"Do you wish to challenge the mortal realm bottleneck?"

Is that it? Can I finally overcome my shackles and start to grow again? With how my stats are limited, I can feel the pressure of my over five hundred attribute points that are left hanging in my status window. If I can't use them to improve, what is even the point of keeping them? Considering my mentality, if I don't open a way to efficiently use them to strengthen myself, as soon as Bonger comes up with any random way to siphon them out from me, I won't be able to refuse to upgrade some other part of said system.

Yes, I want to challenge it right now!

"Blop!"

"Insufficient level to break the mortal bottleneck."

"Host needs to reach 35th level first!"

Oh, come on! If you know I can't do something, why are you raising my hopes? Do you derive some kind of perverted joy from disappointing me?

"Blop!"

"Dual Spirit seed detected."

"Do you wish to start the bonding process?"

What now? Are you going to propose something to me only to take it back the next moment again? Stop playing with my feelings like that or I might stop using you at all!

Ok, I won't for real. If not for the bonger, I would still be garbage in this world. Give the due praise when the deed is done. Its support elevated me from the level of a stray dog to a prominent cultivator of this sect. Without it, I would never be able to reach so far!

Yes, I want to start the bonding process!

Like I even know what it is. Am I going to bond with some kind of spirit? Is this what it means to attain spirit in the highest mortal cultivation level? Without Stella on my side, I don't have anyone to consult my doubts with. To bo honest, even if she was here, I would still hold myself from asking her about it. In the end, growing from a soul hazard to a spirit attainment level in a single day… Wouldn't that be too much for her heart?

"Blop!"

"Initiating the bonding process!"

Compared to all my previous visions, this was the first time when I could mentally prepare myself for what was about to hit me. Sadly, it didn't help me at all.

As soon as the line of Bonger's text vanished from my view, my entire surroundings changed to a flush, green forest. Despite an insane amount of aura suffused into the air, the atmosphere was calmful under the watchful gaze of my father. Holding my hand tightly, we followed through an abandoned trail, already showing the signs of deteriorating back to yet another part of the forest. Raising my head to look at my father's face with curiosity, my view suddenly twisted and changed to one of a desolate desert, with nothing and no one in sight.

In that instant, my throat turned sore, my hands started burning with the pain while my head keep bouncing unsteadily to the sides. Where the hell is this place? There is no way that such a dead place could be anywhere close to the lush forest at which border my sect is located!

Before I manage to come up with any kind of answer or even an idea, to begin with, my environment changes again! This time, I'm placed in an infirmary bed with several people inspecting my naked and bound body all around. Wait, where did my dingly birdie come? WHERE THE HELL IS MY DAMN PENIS?!

Wait, I can figure it out later, the main problem now is this group of old and dignified lechers touching all over my body! With a fur, shame and fear mixing inside my head, I try to drive my cultivation only to be paralysed when I can't feel any energy inside myself at all! As if someone dug out my entire dantian, my body is devoid of any cultivation!

Just when I try to tense my muscles and attempt to break the bonds with my physical strength alone, the surroundings change again, turning to a blazing inferno.

With a single look, I can recognise the outline of some buildings covered with an insanely hot fire. Judging just from the temperature, this isn't your usual conflagration! Only then I do realise that I'm all alone, surrounded by the fiery flames eager to consume my frail body!

Unable to do anything for myself, I can only cover in fear, cuddling into a small ball with tears bursting out of my eyes. Wait, the scorching heat makes the wetness disappear as soon as it comes to life. Just when the fires are about to engulf me, I see someone emerging from them and grabbing me in a tight hug.

"What a pitiful child! Master, we should take it to safety!"

As soon as this animous hand touches my body, my visions blur before the world turns peaceful again.

This time, I can recognise the place I'm in. Those are Stella's quarters!

"Master, are you really sure about leaving the sect to me? If you leave, we will lose our last expert!"

I can see a younger version of my sect master talking to a small figure, covered in travelling clothes with several bags hanging from her arm.

"You know I don't have a choice. If we want this batch of resources to come, I need to graduate. Hopefully, this child will have enough talent to succeed you when we will run to the deficit again. This way, you will be able to join me in Sword Sect!"

At this moment, this whole strange world collapses, and so does my consciousness.