As soon as Lian selected the Path of Ascension, the system window softly hummed and vibrated, a sensation that resonated deep within his soul. Though the vibration was gentle, it was undeniably profound, as if the system was intimately connected to his very being. This strange connection unsettled him. He hadn't anticipated that the system would link itself so deeply with him.
When the vibration stopped, the information on the screen vanished, replaced by a new set of data:
[Name: Lian Eshar
Path: Ascension
Progress: None
Health: 63%
Spiritual Energy: ???
Abilities:
Boundless Light: Inactive
Eye of Perception: Locked
Heart of Eternal Darkness: Locked]
Lian stared at the display, momentarily taken aback. The system had flawlessly captured his name, even his surname, which very few people knew. Apart from Lady Mariana and Elysia, no one should have had that information, making the system's precision somewhat unsettling.
Next, it confirmed the Path of Ascension, with his progress marked as "None"—which made sense since he had only just chosen the path and hadn't embarked on the journey yet. His eyes lingered on the "Spiritual Energy" section, marked with question marks. This puzzled him. He had never been able to sense or harness spiritual energy, something widely known by those familiar with him. So, why had the system not simply indicated "none"? Why the mystery?
His thoughts drifted back to what the old man, the Heaven Devourer, had mentioned about the White Sun in his dream space. He had suggested that this system would guide Lian in utilizing its power. Could the White Sun serve as a substitute for spiritual energy? Or perhaps the system couldn't properly measure or classify the White Sun's energy, hence the question marks. The more he pondered it, the more confused he became.
Then came the section on abilities. The first listed was Boundless Light, marked as 'inactive'. The name triggered a realization. With some thought, Lian surmised that Boundless Light was likely tied to the White Sun in his dream space. The other abilities listed were Eye of Perception and Heart of Eternal Darkness, but both were locked.
It didn't take long for him to draw some conclusions. Boundless Light was the White Sun, Eye of Perception was undoubtedly connected to the massive floating eye—likely the Heaven Devourer itself—and Heart of Eternal Darkness referred to the shadowy heart seated deep within his dream space. These three things, which had appeared in his dreams, seemed to now manifest as abilities within the system.
Curiosity gnawed at him. Why were the Eye of Perception and the Heart of Eternal Darkness included if the system's purpose was to help him harness the White Sun's power? The old man had only mentioned using the White Sun. He hadn't spoken of the eye or the heart becoming part of this process.
Why were they locked? And more importantly, why were they included as abilities at all?
As Lian sat on the bed, his thoughts buzzing with questions, he called out to the Heaven's Devourer, his voice tinged with frustration. "Old man, what's with this Eye of Perception and Heart of Eternal Darkness? Are you giving me your abilities too?"
He paused, expecting an answer, but none came. With a sigh, he muttered under his breath, "Acting up again, I see. How am I supposed to understand these abilities if you don't explain anything?"
His frustration simmered, but then an idea crossed his mind. If the old man wasn't going to answer, perhaps the system could provide more clarity. He immediately clicked on the first ability, Boundless Light. As soon as he did, the screen changed, revealing a new set of information:
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
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[Boundless Light:
A pure mass of radiant energy in the form of a White Sun, this force will serve as a substitute for spiritual energy for the user. The Boundless Light has unique characteristics and properties, distinct from normal spiritual energy. As the user advances in harnessing the light, these properties will unlock and reveal themselves, granting further power.]
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Lian's expression shifted as he read. His theory was correct: this energy—the Boundless Light—would replace spiritual energy. But the system described it as something far more unique, different from the spiritual energy most people used. Could this be a form of divine energy? After all, divine powers, granted by the gods, were infused with special properties. The way the system described Boundless Light, it seemed stronger, perhaps even purer than normal spiritual energy.
His curiosity was piqued, but he quickly moved on to the next ability—Eye of Perception. Another screen popped up:
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[Eye of Perception:
Once belonging to the enigmatic and exalted Heaven's Devourer, who conquered countless universes and stood supreme among all beings, the Eye of Perception grants unmatched vision and understanding of the world. The user must gain the approval of the Heaven's Devourer to unlock its true power. Upon success, the user will be bestowed with unimaginable insight, boosting their potential and granting abilities beyond mortal comprehension.]
