Chapter 2: Chapter 1 : Destruction of home universe
After a long journey—from the True Universe to its Shadow Planes, through the Immortal Plane, the Spiritual Plane, and finally—Xenos arrived at the Forbidden Plane.
The Forbidden Plane was a place devoid of spiritual energy, making cultivation impossible for any being residing there.
As Xenos stepped onto the land, he observed his surroundings.
"Looks like this really is a Forbidden Plane. There's no trace of spiritual energy."
From within the tower, Sumanth's voice echoed through a transmission.
"What did you expect? The so-called top ten clans conspired and drained almost all the origin energy from this plane, reducing everyone here to mere mortals."
Xenos nodded.
"They did the same to the Immortal and Spiritual Planes... but in those cases, they only took some of the origin energy."
"Exactly," Sumanth confirmed. "They need True Spiritual Energy."
Xenos' eyes darkened as he recalled the ancient history.
"Yeah... I remember. The True Universe and the Underworld exist in parallel—the True Universe in reality, and beneath it, in a different dimension, the Underworld. Their synergy is what gave birth to True Spiritual Energy."
"Yes," Sumanth agreed. "But after the war, someone from our universe conspired with outsiders. That betrayal caused the True Universe and the Underworld to separate, leading to the creation of the Shadow Planes to maintain balance. But in doing so, it also cut off access to True Spiritual Energy, making cultivation more difficult."
Xenos exhaled, his gaze firm.
"Hmm... I know. That's why they conspired to create a plane that could generate True Spiritual Energy."
Sumanth's voice echoed in response.
"If you think of the True Universe as a positive dimension and the Underworld as a negative dimension, then the True Universe has four Shadow Planes—three in the positive dimension and one in the negative. Similarly, the Underworld has four Shadow Planes—three in the negative dimension and one in the positive."
Xenos nodded.
"I remember... The Shadow Dimension of the True Universe exists within the Underworld. I went there once to perfect my cultivation, which had flaws when using only the spiritual energy of the True Universe. What was that Shadow Plane called again?"
"The Heavenly Plane," Sumanth answered.
Xenos smirked.
"Yeah... The Heavenly Plane. They channeled the origin energy they drained from the Immortal Plane, Spiritual Plane, and Forbidden Plane into it, strengthening its barrier so it could absorb negative-dimensional energy and produce True Energy."
Sumanth hummed in thought.
"Hmm... Forget all that for now. Let's head to your home. You have the coordinates, right?"
Xenos nodded.
"Yeah. Let's go."
As he spoke, Xenos took out a travel ship and left.
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"Finally! I have arrived!" Xenos exclaimed, his eyes locked onto the coordinates confirming his destination.
As he stepped off the ship, his gaze fell upon a small, fractured bubble of a universe floating before him. It was riddled with cracks, like shattered glass barely holding together.
Xenos frowned. Something was wrong.
"This doesn't look good," Sumanth's voice echoed with concern.
"I know," Xenos muttered, his expression darkening. Without hesitation, he rushed into the broken universe, heading straight for the Milky Way galaxy—the location of his home planet.
As he traveled, his eyes swept over the desolate expanse. Devastation was everywhere. But it wasn't the result of battle—there were no signs of war. Instead, it looked as if the very source energy of the universe had been drained dry.
Finally, he reached his home planet's coordinates.
There was nothing.
Earth was gone. Only floating debris remained.
Xenos stared in silence, his hands clenched into fists. A storm of emotions surged within him—grief, disbelief, fury. His rage swelled, and without realizing it, his body began to radiate an uncontrollable aura.
The energy pulsed outward like a tidal wave. Nearby planets cracked and crumbled into dust. Stars flickered and exploded. The very fabric of the galaxy trembled under his fury.
"XENOS!"
Sumanth's sharp voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
Xenos blinked, snapping back to reality. His aura instantly retracted, but the damage was done—entire star systems had collapsed in his moment of wrath.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice low.
"You almost lost yourself to your inner demons," Sumanth warned.
Xenos exhaled, forcing himself to stay calm.
"Hmm..."
Sumanth continued, "First, we need to find out what happened. Since this plane only follows mortal laws, it should be easy to look into the past and investigate."
Xenos nodded. Without another word, he reached out and tapped the void.
As Xenos tapped the void, the laws of space and time responded to his will. They converged, swirling into a shimmering screen, revealing the past.
