A Failure's hopeful Journey

You Xi Wang sat inside the cavern. At this moment, his body was levitating over the lava river flowing inside the cave. He had isolated himself from the world by casting level nine isolation barrier arrays. He had also cast a rune array to dispel the spirit energy inside the barrier. 

However to make it so that the energy is not completely dispelled he had cast a level one spirit gathering array at the four directions around himself. This way the energy will be constantly cycling in and out of the barrier at a very low rate. This rate was what he needed to perceive the particle's movements. 

The system said, [Master, this setup is truly a genius idea to study the movements in the spirit particles.]

You Xi Wang said, "This is something we need to do together, the level of soul energy and concentration needed to perceive the particles is not something we have. The tribulations Grandma Griffin has faced throughout her life are what made her soul grow o such a terrifying level. She had already seen through the fact that I am not the native soul of this world."

The system was surprised and asked, [How do you know that?]

You Xi Wang sighed as he replied, "Big sis thought about it when I climbed over the tree stairs. I read her mind. Grandma confronted her, however, is dealt with it. She told me not to worry."

The system sighed and said, [What if she also sensed me? Though our spirit fluctuations are identical. What if she saw through the overlapping technique?]

You Xi Wang shook his head, "This is not possible, our spirit fluctuation is in perfect sync. The only way she could have read it was when I was resting and you were reading the rune compendium. However, I did not give off full control and leaked some of my soul energy on my own as well. That masked your presence." 

The system asked, [You were only responsible for turning the pages while I comprehended the knowledge. The energy controlled by me was focused only on the content of the page and you controlled the book's surface, you masked it?] 

The system was surprised because it did not expect You Xi Wang to use such a simple method to deceive the spirit reader. It was like a painting within the painting. being merged with each other yet still different. He nodded at the clever method the master used. 

You Xi Wang said, "Let us begin, I only have twenty-nine days left to win this challenge. Also, I need to manipulate the spirit energy inside to heal the cracks in the bones. That old man paul was sure a hard stone." 

During the battle earlier he had been suffering and had numerous cracks in his skeletal structure. Even when he was the one attacking, he received damage. It was all because the physical fitness of the old man was something that could not be suppressed. The level was so high that if Old Man Paul was to die, his body will not degenerate for centuries. 

...

The system began to focus on the spirit energy around it and slowly to deeper the level of focus to perceive the energy on a microscopic level. The young man meanwhile healed all the wounds in his skeletal structure, his arms were almost useless if not for his holy spirit body. 

While he was cultivating in seclusion, You Zhichi was also learning the tricks from the spirit reader herself. The rest of the people also did not hold back and made a full spurt to complete the exams. You Zhen Long were the nice guys who made the exam to be a constructive process. The rest were not so kind. 

The sword demon of the Ushijima clan had set the task to walk through the cavern filled with the sword intent he had left and this was a process of self-harm. A few of the people had already given up by the end of day one. Yuki on the other hand could only stand at the entrance trying to comprehend the intent and counter it. 

She did not wish to comprehend it to learn this intent. She had been a stubborn lady and had her own way of the sword. This resolve had made her come so far she will not give up now or ever. You Xi Wang was the goal she had set for herself. She did not wish to catch up to him but to surpass him. He rose from nothing to what he became today on his own. She wanted to do the same. This was her way of showing him her love. 

She would have cursed You Xi Wang if she knew about the system inside his body. Anyways, the trials continued and the people all gained in some form. The Ushijima disciples who had given up were inspired by Yuki and decided to sincerely face the intent left by the ancestor to grow stronger. 

Gena and the rest were also moving forward slowly but surely. The ancestors were helping them hone the skills they all lacked. This was a period where they all will shed their cocoon and grow into a butterfly. 

...

It was the fifteenth day when You Xi Wang was able to perceive the particles of the spirit energy. However, he did not grow complacent and kept on focusing on the task at hand and the particles in his perception began to grow subsequently. 

His motive was still far from being achieved, he wanted to grow as much as possible in the period of the leftover days. Slowly the spirit energy in his perception became from a sparse particle to a cluster. he was aware that he had spent seven more days to reach this level. 

The system said, [I need to slow down, this is our current output. Pushing it further will be harming the soul. What do you wish to do?" 

You Xi Wang did not reply as he was thinking about this topic as well. His brain had already sensed the limit of his current self. The young man said, "Overhaul the soul." 

The system rejected his suggestion immediately, "Do you even hear to what you are saying. Overhauling the soul means me merging with your soul, do you know what it will do to you? The tribulation you will face will grow thrice stronger" 

You Xi Wang said, "Just do what you are told to. We are going to break through the second step of the nirvana rebirth and the third step in one go, I do not care about anything. I will be able to do it." 

The second step of the Nirvana Rebirth realm needed him to recast his bones and the third part was to recast his organs. He intended to merge the system with his soul at the moment when the second step is successfully broken through. Then he would continue the third step while facing the tribulation. Harnessing the energy from the heavenly lightning hitting his body. 

This sounded like a suicide plan, but his body needed a lot of energy that could not be replenished by just a handful of level nine spirit arrays and elixirs. His plan was to use the strongest and the purest form of spirit energy, the heavenly lightning to cast his organs on the spot. This process can live him in a vegetable state but he was willing to take the risk. 

The cultivation of the Nirvana rebirth realm needed one to take long breaks before they could charge at the next step because the body needed to be in sync with the other parts. To You Xi Wang this sync was achieved when he fought against the old ancestor of the paul family. 

The boy told his command to the system and said, "Maya, go inform big sister. I need to be guarded and you are to stay outside the cavern as well." 

Maya appeared to be sitting in meditation at the edge of the lava river. She did not like the heat here. She knew that there was no stopping her companion now so she said, "Big brother, be careful and do not begin till I come back, okay?" 

You Xi Wang agreed to her through the spirit link. He was not yet completely ready to start his rush. After Maya left, the first thing he did was to cast a layer upon layer of the level nine spirit gathering arrays to gather as much spirit energy as he can. All the elixirs he had taken from the home were taken out and floating around him. 

These resources were given to him by the family and his master and grandmaster. Soon You Zhichi arrived with Griffin Tallus. The old lady gazed at him and did not say anything. She turned her head back at the entrance of the cave and said, "YOU ZHEN LONG. OLD RELIC GET YOUR ASS HERE." 

Her voice echoed in the cave. The old man flickered and arrived in front of them. He replied, "What are you yelling for? This brat will not listen to me. I have been talking to him for the past few minutes. He had already decided to do it. Then let him do it. You Xi Wang, if you did not make it out in one piece, I will have you removed from the family tree as well. Along with your sister and parents.  You family does not need maniacs who cannot keep their word."

You Zhichi was surprised but she heard a cold voice, "Old man, I will have you growl in the same realm when I am done here for this sentence of yours. You just wait." 

The girl sighed and said, "Get done soon. I will check on the others." 

You Xi Wang nodded gently and sat down in the void to start his spirnt.