Several Hours Earlier - Crimsonpeak Martial Hall
"Thank you so much for today," Kieran said with genuine gratitude, though her expression carried a hint of apology. "I'm sorry to involve you in this mess. I really—"
"We're all partners in the same guild," Vaelor interrupted with a slight smile. "It's natural to help each other. Besides, you've been letting me use the gravity chamber. Consider us even."
"But I still feel terrible about dragging you into my problems." Kieran looked at him earnestly. "Let me teach you my family's martial arts as compensation."
Vaelor was about to politely refuse when Kieran added something that made his entire demeanor shift.
"...And I'll also teach you a visualization method that can refine your spiritual power. You clearly awakened a mental-attribute talent with that Martial Will, so I think this visualization technique should be extremely useful for you."
Spirit.
Vaelor's mind raced. His Eternal Cosmos Cultivation Scripture cultivated three aspects: Body, Qi, and Soul. The refinement of his spirit—his mental power and consciousness processing ability—was merely a side effect of soul cultivation combined with the gravity chamber's pressure.
He lacked a dedicated method for tempering his spiritual power specifically. And visualization methods on the market were prohibitively expensive—often costing millions or even tens of millions of points for quality techniques.
Kieran's offer was exactly what he needed.
Even if the visualization method wasn't particularly high-grade, his Absolute Insight could analyze and upgrade it to something extraordinary.
Vaelor nodded. "In that case, I'll gratefully accept your generosity."
Kieran's beautiful face lit up with a radiant smile, like flowers blooming after spring rain. "Wonderful!"
Finally! My family's martial arts will have a disciple to inherit them!
Over the next several hours, Kieran instructed Vaelor in two techniques.
Heaven-Splitting Strike - A domineering three-star spear technique with seven forms, each building on the last to create devastating power. The final form, when executed with perfect technique and sufficient vitality, could allegedly split the heavens themselves—hence the dramatic name.
It was a solid, above-average martial art. Not legendary, but considerably better than basic academy techniques.
Dawn Visualization Method - A two-star mental cultivation technique that guided practitioners to visualize the rising sun within their spiritual sea, using the imagery of dawn's light to refine and expand spiritual power.
Again—solid and respectable, but not extraordinary.
For any normal warrior, these would be valuable gifts worth tens of thousands of points combined.
For Vaelor, they were raw materials waiting to be transformed.
"Whoosh!!"
The practice spear whistled in Vaelor's hands, flowing through the seven forms with increasing speed and precision. Countless spear shadows tore through the air, creating sounds like ripping silk.
The spear tip carved crisscrossing slash marks within a three-foot radius of his body, the cuts remaining visible in the air for several seconds before fading.
Vaelor executed the final form—the titular Heaven-Splitting Strike. The spear produced an incredibly sharp whistle, like a thousand birds crying out in unison. The iron practice spear trembled violently in his grip before shattering inch by inch from the accumulated force!
"Haa..." Vaelor exhaled, lowering the broken weapon. "That's sufficient. This martial art is quite good."
He'd also memorized the Dawn Visualization Method's complete framework and would analyze it properly when he returned home.
Kieran stood nearby in her loose training outfit, completely dumbfounded.
Watching Vaelor spend only thirty minutes to practice her family's three-star Heaven-Splitting Strike from complete beginner to Minor Mastery, then immediately to Major Mastery, she couldn't help but blurt out two words:
"Monster..."
She'd been practicing since childhood. After more than ten years of dedicated effort, she'd only reached Major Mastery herself.
He'd done it in thirty minutes.
Thirty. Minutes.
What kind of absolute monster was this?!
Kieran stood in shocked silence, her worldview crumbling.
Vaelor, oblivious to her existential crisis, asked casually, "Senior Kieran, do you know how to register for the Stellar Network?"
Kieran snapped back to awareness. "Ah—yes. You need your Warrior Badge number for authentication."
The Stellar Network—a virtual network connecting the entire world, accessible only to registered professional warriors. Reportedly hosting over 100 million warrior users globally.
