Taylor got into position and he began to circulate his cultivation energy. He began to filter all of it, passing it through his heart and his mind. As the cultivation energy passed, Taylor offered his essence to it, or everything he considered himself to be. Even these considerations would be filtered in further stages before being cultivated further, to become something greater.

The goal for cultivation is the same for all cultivators, it is to achieve immortality. But Taylor's cultivation technique attempted the feat in a different manner; it aimed to earn godhood and achieve his ideal form. A form that couldn't be eroded by the universe. This wasn't a path to power nor was it really a path to immortality, it was simply a path that any human should be walking. It was a path to figure out who they were.

“There. It's done.” Taylor says with a sigh after passing all he was to his cultivation energy. After the last bit became filtered, his cultivation energy settled before erupting once again. Cultivation energy in the surroundings began to gather. Like a whirlpool, it all gathered into Taylor's body.

After the energy settled Taylor opened his eyes and smiled. He did it. He finally did it. He achieved the second stage of his cultivation technique. The Instinct Refinement Stage.

His cultivation energy had increased greatly. He now had a few things to do for the year; he would have to continue to filter the additional cultivation energy and he also wanted to figure out the next logical step of those foundational martial technique qualities. In addition, he had to cultivate himself, or his idea of himself.

It had crossed his mind whether it was possible to lie to himself. If he said he was a god, would his cultivation technique give him power over all life? But it was a flawed idea at its very foundation and was bound to end in his own destruction. He had a clear idea of who he was, and he was no god. He was barely a good human being.

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Taylor was no longer indebted to the Demon Heart vampires so he had stopped worrying so much about work. Sometimes they would contact him for a job, but they were less demanding. Taylor sometimes refused, but there were jobs that he accepted, either out of interest or as a favor. Also, he had to maintain a good relationship with them. They had been amiable after the debt was cleared but Taylor knew that they didn't owe him this consideration, and he also knew what it was like to be on the wrong side of the relationship with them. So Taylor, like a good boy, was polite when he could afford it.

Since the debt has been cleared, Taylor has became very free as of late. Even throughout the 10 years of his debt to them, he had been quite free. After the events involving the Vampire Prince of the Mountain Climber vampires, the rest of them had scattered. They knew that they would be next on the list, so they went into hiding, hoping to contact their lord again.

As for the gang, Taylor spent a year with the Demon Heart gang to either scare them away, recruit them, or if necessary, kill them. But it was pretty smooth sailing after that.

Daryl had eventually replaced Brolly's role in the gang. He was the big boss, the godfather. He was very efficient and he knew how to play the game, so even without Taylor's help, he would have made it pretty high in the gang.

But for this role, the Demon Heart vampires made an exception. No one ever told Taylor, but they saw potential in him and vampires lived long lives so this small investment was worth maintaining a possibly useful relationship. Also, if Taylor ever became an enemy, or if they ever had to forcefully use him, Daryl's life was a good bargaining tool. But these were small considerations; the biggest possible benefit was Taylor's connection with the cultivator from Backwater City. He was on a level that was equivalent to a Vampire Duke and his assistance would prove useful if the Demon Heart vampires were ever in need of it.

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…

Taylor’s life continued normally as it has in recent years. He spent a lot of time with his wife and child. He also calmly continued his cultivation. Eventually, he peacefully entered the third stage of his cultivation technique and opened his third eye. He was now on the Spiritual Awareness stage. To instinctively act according to your own interests while aware of the situation. The ability to direct the situational flow. The ability to act according to your interests from the future, past and present. The ability to seek out karma and guide its natural completion.

Taylor was quite proud of himself. He was now quite formidable if he had to say so. Or at least he was no longer a grunt. Also, even if he considered the 10 years stuck on the first stage, his life has been a breeze throughout.

But the peace could not last forever. The hunt for the Mountain Climber Prince had begun once again and Taylor now had the ability to be a part of the play.