[Void Body Refinement Technique]

A golden title that looked majestic despite the tattered appearance of the manual. Zyrus sank his will into the first page and began reading about the martial arts of a different world.

It was a world without magic. Humans were divided into two societies in that realm brimming with spiritual qi. Mortals who lived like regular folks and the cultivators who used the spiritual qi.

Zyrus deduced that they used the energy called spiritual qi to increase their level of existence. It was similar to leveling up in the sanctuary, just terribly inefficient.

At least, that’s what it looked like at first glance.

‘This seems like the correct path more than ours…’

The path of cultivation was arduous. Hundreds of years of hard work was needed to improve their strength. It was laughable that players had reached the same level in just a year.

But there were just the introductory notes in the manual. Like the first few pages of a textbook that no-one bothers to read.

It briefly explained the two main schools of cultivation. One was the energy cultivation where one accumulated energy in their dantian to improve their martial prowess. The other path was a more arduous one, and it was the main focus of this manual - Physical cultivation.

‘Magic, energy, physical cultivation…everything leads to the same destination,’

This was a manual that showed the pinnacle of physical cultivation by using the power of laws. Zyrus read through the pages like a sponge absorbing moisture. He didn’t plan to follow the formula as is, he only needed sufficient information to create a unique skill suitable for him.

Acupoints, meridians, vessels… he memorized and probed the mentioned parts with his mana. There was no such thing as spiritual qi in the sanctuary. He knew that it would be difficult to mold this manual into his personal skill.

But he wasn’t called the greatest arcanist for nothing.

He welcomed challenges like these.

…

Zyrus didn’t know how long had passed since he started reading. Thankfully, his willpower had become stronger than before.

The manual disintegrated bit by bit in his hands. He modified what he needed and discarded the useless information.

At last, only a few pages remained. And these pages were directly absorbed by him.

Zyrus knew that what he absorbed wasn’t just the knowledge. It was experience of the martial artist.

It was the embryonic form of a skill, a skill which would be recognized by the sanctuary.

There were three major and nine minor reals in both energy and physical cultivation. The number nine was special as he recalled that some arcanists also followed the circle system. From one to the hypothetical limit of nine, such circles were engraved on the heart and soul of the mage.

But 9 was just a hypothetical number. A myth.

The highest noted realm was of the fifth circle.

It was the same for the cultivation manual as well.

Three major realms: Kasa, Raya, and Vita.

Each were divided into three minor stages. Kasa was the starting point that separated commoners and martial artists.

Raya was stage only attained by one in a million. The cultivators of this realm were the true rulers of the martial world.

Vita, a mythological realm that no one had ever attained.

At a glance, the system of martial arts looked incomplete and even crude. How can you call a system defined when a third of it was based on hypothetical junctures?

But Zyrus felt deep admiration for the creator of this structure. Rather than those who looked down after reaching the pinnacle of the world, he liked those who gazed above at the stars.

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Was the civilization of the martial world weak? The answer was no.

Raya realm was at least as strong as the fifth ring of the sanctuary. Those in the third level of Raya realm had to be as strong as the Eternals. And this manual showed a clear method on how to reach the third level of the Raya realm.

Zyrus organized the technique and modified the terminologies. He created new names for three realms which could be applied to anyone, regardless of whether they were a mage or a martial artist.

It was a presumptuous modification which he wouldn’t dare to show another arcanist. But he believed in his judgment.

The three reams he created weren’t based on a whim. As someone who could be said to possess the same power as the one at the third level of the Raya realm, he had the right and capabilities to attempt such a feat.

He didn’t dare to rename the great realms, nor did he dare to talk about the mythological last three stages.

He renamed the first six minor realms according to his understanding of both of his lives. It was his first attempt at merging two entirely different power systems, and this was the result:

1. World Resonance

2. World Essence

3. World Core

4. Astral Resonance

5. Astral Essence

6. Astral Core

‘And I am at the second stage,’

Being able to reference the path of another was perhaps his greatest opportunity as an arcanist. A new perspective about the truth of the universe. A mirror to observe the path he had walked thus far.

Zyrus knew that his vision was limited. So, he would borrow the eyes of others to see his own path.

And if he failed to reach his destination one day,

Then he too would leave his eyes, his path, and his source of existence behind.

He felt sentimental as he looked at the countless white lines that scattered around the black space. Each line represented a different story, a broken path where they failed to reach their destination.

‘But I won’t become like them,’

These were his last thoughts before his willpower ran out.

…

Zyrus opened his eyes in a black space once again. But this time, he realized something different.

‘I created it,’

It was a void created by his source of origin. A good portion of the already vacant trench was erased by the laws of void.

‘No, it’s not erased. It’s a different type of void,’

Emptiness.

It was the void that resembled the region between two galaxies and star clusters. An unimaginable stretch of space where nothing existed. A space where even light would take millions of years to pass by.

That was the form of void he comprehended after his encounter with Jörmungandr. Only after encountering his vastness did he realize the emptiness of void.

The same was true for his reward given by the cube, the power of Devouring.

[Mission: Gain the acknowledgment of Jörmungandr]

[You must reach the bottom of the ocean to meet Jörmungandr]

[Congratulations! You have completed the mission]

[You have obtained the talent “Devour (A rank)”]

[-:-] You have obtained a Transcendent stat [-:-]

[Changing the stat to suit your level…]

[ERROR]

[Failed to adjust the ###?? ##...?]

[Modifying the reward]

[You have been given the chance to “Transcend” a stat]

He closed the message and looked at the scale and the blood essence below him. The blood must be related to transcending the stat, and the scale...

‘It must be for an armor,’

It looked like everything was planned out for him. He hadn't read about the new talent or understood what transcending a stat meant. Both were completely unfamiliar to him.

One thing was for certain though. Both of these would make his grand plan of unifying two systems possible. The chance to cultivate his physique was right before his eyes.

‘I appreciate the sentiment, but I won’t follow your plan,’

He didn’t want an armor. He didn’t want to cultivate a half-baked technique, even if it was made by him.

He wanted to walk on a path that was the most difficult.

Only then could he surpass everyone he knew, just like in his past life.

‘Anyway, looks like I’ll need very high defense in the coming days…’

These were the cards prepared for him in advance. He didn’t know who or where would he be fighting, but this was enough.

He asked the cube what transcending the stat meant, but there was no reply. He had guessed that he would be getting a new trait so this was unexpected for him.

Nonetheless, what he had to do remained the same.

Zyrus jumped down on the blood essence and started absorbing it with his mana. There were no changes except the pure and refreshing feeling that enveloped his senses.

The cube would show him the path to transcend a stat on its own. So in the meanwhile, he opened his status to check on the new talent.

[Talent: Devour (A rank)]

Devour the heavens to transcend your mortality.

By absorbing the blood of Jörmungandr, you have inherited a part of its talent. You now possess the ability to devour the cosmic energy to temper your flesh and blood.

May the endless stars quench your hunger.

Effect: Absorb the cosmic energy emitted from the vast cosmos.

CD: None

Special Ability 1: You can accumulate cosmic energy in any part of your body. By unleashing the stored energy, you can imbue your attack with the Stellar power.

Note: At higher adaptation level, it is possible to continuously use this ability by maintaining equilibrium.

Special Ability 2: You now possess the trace of Jörmungandr’s bloodline. You can survive in any environment by devouring the world’s energy.

Note: Extreme terrain will still harm your body, but you will not die as long as you adapt with your talent.

Note: Such adaptation is irreversible.

Special Ability 3: (Locked)