Second Step, Broken Crystallization Realm

"Elena, you may go to my meditation room. There, you can transform all of that into rigorous Power Energy. You may receive enough to advance midway into the middle level of the 2nd stage. Little Heian Ciemnosc will remain here for some. Feel free to stay. I'll let your father know you're cultivating here." Lady Calisneia spoke to the meek Elena, who could only open her mouth as if to say something, and Little Rain looked at her as if these talks were regular nowadays.

“Or… could it be you want to see if there might be a pea in the pot? Let me remind you, Elena. My disciple is infertile. That is impossible to change unless he can overwrite nature.” Lady Calisneia added, her right eyebrow was raised. Elena blushed a deep crimson sheet on her face, neck, shoulders, ears, and even collarbone as she shook her head in a flurry. Her new timid voice found its way out. “No, no. I’ll immediately go. Thank you, Masteress.”

“As for this Flood Dragon, don’t let him run around. Lest he becomes Milyy’s snack when she exits secluded cultivation. Let him around Jing Evan so they can get to know each other.” Lady Calisneia spoke, preparing to follow after Heian Ciemnosc’s steps and start dealing with him. However, Elena’s nod halted towards the end as she suddenly said, “Masteress, um… How is Milyy doing?”

Lady Calisneia didn’t seem to mind Elena calling her that, perhaps even feeling somewhat pleased. Hearing Elena’s concern, she became a little soft, surprising herself even before calmly and comfortingly speaking. “She is doing well. Milyy will succeed. But she still needs some time. Maybe after a couple years… For now, all she is focusing is in breaking through, even if it is not just to please me and find her own path in this lonely world.”

“Hmm,” Elena nodded with her lips pressed together. Looking at her Masteress, she bowed and gave Little Rain a glare. He immediately turned into a baby puppy of a dragon, and Elena caught it in her arms. Like a fluffy toy, Elena carried it away into the black emptiness. Lady Calisneia stared in Elena’s direction a few seconds before turning in Heian Ciemnosc’s and walking forward. “...”

Step, tap… Step, tap… Step, wheels, step, step- tap.

… When Lady Calisneia walked into her room, Heian Ciemnosc wasn’t there, and he also wasn’t in her meditation room. She went into her cultivation room, where Heian Ciemnosc was sitting cross-legged with his torso bare and wore shorts, covering only until a little higher than his knees. His pale skin stood out amidst the blackness of this space. Were it any other person not used to Heian Ciemnosc, this sight alone would’ve creeped them out and numbed their skin.

“Are you finally prepared to breakthrough… or is it just in case still?” Lady Calisneia offered no more words and entered her cultivation room as the door behind her closed. She walked around her disciple as he opened his eyes and looked at her with respect and simple but authentic closeness. Heian Ciemnosc wanted to stand up, but a gesture from his Master kept him sitting down. She walked to his back and placed her left hand on his left-sided trapezius muscle.

He didn’t feel any wrinkles, just a fair hand with smooth skin, but that was it. Heian Ciemnosc heard his Master continue with her words. “You could have always forced yourself to the limits, not needing to wait this long and train harshly to once again solidify your cultivation. But you chose the hard way, why, my disciple?”

“...” Heian Ciemnosc remained silent as he felt his Master’s hand weigh on him without any heaviness, but it was unbearable. Lady Calisneia spoke again. But this time, as she did, that sensation lightened up eventually, as if a weight was lifted from his body, mind, and Soul. “I do not blame you. I can’t see it myself, but… I see you’ve gained some understanding. Doing so before the First Step was… genius. But that’s the limit for the First Step.”

“No matter how unique, rare, and… improbable your cultivation method can be, along your innate Art. Little Heian Ciemnosc, you still have to walk in everyone else’s same footsteps.” Lady Calisneia moved her left hand as they slowly let go of his pale muscle, lightly caressing him as the weight thoroughly disappeared from his being. “Tell me why is that so. Why did you choose this path from others?”

“... The First Step’s cultivators have always been presented with talent in pure energy gathering and refining, Spirit Sense growth and use, and one’s Soul’s potential. However, the Elements are also a monumentally significant part of one’s cultivation in this Step. The Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind elements are all the most basic but fundamental in the world. There are legendary records of civilians, either at birth, after a tense situation, or randomly, gaining insufferable affinity with an Element. It is said they can face anyone in the First Step depending on their current understanding of that Element, but it isn’t for free…”

Heian Ciemnosc began explaining, his eyes trailing off slightly, but he persisted as he continued. “Those civilians can gain a way into cultivation even if their talent before discovering or being birth were null or crippled. Then, there are the Special Lotus Bodies. Who, besides having the most extreme affinity with an Element, or 2, although some stories tell there had been a Tri-Lotus Special Body. They are all insanely great for cultivation since birth.”

