Chapter 14: Chapter 13: Valdir Sigrun Bjork
Jan 9th, 3038 – 12:00 PM
Xenos woke up feeling well-rested. After freshening up, he went downstairs and noticed Maximo and Kori engaged in conversation.
Seeing Xenos approaching, both of them immediately stood up and greeted him. "Master."
Xenos nodded. "I see you two have already gotten acquainted."
Maximo and Kori responded in unison. "Yes, Master."
Xenos smiled slightly. "Good. Let's begin with the basics."
With that, he led them both to the basement.
Upon entering, Xenos gestured around. "The basement is spacious, with multiple rooms. You're free to use any of them for your cultivation. I will be using the central chamber."
For now, he brought them to the central room.
After they settled onto mats on the floor, Xenos continued, "Since you come from hidden families, you must have been exposed to cultivation techniques from a young age... but listen carefully—I want you to forget everything you've learned."
Maximo and Kori stared at him, stunned. "What?"
Seeing their shocked expressions, Xenos clarified, "I mean it literally. The cultivation techniques you've practiced, the realms you've aspired to—they're all flawed. There is no true depth in your cultivation."
Their jaws nearly dropped. Since childhood, they had been taught that their family's cultivation techniques were sacred and unparalleled. These techniques were so valuable that wars had been fought over them. Yet, here was Xenos, dismissing them as flawed.
Xenos continued, "I know this is hard to believe, but you'll understand soon enough."
With that, he began explaining the true nature of the universe.
He spoke of how the universe was divided into the True Universe and the Underworld. After a catastrophic war, these two realms were separated, leading to the creation of shadow planes. The plane they currently resided in was known as the Forbidden Plane.
Maximo and Kori were speechless. They had always known their master was different, but the sheer depth of his knowledge shattered their understanding of reality.
Sensing their awe, Xenos paused. "Take a moment to digest all of this."
After a brief silence, he resumed. "Now that you understand the basic structure of the universe, let's talk about the foundations of cultivation."
"Cultivation is divided into three types:
1) Soul Cultivation – Practiced by Underworld beings.
2) Body Cultivation – Primarily used by monsters.
3) Spiritual Cultivation – The main path of the True Universe."
Hearing that there were entirely different types of cultivation completely altered Maximo and Kori's perspective.
Maximo hesitated before asking, "Master, then where does martial cultivation fit in?"
Xenos smirked. "Good question. Martial cultivation falls under Body Cultivation, but the version humans practice is just a fragment of it. You aren't truly cultivating your bodies properly."
Kori furrowed her brows. "Is that why you told us to forget everything we've learned?"
Xenos grinned. "Bingo!"
"You see, humans are naturally attuned to Spiritual Cultivation. Since ancient times, that was the path they followed. However, because there is no spiritual energy in this plane, humans were forced to adopt an alternative approach—martial cultivation."
Kori hesitated. "Then, Master... does that mean we can't use spiritual cultivation?"
Xenos shook his head. "You will, but not right now. First, I want you to focus on body cultivation. I will make arrangements for soul and spiritual cultivation later."
Maximo furrowed his brows. "Master, can someone really cultivate all three paths in one body? If each type of cultivation produces a different Qi, wouldn't it cause a backlash?"
Xenos smirked. "Good thinking. That's exactly why no one has attempted tripartite cultivation. Some have tried dual cultivation—body-soul or spiritual-soul—since those two don't clash.
But I want to create a new path for humanity. Not everyone can cultivate this path. Only those with immense talentcan walk it. So, tell me... do you wish to walk this path with me?"**
Maximo's eyes burned with determination. "Master, you gave me a new life. In this life, I will walk this path alongside you."
Kori clenched her fists. "Master, you pulled me out of darkness and gave me hope. I will walk this path with you as well."
Xenos nodded approvingly. "Good, good. You don't need to worry. I will be the first to walk this path and confirm its safety before guiding you."
"Now, let's talk about cultivation. I have named the first stage the Martial Body Refining Realm because it focuses on building a foundation for the body."
There are nine stages in the Martial Body Refining Realm:
1) Skin Refinement
2) Muscle and Tendon Refinement
3) Bone Refinement
4) Bone Marrow Refinement
5) Organ Refinement
6) Meridian Refinement
7) Dantian Refinement
8) Brain and Nervous System Refinement
9) Full Body Refinement
After explaining the stages, Xenos went into deep detail about each one—what they needed to be cautious of and why it was important to follow the path correctly.
Once he finished, he paused, allowing Maximo and Kori to absorb the information.
"Since you understand, let's begin cultivation. But first, I need to examine your bodies and create a customized breathing technique for you."
Xenos sat behind them, placing a hand on Maximo's back and another on Kori's. He released his spiritual energy, allowing it to flow into their bodies.
Maximo and Kori felt an unfamiliar energy invading their meridians.
Xenos spoke calmly. "Don't resist. Relax."
At his command, both of them took deep breaths and eased their bodies.
Xenos observed their meridians carefully, analyzing the best energy pathway to help them cultivate Mortal Qi efficiently.
After some calculations, Xenos finally spoke. "Now, I will guide you through the cultivation process. Memorize the pathway."
