Sun isolated himself in the cave of the Spirit Spring.
Sitting in the silver pool in the cave's centre, wisps of pale green light mixed with the Heaven Qi and Earth Qi.
Images and symbols were drawn around the rim of the pool.
Sun was carving a Dao Art into his stomach with his lower half submerged in the cold, thick Qi of Heaven and Earth.
Focusing on his core, the 'water' rose, filling in the cut lines on his stomach.
Red mixed with grey, and glowed a pale green light.
His blood and skin absorbed the Heaven and Earth Qi mixture, which resonated with his Human Qi.
Minutes passed before Sun let out heavy gasps, heaving in cold breaths of air.
Around a quarter of the assimilation process was done.
To step into the Second Foundation of cultivation, the Cultivator must select a 'primary Dao Art' to assimilate into themselves.
Similar to how Dao Art mediums work autonomously and are self-sustaining.
The selected Dao Art is bound to the three cores of a Cultivator, starting with their stomach, the heart, and then the mind.
Normally, the Dao Art needs to be sustained through conscious efforts; mediums allow Dao Arts to be self-sustaining, only to an extent.
Stronger Dao Arts require stronger mediums, such as Qi conglomerates.
Mystical weapons utilise Spirits as their Dao Art's medium.
For Second Foundation Cultivators, they allow Heaven Qi and Earth Qi to become their mediums, taking such Qi into their bodies.
However, the process of assimilating Heaven Qi and Earth Qi can be difficult, if not fatal.
It is not like the refinement of natural Qi into Human Qi, instead, one must maintain the two Qi's innate quality.
At this point, a Cultivator's Human Qi can not refine such an intense amount of Heaven Qi or Earth Qi, but can find a balance between the three.
If successful, the two Qi will be drawn into the Core through the Dao Art, binding to the Core and imprinting the Dao Art, Heaven Qi, and Earth Qi altogether.
This recreates the autonomous and self-sustaining properties of a medium, and the high quality of the two Qi allows for advance or powerful Dao Arts to be applied.
Sun was going through the process of marking his first Core, his stomach core.
He would continue the process after ten minutes of rest and continue until he reached the halfway mark.
This time, he felt his mind slipping. He couldn't leave the pool nor lose concentration until he finished the first Core.
Straightening back up, Sun steadied himself and rested again.
After ten minutes of rest, he would continue. Pushing himself to his limits, he managed to finish the assimilation process.
The Dao Art carved on his stomach shimmered a murky grey as it mixed with blood and light green light.
It seeped into his skin and assimilated into his stomach Core, leaving an imprint of a tyrannical crown and a fluttering banner.
This Dao Art was unique. It encompassed two techniques, both of which conveniently fit Sun's two desired professions--Warrior and Medical Expert.
With the coming tides of beasts and Spirits, the past weeks of countless losses, and his struggle to uphold his sense of justice, it was difficult for Sun to focus on his cultivation journey.
Should he become a warrior, he would lack the proficiency of a Medical Expert.
Should he become a Medical Expert, he would lack the skills of a Warrior.
Should he try and find a grey area, he would not be proficient in either field.
However, Sun was not trying to appease both his dilemmas. Instead, he wanted to resolve one to resolve both.
His main problem was not trying to fulfil one role or the other, but his capability to save lives.
Whether he became a Warrior or a Medical Expert, he would still lose lives. The only solution was to deepen his cultivation in either field.
Sun worried that by focusing on one profession primarily, the other would not be able to perform to the best of its capability.
Although Sun was no longer worried about this dilemma. With his recent visit to the blacksmith, his resolution to become a Warrior was steeled.
If people get hurt, then he has to heal them, but if nobody gets hurt, then there shouldn't be a problem.
If Sun could attain overwhelming strength, he could protect people. He could save lives.
The Dao Art image Sun was assimilating on himself was called Crown Ring Tyrant's War Banner, the former half of the Dual Ring Twin Heart Dao Art.
