Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

"I did it!" Yan Zaizen's eyes gleamed with a sharp, imposing light. He clenched his fist, observing the smooth skin, firm muscles, and tough bones within. The vital energies of his body had transformed, exemplifying the characteristics of a Herculean. He had fully become a Herculean and entered the Nascent Herculean Physique.

This was his very first step!

The step to saving his original body!

That being known, he didn't feel too overconfident even after his dual success, forming the Herculean Physique and assimilating the Heavenly Annihilation Light into his Dao Seed. He still required sufficient strength to fight against that strange force within the Deep Mines.

He also knew that his original body's cultivation on the Herculean Path was too low, and he had to exceed that to have a hint of a chance. The Immortal Herculean Method was divided into five levels and each level had different form of dividers. His original body had achieved the Third Level, the Eight Celestial Gates of the Sky. 

This level was divided into eight gates: Gate of Sky Opening, Gate of Sky Skin, Gate of Sky Flesh, Gate of Sky Yin & Yang, Gate of Sky Bone, Gate of Sky Mind, Gate of Sky Source, and Gate of Celestial Ascension.

After comprehending the meaning of 'celestial' he felt curious about the last gate and felt it had a connection with the Celestial Path or even its race. Anyhow, his original body had only entered the Gate of Sky Skin, having no time since to adjust for further ascension.

Currently, he was just in the first level, the Nascent Herculean Physique, and at the Initial Success Stage. He still needed to reach the Minor Success, Major Success, and Perfection Stages to have a true Herculean Body, fully intertwined with the Herculean Laws.

He released his clenched fist, "The very first stage gives physical prowess similar to the peak-Qi Cyclone Realm of the Essence Path." The Essence Path paved the way into the heavens, or Heavenly Path, and acted as a primer to adjust one's body and soul into comprehending to laws and energy. 

It was divided into nine realms, six cultivation realms and three foundational realms. They were the Qi Foundation, Qi Cyclone, Essence Formation, Dantian Refinement(Foundational), Revolving Qi(Foundational), Qi Unification, Origin Core, True Essence, and Crimson Star(Foundational). Those Foundational Realms were fortification stages and important realms that determine various aspects required for cultivations, such as energy reserve levels, Qi Pathways quality, and cultivation speed. They were essential, but unfathomably expensive to achieve.

During his youthful years, he had essentially used the Black Hole and robbery to fund these realms. Fortunately, he had an impeccable foundation leading up to the Heavenly Path. 

A glimmer of nostalgia flashed in his eyes. "Currently, I should be invincible amongst Qi Unification cultivators thanks to my Dao Energy and Herculean Physique. I should continue cultivating." Now that his physique had transformed, his next actions were to push ahead.

Grumble!

He abruptly started. His eyes slowly lowered, looking at his toned stomach that hid a spectacular set of pectoral muscles. To think his stomach would grumble at this time! He had used Dao Energy to sustain himself from normal food, but this was a half measure. Dao Energy wasn't meant to sustain living creatures.

In fact, he was drawing upon the essential basics that every living organism has, those that can cultivate, and then empowered those features. This allowed his breath to absorb the ambient essence within the world to improve his bodily functions and sustain himself. At the moment, he had the ability of self-sustain similar to a Qi Unification Realm cultivator.

A month of no food-intake was pushing his body's upper limits. He knew this and rubbed his nose slightly. Furthermore, his Herculean Physique required further maintenance of resources. If it was his original body, he could absorb the nutrients and vital energies of the heavens to sustain until death. In fact, he had nearly forgotten what it meant to eat.

"I remember when I would steal Uncle Louzen's meat from his storage. Haha, and especially...I remember my mother's chocolate cake!" A smile formed on his lips, revealing warmth and memories. Those memories that he held dear as a youth, and even when he was merely four years old.

"..." After a while, he went silent. Those memories were things of the past. Long ago, he wished to obtain the power to reverse life and death, transcend time and space, so that he could save his parents. Even now, he held that belief in his heart. However, comprehending Heavenly Law only made his understanding of the feat clearer, and he understood the limits and goals he needed to achieve.

"To save them, I'll have to…" he looked up, observing the heavens. He went silent and stewed for a while until his stomach grumbled once more in frustration. 