Xenos watched as the universe crumbled, its source energy drained away. He fast-reversed the events, going back to the very beginning.
[Timeline of the Past]
[Year 3030: Space Gates began appearing across the planet and throughout the galaxies. These mysterious portals released vast amounts of spiritual energy, triggering a transformation on Earth. The planet's continents merged into a single massive landmass, and the entire universe underwent a profound change.]
[Year 3040: After remaining dormant for a decade, the Space Gates suddenly activated, unleashing waves of monstrous creatures. Casualties skyrocketed worldwide. In response, hidden families—ancient cultivators who had long walked the path of martial arts and spiritual energy—finally emerged to combat the threat.]
[Year 3041: The Global Federation took action against the Space Gates. With the help of twelve powerful hidden families, they established new laws and introduced the occupation of "Martial Artists" to stabilize civilization.]
[Year 3081: Following a devastating war against a demonic disciple, the Federation managed to reclaim Earth. But just as victory seemed within reach, a hidden demonic apostle opened a Tier 0 Space Gate. The resulting catastrophe led to the planet's collapse.]
Sumanth's voice echoed in the air. "It seems that when you were warped to the True Universe, it created a weakness in space. That weakness was eventually discovered by the forces of the Negative Dimension. They used it as an entry point, opening the Space Gates to invade and steal the universe's source energy."
Xenos nodded grimly. "Yes... Since this was originally a mortal plane, they couldn't invade directly. So, they first used the Space Gates to introduce spiritual energy, forcing the planet—and even the universe itself—to evolve."
Sumanth's expression darkened. "That explains why they waited ten years. They allowed all lifeforms to adapt and absorb the spiritual energy, ensuring the transformation was complete. It was like fattening livestock before a slaughter."
Xenos clenched his fists. "Exactly. And since this is just a low-level mortal universe, the only ones who would be interested in it are the Shadow Planes of the Underworld. Their cultivators might not be as strong as those from the True Universe, but even spiritual realm warriors would be more than enough to conquer a mortal plane."
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Sumanth sighed. "Yeah... No matter how hard humanity fought, it was nearly impossible for them to win against such an invasion."
Xenos narrowed his eyes. "But did you notice the power they used?"
Sumanth paused, considering. "Yes... It was different from the cultivation we practice. Their power followed a completely unique path."
Xenos smirked. "Martial arts, huh? I've read about it in novels before, but I never expected it to truly exist. Unlike our cultivation, which relies on absorbing spiritual energy, martial arts focus on internal energy. It has potential, but it will always be limited. Martial artists can never break free from the cycle of reincarnation and space-time if they only follow that path."
Sumanth nodded. "True. But for a mortal plane like this, it's the only way they could survive." He hesitated before adding, "Still, if you think about it, the martial path is quite interesting. Unlike cultivation, which absorbs energy from external sources, martial arts refine energy from within."
Xenos's eyes gleamed with understanding. "I see what you're getting at. Cultivation works from the outside in, while martial arts develop from the inside out. It's like the balance of Yin and Yang. If we could merge these two paths, the results could be extraordinary."
Sumanth folded his arms. "Easier said than done. Combining two different cultivation systems is already difficult, let alone two opposing ones."
Xenos smirked. "Then we'll add a third path."
Sumanth raised an eyebrow. "The Underworld's path?"
Xenos nodded. "The Soul Path. If we integrate it with both the Martial and Spiritual Paths, we could create something entirely new—Tripartite Cultivation."
Sumanth exhaled sharply. "That would be even harder than merging two paths..."
Xenos smiled faintly. "Difficult, yes. But impossible? No."
Sumanth's voice was grave. "Do you even understand what you're trying to do? The path you're attempting to create requires absolute enlightenment. There must be no flaws, complete synergy. Even if you try to guide someone, without deep knowledge of the body, spiritual energy, the soul, and the workings of the laws, no mortal could even establish the first stage, let alone follow the path to completion."
"They will give up before reaching the end."
Xenos smirked. "Who said I plan on guiding others?"
Sumanth's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? You know that to truly develop this path, you'll have to start over—cultivate from the very beginning. Only by personally experiencing it can you refine the cultivation method properly. But now the universe is already destroyed. Why go this far?"
Xenos's expression hardened. "Because I will save everyone."
Sumanth froze. "What?!"
Xenos exhaled slowly. "Tear of Space-Time."
Sumanth's face darkened. "Are you insane?! Using that in a mortal plane is dangerous enough, but do you even realize the risks? The River of Space-Time may not reject you as violently here, but you'll be creating countless variables!"