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Lian chuckled at the flowery description. It felt like something the Heaven's Devourer himself would have written, emphasizing his supremacy. The old man clearly took pride in his 'former' status. "So, I need his approval, huh? I bet that won't be easy," Lian muttered, knowing the Heaven's Devourer's personality all too well.
Still, the Eye of Perception intrigued him. What kind of insight and power could it offer once unlocked? The possibilities made him both curious and wary.
Without wasting any more time, he clicked on the final ability: Heart of Eternal Darkness. Another burst of information appeared:
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[Heart of Eternal Darkness:
A heart filled with nefarious and immense energy, once belonging to an entity from the deepest abyss. The Heart of Eternal Darkness grants the user the ability to harness the powers of darkness. To unlock this power, the user must tap into the heart's depths and overcome its trials.]
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Lian's eyes brightened. The Heart of Eternal Darkness offered control over dark energy, something powerful and mysterious. He could already tell that these abilities were unlike anything he'd ever encountered in the world. Even with his extensive knowledge of ancient texts, there had been no mention of such abilities. Each one seemed far beyond the ordinary.
Despite his excitement, a key question lingered in his mind: how was he supposed to harness this Boundless Light? The system had mentioned that progress was needed to unlock its full potential, but it hadn't explained the "how." Lian wondered if this process would be similar to how people normally cultivated spiritual energy.
Determined to find out, he crossed his fingers into a meditation pose—a technique he had practiced countless times in his life, though it had always led to nothing. But this time, something changed. The moment he settled into meditation, he felt something stir within him.
As Lian sat in deep meditation, the sensation of energy within him stirred faintly at first, like the gentle ripple of water on a still pond. It was so subtle, almost imperceptible, but there nonetheless. His previous countless attempts to feel spiritual energy had always ended in nothingness, but this time—this time, it was different. The energy swirling within him was unmistakable, and it felt exactly as he'd read about in countless books and testimonies.
Gradually, the faint ripples of energy grew stronger, like a pool of water slowly forming inside him. At first, it was a small wave, barely noticeable, but as he focused deeper, the pool expanded, filling up with more and more energy. It was as though his body had become the surface of that water, and within it, a tiny vortex had begun to spiral. Slowly but surely, this vortex started to suck in more energy, and the pool of light within him became larger, deeper, and more intense.
With every passing moment, the vortex grew stronger, its pull greater. It wasn't a chaotic force but a controlled spiral, drawing more and more of the Boundless Light into itself. The pool inside Lian's core expanded, its currents growing turbulent, like a small tsunami that began to rise and crash against the boundaries of his body. He could feel the immense power building within this vortex, but with it came an undeniable sense of danger—a growing pressure as the energy intensified, pushing his body to its limit.
As time passed, the vortex surged, now a whirling mass of power threatening to overflow. It was no longer just a gentle spiral, but a roaring tempest within him, pulling in more and more of that radiant energy. His body began to tremble, sweat poured down his skin, and a deadly sensation started to creep in. The energy, once just a faint stirring, had now become a torrential force threatening to tear him apart from the inside.
Just as he felt he could endure no more, his eyes shot open. His heart pounded with excitement, but his body was drenched in sweat, his limbs trembling. The vortex had reached its peak, and the Boundless Light surged within him, filling him to the brim. For the first time in his life, Lian could truly feel spiritual energy—or something even greater—pulsing through him like an unstoppable river.
His body felt stuffed with this new energy, but he knew this was only the beginning. This was how it was for those who first sensed spiritual energy—limited at first, but with practice and mastery, the pool would grow deeper, the vortex more powerful, allowing him to harness even more.
Lian stretched out his palm, eager to test this newfound power. He focused on the vortex within him, visualizing the energy he had gathered, just as he had read in the ancient texts. Slowly, he guided that force through his body and toward his palm. A cool sensation spread, and he watched in awe as his hand began to glow faintly. A soft, pure light crackled at his fingertips, a radiant energy unlike anything he had ever seen.
Excitement bubbled over as he intensified his focus. The light in his palm grew brighter, almost electric in its purity, but it wasn't quite lightning. It was light—a pure, boundless energy that shimmered and flickered like a living thing.
Then, without warning, a sharp jolt shot through his entire body. Pain spiked, like a needle had pierced him from the inside, and before he could react, his body went rigid. An agonized shriek escaped his throat as he was flung back onto the bed, the energy overwhelming him, a force he had yet to fully control.