Chapter 1
A martial arts training ground in a cultivation academy. Students are practicing techniques, laughter and energy filling the air. The training yard is full of students practicing sword forms and energy techniques.
At the edge of the training field stands Vajra, watching silently from a distance, while others grew stronger everyday, Vajra remained the same… left behind. Other students laugh and talking while sparring.
"Why is he even here? His cultivation never improves. He is just weak and time waste."
They walk away, ignoring him. Vajra eyes lower filled with frustration in his his face, thinking. why..? why cant I improve like them?. He slowly clenches his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, his hand shaking. He talked to himself "Why am I so weak?". From the back a calm, soft voice calls him from behind .
"Vajra."
Vajra slowly turns around. His father Shuwon Kin stands nearby with a peaceful expression and the wind moves slightly through his robes.
"Come here, my son."
Shuwon kin stands calmly in front of Vajra and said " Vajra, come. I have something for you." Vajra walks closer with a confusing expression.
"Yes father. What is it you're trying to give me?"
Shuwon kin slowly reached inside his robe and takes out a small wooden box. The box was dark and ancient, decorated with craving of eerie devil eyes, suddenly the wind becomes slightly colder. Shuwon kin placed the box into Vajra hands. He calmly said "open it. It's a gift." Vajra with confusing face carefully opens the wooden box as the lid rises-- a bright red glow bursts out. Inside the box lies a mysterious red core with aura of eminence killing intention. The core starts to float slightly above the box, pulsing with energy of dark red aura flowing around it like smoke, the surrounding air becomes heavy.
Vajras eyes widen in shock and the core red light reflects in his eyes.
"F-Father…! what is this?"
The core's aura grows stronger, spreading a frightening pressure and the demonic aura swirls around Vajra hands fade to black. Shuwon kin looks at Vajra seriously but with warmth.
"It's a demonic core, son. I bought it from an alchemist's shop... hoping it might help your cultivation." Vajra's expression changed with doubts "a demonic core… it's dangerous…. but I have no other way." He tightens his fist even it's dangerous "I'll make it my source of power."
Vajra bows slightly. "Thank you, father." Shuwon kin smiles gently. "Don't worry too much. Just be careful while absorbing the core."
"Yes, father."
Nights falls. Vajra sits alone in the middle of a forest, on top of a large stone beneath the glowing full moon. The forest is silent except for the sound of wind through leaves. Vajra places the wooden box in front of him "Let's begin." He slowly opens the box and then the demonic core rises into the air, floating in front of him in the moonlight and its light reflect in the core surface.
Its looking like a deep crimson aura pulsing like a living heart. For a moment, Vajra stares at it's shiny appearance, despite its darkness it looks beautiful and mesmerizing.
Vajra slowly closes his eyes and begins cultivating. Slowly the demonic red energy streams from the core into his body, suddenly-- his body lifts slowly into the air and around him wind begins to swirl.
Inside Vajra body, the demonic energy flows violently, his veins glow red beneath his skin it's power is too strong to hold so his muscles tighten and his veins feel as if they are tearing apart.
Vajra clenches his teeth in pain, he is struggling hard to control the demonic core, he whispered "I must control it… I must control it…" the demonic energy surges again and the forest trembled slightly.
The core starts glowing brighter and brighter and Vajra's body slowly rises higher into the air as violent red lightning-like energy burst around him and suddenly his eyes flash red. He suddenly shouted in agony.
"AAARGH!"
His body trembled violently as a burning pain spread through his veins. It felt as if thousands of needles were piercing through his entire body. His muscles tightened, and his breathing became uneven. The energy he had been trying to cultivate surged uncontrollably within him. The pain was unbearable.
Vajras vision blurred, and the word around him slowly faded into darkness. Then, everything went silent. His body collapsed, and he host consciousness. When vajra opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in a strange place. It was vast and endless.
Darkness surrounded him from all directions, resembling the deep void of space. There was no ground, no sky-- only an infinite black expanse. In the center of this dark realm floated something strange. A small blue core. It shone faintly, emitting a soft blue aura that gently illuminated the surrounding darkness.
Vajra slowly walked closer, his eyes fixed on the mysterious object. "This…. is my core?" he whispered in disbelief. It was the first time he had ever seen his own cultivation core. But as he observed it carefully, something felt terrible wrong. The core looked fragile. Too fragile.
It trembled slightly, like a thin water balloon filled with energy, barely able to contain the power inside it. Vajra's expression turned grim.
"so that's the reason.." he finally understood. Every time he cultivated, his core absorbed spiritual energy from the surroundings. But because it was too weak to hold that energy, it released the power at the same time. It was like trying to fill a broken container with water. No matter how much effort he put into cultivation, the energy would never remain inside.
"That's why my cultivation never increases.."
For years, he had trained harder than anyone else, yet his strength never improved. Others mocked him, calling him talent less. But now he knew the truth. The problem was his core. While staring at the fragile blue core, a memory suddenly appeared in vajra's mind. A book.
An ancient cultivation manual he had read when he was a child. Mystery of core. At the time, he had only read it out of curiosity. But now its words echoed clearly in his mind. The book described a forbidden and dangerous technique:
Merging two cores.
According to the text of the book, a cultivator could merge their own core with a beast core to strengthen it. But the process was extremely dangerous. If even a small mistake was made… Death would be inevitable. Vajra recalled the details carefully.
When absorbing a beast core, the soul inside the beast core would resist. It would attempt to overpower the cultivator's soul and take control of the body. If the cultivator's soul was weak, the beast soul would destroy it completely. The only way to prevent this was through absolute calmness and soul control. But that was not the only danger.
Because Vajra's core was already weak, absorbing a beast core directly could shatter it instantly. To prevent that, the technique required a Refining Flame. The flame would serve two purposes:
Protect the weak core from breaking.Burn and weaken the beast core before merging.
Only when the beast core was weakened by the refining flame could the two cores safely merge into one. But even then, the process would be extremely painful. After all... two different souls were being forced to become one.
Vajra stared at his fragile blue core floating in the darkness. His eyes slowly hardened with determination. "This is the only way…" if he continued cultivating normally, he would remain weak forever. But if he succeeded in merging a demonic beast core with his own.. his core might finally become strong enough to contain energy. Vajra clenched his fists.
"i must be careful while absorbing the demonic core." His voice echoed quietly through the dark realm.
"if I make even the smallest mistake…." He took a deep breath. "it could kill me instantly." but despite the danger, vajra had already made his decision. He would take the risk. Because this… was his only chance to become strong.