13 Years
Time passed, wars echoed, and lives were unimaginably lost. However, because of the Heraxle Clan's decision on the first Existences' war in the new Change— the other Universal Land followed. The Younger generation fought like never before. While this method has been adopted by primary forces in the past, long, long past, it hasn't been this soon into a new Change.
In those times, the upper echelons would use these wars every few generations to clean the space and test the other side’s power. It would also dictate which Existence was the bigger and stronger fist between them. Resources, best-talented cultivators, and even things such as beauties for breeding were all to the victor.
They would occasionally happen when the actors in the Change were more or less official, and they would fight each other like this. After winning, they would use the Existences they now semi-controlled and push them to test other Existences. Afterwards, they and the Existences they controlled would wage war against neighboring Existences.
This way, smallish parties trying to gain resources could become rebellions, and eventually, they would strike the Universal Land’s ruling power when the time was best. Some were direct and utilized raw power and influence. Others were sneakier, and others were ingenious. There were varying surprises in each Change, but the fact that Archeons passed for this to solidify made it the most groundbreaking factor.
However… right now… to the Existential Sixth Step organization, these Existences grouping and fighting each other like rabid dogs couldn’t be better. Not only were they like maggots struggling to use the resources from other corpses for their own nutrition.
While the victors in these wars wouldn’t pauperize the losing side, their resources would be focused on the victor. The losing side would experience a loss of resources, passively forcing them to move their allegiance to the winners and rule the other Existence to their utter command, essentially puppets.
That is what happened with the Quiongu Fanhui Existence, taking enough resources to slow the Evergazing Existence’s overall cultivation progress. However, they weren’t slow to react, and many organizations’ higher-ups and upper echelons rapidly joined the Wrath Nihility Academy.
Some tried entering the Crimsonbreaking Faction, but that would take time, and not everyone could afford such wasted time. Thus, the Wrath Nihility Academy received thousands of new Teachers everywhere. They had to go through some training since the Academy wasn’t any place anyone, with just enough cultivation base, could come and teach the students. They didn’t become the Wrath Nihility Academy out of nowhere.
It was strange, but the Obscure Orb Sect, Phosphorescent Flower Sect, and the Golden Terra Sect didn’t recruit those experts. Instead, they allowed and even somewhat ‘pushed’ them towards the Wrath Nihility Academy. While the Evergazing Existence’s experts could join any organization they deemed fit and could do so, as the Quiongu Fanhui Existence wasn’t one of the strongest in the world, other than having the Wrath Nihility Academy and Crimsonbreaking Faction as famous organizations.
Even then, while about 5% of the experts went to those Sects, and more than 50% spread throughout the Existence, the rest joined the Crimsonbreaking Faction, Wrath Nihility Academy, and the Interchanging Dust Dynasty.
While the Third Step and below went with the Faction and Academy, the Fourth Step experts headed to the Interchanging Dust Dynasty. Even then, after some time, these organizations welcomed the cultivators below these experts. Cliques within the Evergazing Faction merged into the Quiongu Fanhui Existence’s organizations, especially the Academy, Faction, and Dynasty.
Overall, as the Wrath Nihility Academy was lenient and slowly and dutifully taught the new experts to become Teachers, decreasing the time needed to transition into a Third Step organization and even hosting some Fourth Step cultivators as guests. The Crimsonbreaking Faction was merciless and didn’t care about their new recruits, even if they were peak Third Step cultivators the Faction could use.
The Faction wouldn’t let randoms enter, but the cultivators of the younger generation were recruited without trouble. Of course, 20% were kicked out after they failed to join the military or broke its rules. It was a relatively simple system.
As the world moved, so did its inhabitants… Heian Ciemnosc’s cultivation never stopped after returning from the first Existences’ war. Nor did his Team collapse and no longer go on missions. Instead, not only was the Eternal Return Team recognized across the Faction after their war effort’s results in that war’s battle, but they were also ‘promoted’ overall.
Thus, the Eternal Return Team went on a slightly risky, well-paid mission every 2-3 days. Allowing them to go on around 3 missions per week. These missions’ risk might not be that much, but it was considering their previous missions —even the hunting of the sinners of the Existence wasn’t labeled as such.
They became richer in everything: Vigor Stones, white coins, and merit points within the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s store and honor system. Thus, the Eternal Return Team gained a lot of resources throughout the years, and their base went from a slightly moderate Team base building to a middle one in under 3 years. Furthermore, the amount of spaceships changed. Or rather, they increased, and the status of a co-leading Team Leader did change in Heian Ciemnosc’s hands.
