As the Chieftain began describing his plan. The morale of their enemies was horrible. With a headcount, they lost far more than they anticipated including most of their late-stage outer ki realms.

The white-haired man was inside a tent with only two other people. Both are at the outer ki realm peak. The white-haired man mumbled to himself as the two silently sat enjoying tea.

The male cultivator with short hair spoke up. “Ambitio Shinrin, what you promised me doesn’t seem to be working. I might not stack up to you but if deaths continue at this rate. Then my Tribe will be wiped out.”

The other man beside him was present with Ambitio Shinrin the previous day, sporting a ponytail. He also spoke up, “If he backs out then I’ll also back out.”

Ambitio Shinrin looked at both of them with anger in his eyes. “You would run with your tail between your legs?”

“My tribe would survive to see another chieftain,” spoke the ponytail man.

“Hmph, you lack faith in me. Of course, the old fool has some tricks up his sleeve. He’s an intelligent one who has worldly experience.”

At “worldly experience,” everyone in the room felt the atmosphere become heavy. Anyone within these tribes who could go out into the world and return alive was a man worth many men. And the worst part was that the Shizen Tribe’s Chieftain was reputed as the greatest genius in the tribes' history.

Ambitio Shinrin continued, “In the end, his experience doesn’t mean anything. He’ll die under my hand directly.”

The two men raised their eyebrows.

“I’ve already sent a messenger to issue a battle between chiefs.”

The short-haired man erupted in laughter. “You want to beat him in a one-on-one. I’d have wasted my years of living if I thought this was so straightforward.”

“You must have gotten outside help, huh? How certain are you of your chances?” asks the ponytail man.

Ambitio Shinrin pulled out a small bottle and uncorked the top. Ki of heaven and earth filled the room as the two men widened their eyes in shock.

“I’ve brought my tribe with me to hell with no return.” the short-haired man muttered with fear.

The ponytail man said, “Using that ki is tantamount to spitting on the heavens themselves. For you to go this far, you must have a way to recover.”

Ambitio Shinrin replied, “Of course, my recovery is guaranteed. They see our tribes as a chessboard they can use at will. But who knows better? Those inside the thicket or those standing outside?”

The ponytail man sighed, “I’ve truly done something terrible in joining you.”

The short man’s eyes knit together. “Has the other tribe made any moves or are they still silent?”

“They’re restless but as long as she doesn’t do anything, she’ll be fine.”

Back at the Shizen Tribe.

The challenge letter arrived and the Chieftain agreed to it. With the challenge being held two days from today. The Chieftain then leaves out the back of the tribe into the forest. Here, he meets a man and woman with two black leopards.

The man says, “She’ll be arriving by tomorrow as agreed.”

“No, tell her to delay, arrive the morning after and proceed as normal otherwise. It seems I’ve been challenged to a one-on-one.”

The woman replied, “If that’s the case then doesn’t it verify our guesses.”

The Chieftain nodded and the two hopped on their leopards, quickly leaving. The Chieftain turned around as a glint flashed through his eyes. It seems things will become lively.

A day passed and the three tribe coalition set up camp a few miles away from their tribe. And even surrounded the Shizen Tribe, Showing their resolve to finish them off.

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Midway through the day, Raja Kint was thrown into the air with a grimace. Bane Shizen caught him on the way down with alcohol tainting his breath.

Currently, the Tribe decided to host a party. With tomorrow potentially being their end. They didn’t want to go out without at least some good times. For Raja Kint, who isn’t a part of the tribe. This party held no appeal, but with Bane Shizen appearing in front of him by chance and carrying him over. He could only wait for an opportunity to slink away.

At this moment Raja Kint went to the room beneath the Chieftain’s house. Here, he found the Chieftain cultivating at the side. He turned his attention toward the desk as he cupped his face into his hands. I’ve read through everything here. Realistically, the chief should’ve broken through long ago. His foundations are monstrous for his situation. But if you need heaven to go send the body through nirvana. Then, what can one truly do without heaven?

