NOVEL WEB Chapter 18: Quantum Collapse
As the three Core Formation Realm cultivators departed, Xiao Ning allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction. The mission had proven successful beyond his initial expectations. Not only did he secure the soul fragments necessary to stabilize his Spirit Palace, but he also managed to distribute rare cultivation techniques strategically, reinforcing loyalty among key members of the Shadowclaw Sect.
Returning to his secluded spot within the Blood Meridian Valley, Xiao Ning resumed his meditation.
"Let's see if this works," Xiao Ning muttered under his breath. His mind reached out, shaping the dark asura qi around him into the foundation of the palace.
With the collected soul fragments in hand, Xiao Ning began weaving them into the foundation of his Spirit Palace.
The process was arduous, requiring precise control over both the Asura Qi and the compressed souls. Each pillar of the palace required careful alignment, as any misstep could destabilize the entire structure. Xiao Ning's mind became a battlefield, fighting against the chaotic nature of the Asura Qi while ensuring the soul fragments retained their integrity.
The final touch came when he stabilized the palace by sacrificing the ten Foundation Establishment cultivators' souls. Nothing unexpected happened as they merged seamlessly with the building, reinforcing its integrity.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last pillar of the Spirit Palace snapped into place. A deep resonance filled his dantian as the palace stabilized, its black walls glowing faintly with crimson runes.
"Well done," Xiao Ning opened his eyes. "Now, let's move on."
With the Spirit Palace complete, Xiao Ning turned his attention to raising his cultivation. Gradually releasing the suppression of the Paradox Meridians, he allowed his spiritual energy to flow freely once more. The process was smoother than expected, thanks to the harmonious integration of the Asura Scripture's methods with his original cultivation base.
According to the scripture, the next step involved compressing his energies to form a core—a Demonic Core infused with Asura Qi rather than the traditional Golden Core.
"This should be simple enough," he thought confidently. "After all, I've already mastered the basics of manipulating Asura Qi."
He focused inward, guiding the chaotic energy toward his dantian. Layer by layer, he condensed it until a black-and-crimson orb took shape—unlike the stable, golden cores most cultivators possessed, this one crackled with malevolent energy, radiating waves of oppressive might.
"There we go," he said with a satisfied grin. "Not bad for someone who started over just days ago."
Eager to push further, Xiao Ning continued loosening the suppression of the Paradox Meridians. His cultivation surged upward, climbing swiftly toward the Core Formation Realm. However, as he neared the peak, something unexpected happened.
His original Golden Core, long dormant but not forgotten, suddenly reappeared in his dantian. For a moment, it coexisted peacefully with the newly formed Demonic Core. But then, disaster struck.
Both cores began to destabilize simultaneously, their energies clashing violently within his body. Waves of searing pain shot through his meridians, causing him to gasp and clutch his chest.
"What the hell?" Xiao Ning cursed, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. "Why is this happening?!"
[CODEX ALERT]
[HOST'S CULTIVATION IS ABOUT TO COLLAPSE.]
Seeing this, Xiao Ning clenched his teeth and cursed aloud, "Damn it! Why does everything have to go wrong right when things were going so well?"
Trying as much as he could to suppress the surging energies in his dantian, he attempted to activate the Paradox Meridians again. But no matter how hard he tried, he found himself unable to decrease his cultivation.
[EMERGENCY PROTOCOL]
Ascension Pact
- Become the Codex's Vessel: Let the system rewrite your body.
- Cost: Autonomy (Codex gains 51% control over cultivation choices).
- Reward: Eternal Paradox Body (Flawless meridians, adaptable spirit roots, lifespan frozen).
Y/N
"You can't be kidding!" Xiao Ning snapped, shaking his head fiercely. "There has to be another way!"
He clenched his fists, trying desperately to regain control over his spiraling cultivation. But no matter what he did, the two cores refused to stabilize. The pressure in his dantian grew unbearable, threatening to tear his body apart.
[UPDATE]
Quantum Collapse Available: 1/1
"Quantum Collapse?" Xiao Ning furrowed his brow slightly. "What exactly does that mean?"
[Quantum Collapse]
- Merge the conflicting energies into a singular quantum state.
"Hmph," Xiao Ning scoffed, though relief flickered in his eyes. "It's rather vague, but it's better than becoming some puppet of yours."
"Activate Quantum Collapse"
[System Notification: Quantum Collapse Activated]
The moment Xiao Ning confirmed his choice, the Codex's presence surged through his meridians like a frigid tide. The two cores in his dantian blurred, their edges dissolving into an energy storm of gold and crimson.
Pain.
It was beyond anything he'd experienced, across his life. His body convulsed as quantum threads stitched the Golden Core and Demonic Core together, weaving them into a singular, oscillating entity. The cores existed in superposition—simultaneously merged and separate, collapsing and reforming with each agonizing pulse.
"Stabilize… stabilize!" Xiao Ning roared inwardly, but his consciousness frayed at the edges.
[Energy Coherence at 42%… 57%...]
[Warning: Physical Integrity Critical.]
Blood seeped from his pores, pooling beneath him as his muscles tore and bones creaked under the strain. The air around him warped, reality itself buckling under the quantum forces at play. His Spirit Palace trembled, its crimson runes flaring as they strained to anchor his unraveling soul.
[Coherence Threshold Reached: 89%. Initiating Final Collapse.]
A soundless detonation erupted within Xiao Ning's dantian. The warring cores imploded, then crystallized into a single, iridescent orb—a core that shimmered like fractured starlight, its surface etched with swirling patterns of gold and black. For an instant, it pulsed in perfect harmony, channeling both Asura Qi and spiritual energy in a seamless dance.
Then darkness swallowed him.
Xiao Ning's eyes snapped open. His body felt like it had been trampled by a thousand demonic beasts. Every breath sent jagged needles through his ribs, and his meridians burned as if lined with molten glass. Yet, when he probed his dantian, a grim smile tugged at his cracked lips.
The Core hovered there, serene and alien, its dual energies coiled like dormant serpents. Experimentally, he channeled a wisp of Asura Qi, then a thread of spiritual energy. Both responded fluidly, intertwining without conflict.
[Quantum Core Stabilized]
"Quantum Core?" Xiao Ning coughed, wiping the blood from his chin. "What nonsense is this now?"