Xenos remained calm. "No. This forbidden plane has been isolated for so long that it barely interacts with other planes. No one comes here, and no major incidents have been recorded. If I travel back and change the timeline, the fabric of space-time will seal the entire forbidden plane within a void bubble."
He looked at the sky, determination burning in his eyes. "Right now, the year is 9040. If I go back in time, then until 9040 arrives again, no one will be able to leave or interfere. It will be like a prison... but it's a risk worth taking."
Sumanth gritted his teeth. "Everything you're saying makes sense... but the consequences. Whoever alters the timeline must face the backlash. You will suffer a catastrophe."
Xenos nodded. "I know. But I'm willing to bear it. I'll leave the tower here in the spiritual realm. For you, it will feel like only a brief moment has passed. If I survive, I'll return for it."
Sumanth clenched his fists. "Do you really think I'd let you go on this journey alone?"
Xenos's expression turned stern. "No! The tower doesn't just have you—it holds an entire planet of trillions of people! Are you insane?"
Sumanth's gaze was unwavering. "You don't understand the true nature of the tower. It was created by the great Nuwa at the request of Ancestor Eve. Its presence is beyond the perception of Heaven and Earth itself. Even if the tower travels back in time, it will remain hidden. It won't disrupt the flow of fate."
Xenos narrowed his eyes. "Are you serious?"
Sumanth smirked. "You can ask the elders if you don't believe me."
Xenos exhaled sharply. "I will."
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Inside the Tower
Conference Hall, Crescent Moon Building
Xenos, Sumanth, and five elders sat around a large table.
The five elders, supreme figures of the tower, held the highest authority after Sumanth, the emperor of the human race. They were ancient beings who had reached the absolute limit of Extreme Paragon. However, ever since the separation of the True Universe and the Underworld, the path to the next stage of cultivation had been severed, trapping them at their current level for eternity.
The five elders sat across from Xenos, their gazes sharp yet filled with familiarity.
Elder Leo was the first to speak, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Kid, I hear you're up to something crazy again."
Xenos opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Elder Athena, a composed yet kind woman, interrupted with a soft smile. "We're not blaming you, child. We understand. When you first arrived at the tower, you were nothing but a soulless boy—empty, devoid of emotions. It took you years to learn how to feel alive again, to smile. Now that your people have been taken from you, we fear you'll fall back into that darkness. But at the same time... we also understand why you've made this decision."
Elder Vijay shook his head, sighing. "It seems it's not just you. My grandson is just as reckless, making life-altering decisions without even consulting us."
Sumanth tensed. "Grandfather!"
Elder Vijay shot him a glare. "What did I say that was wrong? You idiot, just because you're the king doesn't mean you can carry every burden alone! You stupid brat—I swear, I'll beat the hell out of you!"
Elder Saladin chuckled. "Calm down, Vijay. He may be reckless, but his actions come from loyalty and friendship."
Elder Vijay grumbled but crossed his arms. "I know that. But still, he should've spoken to us first before making such a decision."
Elder Eva, the eldest among them, sighed. "Enough. Let's focus on the real issue at hand. Elder Leo, what's your opinion?"
Elder Leo stroked his beard thoughtfully. "The Tear of Space-Time is a karmic treasure of the Imperial Household. It does possess the ability to transport a person into the past."
He glanced at Xenos. "Everything you said about the void bubble and the tower is correct, so I have no concerns there. My real concern... is this new cultivation path you plan to create. Vijay, what do you think?"
Elder Vijay scoffed. "It's idiotic to cripple one's cultivation just to start over. However, if he's determined, he can use the Nirvana Cultivation Technique. That way, his cultivation won't be completely lost. Instead, it will condense into a Lotus Phantom within him, acting as a dormant source of power. He can either use that energy to aid his cultivation or refine it to establish an even stronger foundation."
Elder Athena looked at Xenos, her gaze serious. "But this won't be an easy journey, Xenos. Starting over from scratch... it will be long and arduous. Are you truly prepared for that?"
Xenos's eyes were resolute. "Yes, Elder. I am prepared."
Elder Saladin nodded. "Then there is no need to debate further. You have made your decision, and your resolve is firm. We will support you. But remember this—tampering with time comes with grave consequences. We can guide you, but once you set foot on this path, we will not be able to intervene or save you."
Xenos bowed his head. "I understand, Elder."