Ascension

“This is Squad C reporting. Psionic Background Residue here is 1ST Phase.”

“Same here. This is Squad D”

“Psionic Background Residue here certainly is 1ST Phase. I’m with the Doctor”

Captain Mtello is deep in his thoughts as he heard the survey reports. Originally, they wanted to salvage the body of the Matured Maligna Void Flea but when the reinforcement that came was the lowest category of S-Class ships, he did not want to take chances and move to destroy the beast.

It was easy to lure a non-sentient beast and while they have predicted the beasts demise, the two simultaneous explosions that blasted it was unimaginably destructive.

As a captain with rich experience, he has an idea what 1ST Phase Dao explosions are as he had witnessed them multiple times in the past. The best normal explosions do is severely mutilate the target’s part which for this case was the beast’s head however, the explosion this time felt like they obliterated a normal huge rock.

The twenty kilometer bulk and almost impenetrable carapace had been turned into tidbits. Even their team of Physicists was awestruck like chicken they wanted to ask the other ship’s captain but not to create any misunderstandings, he stopped and ordered a post investigation instead.

Having witnessed the explosion himself, his first thought is that Clay has comprehended past the 1ST Phase but hearing the reports that the Psionic Background Residue is indeed 1ST Phase, then the other factor is the bomb shells that were used. He believes that Clay was probably given those shells for a test.

“Our job here is done. Everyone retreat, we’re going back to Emluar Tactical Base”

Meanwhile, 850 light years away from Ramdaman Star System, the La Flaga Battleship is currently orbiting a planet similar to Earth. It is one of the many abandoned Terraformed planets and Clay has just ridden an automated shuttle to get to the surface.

“Alice, where do Nascent level cultivators usually breakthrough?”

(Captain, the most preferred method is to enter and use the Federations Cultivation Facilities. Every Star System Divisions have them. Would you like mo to search the closest facility?)

“No. And how do they deal with the tribulation?”

(Captain, there is no lightning tribulation when reaching Ascension.)

“What?”

(Lightning tribulations only occur when reaching Core Formation, Nascent, 7TH Rank Ascension, and Divinity)

Clay doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. During his previous life, tribulations happen only when one is reaching Nascent level and Ascension. He did find it new that this world has tribulations during Core Formation but learn now that there is none during Ascension is maddening especially that he had to pay 100 Merits to locate this M-class planet.

Since he just entered the planet’s atmosphere, he may as well go down and break through.

After spotting a river, he descended and shaped his Qi into giant hands to carve a small canal that would run to form a small lake not far from the river. It is crude but as long as there is enough stream water, it should suffice his need.

Clay place four seemingly regular boulders near the stream and placed a huge rock in the middle and wait for the lake to be filled. These are among the nine Heaven Qi Veins he created.

The area is has almost non-existent spiritual Qi but the moment water passes through the boulder, a rich and concentrated Heaven Qi comes out and flowed towards Clay.

On his way to this planet, Alice advise him of the most basic circulation and meditation technique and that if he needs more, that he will have to use his Merits again. While he is not opposed to the idea of spending his points, he believes that the circulation method shares the same principle with someone who has yet to enter the cultivation world. Then slowly, convert those Qi Nodes until all of them can properly utilize the Heaven Qi passing through them.

After almost day, the lake was almost full and brimming Heaven Qi. He took out a vial as thick as his arm then gulped all its contents and sat in a meditative position,

Clay clenched his teeth and concentrated. He guided the energy from the vial towards his dantian.

“Arggghh”

That feeling where his dantian is about to explode is similar to that time when he was about to be offered as a sacrifice to a lion. According to what he read, he has to wait a few seconds until the Nascent Soul hibernating in his dantian moves.

According to what he read, that movement takes an average of 3 to 10 seconds and while is it a short period of time, to someone who is afraid of having his core explode, every second feels like an eternity.

“Arggghh”

Clay is counting in his head and if he count reaches ten and there will still be no reaction from his Nascent Soul, the he will be forced to expel the rushing energy within him.

“6, 7, Arggghh, 8, 9 “

Before it reached ten, Clay noticed Nascent Soul move its hand so he immediately guided the surging energy towards his first 9 Qi Nodes and a attempted a circulation.

“I thought I was goner.”

Beads of sweat run through his head. The unrestrained Heaven Qi which was uncontrollably surging around his dantian suddenly calmed as they are slowly being guided. Clay could feel his Nascent Soul absorbing a portion of the Heaven Qi being circulated and each minute that passes, the more and more Heaven Qi are redirected to it.

Clay released his Essence Flame around him to evaporate the lake covering the area in fog. At the same time, he absorbed all floating Heaven Qi in the air.

Days passed and Clay continued the same cycle on until one day, his Nascent Soul which looked like an unborn baby in a womb grew larger and to allow this growth, its surroundings which is Clay’s dantian expanded as well.

He has no idea how much time passed but one day, his Nascent Soul stopped absorbing Heaven Qi like it was already full.

Today, Clay opened his eyes. His body is glowing in silver light and if anyone were to see him, they would mistake him for an angel from heaven.

He got to his foot and looked at his hand then made a grabbing motion. When he closed his hand, he felt like he had become a hundred times stronger.

“So this is what Ascendance is, huh?”

Clay released his aura and him being the center of the radius, it easily spread reaching 50 thousand kilometers and may even reach 100 thousand if he concentrates at one point.

He retracted his aura, then pointed his index to a faraway mountain the summoned a candle like flame, imbued it a Dao and his new gain Ascendant Power and fired it as a test.

*Boom!

The mountain was obliterated in an instant creating mushroom-like clouds and while dust and debris are floating around, a crater is already made visible proving how power he had become. He had always been apprehensive about confronting Ascendants but now that he is on the same league as them, he should be able to overpower them like he always does.

Clay stored the Heaven Qi Veins and summoned his shuttle.

“Alice, how long was I in seclusion?” Clay asked after entering his flying vehicle.

(Captain, it has been 223 days since you stayed on the surface.)

“Any important distress signals in the past seven months?”

(There has been none, Captain.)

The shuttle continued to levitate and after it got past the planet’s atmosphere, his ship was waiting for him.

(Welcome back, Captain and congratulations on your breakthrough.)

“Set course to Division 156 of Minraca.”

(Aye Captain. By way, I have received information regarding Captain Ul and General Al’iya. Would you like me to read you the contents?)

“No, let me read.”

*Tish

Clay noticed a paper thin ipad that was ejected near the arms of the chair. Like a folder on a cabinet, Clay pulled up the ipad and began reading its contents. The information on each person is more than 100 pages and while he can read through it, he may as well just ask Alice’s help.

“It was said that Mur Brung joined Rumevar Ministry of Science at age 40. Can you help me analyze their timeline and see if there is anything, any mission or any instance where Mur Brung had met with Captain Ul or General Al’iya?”

(No, there is none that states or suggest any of these three had met each other.)

Recalling the information he read at Gar Wahger, these three have been involved on an interplanetary mission as Mur Brung was given the chance to test his theory. And when they got to their destination, Mur Brung was betrayed.

But what is happening now is completely different. For one, he was born 100 thousand years before Mur Brung and his previous life was set 30 thousand years after Mur Brung died. He then later met Re’y, Luar’y, then Midi who later became an Immortal. Yet all these people are not found in the database.

He has so many questions but he did not want to further get confused. Right now, it is important he needs to speak with the Magistrar and see if there are any clues Mur Brung may have left.