The cultivation meditation continues in the large training room of Armad. This meditation session saw the participation of Armad and his most trusted soldiers. Group meditations of this nature are highly uncommon. Typically, people meditate alone or with close family members. The practice of meditating with a large group is rare and carries inherent risks because, during meditation, individuals enter a vulnerable state. They often become so absorbed in their mental and spiritual exercises that they lose awareness of their surroundings. This deep focus is essential for the process of increasing one’s cultivation, yet it leaves them exposed and defenseless.
For example, during this particular session, the soldiers of Armad were so deeply immersed in their meditation that they were completely unaware of who was in their vicinity. If Armad had been their enemy, he could have easily killed them with a simple gesture, and they would have been unable to defend themselves. Likewise, as Armad himself was also in a meditative state, his soldiers could have harmed him without him being able to protect himself. This vulnerability is why educators outline specific, safe places for meditation.
A person should not meditate at home because their presence is well-known and they could be easily targeted. Meditation in such a familiar and exposed environment makes one an easy mark for potential attackers. This is why many individuals seeking to meditate deeply choose remote and isolated locations such as dense forests, hidden caves, or even underwater. These secluded spots are chosen precisely because they are unexpected, reducing the likelihood of being discovered and attacked.
That is why in some cases, you might hear about someone who went to meditate in such a location and never returned home. The reasons for their disappearance can be grim. Some are ambushed and killed by other people who seek to exploit their vulnerable state. Others may fall prey to wild animals, unable to defend themselves while deep in meditation. The practice of cultivation and deep meditation is fraught with danger, and only a few people manage to navigate these risks successfully and survive the next day.
Despite these dangers, the allure of cultivation is strong, and many are willing to take the risks. However, these concerns deter only a few. For Armad, the dangers associated with meditating are a necessary part of his quest for greater power and understanding. He does not let the fear of potential threats dissuade him from meditating alongside his soldiers.
This is due to the confidence he derives from the toughness of his skin and muscles, he firmly believes that no one in the room can harm him. This sense of invincibility is reinforced as he consumes the substance from the pills. His body begins to exhibit a faint glow, a sign of the energy coursing through him, though it is barely noticeable and within safe limits.
Without much delay, his cultivation begins to increase rapidly. He can feel his cultivation surging as he progresses through various milestones: 11,600 years, 11,700 years, 11,900 years, 12,000 years, and finally reaching 12,100 years. He does not pause even for a moment, moving seamlessly from the first rank of the first stage of deva to the second rank of the first stage of deva, which is marked at 12,100 years of cultivation.
As he remains deep in meditation, he loses track of time. When he finally regains consciousness and exits his meditative state, he begins a thorough examination of his body. He finds that nothing has changed physically, except for the significant increase in his cultivation year in his core. Opening his eyes, he notes that not much time seems to have passed, as none of the soldiers meditating alongside him have finished their meditations.
Observing the soldiers around him, he notices that most of them exhibit a glow, indicating they have reached the level of deva. Some exhibit subtle signs of bone transformation, hinting that they are on the verge of achieving the deva level. However, there are still a few who have not yet reached this significant milestone. Despite this, he does not dismiss them or turn his head away.
Turning his attention to his pol strings, he discovers they are nearly depleted. He now has only seven pol strings. He recalls that during the previous battle, he sacrificed all his Nagirinki to create around 50 pol strings. However, now, the number has dwindled to less than 10. Acting swiftly, he channels a portion of his Nagirinki to create an additional four pol strings, bringing his total to 11. As anticipated, this action significantly depletes his Nagirinki. Moreover, his cultivation level drops from nearly 12,100 years down to 11,000 years.
Armad, however, had foreseen this outcome. Undeterred, he returns to meditation, determined to continue increasing his cultivation. His strategy is clear: whenever he reaches 12,100 years of cultivation, he will use it to create more pol strings, thereby dropping his cultivation back to 11,000 years.
While some may view Armad’s actions as wasteful, he sees them as a strategic investment in his future. It is like using his funds to acquire goods that will prove beneficial down the line, Armad believes he is making a wise trade-off. Unfazed by any potential criticism, he has repeated this process a remarkable ten times already. Had he not engaged in these exchanges, Armad speculates that his cultivation might have already ascended to the coveted second stage of Deva. Even if that milestone had not been reached, he would have been on the cusp of achieving it. However, with his tally of pol strings now standing at an impressive 40, he has opted to halt further transactions. Armed with this formidable arsenal, Armad can approach territorial conflicts with his neighboring regions without trepidation.