Crown Ring Tyrant's War Banner boasted incredible fighting strength, focusing solely on offensive power, and amplifying itself in the presence of violence.
Paired with the skill and flexibility of Sun's main offensive Dao Art, Golden Arc and Ribbons, it boasts an incredible battle strength among Second Foundation Cultivators.
At the peak of its current power and Sun's current status, that is.
The other half of the Dual Ring Twin Heart Dao Art, Star Halo's Salvation unto Earth, focused on healing and mental recovery. Its Dao Art image would resemble a circle of stars shining on the land.
Sun only focused on his battle strength and offensive power, thus, he had no intention of assimilating this other Dao Art.
This was the decision he made after weeks of inner turmoil.
Choosing a primary Dao Art was no minor choice, its implications would dictate the path your cultivation journey would follow.
One could not assimilate another Dao Art onto their primary, nor could they simply remove their original primary Dao Art; doing so could have a fatal backlash.
That is why Sun took so long to choose his primary Dao Art, and why most other Cultivators would struggle with their own, as well.
After finishing the Dao Art assimilation on the stomach Core, Sun would collapse back into the silver pool's surface.
Due to its thickness, he did not sink immediately; it had a consistency like mud.
His chest heaved above the reflective surface, and the wounds on his stomach gradually began to heal.
Sun had only completed one-third of the process, yet he could feel a qualitative change within his stomach.
The Heaven Qi and Earth Qi of the Spirit Spring resonated with his stomach Core, filling it with an abundance of essence.
Using these two Qis as a medium, the Dao Art can sustain itself indefinitely, drawing upon the Qi of the world to maintain itself, and does not require the constant supply of human Qi, or the exhaustible supply of Qi conglomerates.
It was cheap, efficient, but also very difficult.
Sinking a little lower into the silvery pool, Sun tiredly reflected on the previous scars on his life, the countless people he lost and couldn't protect.
Steeling his resolve once more, Sun raised himself from submerging in the pool and began to draw.
A tyrannical crown and the fluttering banner of war were carved above his heart.
Commanding the water to rise and mix into the open wounds.
Blood and Qi become one.
After an hour of mixing, it turns into a murky grey and seeps into the body.
The wounds begin to heal as he accepts this Dao Art into his heart, assimilating with his heart Core.
Once again.
Blood becomes Qi, Qi becomes blood.
Two funnels into one and assimilate with the mind.
Scarlet drops race down his brow, and silver water ascends his face.
Collating into the centre of his forehead, the image of war and violence is imprinted on his mind.
His stomach churns with violence, his heart pumps the blood of warfare, and his mind bears the crown of a tyrant.
Finally, the three steps have been taken, and Sun has ascended to the Second Foundation of cultivation.
Fully collapsing into the silvery pool, Sun lies across the surface, lost in thought.
He feels a surge of inexhaustible power within his three Cores, the faint, lingering sensation of Heaven and Earth.
Taking a deep breath, he puffs his chest proudly and sighs in satisfaction.
Becoming a Second Foundation Cultivator, Sun feels he can view the world from a higher viewpoint.
Sun simply rests in the cool currents of Heaven Qi and Earth Qi, feeling the divine forces flowing around him.
...
Before he could sink too deep, Sun raised himself and stood at the centre of the pool.
The quiet winds outside are carried into the cave, like a faint echo.
Without a moment's notice, Sun dries himself off and changes into a new pair of robes.
Exiting the cave, the venerated statue of the White Tiger welcomes him.
Stepping out from under the shade, Sun's arms open wide as he embraces the sky with a smile.
He looked up at the Star Sea above and couldn't help but think,
'The stars look as clear as ever.'
Without hesitation, Sun exited the Spirit Spring's gate and started to descend the mountain's slope.
He wanted to test out this new level of strength.
Sun acknowledges this new restlessness within him, he could not wait for the expedition to commence.
To face the mist far beyond the horizon.