Origin Gate Mantra

The sun set over the horizon painting the buildings of Skycloud in a beautiful orange glow. Olivia had ran back into the house and was exploring every inch of it but Davis couldn't join in on the fun as he had to arrange carriages to move all of their belongings to their new home.

As he sat in the carriage and thought back to the smile on his sister's face and the warm feeling he felt in his heart he couldn't help but let out a reluctant sigh.

'It would be nice indeed. To leave all of this behind and just focus on building a warm home but unfortunately that is not what I truly want. I've already set out on this path that I once thought was closed to me and they are too many beautiful things on this path for me to abandon. Even though this family may bring joy to my heart but my true desire lies on this path and even if I were to lead such an ordinary but peaceful life, without strength how would I hope to hold on to this peace. So you must forgive me Olivia but this is what I must do.... I must'

The neigh of the horses snapped Davis out of his thoughts as he realized they had arrived at his destination. He had the bulk of their things moved in a wagon but he came here to make sure they didn't miss anything and for other sentimental reasons he himself didn't understand.

He walked up the familiar yet unfamiliar staircase as they creaked under his weight. The neighbors came out one by one to congratulate him and he replied back to them with a reserved smile. They weren't bad neighbors but he couldn't say they were good either but all in all they had lived together for a time and they weren't entitled to help the pair of siblings so he had no grudges towards them as he even took the liberty of ordering drinks for everyone in the building drawing a bout of cheers from the residents.

He managed to escape the bustle of neighbors calling out to him for either financial help or introducing them to their daughters regardless of if she was old enough to get married. He managed to enter his former apartment then he shut the door towards the enthusiastic mothers before letting out a sigh of relief.

He looked up and an empty building greeted him. All the furnitures had been taken away by him, as Olivia said she would like to keep them so as to remind her of where they came from. Since it wasn't worth too much, he bought it off the landlord. He could still remember the look on the fat man's face when his eyes fell on the shining silver coins. Shaking his head, he did a run over of the apartment which didn't take much time before giving a slight nod of approval.

'The movers were quite thorough'

As for the Universal Coin he had had it hidden away with the Pope's people till he was ready to use it so as not to bring unwanted trouble to himself. He slowly walked towards the window and looked through it, the night time of Elmore Street was filled with a different hustle and bustle from the day time.

That of the day hours were them trying to make ends meet and acquire a good life for themselves through their work while that of the night was filled with slurring words of men drunk on cheap alcohol, cheers spilling out from gambling dens, youths gathering among themselves to entertain themselves in ways they knew best and women calling out to passer bys as they hoped to rein in a good customer for the night.

He looked out for a while before sighing and thinking to himself that these days he had been sighing quite a lot. A chuckle escaped his lips as he sneakily made his way out of the building in hopes of not alerting the enthusiastic mothers who threw their daughters at him without regard for moral etiquette.

As he passed by the door of the old man who was the nicest person to them he slipped in a gold coin through the floor clearance (1) and dashed out into the night with no regrets on his shoulder for the path he has chosen. He hailed a carriage for their new house which was located on Washington Street but then he had the coachman stop at a random boutique in which he got some casual clothing and night wares.

Since the money for the rent was cheaper than he thought he decided that he could afford to get them and that he did. Upon returning to the Street, he noticed that the buildings on both sides of his own were empty and he laughed at the superstitious beliefs of the people. He was actually a bit curious as to why they were afraid as he had not sensed any form of energy in the building.

The carriage stopped at the gates where he stepped down and paid off the coachman. He resolved to himself to get attendants for the house as a gateman would have been the one to open the gates for the coachman to ride in. He noticed the light in the house was still on and he wondered why his sister had not yet turned of the gas lights.

He knocked gently on the door for a while but no one came to open it. He furrowed his brows a bit and pulled out a spare key to unlock the door before stepping in. He walked towards the light and dimmed the ones in the building and lit up those outside. The mansion had 4 rooms, 3 upstairs and one downstairs.