It contained dungeon information databases, Abyssal Spawn bestiaries, warrior rankings, private trading markets, virtual combat arenas, martial arts livestreams, and even videos recorded by fearless warriors in dangerous territories. Everything imaginable.
"You're planning to register at the Warrior Association, right? I already contacted my friend there—Elara Moonwhisper. Just go directly and mention my name."
For the first time, Vaelor truly appreciated having a senior guild member.
She was both pleasing to the eye and genuinely capable.
Present Time - Draeth Residence
While Vaelor's shadow clone departed for the Warrior Association, his main body remained at home with a specific purpose.
He sat cross-legged on his bed, examining the two techniques Kieran had taught him with Absolute Insight fully activated.
"Let's start with the Heaven-Splitting Strike."
Rainbow luminescence filled his eyes as divine comprehension engaged at maximum capacity.
[Absolute Insight analyzing Heaven-Splitting Strike (3-Star Spear Technique)]
[Deconstructing fundamental principles...]
[Identifying core Intent: Domination through overwhelming force]
[Comprehending: Spear Intent...]
Information flooded Vaelor's consciousness as Absolute Insight dissected not just the technique itself, but the universal principles underlying spear combat.
The spear wasn't merely a weapon—it was an extension of will made physical. The king of weapons. Domineering, decisive, unstoppable when wielded with proper intent.
He comprehended the spear's nature at fundamental levels. Thrust mechanics and rotational forces. The optimal angles for piercing versus slashing. How to channel qi through the weapon's length to multiply striking power. The relationship between footwork and spear positioning.
Beyond mere technique, he grasped Spear Intent itself—the conceptual essence of what it meant to wield the spear as an instrument of absolute authority.
[Spear Intent - comprehension advancing...]
[Level 1... Level 4... Level 7... Level 9 (Peak) - MASTERED]
[Heaven-Splitting Strike technique fully comprehended]
[Optimization possible - initiating upgrade...]
[Heaven-Splitting Strike (3-Star) → Cosmic Severance Spear Art (5-Star)]
The technique transformed in Vaelor's understanding. What had been seven relatively simple forms evolved into a complex martial art with eighteen distinct forms organized into three stages:
Stage 1 (Forms 1-6): Foundation of Dominance - Establishes perfect spear fundamentals and builds momentum.
Stage 2 (Forms 7-12): Heaven's Authority - Channels Spear Intent to multiply power exponentially. Each strike carries overwhelming force that can't be blocked conventionally.
Stage 3 (Forms 13-18): Cosmic Severance - The pinnacle. Combines Spear Intent with spatial principles to create strikes that cut through dimensions themselves. The final form—True Cosmic Severance—can theoretically sever anything, including space, time, or conceptual barriers.
"Incredible," Vaelor murmured. "From decent to genuinely extraordinary."
But he wasn't finished. Next came the visualization method.
[Absolute Insight analyzing Dawn Visualization Method (2-Star Mental Cultivation)]
[Identifying purpose: Spiritual power refinement through solar imagery]
[Fundamental principle: Using conceptual anchors to structure consciousness]
[Optimization path detected...]
The Dawn Visualization Method used the rising sun as a focal point—simple, effective, but limited in scope and power.
Vaelor's enhanced comprehension saw beyond the surface technique to its underlying purpose: using vivid mental imagery to give structure and form to one's spiritual sea, thereby strengthening and refining spiritual power.
Why limit it to just the dawn sun? Why not expand the concept to encompass... everything?
[Upgrading Dawn Visualization Method...]
[Dawn Visualization Method (2-Star) → Cosmic Visualization Scripture (5-Star)]
Cosmic Visualization Scripture didn't merely visualize a sun—it visualized an entire cosmos within the practitioner's spiritual sea.