"Okay! Okay!" With his newfound physique, he was essentially the strongest in Meteorite City. With a shift, he exited his makeshift home and entered the outside world. "Oh?"

He noticed that the streets from afar were empty, and people were gathering in sturdy buildings. The earthquakes earlier had spooked many of the people here, and they felt safe within the confines of formation-stabilized buildings. 

He chuckled. With a step, he leaped onto the nearest building's rooftop with utter ease. The level of physical achievement he could perform was superhuman, and he needed to adjust himself to this standard. He looked about and scrolled through his memories to discover a restaurant. 

Smack!

He palmed his forehead in realization. "Fool!" He nearly forgot about the money. With another leap, he re-entered his home. He had a load of 'offered' cash from the good samaritans of Meteorite City. It's been awhile since he bought something. Most of the items of his original body were seized, ahem, offered by others.

It seemed his nascent soul state took similar characteristics to himself. A wisp of pride entered his heart. 

Well, food! Here I come.

-----

In the Meteorite City's Central Square, a gathering was occurring. This gathering had paused due to the quaking of the earth earlier and the gathering of the clouds. Quite a few thought a heavenly tribulation was descending, but after a few moments, nothing really happened which brought immense relief to all. Therefore, the gathering's commotion had resumed.

The purpose of this gathering was a selection of talents within the area for a sect. There were numerous youths with ages as young as five and as old as eighteen. They were all brought together and organized by age. 

At the center area was a platform with two sets of short stairs leading up to it. A middle-aged man garbed in white, pristine and exuding a sharp aura, stood at the center and seemed to be reading a sheet of paper while holding a binder filled with paper. 

He drew the hopeful hazes of all the young elites, and the curious gazes of the children, while the parents or caretakers of these youths were flashing reverence within their gazes.

"Ahem!" The middle-aged man cleared his throat, causing the commotion of verbal exchange to immediately cease. Not even whispers were said. For those ignorant children that looked as if they were going to say something, a hand would clasp over their mouths.

Witnessing this, the middle-aged man nodded. "As I once said, the Soaring Sword Sect will be accepting talented children no older than five years old. I'll be conducting a test to verify their talents. As for those above this age, they can challenge one of the three trials. As long as they overcome one of these trials, they'll be inducted as disciples of the sect."

As he spoke, he gestured towards three banners at another platform beside his that were twenty-feet high and each with their own unique character. Beneath these banners were one young woman and two young men. They exuded faint sharp auras, but one could see that their strengths were different.

The first young man's banner read "Man", the second young man's banner read "Earth", and the last young woman's banner said "Heaven". Just from the characters these banners displayed and the auras of each figure, one could tell the young man beneath the "Man" banner was the weakest and the young woman was the strongest amongst the three.

These trials were combat trials that ascended in difficulty. The youths in the crowd swallowed, steeled their gaze and resolve, or felt hopelessness. Those experiencing the latter were above the age of five and had auras weaker than the "Man" trial.

"Ahem," the middle-aged man cleared his throat once more. Then, he instructed everyone. "Those young children desiring a test, form a line. As for those who wish to enter the sect beyond that, you may challenge. You're allowed as many challenges as you want. However, your life isn't guaranteed. You may ascend but never walk down, so be sure of your choice." 

After saying those vicious and fearful words, he coughed and beckoned for the young children to come.

In the crowd, there was a young man and a young woman. This young man was somewhat handsome with short black hair, deep dark eyes, and a calm smile on his face. He looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, with a slim body and decent height.

The young woman beside him was exceptionally unordinary. She emanated a youthful aura that indicated she was around the same age as the young man, if not younger. Her beauty seemed to stem from another world, with impeccable jade-like skin, a hint of alluring fragrance, and indifferent phoenix eyes that drew on in. With her glorious busty chest, and curves that could bend Heavenly Will to indecency, she became the center of focus for any area.

There were some individuals in the crowd that looked towards the duo with interesting and differing gazes. Towards the young man, a ridiculing gaze. Towards the young woman, a desirous and even pitiful gaze. It was as if they couldn't understand why she stood near the young man.

A youth that seemed to be the same age as the young man snorted, arrogance in his throat and disdain in his eyes, "Trash!" He scoffed.

The crowd turned to face them and interest rose. What was going to happen and why? This was the thoughts of many.