“The Element they are connected with grants them an almost instantaneous, natural instinct over them. They can even control the Elemental techniques of others, allowing them to not be immortal or immune against such Elemental attacks but able to neutralize them effortlessly. However, what is more important from these is that their beginning within the First Step is of utmost implication. A Lotus cultivator, or someone with any affinity level with an Element, will have shocking revelations and amaze the world where they went.”

“They can explode with Elemental attacks, even fighting those 2 or 3 stages above their cultivation base, even if the other party can’t be killed, defeated, or captured. Ancient figures with their Special Body are all a source of longing and worship for any cultivator with any affinity to any of the Elements. Whoever feels a connection with an Element will be regarded highly by Sixth Step organizations, even if it isn’t too obvious.”

“The reason so few cultivators go all-out to use their Elemental techniques is… because they would rather wait for the Second Step to develop themselves explosively. If the First Step is the fundamental, basic training and learning of knowledge, then the Second Step is where every cultivator goes through battle-hardened times to keep living, cultivating, and advancing. This is only for those 4 primary Elements, as Lightning, Light, and Darkness aren’t something that simply appears if they do have an affinity with any of them.” Heian Ciemnosc started feeling his body relax. He felt his body flowing from within like the smoothest, stillest of waters.

“Focus. Now, tell me the Second Step’s realms. Don’t hold back anymore. Let your body and dark Soul envelop your inner self.” Lady Calisneia stood behind the sitting Heian Ciemnosc, facing his back as he slowly closed his eyes and dark Power Energy started regulating, circulating, still impossible to discern. Lady Calisneia added, tilting her head to the left and affectionately gazing down at the back of his head. “No more messing around. You have things to do, and the Academy’s transition to the Third Step won’t wait for you.”

Pshiiiiiiiiiiiifffftt~.

Heian Ciemnosc’s dark Power Energy came out of his body like smoke, fog, steam, and one-dimensionally. They were like flames, raging around him, calmly fluctuating, moving sideways as they went from 1 cm tall to 1 inch in a few seconds. His pale red lips started moving, and his voice was like a declaration, his beginning.

“The Second Step’s realms are 11, namely the Broken Crystallization realm. In the first realm, one’s lifespan increases to 90,000 years old, and one’s Spirit Sense to 10 kilometers. To break into the Second Step, one’s Power Energy has to begin its transition to become the Neutral Energy of one’s body. It is through this process that the Broken Crystallization realm takes place. To commence, one solidifies their body and being into a ‘crystallized’ cocoon.”

“In some truths, it is as if asking for permission from the world to let them try. It depends on one’s capabilities to succeed or not. In case a cultivator fails but doesn’t die, they become a Ruptured. From there, they struggle with the Broken Crystallization realm 1st stage’s battle prowess from the Torment realm to the Dispirited, Shades, Hell, and Abyssin realms. As for a Broken Crystallization realm, unlike in the First Step, nearly all cultivation realms have 10 stages. This first realm also does.”

“The second realm is the Neutrality realm. This one increases a cultivator’s lifespan to 170,000 years and one’s Spirit Sense to 20 kilometers. It also has 10 stages. Once in this realm, any cultivator can use Neutral Energy at last and create a crystalline armor that gets stronger and more durable every new stage overcome, and later on, depends on one’s realm and Step. In each stage, they gain 200 kg of bodily strength for a total of 5,000 kg in the 10th stage. To breakthrough, one simply cultivates enough rigorous Power Energy in the previous realm until feeling one’s Links change somehow.”

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“The third realm is the Neutral Encephalon realm. This one increases a cultivator’s lifespan to 320,000 years old and one’s Spirit Sense to 30 kilometers. It is divided into 10 stages, too. To break into this realm, the cultivators link their Psychogenic Link with their Spiritual Bosom. Thereon feeding their Spirit Image until it’s filled with their Neutral Energy, unshackling it from mortal bonds. One has to go through a small heavenly tribulation, where they finally appear in a cultivator’s path to break into the 1st, 10th stage, and the next realm.”