The temporary Large Flotilla Heian Ciemnosc commanded dissolved, and the soldier units responsible returned to their military unit. Heian Ciemnosc also returned to the twin Frigates. With their previous experience, his personnel demonstrated an increase in efficiency and activity.
No matter how one tries to train one’s soldier units, without struggle, battles, and wars, they won’t become the warriors one wants them to be. The Crimsonbreaking Faction is always fighting in missions or operations, but few operations compare to a battle in war.
With such an elevated level of functionality, the twin Frigates were seen more often and in more dangerous situations than before, but it hardly made a difference to the slightly war-hardened individuals. There were times when the twin Frigates were spotted and communicated with. Thus, the other side fled to their best capabilities.
Slowly, their richness finally proved more than accommodating, and the Eternal Return Team welcomed improvement. They were granted a Small Flotilla!
However, while years passed since the frontline war between Existences… Heian Ciemnosc’s cultivation never stopped… Thus, he experienced the opportunity to break into the next realm in a short 2 years.
… Sitting in his bedroom in the Team’s base, Heian Ciemnosc was by his Master, who carried a sleeping Anastasia, old enough to walk, run, and even fly on her own, and sleep on a bed, in her arms. Heian Ciemnosc sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, with his enhanced dark Neutral Energy covered with layers of darkness.
On his back was a spiral of pure energy efficiently moving into his body. It wasn’t like before, where he would just suck the pure energy around him without a care. In the Mythical realm, one progresses according to their understanding of everything surrounding them. Not just to step into the Third Step but also to progress through the Mythical realm.
As Heian Ciemnosc felt his Master’s gaze on his overly pale back, the information of the Third Step realms was reviewed in his mind within an instant. Dutiful to his Master even when she didn’t ask him. But Calisneia did so because she knew Heian Ciemnosc would know what to do and when without her protecting or guiding him.
Even then, she still came here and guided him with a few words.
The Third Step had 7 realms. First was the Mythical realm, with stages from 1 to 10 like before. It is followed by the second, the Central Formation realm. Cultivating through the second realm was one of the easiest within the Six Steps, as it required the cultivator to do so as usual. Gather pure energy, refine it into one’s own, and continue.
The Mythical realm would grant 17,000,000 years of lifespan, while its maximum Spirit Sense range was 1,000 kilometers and resist 100 years in space. The Central Formation realm cultivator’s lifespan would extend to 36,000,000 years, while their maximum Spirit Sense range would be 9,000 kilometers and resist 10,000 years in space. It is also separated into 10 stages.
To break into the third realm, the Life-Long realm, a cultivator has to center all their power sources. Enhanced Neutral Energy, Soul, Spirit Sense, and bodily strength into Vigor Energy. Their Dantian and Spirit Sense must be at their maximum, too.
Once that is completed, the cultivator would break into the third realm and attain their Vigor Energy. The Life-Long realm grants a cultivator with 75,000,000 years of lifespan, 1,000,000 endurance in space, and 40,000 km of Spirit Sense. In this realm, a cultivator becomes precedent over any other lifeform below their level. And it is similarly separated into 10 stages.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
After the Life-Long realm comes the Farsighted realm. In the third realm, one becomes precedent over lifeforms. But in the fourth realm, the Farsighted realm, one attains a Spirit Sense unattainable and incomparable to those beneath the Farsighted realm!
While the Life-Long realm requires a cultivator to progress as usual, and the breakthrough into the Farsighted realm is simple, the latter is divided into 5 stages. The Small, Medium, Large, Supreme, and Godly stages.
These aren’t just for a change, as they represent the Spirit Sense a cultivator has, correlating to a Region’s size. The Small stage is a portion of a 1* Region, while the Medium Stage is around ⅖ and 3/7 of a 2* Region. The Large stage gives a Spirit Sense range of nearly a 2* Region, while the Supreme stage’s Spirit Sense is one 2* Region and a half. Lastly, the Godly stage is almost a 3* Region.
The Vigor Energy needed to progress in this realm is abundant, as most of it travels into one’s Spirit Sense. But the accuracy of a cultivator’s attacks, be it energy, weapons, or Arts, in this realm, becomes unavoidable. Thus, only by blocking can a cultivator of a similar or lower cultivation base defend themselves.
The Farsighted realm grants a cultivator with 200,000,000 years of lifespan and 10,000,000 years of Elemental Poisoning in space.
The fifth realm is different, and while there are 2 choices, it is locked depending on one’s past choosing. It is called the Bright or Silhouette realm. Only by having selected the Light realm can one break into the Bright realm, and only by having selected the Dark realm can one become a Silhouette realm cultivator.
