Cultivation Through Artifacts

Hearing the notification inside his head, Khal smiled and opened the new Status that manifested among the rest in the shape of white letters around his bracelet.

{'Essence Path' Status}

• Opened Essence Paths in Right Arm: 0/4

• Opened Essence Paths in Left Arm: 0/4

• Opened Essence Paths in Right Leg: 0/4

• Opened Essence Paths in Left Arm: 0/4

• Opened Essence Paths in Stomach: 0/2

• Opened Essence Paths in Chest: 0/2

• Opened Essence Path in Spine: 0/1

• Opened Essence Paths in Head: 0/3

[Notify! Each Path can be unlocked throughout opening their sealed Gates, starting from the Heart.]

Swish!

"Huh?" Khal watched with surprise that the Essence inside his body moved and accumulated inside his heart, while several lines, akin to thin channels began to form around his heart, 5 channels connecting to it right from the start.

"So these are the Essence Paths?" exclaimed Khal as he inspected his interior, watching each path forming a complex system inside his body with one another.

"It says I should open the gates to open the path, but how? I should just simply control my Essence against them?" pondered Khal and tried it out.

Sitting crossed leg and closing his eyes, Khal concentrated on his Essence and controlled it toward the Essence Path that led to his left arm.

BAM!

"!?"

However, the moment his Essence touched the gate that will open the path, Khal felt as if someone threw an entire mountain onto his left shoulder, almost making him believe that his arm was gone for good!

"What the fuck is this? How the hell should I open this Path like this?" asked Khal loudly, hardly believing that it will be possible for him to open that gate.

Not only did his arm turn numb because of the invisible weight that fell on it, but the sharp pain because of it still lingered inside his muscles that made him realize that it was not an illusion at all!

The pain was real and he really could have lost his left arm there if he didn't stop just in time!

While Khal mulled over what he should do, suddenly the voice inside his head appeared, but this time with a higher tone of voice that was also a new aspect that Khal never heard before.

[Notify! Each Essence Path holds special traits and meanings. You must understand each of those traits and meaning to hope opening the gates.] 

"Special traits and meaning? Do I get special powers if I understand them too?"

[No.]

'...' Khal slowly began to realize that the voice really started to obtain a kind of attitude which was surprising.

"Maybe it is in connection with the Essence my bracelet sucks away? Can it be it uses that as the source of energy to enhance itself?" guessed Khal inwardly and the more he thought about it the more likely it felt.

While pondering about this matter deeply and trying to guess what will happen if he decides to give his bracelet more and more Beast Essence, Khal asked, "Then why is it important for me to understand the meanings, obviously except for the fact I can open the paths? Is there no other reasons?"

[Currently, they do not hold any reasons but once you reach the Third Realm they will.]

"Third Realm? Why?" Khal's curiosity deepened a level more, but unfortunately, he didn't get an answer this time which made him a bit mad.

"Wait, I have the book. That will help me." thought Khal and took the thick book out from his ring that he obtained from the old lady.

"Let's see... It should hold all information about all the realms so it should help me find the answer too," mumbled Khal and turned the pages over one after another.

And soon he really did find the page that had the title 'Third Realm, Realm of Misery'.

"Hmm... Quite an intriguing name," exclaimed Khal and began to read the first sentence below the title.

However, soon his face turned serious then complicated as it turned out that the Third Realm was way more complicated than he has first belived.

The Third Realm, the Realm of Misery had another name that only a few knew, and it was called the Realm of All Paths.

The book stated in the first few paragraphs that once a being reached the Third Realm with all of their sealed Paths and with their Immortal Core formed, which was a foreign definition for him, Cultivators must choose a Path where they continued their journey.

The book also stated that one individual must choose one path, but if they wished, they could choose numerous others at once, but if they do, they can easily find themselves in great misery.

Each Path had its uniqueness, together with their strength and weakness. Just only when a being reached full perfection in their path can they attempt a so-called Ascension trial on the Ascension Path, attempting to enter the Fourth Realm, the Realm of Ascension!

"So, if I understand it right, with opening the gates, I will be able to reach the Second Realm, but at the same time I also get an insight about the Paths that can I choose once I reach the Third Realm?"

[Yes.]

"And is there only 24? Or is there more?"

[There are an infinite amount of Paths one can take, but the 24 sealed paths are the main ones.]

"I see..." nodded Khal but soon realized he just conversed with a voice inside his head.

"Wait, how come you can suddenly talk so well?" asked Khal, feeling a bit strange he talked into the nothingness.

Even Rubie tilted her head, finding it intriguing that Khal talked in himself.

However, no matter how long Khal has waited no answer came. It seemed the voice either didn't want to answer or couldn't as it didn't reach that point yet.

In either way, Khal understood that the more abilities he unlocked or strengthened, alas he gave his Essence to the bracelet, the more the voice seemed to become humanoid.

After reading a bit more about the Third Realm, Khal decided to consume Essence Particles from the cave as his power got reduced thanks to him turning 100 units into Body Essence.

The next day arrived in a blink and Khal decided to go and visit Bazz as he still was his disciple, thus until he does not graduate from Moon Academy he has to attend his lectures.

As for Alde and his plan for his revenge, Khal already planned it out perfectly, the only thing he needed was the perfect timing where no one saw him.

"You brat truly came back only after 2 days. Do you really have no respect for this Master to such extent?" Bazz stood before Khal with crossed arms, his complexion seemingly angry.

"Haha, I am deeply sorry Master, I just had other things to attend to before I even had the chance to come here. But now I could come here, I hope you can continue to teach me how to forge!" smiled Khal wryly, even moving his arms around just to show his enthusiasm.

'...' Bazz stared at Khal in silence and after a moment of pondering he smiled, revealing his row of white teeth, and began to laugh wildly.

"Haha, that's what I like to hear brat! Let's see if you have forgotten what I have thought you."

BAM!

Putting huge steel that seemed like a tree trunk before Khal, Bazz grinned and said, "Now forge this Oak Iron."

'...' Khal glanced at familiar steel that was bigger than his body before starting up at Bazz who just grinned at him in silence.

"Okay..." sighed Khal and picked up the hammer he was so used to from the side.

However, instead of starting as he learned from Bazz, Khal smiled and thought, "I will give him a little bit of a surprise."

Swish!

Immediately as he thought about this, a warm and familiar force appeared inside his body even before he placed his palm atop the Oak Iron.

[Creation Mode Activated!]