“Similarly, the fourth realm, the Dantreulity realm, is where one faces the same heavenly tribulation to break into the 1st stage after breaking into the realm, and later in the 10th stage, and for the next. In this realm, one’s lifespan increases to 500,00 years, and one’s Spirit Sense to 40 kilometers. It also has 10 stages, and to break into it, the cultivator links their Dantian Link to their Spiritual Bosom. After it is full of their Neutral Energy, unshackling it from mortal bonds.”

“These 2 realms’ heavenly tribulations vary. The 1st stage breakthrough takes 3 heavenly lightning bolts, and the 10th stage breakthrough 9 and 18 for the next realm. They increase in number and potency.” Heian Ciemnosc spoke up to here, but his pale skin had already welcomed weird and rare alterations to his image. His bare torso and shorts allowed most of his skin to be visible. And so was the tattoo-like darkness spreading latched around his body.

Pshiiiiiift- phshift!

Heian Ciemnosc’s dark Power Energy’s thunderous sound increased out of nowhere, but it only lasted an instant before returning to its usual First Step power level. Heian Ciemnosc found it problematic to continue. He had to focus his mind first before resuming his Master’s instruction. Frowning and tensing his face intermittently, he finally achieved some calmness as his pale body started turning ephemeral darker.

“The fifth realm is the Hana-Saga realm. In this one, one’s lifespan increases to 1,000,000 years old, and one’s Spirit Sense to 50 kilometers. Both Links have been fully used to feed the Spirit Image in the Spiritual Bosom, home of all a cultivator’s spirit, to break into this realm. There, what’s left is to consolidate, reform, reshape, and stabilize both the Spiritual Bosom and the Spirit Image while cultivating as usual. Its stages go from the 1st to the 9th stage. Unlike most other realms in any Step.”

“Some cultivators are able to advance through heinous training and hardships, but some are also to speed that up without losing efficiency or destabilizing their cultivation base through battling and constant fighting. The more brutal and heavier the results and process, the better rewards a cultivator would receive in their cultivation path. However, one has to go through 99 heavenly lightning bolts to break into the subsequent realm besides the Dantreulity realm’s heavenly tribulation to break out of that realm into the next.”

“The sixth realm is the Spirit Magna realm. In it, one’s lifespan increases to 1,290,000 years and Spirit Sense to 60 kilometers. It goes back to 10 stages, but one gains the Title Link Spirit at this realm. After the 99 heavenly lightning bolts, one must form their Spirit Aspect as their bodies are re-healing. The intricate process varies for each individual, although there are a few similarities and patrons. Still, one of its essentials is covering one’s Linked Psychogenic and Dantian with their Neutral Energy to their Spirit Bosom, together, unlike in the Encephalon realm or the Dantreulity realm.”

“From there, one uses anything they can, but it is one’s Soul, used as a brush, to create their Spirit Aspect. It can change its shape and qualities however the cultivator wishes, but not its nature.” Heian Ciemnosc’s eyelids seemed to start trembling as Heian Ciemnosc momentarily paused. His eyeballs darted left and right incessantly.

“The seventh realm is the Blossoming realm. One’s lifespan increases to 1,500,000 years, and Spirit Sense to 70 kilometers. The cultivator has to start connecting their whole bodies once more. This time, with their Neutral Energy, Links, bodily strength, and durability. Not just to one another but to… one’s Soul! Each 10% of progress equals a stage.”

“The Heaven-Breaking realm is the eighth realm. One’s lifespan increases to 2,000,000, and Spirit Sense to 80 kilometers. After connecting their Soul to the rest of their inner selves, a cultivator finds within their inner selves 72 stars in their thoroughly Linked Body. They must connect each of them, starting from their Spirit Bosom to the rest of their inner selves. It also consists of 10 stages.”

“A cultivator has to link 7 stars until the 9th stage, where they will connect 9 stars for the 10th stage. In this realm, one can finally use all pure soul skills, techniques, and Arts without being supported by any other power source, and they can last more than 900 minutes in space.” Heian Ciemnosc said, his voice suddenly becoming lighter. He felt like his throat was uncomfortable, like a civilian getting sick. Frowning, he decided to use mental messages to continue elaborating.

Pshiiiift- puuuh… As Heian Ciemnosc did, and his pale red lips were sealed, darkness covered them. It was the last spot of his body without turning dark. Behind him, his Master looked on with unprecedented anxiety for the unknown. But she had it clear in her mind. If her disciple suffered or was about to fail, she would even give what little life was left in her.

“The Soul Spirit Realm is the ninth realm. It increases one lifespan to 2,300,000 years and Spirit Sense to 90 kilometers. It has 10 stages. After connecting the 72 stars and breaking into this realm, one has to explode 7 stars at each stage. This time, each 7 stars forms a galaxy that the cultivator must destroy and extinguish them. Every galaxy must explode at once, not missing even a tiny iota, or else one might fall in their cultivation path.”