It is divided into 10 stages, and they both gain 500,000,000 years of lifespan, while their resistance in space elevates to 150,000,000 years. They are granted the Grand Spirit title, and their Spirit Sense is ampler than a 3* Region.
Breaking into this realm is more or less uncomplicated. No additional activities or conditions need to be met other than the usual. But its cultivation speed is different and is arguably one of the toughest in the cultivation world below the Fifth Step.
In this realm, one’s Spirit Aspect begins fusing with the cultivator. The progress depends on the cultivator, just as the First Step is about.
The sixth realm is the Planet Gate realm. This is one of the most journey-worthy realms in the cultivation world. While breaking into it is simple, its progress varies depending on the person and their choices.
One must travel the world, undertaking a long journey to study asteroids, failed planets, and Hollow Kingdoms. No information is detailed about this because it is a journey of one’s own. Even those who attempted to share their experience didn’t in the end— because of the respect they gained from it.
It is divided into 4 stages. The Shallow stage, Magnitude stage, Sighted stage, and the Almost-Zenith stage.
The lifespan of a Planet Gate realm cultivator is at least 1,000,000,000 years. And their resistance in space increases to 350,000,000 years.
Lastly, the seventh realm is the Universe realm. It has 3 billion years of lifespan and 1 billion years in space.
After their Planet Gate realm ends, it’s time to breakthrough. The cultivator must set themselves on a Kingdom. While it can be one where they are accepted not just by the people ruling it but by the Kingdom’s nature itself, if one can do it in their desired Kingdom to set themselves in, it is a smoother process and… fortune.
Other than increasing one’s cultivation efficiency, battle prowess slightly, and Soul cultivation… it is said it grants insight and elevates knowledge of everything in one’s mind up a notch. It is divided into 10 stages, and the cultivator must use their Spirit Aspect and Spirit Bosom to… attain their Godhood!
However, that was still far from Heian Ciemnosc’s reach… Or is it?
PSHIIIIIIIFTT~~!! Pure energy rushed towards Heian Ciemnosc, mercilessly pouring into his back like hatchets aiming for the kill. Although these ‘hatchets’ didn’t harm him. Instead, they increased the mighty dark Neutral Energy within him. Heian Ciemnosc’s closed eyes fluttered a little, and Calisneia looked at his back as she stopped to admire the sight of her disciple breaking into the Central Formation realm beforehand.
PING! Heian Ciemnosc heard a bell-like sound inside his head. His mind immediately rumbled, and the inner endless, pure darkness trembled, albeit without giving any evident proof of that. Heian Ciemnosc knew what happened within his body, and Sara, who was in the midst of everything as it occurred, also contemplated the sight.
WHOOOSHH, WHOOOSH, WHOOSH!!
Heian Ciemnosc stood up when he sensed his unthinkably stable and solid cultivation path enter the Central Formation realm 1st stage. His Spirit sense increased to 20,000,000 kilometers, and his enhanced dark Neutral Energy increased more than 20 times. One could tell how much their body was preparing for the Life-Long and Farsighted realms.
He turned around and faced the wife and daughter. Heian Ciemnosc smiled and walked towards them. Calisneia held the sleepy little Anastasia in her left arm, comfortably sleeping against her upper left chest, and welcomed Heian Ciemnosc’s warmth.
Heian Ciemnosc’s dark coat appeared around his body as if the wind dressed him, and he embraced his Master’s wife while holding the back of Anastasia’s head with his right hand. He was so tall she was pushed onto his thigh and waist with only her chest apart.
Their warm gazes looked at each other without a word until Calisneia felt his left arm getting lower… Calisneia raised her eyebrows at him as he cupped her right butt cheek. But Heian Ciemnosc only returned the look, innocent and soft. Seeing her gaze but not warning him with even her Soul, Heian Ciemnosc squeezed.
“...” - “...” Calisneia’s gaze didn’t change, and she kept her stare locked onto his. She had to lift her head, this time as if she was a shortie one, with Heian Ciemnosc being a regularly tall person. Yet, Heian Ciemnosc didn’t cower from his actions and, instead, he started fondling her bum in circular motions, enjoying the blood-current-stagnating tight softness…
Calisneia’s cheeks finally turned a little scarlet, and Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes shone, but not here, not now… The kid was right beside them. He had to wait until the night…
. . .
With time, as the Eternal Return Team’s Officer Heian Ciemnosc demonstrated his non-wrongly-earned merit and achievements, his Small Flotilla became a Medium Flotilla, with some of the soldier units who followed him to war under his temporary Large Flotilla. Among them was the commanding assistant who made his commanding moments easier, Etherea.