Raja Kint glanced at the Chieftain and noticed small clumps of earth had risen around him. Raja Kint continued staring as the clumps of earth levitated. Just like this time passed peacefully, The party ended and people fell asleep. Leading to the sixth day since the war started.

The moon sat high in the sky as the night peacefully passed. Underground an old man and a young man are in a room together. The older man is in a meditative state as clumps of soil levitate around him. Across from him is a young man who seems to be in a trance.

Raja Kint’s mind was clear of thoughts as he was immersed in the moment. Then a thought finally arrived causing a glint to flash through his eyes. The limbo realm is effectively a rebirth of the body. Hence the name of its first stage is embryo. Where one is considered to have finally gained the initial embryo for a cultivator.

With incomplete thoughts, the Chieftain’s eyes opened as he uttered, “Speak your thoughts.”

“We know the limbo realm is effectively a bridge between a mortal and one who is considered a devourer. Hence, the name “limbo,” as this realm signifies the death of the mortal and the birth of the cultivator.”

“With the first stage of limbo being called, embryo. This stage is classified by your body’s increased attunement to ki. Hence the body itself down to fibers must be robustly filled with ki.”

“Exactly, nowhere along this process does it call upon the necessity of the heavens. You should be able to…,” the two looked at each other as Raja Kint continued. “You should be able to break through using only earth ki. There will probably be benefits and drawbacks.”

The Chieftain chimed in, “But it would be considered a true, firm step within the limbo realm. This brings the issue to gathering enough earth ki to break through.”

“Yeah, normally it’s the heavens itself that initiates the movement of ki. Bringing forth enough ki to attune your body.”

The Chief was in deep thought as he said. “Maybe earth law could help but even then this is difficult. Haha, cultivation truly is a heaven-defying act. Whoever paved this road first must have been one hell of a genius.”

Raja Kint could only nod his head in agreement. From the texts, he had read on Kint Planet. There was this old scripture that apparently, even ancient existences throughout history couldn’t decide how true it was.

“Cultivation began with man defying the heavens. Only under man’s foot did the heavens concede.”

Cultivation itself is still a harrowing act where one misstep can ruin you in an innumerable amount of ways. As one progresses, cultivation only becomes more defying, leading to an ever scarier tightrope walk. Thus, one can truly understand those who gain the title of heaven-defying. Those are people who form their own paths without heaven's help. In effect, they walk a tightrope with one eye and their arms tied behind their back. They are the few who walk a “self” path similar to the first cultivator who stomped the heavens underfoot.

The Chief sighed, “We’ve found a fog-covered path.”

“If anyone can do this then it would be you Chief. Your foundation is frightening, under the right conditions you should easily break through. And maybe even begin to step into the second stage of limbo realm, the corporeal stage.”

The two sat in silence for a few moments. The Chieftain stood up and walked to the bookshelf. He scanned through the books before stopping at one. Flipping through the pages he finally stopped and showed Raja Kint. At the top of the page were the words, “ki gathering array.” Below it is an image of an array.

“Do you think there’s an array just for gathering earth ki only?” The Chieftain wore a calm look with bright eyes.

Raja Kint furrowed his brows, “I don’t see why this wouldn’t work. But to gather only one type of ki. I would have to do serious research on this. You’re effectively telling me to break down an array into its intricate workings and rebuild it together differently while modifying the effect.”

“But you can do it can’t you.”

“Well…”

The two stared at each other, then the Chief put the book away. He turned back to Raja Kint and said. “I have some knowledge of arrays. Although, not enough to deconstruct and reconstruct an array while modifying it.”

Raja Kint could only sigh. Most who focus on arrays at his current cultivation couldn’t do a fraction of what he was already capable of. But he was also interested in this line of thought. Could this unintentionally pave my heaven-defying path?

Raja Kint’s eyes turned sharp, “Don’t die tomorrow old man. I want to figure this out as well.”

The Chieftain laughed, “Whatever tricks they pull won’t be enough. I only worry that those outsiders might attempt something. But even then I have my methods.”