Upon regaining consciousness and opening his eyes, Armad is overcome with a profound sense of jubilation. Six of his soldiers have successfully shattered the formidable barrier that had long stymied their progression from the pinnacle of core formation to the pre-Deva level. Notably, one among them has already breached the threshold into the illustrious first stage of Deva, while the rest continue their rapid ascent in cultivation.
Filled with elation, Armad revels in the realization that the efficacy of these pills extends beyond his benefit. Not only do they facilitate his breakthroughs, but they also aid other recipients in surmounting the obstacles impeding their cultivation. The conventional wisdom holds that overcoming such barriers to advancement is a formidable task, often requiring years of diligent effort even with the aid of potent artifacts and elixirs. Yet, these remarkable pills enable both Armad and those in his circle to effortlessly transcend these hurdles. Initially, under the impression that the pills were exclusively tailored to his needs, Armad now recognizes their potential to empower all who are fortunate enough to receive them.
Armad focused his attention directly on his soldiers. In the realm of cultivation, attempting to reach a higher level is fraught with risk. Accidents can happen, and the serene focus of a person might be disrupted; all their painstaking efforts to advance in cultivation could be injured and regressed, which might even threaten their life. Because of this, Armad needed to maintain a vigilant watch over his soldiers, ensuring that no danger befell them during their breakthroughs.
In the span of the next hour, ten soldiers succeeded in breaking through to the level of pre-deva simultaneously. Meanwhile, the six individuals who had previously attained this level had now advanced to the first stage of deva. Consequently, a total of sixteen people had reached the level of deva. Armad couldn't help but smile in satisfaction. Those who had underestimated him would now have to reconsider their opinions.
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The advancements didn’t end there. In a remarkably short time, the six who had just reached the first stage of deva had already ascended to the peak of the first rank of the first stage of deva, a milestone typically marked at 11,999 years of cultivation. At this juncture, the pills they had been using were exhausted, and they opened their eyes, which were now glowing with the light of deep cultivation. They felt a newfound power coursing through their bodies as if the very ground beneath them struggled to support their presence. Rising to their feet, they met Armad’s gaze with reverence and then moved forward to kneel before him, their hearts filled with gratitude and happiness.
"Praises to you, our leader, Prince Armad. We cannot repay this good deed of yours. Indeed, pledging our allegiance and loyalty to you was the best decision we made in our lives. Thank you, and we thank you again."
Armad did not respond verbally. Instead, he raised his hand, signaling them to be quiet so as not to disturb their fellow soldiers who were still deep in meditation. He motioned for them to come closer and sit down, encouraging them to harness their newly acquired power. In the world of cultivation, merely increasing one's level is not enough to secure mastery. One also needs to sit down and consolidate the power gained, making it truly their own. This process ensures that the power is fully integrated into their being, stabilizing their new level of cultivation.
If a person does not come from a lineage of cultivation as powerful as that of the Wilberforce tribe, rapidly increasing their cultivation can become dangerous and may lead to various cultivation-related diseases. This is why Armad carefully moderated the number of pills he provided to increase their cultivation. He is quite aware that the individuals sitting beside him could indeed ingest more pills to boost their cultivation swiftly, but he knows that doing so would ultimately harm their bodies. This is because they lack the robust lineage that the Wilberforce tribe possesses.
Even if they share the same lineage, Armad understands that what they need is time to properly harness their current level of cultivation. He believes it is crucial to allow them two weeks or even two months to let their newly increased cultivation settle within their bodies. This period would enable the cultivation to integrate thoroughly with their blood and heartbeat, becoming familiar with their system before more pills are introduced to further their cultivation. He thinks it would be beneficial for them to advance their cultivation naturally, using their power without the assistance of pills for some time before consuming more.
Because of this careful consideration, is why Armad ordered them to sit down by his side. With these precautions in place, he now has an additional six devas in his battalion.
At this moment, eight out of the ten individuals who had reached the pre-deva level experienced another explosive breakthrough. They advanced to the first stage of deva, equivalent to 11,000 years of cultivation, in a remarkably short period. A smile spread across Armad’s face as he realized he now had eight more devas. The remaining two pre-devas were also on the brink of reaching the first stage of deva.