There are 2 bathroom upstairs and 1 downstairs with the kitchen being downstairs too. The building had an attic and a basement, with a large sitting room with the dining attached to it and a small study kept upstairs. He had planned when he got attendants that those that had to stay here would live in the room downstairs so he had his sister take one of the rooms upstairs.

She chose the one in the left wing of the building and as he walked towards it he couldn't help but think that the real estate agency made quite a loss with selling such a fine house at such a cheap price. He knocked on her door but there was no answer and his brows furrowed again. Just when he was about to pull out his spare key, he heard a noise in the kitchen downstairs.

Normal people wouldn't hear it but although he hadn't started training formally his hearing was still sharp, being able to pick out differing sounds. How else could he hear the spinning of gears before the trap was sprung while adventuring in those forgotten ruins? His eyes sharpened as he quietly sneaked towards the kitchen.

As he got closer he could hear the sounds in the kitchen more clearly and he put his body in the best position to strike. He was incredibly proficient in Martial techniques in his previous world due to his line of work, in fact the longer he stayed in this world the more he realized how useful the things he learnt were in this world.

Throwing distracting thoughts out of his mind, he quietly neared the door while reducing the sound he made with his body movements. As he neared the kitchen door, he gently placed his ears on it and he could hear the sound clearly but just when he was thinking about how to approach the person behind the door.

He heard a high scream that sounded like it came from Olivia and he dashed into the room without thinking twice ready to call on the spell in his 1st Ring only to meet the sight of Olivia wearing an apron and standing on top of the counter while she pointed a knife in her hand fearfully at a swinging cupboard.

"BROTHER IT WAS A RAT. A REALLY BIG RAT, KILL IT, KILLLLLL ITTTTT"

Lines appeared on his head as he let out a sigh filled with relief and frustration. A moment later they were both seated on a much softer couch than that from their previous home, where Olivia with her head bowed down was explaining her actions.

"You mean the lights were left on cause you wanted the house to be bright?"

"Hm. In the previous home we had to be frugal so we couldn't leave the light on for a long time only when I need to read but now I could so I did it"

" The reason you didn't answer me was because you couldn't hear me due to the sound being cut off by the closed door? "

" Hm. When the door closes it's like the world has been cut off hehe. "

" And also the reason you were up so late in the kitchen was that you wanted to cook us a dinner? "

" Hm. The food we ate at the restaurant was nice but it wasn't that filling so I cooked something for us to have as dinner. What did you think was going on brother?"

" Nothing, nothing at all. You leave the cooking to me. Go and have your bath by the time you come out dinner should be ready. "

" Since when did you know how to cook? Oh, don't forget to kill that rat. "

" I picked cooking up recently and don't worry, I'll have people come and take care of the pests tomorrow. Oh yes I used the money left over from the house to get some casual clothes and night wares, try them on and see if they fit you. "

" REALLY!? Thank you so much brother, I'll go try them on now. "

As her figure disappeared from Davis' sight he let out the breath he was holding as he forgot that Green couldn't cook. Luckily there were the dresses to use and distract her, that should keep her mind busy.

'It seems this rumour has made me more paranoid than I thought. Belief is actually quite powerful, being able to affect my subconscious so easily.'

He entered into the kitchen and with a flick of his wrist sent a gust of wind that sought out the rat's figure before cutting it's head clean off. He took off his coat and hung it up before tying an apron and getting to work.

.

.

.

"Wow brother I didn't know you could cook so well, you must have had a great teacher." Davis tucked in Olivia as her words brought back the memory of a burly man in a chef's hat who always seemed to cut his fingers with the knife he used.

"Hm. He was a good teacher."

Noticing the sad tone in his voice, Olivia asked "Is he dead"

"No silly child, he has simply travelled to a far place"

" I'm not a kid, you don't have to make up stuff. I can understand when someone dies. " Olivia mumbled under her breath.

