Alex and Yi Zhau stepped out of the cave.
For the first time—
Light touched his face.
Before him…
The Baspian Waterfall roared with immense force.
Water crashed down from the heights, shining under the sky.
Mist filled the air.
Nature… alive and powerful.
A complete contrast to the darkness behind him.
Yi Zhau stood with his hands behind his back.
"Look carefully."
"One step behind you… darkness."
"One step ahead… power."
A pause.
"This is the world."
Alex's eyes moved slowly across the scene.
His expression calm… but focused.
"It's… beautiful."
Yi Zhau let out a faint scoff.
"Beauty?"
"Do not waste your thoughts on such useless things."
A pause.
"If you want to survive in this world…"
"…you need power."
Alex looked at him.
"Power…?"
"Yes."
"Training begins now."
Silence.
The air felt heavier again.
Alex straightened his posture.
"What kind of training… Master?"
Yi Zhau's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So you finally ask something worth answering."
A faint arrogance in his tone.
"I will teach you…"
"…the two paths that rule this world."
He raised one finger.
"Elemental Cultivation."
Another finger.
"Soul Cultivation."
"These are not equal paths."
A pause.
"One builds the body."
"One controls existence itself."
Alex listened silently.
Yi Zhau continued.
"In Elemental Cultivation…"
"Everything begins with Elemental Awakening Realm."
"You have already stepped into it."
"But awakening is nothing."
"It is the lowest form of power."
His voice became sharper.
"After awakening…"
Yi Zhau's voice echoed with calm arrogance as he continued the explanation.
"You think reaching Purification makes you strong?"
A faint scoff.
"That is where true cultivation only begins."
A pause.
"Listen carefully… and do not forget."
"After Elemental Awakening Realm… comes the hidden stages."
"Elemental Gathering Stage."
"Where energy is collected like scattered drops."
"Unstable… weak… but necessary."
"Then…"
"Elemental Focusing Stage."
"Energy begins to obey your will."
"Control improves… but still incomplete."
"After that…"
"Elemental Perfection Stage."
"Your element flows smoothly."
"No resistance… no instability."
"You begin to command instead of struggle."
A brief silence.
"Then you enter…"
"Elemental Core Realm."
"Where power becomes your own."
"Not borrowed… not unstable…"
"…but formed within you."
His tone deepened.
"After Core comes…"
"Purification Stage."
"Where your core is refined."
"Impurities removed."
"Your strength becomes sharp… and deadly."
A pause.
"But beyond this…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Few reach further."
"After Purification…"
"Elemental Manifestation Realm."
"Your element leaves your body freely."
"Not just control…"
"…but projection."
"You fight the world itself."
"Then…"
"Elemental Fusion Realm."
"Your body and element become one."
"Speed… strength… durability…"
"All increase beyond normal limits."
A faint pressure filled the air.
"After that…"
"Elemental Domain Realm."
"You create your own territory."
"Inside it…"
"You are absolute."
"Others… are suppressed."
Silence.
Even the air felt heavy.
"Then comes…"
"Elemental Sovereign Realm."
"You gain authority over your element."
"Not control…"
"…but dominance."
"You can suppress weaker cultivators effortlessly."
A pause.
"And finally…"
His voice lowered.
"Elemental Infinity Realm."
"Where your element has no limits."
"Creation… destruction…"
"Beginning… and end…"
"All exist within one."
A faint smirk appeared.
"But don't misunderstand…"
"You are not even worth mentioning in front of that stage."
A sharp silence followed.
"So focus…"
"On taking your next step first."
Yi Zhau lowered his hand.
"And this…"
"…is only the beginning."
Alex took a deep breath.
"So many stages…"
Yi Zhau looked at him.
Cold.
"You think this is much?"
"You have seen nothing."
A pause.
"If your will is weak…"
"Stop now."
"You are not worthy of what lies ahead."
Silence.
Alex clenched his fists.
His eyes burned with determination.
"I will do it."
"I won't stop."
Yi Zhau stared at him for a moment.
Then—
A faint smirk.
"Good."
"Then prove it."
He stepped forward.
"Control your element."
"Feel it."
"Shape it."
Alex closed his eyes.
He tried to sense the energy.
Water…
Flowing inside him.
Unstable.
Wild.
He tried to control it—
But it slipped.
Again.
And again.
Failure.
Sweat formed on his forehead.
His breathing grew heavy.
"I can't…"
Yi Zhau's voice cut in sharply.
"Of course you can't."
"You are trying to control something…"
"…you do not even understand."
A pause.
"Again."
Alex tried again.
Failure.
Again.
Failure.
Time passed.
Hours.
Days.
He didn't stop.
Even when his body trembled.
Even when his energy collapsed.
He continued.
Again.
And again.
Yi Zhau watched silently.
Then turned away.
"I have seen enough."
"Continue."
"I will rest."
His form faded—
Returning to the Soul Sea.
Silence remained.
Only Alex.
And his struggle.
The words echoed in his mind.
"Again."
"Again."
"Again."
He clenched his teeth.
Focused.
This time—
Something changed.
A small flow of energy gathered.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
It obeyed him.
He raised his hand.
Released it—
A small strike hit a rock.
Crack.
The rock split slightly.
Silence.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on Alex's face.
"I did it…"
His body trembled.
Exhaustion took over instantly.
His vision blurred.
He collapsed onto the rock.
Breathing slowly.
Then—
Sleep took him.
Darkness.
Silence.
A soft light appeared.
A figure stood before him.
Blurred.
Gentle.
Familiar.
"Alex…"
Her voice… soft.
Warm.
He looked at her.
Confused.
"Who… are you…?"
She smiled faintly.
A sadness in her eyes.
"You don't remember…"
A pause.
"But that's okay."
She stepped closer.
Her presence… comforting.
"You made a promise."
"Don't forget it."
Alex frowned slightly.
"A promise…?"
She raised her hand… but stopped midway.
As if she couldn't touch him.
"You were not born to fall."
"You were born to rise."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"To conquer."
"To surpass everything."
"To fulfill your destiny."
Alex felt something inside him shake.
His chest tightened.
A strange emotion…
Something he didn't understand.
"Why… does it feel…"
"…like I know you…?"
The figure smiled.
Tears forming.
"Because…"
"…I am closer to you than anyone."
The light began to fade.
"Grow stronger, Alex."
"Don't break your promise."
"Live…"
"…for your destiny."
"Mother…"
The word slipped unconsciously.
The light disappeared.
Silence.
Alex's eyes opened.
The waterfall roared again.
The world returned.
He sat up slowly.
His expression… different.
Calmer.
Stronger.
"I don't know who you are…"
"…but I won't forget."
He clenched his fist.
"I will become stronger."
"From struggle… control is born."
"From emotion… purpose is forged."