The Ascending Realms

Kael stepped out of the cave with the Devouring Sword sheathed by his side. The cold mountain breeze brushed past him, but his mind was elsewhere, focused on his next steps. With the sword in hand and the Law of Devouring now at his command, the path before him had dramatically shifted. But power, as he well knew, was not just about weapons; it was about understanding the intricate structure of the world, the realms of cultivation, and the forces that governed existence.

In this world, cultivation was the ladder to true dominance. To rise through the ranks of cultivators meant ascending through twelve realms of power, each one more profound than the last. The original Kael had barely begun this journey, but Ethan now Kael was far beyond what the former had ever dreamed.

Kael's thoughts turned to the realms themselves. In this world, every cultivator sought to ascend through these twelve stages, each a step closer to true mastery over the forces of reality:

1. Qi Condensation – The entry point of every cultivator, where one gathers the ambient spiritual energy of the world, or Qi, into their body. It was a foundational realm, a stepping stone, but for many, it was the first wall they hit.

2. Foundation Establishment – The cultivator begins to build a true foundation for their future power, shaping their inner core and preparing their body and spirit for the more advanced stages.

3. Core Formation – Here, the inner Qi of the cultivator condenses into a core. This core is the source of power, and from here, true mastery over Qi begins.

4. Golden Core – The core matures into a powerful, radiant source of energy. Cultivators at this stage have a deep understanding of their Qi and can start learning advanced techniques and martial arts.

5. Nascent Soul – The cultivator forms a nascent soul, a spiritual being that exists within their core. This soul serves as a reflection of the cultivator's spiritual growth and grants them control over spiritual energy beyond Qi.

6. Soul Transformation – The nascent soul undergoes a transformation, aligning with the cultivator's understanding of reality, allowing them to interact with deeper forces like the laws that govern existence.

7. Mahayana Realm – The cultivator begins transcending mortal limits. Their body, mind, and spirit evolve, and they gain mastery over certain elements of the laws of the universe.

8. Saint Realm – At this stage, the cultivator's understanding of the world's laws becomes profound, and they begin to touch upon the ultimate truths of existence. They are considered semi-divine beings capable of bending reality itself.

9. Emperor Realm – Rare and exalted, those who reach the Emperor Realm are rulers of entire domains. Their power and control over the laws are almost unparalleled, and they can alter the fate of entire worlds.

10. Great Emperor Realm – Above the Emperors stand the Great Emperors, cultivators who have transcended to the pinnacle of mortal cultivation. They are almost godlike in their influence and power.

11. Saint Sovereign – A realm spoken of in myths. Cultivators here are said to be on the brink of divinity itself, capable of reshaping the fabric of space and time with their will.

12. Heavenly Sovereign – The final step on the ladder of cultivation. Those who reach this stage are beings of immense power, capable of rivaling the very heavens. They are the pinnacle of existence, masters of all laws and forces.

Kael knew where he stood in this structure. He had reached the Nascent Soul Realm, having formed his nascent soul years before his rebirth. It was a significant advantage in a world where the protagonist, at best, had only reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. The young hero was still fumbling in the dark, unaware of the vast gulf that separated him from true power.

Kael's current mastery of the Nascent Soul Realm allowed him to channel his energy with far greater control and efficiency than any of the lower realms. But now, with the Devouring Sword in his possession and the Law of Devouring bending to his will, his potential to ascend to the Soul Transformation Realm and beyond had never been clearer.

In this world, cultivation alone wasn't enough to reach the pinnacle. The universe itself was governed by Nine Supreme Laws, each representing a fundamental aspect of existence. These were the keys to true power, the forces that shaped reality itself. Kael had just claimed one of these laws: the Law of Devouring. But there were others—each as dangerous and powerful as the last.

1. Law of Time – The power to manipulate and transcend time itself, altering the past, present, and future. Those who wielded this law could bend time to their will, slowing it down or speeding it up, giving them control over battles and fate.

2. Law of Space – Mastery over the very fabric of space. Wielders could teleport, create dimensional rifts, and control the spatial layout of the world. They could bend distances, making the impossible seem effortless.

3. Law of Devouring – The law Kael now possessed. This supreme law allowed its wielder to consume anything—energy, matter, even souls—and transform it into power. With it, Kael could grow stronger by devouring his enemies, absorbing their strength and vitality.

4. Law of Cause and Effect – Those who mastered this law could manipulate the very chains of cause and effect, altering destiny and outcomes. By understanding this law, a cultivator could rewrite fate itself.

5. Law of Luck – The power to bend fortune to one's will. Those who possessed this law could make the impossible happen, turning even the worst circumstances into opportunities for victory.

6. Law of Chaos – The law of ultimate disorder and unpredictability. Chaos governed all that was beyond the scope of understanding, and those who wielded it could create or destroy worlds in a heartbeat.

7. Law of Reincarnation – Mastery over the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Cultivators who understood this law could transcend mortality, reincarnate at will, or even control the fates of others after death.

8. Law of Life – The ability to create, heal, and nurture. Wielders of this law had power over all living things, capable of restoring life or creating new beings from nothing.

9. Law of Death – Opposite to life, this law governed the end of existence. Those who understood death could command it, bringing forth destruction, decay, and the inevitable end of all things.

Kael now had control over the Law of Devouring, but he had his eyes set on more. In the novel, the protagonist would eventually gain control over the Law of Life, a power that would allow him to heal and protect his allies. But now, with the timeline altered, Kael intended to steal that opportunity as well.

As the sun rose higher, Kael began the long journey back to the Ardent estate. The Devouring Sword felt almost weightless at his side, its dark energy pulsing in sync with his own. The protagonist was still in the early stages of his cultivation, far behind Kael. And with each opportunity Kael seized, that gap would only widen.

"Foundation Establishment..." Kael muttered to himself, recalling the protagonist's pitiful cultivation level. "A minor inconvenience."

The Law of Devouring pulsed through him. He felt its hunger, the insatiable need to consume and grow stronger. It resonated with his own ambitions. He would devour the protagonist's fate, steal every opportunity, and reshape this world as he saw fit.

With a final glance at the mountains behind him, Kael smirked. This was just the beginning. The world, its laws, and its very destiny would soon bend to his will.

Kael continued down the path, his heart steady and his mind clear. The cultivation realms and the supreme laws were merely stepping stones, tools he would use to claim everything. The protagonist may have been destined to rise to greatness in the original story, but now? Now, Kael would devour that destiny for himself.