Davis laughed as he didn't know how to explain himself, that guy was indeed still alive but he was at a far place. He pecked her on the forehead, an action he found himself enjoying quite a bit and though new to Olivia she liked the display of affection, before closing up her curtains, saying the customary good night and shutting the door of the room as he stood in the corridor.

He walked towards the basement and closed the door behind him. This room was a bit humid and the only source of light was the rays of moonlight peeking in through the window but it was enough for what he wants to do.

He sat down on a mat he had laid out on the floor currently wearing his cotton pyjamas and he focused in on the book in his consciousness.

He had already thought of what he was going to do this night and had made all the preparations. As he appeared within his consciousness as that familiar formless feeling came over him, he ran his thoughts over once more.

'From my calculations the time here moves at a faster pace than that in the real world at a rate of 1:10 which is a boon for me as this will increase my training speed. The time now is currently 9pm so if I train from now till 12 that should be 30 hours of training. I can't feel exhausted here as though I have endless energy so training for the entire duration of time isn't out of the question and I can even split up my thoughts to handle different aspects of my training simultaneously.

The first order of business would be to cash in on those free lectures. Let's see, I'll use 3 to help develop the Qi Cultivation Technique and the remaining 3 to help develop variations for my Spell "Four Elements, Myriad Changes". By the time I'm done with that I should be able to know what direction I'm moving in, the Qi technique should be easier as I already have a manual in my memory buy I just need to adapt it to this world's system.

Most likely it might become a sub-profession for me and it won't be a problem to use this strength in public as cultivators are not considered as heretics for some strange reason.'

With his thoughts in place he had the book recommend the lectures that would be most useful to his cause and indeed it did not disappoint.

//Host has listened in on a lecture on "Comprehensive Human Anatomy". Comprehension:100%//

//Host has listened in on a lecture on "Martial Synergy". Comprehension:100%//

//Host has listened in on a lecture on "The Basics of Martial Cultivation" Comprehension:100%//

//Host has listened in on a lecture on "Omnipresent Elements" Comprehension:100%//

//Host has listened in on a lecture on "Elemental Synergy" Comprehension:100%//

//Host has listened in on a lecture on "The Science of Magic" Comprehension:100%//

It took Davis 12 hours in the white space to process all 6 lectures. When he came off it he realized just how important this book was in his rise to power. The lectures he listened in on was like someone giving him the formula to solve all his problems and now he simply needed to apply the formula.

Without the book it would have taken him years in order for him to synthesize a Martial Technique that would be compatible with him but now he already had an idea of what he should do and when he combines it with his already plentiful knowledge of Martial Art, he should be able to finalize a method within this training session.

He even had more inspiration on how to apply his Spell and it won't be a problem to come up with different variations for it. He decided immediately on his next course of action as he split up his consciousness, having about 40% deal with the Spell variations and he used 60% on the Martial Techniques.

The Spell would be easier to work with so he placed more attention on the Martial Technique. Although the book gave him the formula, he still needs to use it and solve the equation. With his mind made up he spent the next hours focusing on his tasks and he unknowingly lost track of time.

Around 1am in the morning when most of the city were already asleep, Davis' eyes snapped open and they glowed with a brilliant gold color before slowly fading back. He had succeeded in developing a Martial Technique but he can only practice it in the real world so he recalled his being from that white space.

He slowly went over the context of the technique he synthesized and he couldn't help but be astounded by the theoretical prowess of this technique. Back on Earth, he had encountered a particular script that detailed a mysterious technique.

This script took man as the being with the greatest potential for Martial Powers. Most Martial techniques imitated mythical creatures like Dragons, Phoenixes or The Kirin but this script took man as the ultimate vessel for Martial Art.

It said that originally man ruled the Earth in the form of Titans, with an iron fist and subjugated everything within it. Their powers so unfathomably strong that it alarmed the Heavens who sought to control them. A great war was fought but in the end Man was not given enough time to reach their full potential and was defeated by The Heavens.

