Anastasia sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes closed as she focused on her breath. The air was thick with anticipation, and she could feel the weight of her determination settling upon her like a mantle. Seven days had passed since she began her journey, and she had yet to break through to the first level of the Embryonic Stage.
As she meditated, Anastasia's body began to glow with a soft, ethereal light. Her meridians were opening, allowing her energy to flow more freely. She could feel her power growing, expanding like a blooming flower. But the journey was not without its challenges. Anastasia's mind was beset by doubts and fears, and her body was wracked with pain and fatigue. She felt like she was pushing against a wall, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to break through.
Despite the obstacles, Anastasia refused to give up. She drew upon her inner reserves of strength and determination, pushing herself to the limit. And then, in a flash of insight, she felt a sudden surge of energy. Her meridians opened wide, and her power surged forward like a tidal wave. Anastasia felt herself being lifted up, elevated to a new level of consciousness. She was breaking through, and she knew it.
As she opened her eyes, Anastasia felt a sense of triumph and elation. She had done it. She had broken through to the first level of the Embryonic Stage. She stood up, her movements fluid and powerful. Anastasia felt a sense of freedom and joy, knowing that she had taken the first step on a long journey. She was no longer the same person she had been just seven days ago. She was stronger, more confident, and more determined.
Anastasia smiled to herself, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. She knew that she still had a long way to go, but she was ready for the challenge. She was ready to face whatever lay ahead, knowing that she had the strength and determination to succeed.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Anastasia walked over to the window and looked out. The world was full of possibilities, and she was ready to seize them. She felt a sense of excitement and anticipation, knowing that her journey was just beginning.
Her mental superpowers had grown stronger, and she could sense the world around her in a way she never had before. With her newfound abilities, Anastasia discovered that she could see through her consciousness farther and more detailed than before, perceiving the house and its surroundings in a way that was previously impossible. She could see the entire house, except for a northern area that seemed to be blocked off by an invisible barrier.
As she explored the limits of her powers, Anastasia realized that she had entered the second stage of her mental superpowers. This was unbelievable, considering she had achieved it in just seven days, whereas in her past life, it had taken her two months of continuous effort to reach the same level yet she had been hailed as a genius.
Her consciousness had expanded, allowing her to see further and sense more of the world around her. In a test of her abilities, Anastasia focused her mental powers on the stream at the back of the house. She concentrated on the water and the fish swimming in it, and to her amazement, she was able to stop their movement for ten seconds. Her powers were more fluid than in her past life at the same level.
'It must be because I can now cultivate,' she thought. 'Then I must cultivate more and make use of the time difference between the two realms to be ahead in these perilous times.'
Anastasia continued to cultivate, determined to stabilize her realm and gather more internal energy into her body. With a sense of determination and purpose, she pushed herself to reach new heights, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
After stabilizing her realm, Anastasia realized another day had passed. She returned to the Hills mansion and took a bath. She lay down on the bed, checking the news about the natural disasters happening all around the world, albeit in manageable forms, but nonetheless widespread, with every country in the world having at least a disaster to their name.
Anastasia's brother, Aaron, knocked on the door, and she told him to come in. He entered the room, looking concerned.
"Hey, sis. I was worried about you. The maid said you hadn't come downstairs all day. How are you feeling?"
Anastasia smiled weakly. "I'm okay, just resting."
Aaron nodded. "Okay, good. I was worried. By the way, I cleared the spies at the company, and I also took care of the ones at home. You're all safe."
Anastasia nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Thanks, Aaron. I appreciate it."
Aaron looked at her with a serious expression. "Anastasia, what's really going on? You can tell me. I want to know what's wrong." Anastasia hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
"Do you believe in the apocalypse?" she asked, trying to gauge his reaction.
Aaron looked at her like she was crazy, and Anastasia expected that reaction. "The apocalypse? You mean like the end of the world?"
Anastasia nodded. "Yes, something like that."
Aaron chuckled. "Anastasia, you're not buying into some conspiracy theory, are you?"
Anastasia smiled wryly. "Just answer the question, Aaron. Do you believe me?"
Aaron shook his head. "Anastasia, I don't know what you're talking about."
Anastasia pulled out her phone and focused her consciousness. She sent it to the space warehouse, and Aaron's eyes widened in surprise. She did the same with his phone, and then she brought both phones back out. Next, Anastasia focused on the space warehouse again and pulled out a chest filled with gold. She transported it to her world, and Aaron's eyes went wide with amazement.
"What's going on, Anastasia?" Aaron asked, stunned. "How are you doing this?"
Anastasia smiled, feeling a mix of emotions. "This is the superpower I had in my past life," she said, trying to explain.
Aaron's expression softened, and he walked over to Anastasia. He hugged her tightly. "It's okay, sis. Whatever you faced before, it's okay. You don't need to face it alone. You have a family now. You have me, and I'll protect you."
Anastasia felt a lump in her throat as she hugged her brother back. She felt guilty for not trusting him completely, but she knew she had her reasons. As she pulled back, she saw the concern and love in Aaron's eyes, and she knew that he would do anything to help her.