The journey back from the Stormviel Clan's stronghold was silent but charged with the tension of what had just occurred. Kalen and Sorin moved swiftly through the icy mountain range, leaving behind the frozen stronghold and the Stormviel warriors, but something deeper lingered in Kalen’s mind.
The power he had taken from the Stormviel Clan, especially the knowledge of the **Frostfire Ascendant** technique, had unlocked a new door for him—a path that was larger than the voidflame, the Frozen Flame, and even his vengeance. It was a path leading toward **immortality**.
As they descended from the mountains and set up camp in a small grove near a river, Kalen sat down by the fire, deep in thought. Sorin noticed the change in his demeanor.
**“You’ve been quiet,”** Sorin said, tossing another log onto the fire. **“What’s going on in that head of yours? I know that look. Something’s bothering you.”**
Kalen remained silent for a moment, staring into the flames. Finally, he spoke. **“The power I’ve been chasing all this time… it’s not enough. The Frozen Flame, the voidflame, even the techniques I’ve mastered—they’re powerful, but there’s something else. Something deeper.”**
Sorin raised an eyebrow. **“What do you mean?”**
Kalen’s gaze shifted to the sky, where the stars shimmered like distant flames in the night. **“The Frostfire Ascendant technique is powerful, yes. But it’s still rooted in the material world. I’ve been thinking… what if there’s a way to transcend all of this? To go beyond the limitations of mortal cultivation?”**
Sorin leaned back, his expression curious. **“You’re talking about immortality, aren’t you?”**
Kalen nodded. **“Yes. The path to immortality. I’ve read stories of cultivators who broke free from the cycle of life and death, ascending to a higher plane of existence. The Stormviel Clan’s texts mentioned it, but they called it forbidden knowledge, sealed away for fear of what it could bring.”**
Sorin’s face darkened slightly. **“I’ve heard those stories too, Kalen. They say those who walk the immortal path lose their humanity. They become something else. Are you sure that’s what you want?”**
Kalen stood, pacing near the fire, his mind racing. **“I’m not afraid of losing my humanity if it means breaking free of these chains. I’ve seen too much death, too much destruction. The only way to truly be free is to rise above it all. The voidflame and Frozen Flame are only stepping stones. If I can fuse them into something greater, I’ll ascend. I’ll find a way to become immortal.”**
Sorin’s eyes narrowed as he watched Kalen. **“Immortality comes at a cost, Kalen. Every cultivator who seeks it walks a dangerous path. The techniques you’d need to master… they aren’t just about power. They change you.”**
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
Kalen clenched his fists, his resolve unwavering. **“I’ve already been changed, Sorin. You know that. The moment I embraced the voidflame, I left behind the man I once was. Now, I need to go further. I need to embrace the immortal path.”**
---
The next day, Kalen and Sorin continued their journey, this time heading toward the ruins of the ancient sect known as the **Eternal Ascendant Order**, a long-forgotten group of cultivators who had sought the path to immortality. Their teachings had been erased from history, but Kalen had found mention of them in the Stormviel texts—proof that they had existed and that their knowledge might still be hidden.
As they traveled, Kalen’s thoughts continued to dwell on the cultivation techniques he had already mastered and how they would need to evolve for him to pursue the immortal path. His current techniques, powerful as they were, wouldn’t be enough. He needed something more.
---
### **Cultivation on the Immortal Path**
In this new stage of his journey, Kalen needed to understand the stages of **immortal cultivation**, which began where mortal cultivation left off. The power required to ascend to immortality was not merely a function of gathering energy—it required a fundamental shift in one’s understanding of reality and existence itself. The **immortal path** was broken into several stages:
1. **Foundation of Eternity (Nascent Stage)**
This was the first step, where a cultivator began to fuse their mortal energy with the immortal essence. The fusion of voidflame and Frozen Flame would need to reach a perfect balance, becoming the foundation for Kalen’s transformation. In this stage, a cultivator’s soul also underwent refinement, preparing for the next phase.
2. **Soul Embodiment (Soul Forming Stage)**
Once the balance of power was achieved, the next step was to cultivate the soul itself. This stage required deep introspection and mastery over one’s inner world. The soul would begin to manifest outside the body, taking on physical attributes that represented the cultivator’s power. For Kalen, this would involve the manifestation of the voidflame and Frozen Flame as living entities, shaping his future immortal self.
3. **Body of the Celestial Flame (True Body Stage)**
At this level, a cultivator’s physical form would begin to transform, becoming something far beyond human. The body would fuse with the immortal essence, turning into a vessel capable of wielding immense power. Kalen’s mastery over the Frozen Flame and voidflame would reshape his body into one that could endure the harsh energy of the immortal realm.
4. **Void Ascension (Ascendant Stage)**
The final step in Kalen’s journey to immortality would be the complete fusion of his essence with the void itself. This stage involved transcending the physical plane entirely, shedding the mortal body and ascending to the immortal realm as a being of pure energy and flame. Here, time and space would no longer bind him, and he would achieve true freedom from death.
---
As they reached the outskirts of the ruins of the Eternal Ascendant Order, Kalen felt a surge of energy pulsing from the earth beneath them. The ruins were ancient, overgrown with vines and moss, but the power of the old sect still lingered.
**“This place feels… different,”** Sorin muttered, his eyes scanning the ruins.
Kalen nodded. **“The immortal essence is still here. The Eternal Ascendants must have left something behind.”**
As they ventured deeper into the ruins, Kalen could feel the immortal energy growing stronger. His connection to the Frozen Flame and voidflame resonated with the energy around him, as if the very earth was calling out to him, guiding him toward the knowledge he sought.
In the heart of the ruins, they found it: an ancient stone tablet, inscribed with the teachings of the Eternal Ascendant Order. The language was old, even older than the Stormviel texts, but Kalen could understand enough to grasp the essence of what it was teaching.
**“This is it,”** Kalen whispered, running his fingers over the ancient script. **“The key to immortal cultivation.”**
He closed his eyes, allowing the energy of the tablet to flow into him, merging with his own power. The voidflame and Frozen Flame surged within him, responding to the ancient teachings, slowly beginning the process of transformation.
Kalen could feel it now—the first step toward immortality. His journey was far from over, but he was closer than ever to achieving his ultimate goal.
**“I’ll become immortal,”** Kalen vowed once more, his voice steady. **“And nothing will stop me.”**