“The cultivator is in danger for each stage, and should they fail, at any stage, will return to the Heaven-Breaking realm.” Heian Ciemnosc started feeling his breath quicken, and his body started bulging with clearly visible, but still darkest, veins everywhere. He continued while gritting his teeth. “The tenth realm is the Breaking Point realm. One’s lifespan increases to 2,900,000 years, and Spirit Sense to 100 kilometers. It has 10 stages in total.”

“After surviving through the Soul Spirit realm, in this realm’s 10th stage, all one needs to break into the last realm is to use the destruction moment of their inner galaxies to give life to a heart-palpitating universe. Trying to light this up with a flickering in and out of existence, an endless cosmos has to be formed within oneself.” Heian Ciemnosc made another pause, suddenly feeling his abdomen, glabella, inner self, and… skin start uncontrollably shaking.

“When… the endless cosmos is about to form and light up, and at the perfect timing, the cultivator can choose one of two paths. A phenomenon will occur depending on the cultivator’s choice. It will spread everywhere in the Kingdom they are within, and it doesn’t matter if it's a failed or Divine Kingdom. It will appear in the world, unobstructed, and spread by nature. Or, at least, its size in space.”

“Depending on their choice… they… they change, they… gain… incredible, different… properties… It is called… the Light… or Dark… realm-”

“!!” Heian Ciemnosc suddenly opened his eyes. His mind seethed, boiled, and churned as Soul energy seemed to shoot out of his head. His eyelids went up, freeing those darkest eyes without the slightest of white in them. His arms were thrown backwards, and his body suddenly drooped dark liquid. It was his blood, and it ‘contaminated’ his Master’s cultivation room floor. Lady Calisneia had no choice but to back away, floating in midair and slowly retracting her body until it was slightly hidden by the black emptiness.

‘Lifespan… 5 million years…! Time in… space… 10 years! Spirit Sense… 800 kilometers!!-’ Heian Ciemnosc thought these last bits of information. However, Lady Calisneia could read them. She understood he was trying to finish her instruction while breaking through. She could have never imagined it would have been this much for him. However, there was still a bit left that Heian Ciemnosc had to say. But in the next second, it was simply impossible for him to continue.

“AAAAAAAAAHHHGGGGGHHHHHH!!!” Heian Ciemnosc threw his arms downwards, slowly moving behind his hips as his torso jerked, arching forward and curving his back backwards. His face stared at the ceiling, his mouth slowly opened, and his face grimaced until his darkest, wholly pitch-black eyes appeared eternally furious yet expressionless at the same time. His legs folded, and he practically kneeled on the empty black floor.

As he opened his mouth, an increasingly loud roar exited from it. As it did and Heian Ciemnosc opened it further, longer dark fangs appeared, streaming with dark blood as Heian Ciemnosc’s roar only continued to drag on and on, getting louder!!

From his behind, his dark hands went Claws Out, and the dark claws started thickening and elongating!! His toes grew more dark claws, but they couldn’t break through the empty black, like a kid trying to tackle a bulky adult. Thus, his body was suddenly impulsed upwards! His muscles bulged before exploding, revealing only thin flesh and outlined bones that remained. His veins fell and turned into his dark blood as they spread everywhere!

His hair fell to the floor to join his veins, and just as he ‘stood up’ from his sitting position, a tail came out of his tailbone!! Heian Ciemnosc’s dark claws and fangs grew until they stopped. His dark Claws finalized their growth at 4 inches long, 2 inches wide, and .4 centimeters thick, at least at its maximum size. And his dark fangs' top size was 1.6 inches long and .6 centimeters wide. But Heian Ciemnosc, despite knowing this without even thinking, purely by instinct, was far too much in pain to care!

“RRRGGRRUUUAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!!!!!!!” His voice was as if gone, and his face unnaturally contorted as he could only continue agonizing. It was like a ghost’s wail, ephemeral and without substance.

His face twisted as his body suddenly grew slightly more, not just taller, but in volume. Although it was negligible, Lady Calisneia could only stupidly look at the notion like an ignorant little girl of the world. His roar only increased as her face suddenly became astounded. Immediately, she waved her hand as some kind of invisible energy rippled from her towards the sky, crossing through this black, empty space, breaking outside the Blackotia Kingdom.

‘Dammit! A phenomenon? How could this be possible?! This is just the First Step…’

…