She was a Human, like many others, and excelled in her logistics capabilities. Although her cultivation talent wasn’t bad, she wasn’t a warrior per se. Etherea was a war enthusiast like any other Crimson, but her strength wasn’t focused on battling the enemy with only her hands.
Heian Ciemnosc’s Medium Flotilla also made the Eternal Return Team experience more commanding situations, demanding more from them and elevating their ranks in the personnel’s minds.
It was a slow process since they weren’t like Heian Ciemnosc, who innately felt the ability to command. They preferred directly fighting in a battle instead of focusing on commanding. Thus, they turned their way through the twin Frigates, and slowly, their crew members also expanded to other spaceships.
After those initial 3 years, 6 years passed. In those years, the Eternal Return Team became a top-notch Medium Flotilla in the sights of promoting to a Large Flotilla. They were already known across the Existence as the Eternal Return Flotilla, so to speak.
While Heian Ciemnosc appeared less and less in the eyes of many, he still showed in typical scenarios where he landed on a Space Station or a Kingdom to verify a mission. His appearance became only showing his face, walking, or returning to his spaceship, and sometimes appeared in space battles.
Of course, if someone suddenly came close to a battle they could’ve avoided, any battling party would shoot at them, which Heian Ciemnosc’s spaceships always did… Thus, it became a notorious sensation to become an Eternal Return Flotilla’s photographer, as they would never return or be seen again after taking a pic, even if it failed…
With time, those gimmicks disappeared, but the facts would never go away. People began understanding that Heian Ciemnosc couldn’t be toyed or used.
In his test to become a Large Flotilla commander, Heian Ciemnosc would work under his previous superiors, once again becoming his big bosses. This meant a young woman and man, united by the same hobby of bullying Heian Ciemnosc, not just as the new guy, but as the talented new guy, fell in love before completing an operation with Heian Ciemnosc.
Heian Ciemnosc barely had any say during the operation, as they were working under commander Choliac’s incomplete Fleet. No matter what, Heian Ciemnosc was still a member of the Crimsonbreaking Faction organization as its member, not as a leading figure. Besides, with the Mothership only needed time to assess their soldier units and spaceships and distribute the new and old blood so that the Crimsonbreaking Faction’s main Fleet wasn’t affected.
It was a slow process that required just a little bit more of time, about half a decade. The thing is… the Crimsonbreaking Faction was already in the process of ‘suddenly’ owning several Fleets and a Mothership… This meant a lot.
Not only was the Crimsonbreaking Faction ready to unleash themselves by increasing their active crew member and completing their incomplete Fleets, but they were also adding a full-fledged Mothership. It wouldn’t be a Hive type since the Space Station was relatively new. So, the Mothership would be critical for particular uses. Those uses would complement the Faction’s Fleets and not impede them from performing.
Thus, the operation proceeded smoothly, and other than a couple Cruisers becoming scrap, the Crimsonbreaking Faction calmly secured, there were no irregularities, and the Crimsonbreaking Faction cleared an entire Space Station of a brand-new Fourth Step organization’s Third Step armadas and armies.
Thus, Officer Heian Ciemnosc was granted permission and became a Large Flotilla commander. His career in the Faction was fast so far, but not unseen in the Crimsonbreaking Faction. The reputation he built from scratch was definitely once in a lifetime, though. And that goes for a Change because virtually everyone in the Crimsonbreaking Faction accepted that their Crimson gem and goddess were taken by him.
But they had a cute daughter such as Anastasia… that won him many points. Anastasia’s learning and cultivation speed was shocking, to say the least, but she couldn’t be considered abnormal since she had such talented parents. Especially Mother Calisneia, who always taught her things not even Heian Ciemnosc was apt to teach.
Time continued to pass. Heian Ciemnosc became an adoptive father to 2 girls, although one of them wasn’t conscious just yet, and the other already understood he wasn’t his ‘biological’ daughter. Yet, that caused no drama in the Heian family.
Time passed… Heian Ciemnosc’s fame increased, turning a little infamous… The Crimsonbreaking Faction’s trump card was slowly prepared, and just like that, 3 years and a few months went by.
Today was the 50th year, 1st month, 1st week, and the 1st day since the new Change. Heian Ciemnosc was a half-a-century-old man. He has spent nearly 19 years in the Crimsonbreaking Faction and 36 since he joined the Wrath Nihility Academy.
Today, in the enormous private, cultivation bedroom in the villa-like Eternal Return base… Heian Ciemnosc had to break into the Life-Long realm!
…