The technique guided users to populate their spiritual space with:
Illusory Stars: Countless points of spiritual light representing accumulated mental energy Nebulae: Swirling clouds of refined consciousness that could be shaped and directed Black Holes: Dense concentrations of spiritual power with gravitational-like properties that drew in and compressed ambient mental energy Galaxies: Organized structures of spiritual force that rotated in specific patterns, generating tremendous power Cosmic Phenomena: Supernovas, quasars, dimensional rifts, and other advanced visualizations unlocked at higher cultivation levels
Each element served a specific function in refining and multiplying spiritual power. As the practitioner's cultivation advanced, their internal cosmos would grow more complex and powerful, eventually approaching the structure of a genuine universe.
"This is..." Vaelor opened his eyes, which now sparkled with actual starlight. "This is perfect."
He immediately began practicing the Cosmic Visualization Scripture.
Closing his eyes, Vaelor turned his awareness inward to his spiritual sea—the vast consciousness realm that had expanded dramatically during his recent breakthroughs.
Following the scripture's guidance, he began visualizing.
A single point of light appeared in the darkness—a star being born. Then another. And another. Within minutes, thousands of illusory stars populated his spiritual space, each one a concentration of refined mental energy.
Nebulae formed as clouds of consciousness coalesced into swirling patterns. At the center of his spiritual sea, a massive black hole manifested—not consuming his power, but drawing it in, compressing it, and radiating it back out in purified form.
His spiritual sea transformed from an empty void into a vibrant cosmos teeming with structure and power.
The effect on his spiritual strength was immediate and dramatic.
[Spiritual Power substantially increased]
[Mental processing speed +300%]
[Consciousness expansion detected]
[Spiritual attacks and defenses greatly enhanced]
Vaelor opened his eyes, feeling the difference immediately. His thoughts moved faster, clearer, more efficient. His perception of the world had sharpened to impossible clarity.
With this spiritual cultivation method, I can finally refine my spirit properly rather than relying on passive side effects.
But as he reviewed his newly upgraded techniques, a realization struck him.
I have eleven peak-level Intents mastered. I have Genesis Will at Level 9. I have tremendous spiritual and physical power.
But I lack martial techniques to properly channel and amplify that power.
The Cosmic Severance Spear Art was excellent—but it only utilized Spear Intent. What about his Fire Intent? His Shadow Intent? His Spatial Displacement Intent? His Kinetic Intent?
He had all these incredible conceptual understandings but no sophisticated techniques designed to leverage them.
"I need to acquire multiple martial arts—preferably average ones that are affordable—and use Absolute Insight to comprehend, combine, and upgrade them into something far greater."
The strategy crystallized clearly: Purchase a variety of basic-to-intermediate techniques covering different weapons and combat styles. Analyze them all simultaneously. Identify complementary principles. Merge them into unified fighting systems that could leverage his multiple Intents working in concert.
When I have time and resources, that's the priority. Building a comprehensive martial arts foundation.
For now, though, he needed to handle immediate matters.
Vaelor created a shadow clone and switched consciousness with it, sending his clone body to the Warrior Association while his main body remained home to continue cultivation.
Meanwhile - Thunder Martial Hall
Wang Thornbeak returned to his martial hall with a dark expression, descending to the underground third-floor training room.
When he entered, a young man was sparring—if it could be called that—with another student while a bald elderly man observed.
"Worthless! Pathetic!"
The shirtless, ugly young man with a buzz cut and tattoos covering his muscular torso and face had his vitality surging visibly beneath his skin. He spat insults with eyes bulging with rage while throwing continuous punches. Each step planted firmly as a mountain, but his strikes moved swift as thunder, accompanied by whistling wind sounds. Absolutely brutal.
The other young man was beaten backward repeatedly, completely overwhelmed and disheveled.
CRACK!
A sickening sound of breaking bone. One of the young man's arms snapped, and he collapsed screaming in agony.
The ugly youth stepped on his head and spat contemptuously. "Is this all you've got, Brother Chen?!"
"You're absolutely worthless!"
"Ah! Brother Liang, I really can't continue anymore..." the young man begged through tears.
"No!"
He grabbed the injured youth's hair roughly, yanking him upward with vicious force. "Get up and continue training!"
The bald elderly man didn't intervene, instead offering praise. "Excellent, excellent."
