered and sat down to listen to the patriarch.

"Correct! Good. I don't know how or why, but you and Guo Mei both have Yin Yang divine tattoos. Do you know what this means? Divine tattoos mean that your bodies have transcended and possess the power to absorb the power of the Sovereigns' golden blood. Each drop of Sovereign blood creates life, even forming mountains, rivers, or forests as it touches the ground. The higher tier your divine tattoo is, the more power you can absorb from the Sovereign's blood. Lesser and ordinary divine tattoos mean you can absorb a small amount of the Sovereign's power, but you are most likely to die from the Heavens' tribulation.

Those with higher divine tattoos can survive, but those with Yin Yang divine tattoos have the potential to rival the Sovereigns themselves. It is they whom the Heavens fear, because if they kill a Sovereign, they have the power to break into the Divine Realm or return to the Mortal Realm. With enough numbers, they can shatter the barrier between realms, reunite the Yin Yang Realm, and potentially aid the Elemental Sovereigns in slaying the very Heavens, truly becoming gods of unlimited power," the patriarch sighed. "You two are in grave danger. Do not let anyone know you have Yin Yang divine tattoos, especially the imperial clan. Lin'er, I strongly believe you will develop a Yin Yang divine tattoo as you have the four basic elemental attributes. It is you I fear for the most, as all people of higher clans know that those with four elemental attributes are guaranteed—guaranteed—to develop Yin Yang divine tattoos."

"You're scaring me, Grandpa," Guo Lin said.

"Don't worry. You forming a Yin Yang divine tattoo might not happen for some time. You might even ascend before it does. For now, there is no reason to be afraid," Guo Jing smiled as he tapped his grandson's shoulder. "Guo Yang, behave in school this time. Your first day was truly unacceptable. As your siblings have magical beasts, why don't you head to the magical beast shop and buy one of your own? Owning a magical beast has many benefits for your cultivation."

"How is cultivation classified, anyway?" Guo Mei asked.

"Ah, an excellent question. Your parents will handle it from here," Guo Jing said as Guo Feng and Ji Ting arrived, thanking him as it meant Guo Yang had to spend time with them.

"How was my wife's assessment of Guo Mei's transformation?" Guo Jing whispered.

"Too terrifying. Based on what Guo Mei said, I can only believe that a fragment of Pangu actually formed self-consciousness and went inside her. Her power over the darkness element is unrivaled, even allowing her to turn into dark forms of other elements. She can even fuse lightning into darkness to create true black lightning," Guo Feng whispered. "Mother said she needs to see you and discuss what happened. This is a grave matter."

"Alright," Guo Jing said and left as the parents smiled and sat across from their children on the mats spread over the room.

"Children, cultivation is classified into seven levels, much like how there are seven elements," Guo Feng began. "The first level is the easiest to pass, provided you have the necessary innate talent to cultivate. Of the three of you, Guo Mei and Guo Yang have entered the second level due to their Yin Yang divine tattoos. The first level is known as the Energy Stimulation stage, while the second level is the Spirit Forming stage. The second stage is when you truly must cultivate with diligence."

"Is it that hard?" Guo Mei asked.

"It is," Ji Ting answered. "Right now, your body cannot contain much spirit energy, as you have not created your Spirit Realm. If you meditate and close your eyes, all you see is darkness,

like any other mortal. The second stage requires you to create a realm to contain your spirit energy. If you have no elemental attributes, your spirit realm will be void of any elements, with only wisps and mists visible within. Surprisingly, both Guo Mei and Guo Yang have already formed their Spirit Realms and only need to convert their spirit energy to form the elements within."