The Heavens however had paid a bitter price to do so and what remained of them could not completely annihilate all of humanity so they placed 10 Gates within the body that sealed away their potential in order to make sure the Titans never rose again.

Davis presently wondered whether it was a coincidence that they were 10 Gates that somehow corresponded to the 10 stages of cultivation, that was a thought for another day anyways. Also contained within the script was a method to break the gates but such method required a vibrant energy that was rarely found in his world.

This was Davis' primary technique in his previous life but due to the situation of Earth, he could only partially unlock 1 Gate and that alone put him at the forefront of physical cultivation in his world. In this realm he sought to use this technique again, hoping to release the full might of the technique.

He however took measures to make sure the technique would be compatible with the energies in this world as there would be a slight difference in both Worlds. To counter this he referenced to the Martial Cultivation of this world in other to amend the flaws of his technique.

In Martial Cultivation, Stage 1 - 3 allowed the user to channel the Life Energy within his Life Palace within his body granting him higher physical prowess but he could not release the energy beyond his body. Stage 4 - 6 allows the user to release the energy outward of his body and giving it a particular aura while from Stage 7 - 9 the user uses the energy within his Life Palace to channel the energy of heaven and earth to move with his strikes. Stage 10 was a bit unclear with the only thing being said is that they develop a unique aura belonging only to them.

Basing his technique on this principle as well as combining other prominent techniques in his memory he was able to synthesize a technique he named "Origin Gate Mantra". This technique uses Qi Energy which would not have any problems with his Mystic Energy and is also as strong if not stronger than Life Energy. The only way to progress was to break the Gates that limit his potential and with the Gate broken his physical body would continuously absorb energy from the environment and what he ate, continually raising his strength until he reaches the limit.

Usually not all mystic's were physically adept and had to develop different ways to cover this flaw as one had to sacrifice one thing to gain another but with this technique such a statement could not be applicable to him.

With growing excitement he concentrated within him as he slowly gathered Qi within him and channelled it through specified meridians. In his consciousness he could perceive a gate coming into being within it. On this gate were carved many images but he couldn't identify them as they were all blurry, as he tried to focus on the image a boom went off in the white space and he felt a splitting ache in his head.

Outside blood started leaking out of the corners of his mouth but Davis persevered. He focused the Mystic Energy within him and used it to crash against the Gate. This was his plan, if he wanted to train the normal way he would need to accumulate physical prowess until it reached the limits before attempting to break this gate but that would take too much time.

Time which for some strange reason born by instinct he felt he did not have. So he would use the Mystic Energy within his body and forcefully break The 1st Gate even if it meant him being slightly injured. He focused on the 1st Ring in the space and drew Golden colored energy from it to crash on the Gate. Slowly but surely cracks crawled across the Gate but the constant clashes with the Gate and the tremors released by the Gate made Davis worse for wear.

He roused his energies for the umpteenth time and sent it forth towards the Gate with a rumbling might. The Gate let out a boom so loud, cracks spread out within the white space but they were quickly closing up. The energy however landed on the Gate and reduced it to shards, leaving behind a feeling of liberation as though Davis had just reduced a set of chains placed on him.

He wearily opened his eyes and noticed the blood stains on his night wear, his sweat drenched shirt as well as the black goop leaking out of his pores. He let out a breath of relief as he could feel his body spitting out the waste and absorbing the energy in the air around him before sending it to a small revolving core in his heart.

He dragged his tired body to the bathroom on the lower floor and gave himself a good wash down while indulging himself in the feeling of power coursing through his body. Even in the previous world, he had barely broken past the Gate and due to the lack of energy he didn't go too far in it but here the energy was abundant and his body drank it up like a man who had been trapped in the desert.

His physique was already below standard but at this rate it won't be long before his strength finally reaches the standard of a Stage 1 Martial Cultivator. He just had to wait and so wait he shall...