[ A Path. In theory, everything was a path. Whether one embarks on his cultivation journey following the principles of the object they envision is what actualizes a path. This exposition expands the limits on the number of paths. Every rising of the three moons, I see ten paths come into existence. Every time I close my eyes, I dream of another three thousand paths.]

Shivani

.......

'.....I dream of three thousand paths,' Jake repeated the words of Shivani.

Immediately he was done, he stood up from his bed to dress up. 

It had been two months since he had broken through to [Realm 3]. Exactly today, his bounty team would embark on their own journey to find the mystical [Queen Spriteheart].

Wearing his usual light combat armor, Jake straightened it and checked himself in the mirror.

When he saw that they were no problem with it, he took his routine breakfast and gazed at the morning sun.

'I still have time,' realized Jake.

He couldn't help it. This was a defining moment for him.

If he failed the bounty, he was better off dead!

The situation with the continent was deteriorating. It wouldn't be long before the zombies affect the sea beasts, which would then connect them to the islands, where he currently.

Slumping his body on the chair, Jake decided to not think about the future.

He would rather focus on what was at hand.

Smiling he brought his palm forward and with a thought, electrical sparks danced all over his hand.

'My path,' mused Jake.

Since when he was at [Realm 2], he had always wondered what his path was.

He had finally decided on his path when he achieved the hidden stage.

A smile curved on his face as he threw an apple in the air. Jake didn't move, but when the apple started falling, it mysteriously split into two, cleanly cut.

'My Path,' mulled Jake again.

He had just cut the apple, so fast that anyone below him would not be able to see it!

That was his main path!

The Sword Path!

It was already picked for him since the moment he learned the [Sword Drawing Technique]. Now, after mastering it, every movement he made embodied the principles of the technique.

However, it was more detailed than that…..

As all these thoughts flowed through Jake's head, the sliced apple finally touched the table.

However, what happened next was unexpected!

The moment the apple contacted the wooden floor, it blew up like an inflated balloon.

'....the [Tempest Sword Path],' analyzed Jake.

It was the exact path that all those who fully mastered the [Sword Drawing Technique] followed. The perfect way of converting speed to power, multiplying it in the process.

Now, while it wasn't the most difficult path, it was still rare. This could be due to the fact that the techniques for achieving this path weren't well circulated.

Well, at least, in this part of the world, Jake hadn't seen another person following this same path.

After throwing the messed-up apples, Jake moved on.

In a melodious manner, he tapped his table many times.

When it was the sixteenth tap, a cold air spread from his finger and covered the table with ice.

Following his will, the ice then gathered in front of him, stacking on top of each other to form a figure.

They concentrated to form an ugly figurine that didn't resemble Jake at all.

Looking at this, despite twitching, Jake kept a straight face as he thought, "[Ice Elemental Path]."

Paths were diverse. Hence, they were grouped into different categories.

For instance, Jake's main path belonged to the [Weapon Paths].

His second one, the basic [Ice Elemental Path], belonged to the [Elemental Paths].

His third one, the basic [Lightning Elemental Path], was also under the Elemental Paths.

Jake had also begun venturing into a difficult fourth path. It was categorized into the Auxillary Paths group, but Jake hadn't learned enough to call himself a follower of the path.

The only reason he had picked this path was that almost every cultivator had an auxiliary path. They were what guided their professions.

However, Jake couldn't deny his increasing interest in the [pArray Path], the auxiliary path he chose.

So far, the only path he had progressed massively in was his [Tempest Sword Path]. Seven months ago, he had already achieved one of its states, [Weapon Synchronization].

If he were to analyze further, there were four recorded levels on the path, based on what he had read in his [Sword Drawing Book].

Jake had achieved the first level, which just required him to be a master of the sword.

He had gone further to achieve the second level, which requisite was to achieve the [Weapon Synchronization] state.

Normally, only [Realm 3] warriors could achieve the second level of their weapon paths, but Cheyenne and Jake had achieved it before getting to the realm.

However, that was where he had stopped. He still needed more experience to achieve the third level, something that only [Realm 4] warriors could achieve.

As for his other paths, he didn't know anything about their depths. Well, he only possessed rudimentary knowledge for the [Array Path]. The other paths were just guided by his brain. He knew to gain a deeper understanding of his elemental paths.

For now, the only way to understand better is to master his techniques. He knew he had it easy, compared to those that possessed more than five paths due to their elemental affinities.

Although, it was nothing to brag about as they would have to choose between following all their paths or dropping some of them.

Jake at least only had four paths. 

He wondered if he would one day become a Sage, a title bestowed to anyone that had achieved the first three levels of all their paths.

Actually, it didn't matter.

He was bound to achieve it, as it was on his road to perfection.

Jake's new spiritual sense tingled as it felt the cool breeze.

Listening to it, he understood, 'It is time.'

It was time for him to risk his life. He had trained four months for this moment and if he died…...then, he died!