He turned to Wang as he approached. "Look at this—Liang's Wind-Thunder Fist technique has improved dramatically recently. He should reach Perfect Mastery by the examination period. Many times faster than your progress at his age."
"I'm terrible at martial cultivation. Is comparing me to him really meaningful?" Wang lit a cigarette irritably.
"What's wrong? You look furious. Who provoked you this time?"
"That damned Kieran Ashford again." Wang took a deep drag.
"You went after her again? She's a fierce horse, that one."
"Fierce horses are the most satisfying to conquer."
"So you failed again?"
"...Don't mention it. Some brat completely ruined my plans."
"What did you say?"
"A student about Liang's age, claiming to be a Crimsonpeak Martial Hall disciple. Defeated Song in a single hit. He must have broken through his limits and become a warrior already."
The bald man's eyebrows rose. "Oh?"
The ugly youth—Liang Steelbreak—stopped his beating and turned with interest. "About my age? What's his name?"
"Mm, Vaelor Draeth. Should also be a student at Thornhaven First Combat Academy. Do you know him? He seems to have awakened a mental-attribute talent." Wang exhaled smoke.
"Vaelor Draeth... mental talent..."
Liang thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Never heard of him."
Liang Steelbreak—student in Elite Class at Thornhaven First Combat Academy. Awakened A-Rank talent: Nether Thunder. Changed profession to rare-tier Berserker class.
Wang looked surprised. "You haven't heard of him?"
"I only pay attention to people stronger than me. I don't waste time on garbage." Liang sneered, releasing the injured youth dismissively. "There are only four people in the entire academy I consider worthy opponents: Aldric Wintercrown, Lyris Ashenvale, Cassius Shadowbane, and Rowan Ashford from the Ashford Conglomerate."
The bald man clasped his hands behind his back, nodding. "They do surpass you in talent, profession, and family background. Do they know you consider them rivals?"
Liang bristled. "What are you implying, old man?"
"Just stating facts. You can't actually defeat any of those four."
"How would you know without trying?!" Liang snapped angrily. "My vitality is only slightly away from reaching Tier 1 Warrior threshold. Combined with my talent, professional skills, and martial arts, ordinary Tier 1 warriors aren't my match!"
"What's a Tier 1 warrior?" The old man shook his head. "Multiple students your age in this year's cohort have already become warriors. Not just one or two—several."
"Beyond those four geniuses, Frostgate City reportedly has a girl who awakened an SS-Rank undead-attribute talent."
"Now there's this dark horse."
"They're all chosen by fate. It used to be remarkable having one provincial examination top scorer. This year they're all concentrated here."
"Liang, train harder. Don't think your A-Rank talent makes you special. Compared to these prodigies, your only advantage is slightly better luck. Work diligently, or you won't even qualify for a decent Combat University in this year's examination."
Liang gritted his teeth, turning to Wang furiously. "Master! Where is Crimsonpeak Martial Hall? I want to test this guy's abilities! I refuse to believe he's better than me!"
"No need to visit. You'll see him in five days."
"Five days?"
Wang exhaled smoke. "I've made a wager with Crimsonpeak Martial Hall. Another disciple competition in five days. This time, you can only win—failure isn't acceptable!"
"Can I use my talent?"
"Yes. Not only that, I'll spend considerable resources training you over the next few days. Your vitality will break ten and you'll become a Tier 1 Warrior." Wang placed his hand on Liang's shoulder. "Can you handle it?"
Liang's eyes gleamed with predatory light. He slammed his fist into his palm. "Don't worry, Director. Once I become a warrior, I won't lose!"
"Excellent!"
Wang's corpulent face twisted with malice, his small eyes flashing with sinister coldness. "I don't care what kind of genius he is. If he dares ruin my plans, I'll make sure he can't even take the examination!"
The bald man said nothing, simply resuming his observation of Liang's training.
Five days, the old man thought. This should be interesting. Either that Draeth boy is genuinely exceptional... or Liang will crush him and restore Thunder Hall's reputation.
Either way, I'll finally see what the next generation is truly capable of.