Maximo and Kori nodded firmly.
Xenos then drew Mortal Qi from the atmosphere, channeling it into their bodies and guiding it along the best pathways he had calculated.
As the energy flowed, he instructed them on the correct breathing technique to attract even more Mortal Qi.
After completing one cycle, Xenos slowly released his control, allowing them to guide the Qi on their own.
At first, they struggled.
But after two to three cycles, Maximo and Kori successfully completed the circulation without Xenos' assistance.
A long time passed before Xenos finally withdrew his hands.
He smirked. "They're truly talented," he thought.
"Now that they've grasped the fundamentals of cultivation, I only need to guide them whenever they have doubts."
Maximo and Kori continued cultivating for a while longer, slowly reaching the initial stage of Skin Refinement.
Finally, they opened their eyes.
Xenos smiled. "Congratulations. You have reached the initial stage of Skin Refinement."
Maximo and Kori instinctively felt changes in their bodies. Their skin felt tougher, their senses sharper. They exchanged glances, then smiled after hearing their master's praise.
Xenos continued, "Now that you know the breathing technique and how to guide Mortal Qi, I want you to remember it well. If you ever forget, come to me—don't try to figure it out on your own. Understood?"
Maximo and Kori responded in unison. "Yes, Master!"
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Xenos nodded. "Good. Now, let me explain the cultivation stages further. Each realm is divided into four sub-stages: Initial, Middle, Advanced, and Peak. But once you reach Peak, you will encounter three limits—Mortal, Earth, and Heaven Limit. This applies to every cultivation realm."
Maximo frowned. "Master, what exactly are these limits?"
Xenos' expression turned serious. "Limits are Heaven's way of maintaining balance among all beings in the universe. Only by breaking past these limits can you truly reach the peak of your physical potential."
After answering all their questions about cultivation, Xenos let Maximo and Kori cultivate on their own. He stayed for a while, observing them to ensure they didn't face any difficulties.
Once he confirmed everything was going smoothly, he stood up and left.
Xenos muttered to himself, "I think it's time to meet the next Heavenly Incarnate."
------------------------
Northern Region – Bjork Family
Martial Training Ground
A 14-year-old boy lay on a bench, staring blankly at the people practicing martial arts. His vacant eyes, devoid of emotion, told a silent story—one of pain and loss. It was as if he had experienced so much sorrow that he had chosen to let go of all emotions entirely.
This had been his daily routine for the past month. Every morning, he would come to the training ground, lie there until noon, eat lunch, and then return to his spot—watching, but never participating.
Noticing him, a trainee approached his senior.
"Senior, who is that? He comes here every day and just lies on the bench until everyone leaves."
The senior sighed. "Oh... you must be new."
He lowered his voice before continuing. "That's Valdir Sigrun Bjork, the son of the Bjork family patriarch."
"What?!" the trainee gasped. "If he's from the patriarch's bloodline, why isn't he training?"
The senior's face grew serious. "Listen carefully, but don't repeat this to anyone."
"A month ago, Valdir's dantian was shattered, rendering him crippled. He can no longer practice martial arts. No one knows exactly what happened, but rumors say it was the result of Qi Deviation."
The trainee hesitated. "But... I heard he was extremely talented. Why would this happen to him?"
The senior shook his head. "Hush. Don't ask too many questions. Just focus on training."
That evening, Valdir finally rose from the bench and walked back to his room. As he closed the door behind him, his entire demeanor changed.
The sorrow vanished. His eyes, once empty, now gleamed with sharp determination.
He strode across the room and sat down, deep in thought. But before he could process anything, a calm yet powerful voice echoed in the room.
"I didn't expect to find a regressor."
Valdir's body tensed. He jumped up from his bed, his sharp gaze scanning the room.
"Who... Who are you?"
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward.
Xenos said with softness in his voice. "You've been through a lot, haven't you?"
Valdir's eyes narrowed. "I don't understand what you're talking about."
Xenos smiled. "Hmm... cautious. Even if you deny it, I can see it clearly—the laws of time and space are wrapped around you. There's no mistake... you have memories of the future, don't you?"
Valdir froze. "What... How do you know that?"
Xenos took a step closer. "Since you've seen the future, you should already know about the Underworld Beings, the Space Gate, and the traitors. Especially your ancestor. Is that why you shattered your own dantian?"
Silence filled the room.
Valdir had spent the past month struggling with the memories of his past life. At first, he thought they were just dreams, but the emotions, the pain—everything felt too real. He had assumed no one would ever uncover his secret.
And yet, standing before him was someone who had seen right through him.
Xenos eyes look sharp with confidence when he said. "What do you think? Want me to show you a different future?"
Valdir's hands clenched into fists. "Can you really do that?"
Xenos nodded. "Not only that. You can change the future yourself."
Valdir hesitated. "But... I'm crippled."
Xenos' expression didn't change. "That doesn't matter. I can heal you. And I can show you a path where you will never feel powerless again. The question is—will you walk this path and fight? Or will you simply accept fate?"
Valdir's heart pounded.
For the first time in a month, hope flickered in the darkness. A light reaching out to him.
Without hesitation, he looked Xenos in the eyes and declared—"Yes."
Xenos smiled.