However, the breakthroughs did not stop there. Sixteen more soldiers experienced similar breakthroughs, advancing to the pre-deva level. Armad instantly understood that he was just beginning to witness a series of breakthroughs among his soldiers. More soldiers were on the verge of breaking through to the next level. Apart from the initial six soldiers who had reached the deva level, the professionalism and potential of the remaining soldiers were consistent. Armad anticipated that the remaining soldiers would reach the pre-deva level simultaneously.
Without much delay, several breaking sounds began to emanate from the bodies of the remaining soldiers. Instantly, a significant number of soldiers started advancing to the pre-deva level within the room. The number of soldiers reaching this level rapidly increased—20 soldiers, then 30, 50, and eventually 60 soldiers.
On this momentous day, Armad meticulously counted 83 of his soldiers who had ascended to the pre-deva level. Among them, some had already progressed to the first stage of deva, while others remained at the pre-deva level. However, Armad knew that those who had reached the pre-deva level needed only time to advance to the first stage of deva. He was adamant that none of them should break their meditation until they had all achieved this milestone. Armad was resolute in his decision not to provide additional pills to help them surpass the first stage of deva, believing that their natural progression through meditation was paramount.
Days passed swiftly, and before long, nine days had already disappeared. On the 10th day, the pills he had distributed to each soldier were exhausted. By this time, 82 out of the 130 soldiers had successfully reached the first stage of deva. Among these, some had even reached the peak of the first rank of the first stage of deva, while others were just at the beginning rank. The differences in their cultivation levels were evident; some had amassed 11,400 years of cultivation, while others had only 11,000 years. This disparity highlighted their varying levels of proficiency and how effectively their bodies absorbed the substances within the pills. Nonetheless, none of the 82 soldiers failed to reach the first stage of deva, marking a significant achievement for Armad’s forces.
In addition to these 82 soldiers, 16 others remained stuck at the pre-deva level. When adding these numbers together, it becomes clear that Armad had facilitated the meditation of 97 soldiers who had reached the deva level.
Beyond these 97 soldiers, there were over 30 more soldiers who had been left behind. Their faces were darkened with disappointment as if they were on the verge of tears before Armad.
By now, each soldier in the room had awakened from his meditation, and Armad had already categorized them into different groups based on their progress. The 82 soldiers who had reached the first stage of deva were placed in one group, their faces radiant with happiness. In another part of the room, 16 soldiers stood with smiles on their faces, though their joy did not quite match that of the 82 who had reached the first stage of deva. The last group, comprising over 30 soldiers, was enveloped in a mood of despondency. They were acutely aware of Armad’s expectations and their shortcomings. Their talent had not been sufficient to reach the level of deva, and they stood with their eyes lowered, many unable to even lift their heads in the presence of their leader.
Armad cleared his throat, and the room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to him. His presence commanded respect, and the tension in the air was palpable. He began by addressing the soldiers who were visibly disappointed and disheartened.
“Don’t worry, and calm yourselves,” Armad said in a reassuring tone. “Just a few days ago, none of you believed you could reach the level of deva. The fact that you were given this opportunity, even if you did not succeed, is still a significant achievement. Think about it: you have transformed, and I am sure each of you has noticed changes in your body. Although you did not reach the pre-deva level, the time you spent using these pills has undoubtedly increased your core strength and cultivation.”
He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. “You should take pride in your progress and congratulate those of your comrades who did succeed. I know it is difficult because your efforts did not result in success this time, but remember, you are still ahead of many soldiers who did not even have the chance to be here today. Imagine the strength you’ve gained; if you were to go out and fight now, your power would surpass theirs, and you could easily defeat them. This is something worth celebrating.”
Armad then took a deep breath, shifting his focus to those who had reached the pre-deva level. His gaze was both stern and encouraging. “And for those of you who have reached the pre-deva level, your journey is far from over. You must put in even more effort. You were allowed to reach the first stage of deva, but it is apparent that your determination needs to match that of your fellows who successfully attained this level. You must focus your attention on rigorous training and self-improvement.”
He continued, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and dedication. “In due time, I will gather all of you, both those who reached the pre-deva level and those who did not, to assess your progress. We will evaluate the changes in your body and determine who has made significant improvements. Those who have shown remarkable progress will have another opportunity to reach the deva level.”