Against The True Gods

Caine's thoughts slowed, and he retraced his reasoning, carefully reviewing the insights he had gained.

Realizing his understanding was still too abstract, he delved deeper into his enlightenment, attempting to ground it in tangible application.

'In a more concrete and practical sense, what does all this mean—especially within the context of cultivation?'

Caine's True Will seeped and dug into Adari's flesh as he continued his meticulous dissection.

'The body,' he thought, 'can be seen as the upper limit of all things—the anchor and the source of all power.'

'As a vessel, its upper limits dictate how much the other aspects can grow and evolve. Moreover, the body acts as a central force; as long as it remains intact, the other aspects can be restored.'

He paused, turning Adari's arm slightly to better observe its structure.

'In a more nuanced sense, the body is also a well of power, a reservoir from which all other aspects draw.'

A soft hum escaped his lips as understanding blossomed further.

'Ah, I see. I see. I see.'

He adjusted his tools, his focus sharpening.

'Then the soul… The soul can be understood similarly. Born upon the Earth from the clash and harmony of nature, it can be seen as a tool of control and, perhaps more importantly, a bridge for communication.'

'The soul allows me to control my physical form, but its primary function is to commune with forces beyond the physical—the energies and phenomena that gave birth to it.'

'In essence, the soul acts as a second body, but one that operates within the ethereal and spiritual realms.'

Caine's scalpel danced across Adari's flesh, his movements precise and deliberate.

'Then there is the World Aspect and qi.'

'The World Aspect supports all others, acting as a gateway to qi control. It also serves as a template, one that gradually mutates my body into something capable of hosting a world.' Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

His thoughts flickered to his Bond Space, the internal world tied to his Velios bloodline.

'I was born with the ability to hold a world within me because of my lineage. My flesh was mutated from the start to accommodate such potential.'

He switched tools again, his hands moving almost instinctively.

'Then there's the mind. In the simplest sense, it governs both the self and the world. It works in tandem with the soul, which initiates control in the spiritual realm, while the mind fully applies that control.'

'The same applies to the body: I interact with the physical world, but it's the mind that wills those interactions into tangible, active reality.'

The air around Caine shimmered, his aura becoming blinding, like a star igniting in the darkness.

'Finally, we arrive at the child of the five fundamental aspects—the Aspect of Existence.'

His lips curled into a grin as his thoughts crystallized.

'Existence… It's the most complex yet the most fundamental. Its primary function appears to be… reverse engineering.'

The grin widened.

'I see. I see. I see.'

'Once one masters and perfects the five fundamental aspects—body, soul, world, qi, and mind—the Aspect of Existence unveils itself. Through it, one can modify, tweak, and reverse the effects of the other aspects.'

'That's how some cultivators manage to burn their souls into their flesh, discard their physical bodies entirely, or forgo qi control. It's through mastery of Existence.'

A chuckle bubbled from Caine's lips, light and full of glee. It was the laugh of someone discovering a profound truth—a child enthralled with a new toy.

'Now I understand.'

He removed his gloves, tossing them into a nearby bin. His understanding of the aspects had reached a level that made him confident enough to attempt healing his arm.

But he wasn't planning to simply heal. He had greater ambitions.

'From Enya's words, Adari's attack injured me across three distinct planes.'

He clasped his hands behind his back, pacing slowly as his thoughts flowed.

'First, his Karmic Qi altered the foundational structure of my blood qi, forcing parts of it into dormancy. This prevents certain aspects of my body from healing naturally.'

'Second, he infused Demonic Dao Will into my flesh, disrupting its integrity.'

'Third, he applied the world's laws to sever my arm—not just physically, but fundamentally. He erased its connection to my existence, as if the arm had never been mine.'

Caine's fingers brushed his chin, his expression pensive.

'Adari used karmic laws to sever my arm across time, erasing it from the continuity of my existence. Uriel's actions piggybacked off this, gouging my eyes in a way that permanently blinded me.'

He paused, his gaze distant.

'Then there's the issue of my body itself. Enya wasn't wrong—my body is both too weak and too strong.'

'My bone structure constantly pushes my strength to greater heights, but my healing factor can't keep pace with the endless refinement. What should have been an advantage has become a crippling flaw.'

He exhaled deeply.

'This vicious cycle made me vulnerable to their attacks and exacerbated the injuries I sustained.'

Caine's aura shifted, a subtle ripple of determination washing over him.

'To heal my arm, I must first fix the foundation of my body. Then, I must repair my existence, stabilize my aspects, and purge all external disruptions. Only after these steps will true healing be possible.'

His lips curved into a faint smile.

'But why stop there? I can do more.'

With a wave of his hand, Adari's body and the metallic table vanished, replaced by a pristine cultivation mat.

Caine walked over, his steps deliberate, and sat cross-legged on the mat.

Flipping his palm, he revealed three orbs entwined with glowing vines.

These were among the many gifts he had received—some from Fate after his Trials, and others from Lady Gaia beforehand.

He had spent considerable time analyzing these gifts since moving into his Cloud Castle, and their potential was nothing short of extraordinary.

They would be key to the ambitious plans he had laid out for the future.

Today, three of those gifts would play their part.