“Oohhhmmmm…” Taylor hums, his eyes closed and his mind settling into place.

The next stage of his cultivation technique was the Burden of Choice stage. As such, Taylor was examining his life and all of his choices and the consequences of those choices. As he took a preliminary glance at his life, he couldn't help but think, fuck, my life has been easy… It seems like someone paved the way… For Taylor, it felt like the world had birthed him and raised him. Like he was a child that the world wanted to love. Is there any risk to this sort of life? Taylor wonders. Would it matter if I just lived my life recklessly? Taylor asks himself before shaking his head. Nah, that’s dumb. With this sort of life, it matters all the more that I make my choices count. I should be faithfully following my desires, seeking growth, and expressing my will every step of the way. I don’t want to end up with a life that I regret; I don’t want to look back at choices that I could have avoided, that I could have said ‘no’ to. And I don’t want to settle for what the world first offers me; when I say ‘yes’ it better be exactly what I’m looking for or exactly what I’m working towards…

***BOOM***

As Taylor explored the depths of his mind, he felt a resonation with the world. An emptiness seems to have been created where Taylor was cultivating and the world hurried to fill it with cultivation energy. The energy flooded in and Taylor’s body began to work hard to suck it all in. The river of energy continues to flow into Taylor’s body, but at some point, it couldn’t take anymore, so, hungry for more, his body forcefully suppressed the energy, applying pressure and molding it until it solidified. More and more energy continues to solidify until his dantian was full. But his body was hungry for more and wanted to continue absorbing enough energy to fill his whole body. Taylor’s eyes open wide. A trap! He thinks as he forcefully shuts down his body’s intake of energy. Taylor immediately feels the exhaustion of his effort and collapses onto the ground. The solidified energy wasn’t meant to fill the whole body… When it was liquid it could travel through it just fine, but as a solid it would destroy the meridians… I think it’s meant to be transformed as it leaves the dantian… Taylor thinks, his mind working even as his body was panting for breath.

Eventually Taylor exhales a long breath. But I did it… Fifth Stage… The Burden of Choice stage… Fuck, that was wild… Taylor thinks with a smile.