Chapter 2: Refining the Bead
The Ashura clan was currently in a state of panic, besieged by powerful clans and races that had chosen to oppose them. The situation was dire, and the patriarch of the Ashura God Clan had already decided that they would fortify their defences and organize the exodus of their clan members. However, they also had the Bead of Primordial Nihility, a priceless artefact that they had obtained after suffering many losses. The bead was believed to contain secrets that could make a cultivator invincible and supreme. Despite their efforts, the Ashura clan had not been able to unlock the secrets of the bead, and it was unclear how it could be used to help them in their current predicament. The patriarch had a plan in place, but he was worried that it would not succeed.
In the meantime, the grand elder of the clan, Ashura Xianren was still agitated about the situation and the possibility that the clan's ancestor's records were incorrect. But the patriarch reassured him that there was no reason to question the details that the ancestor had left behind.
He had already informed the elders that he had a strategy in place to deal with the current situation. The strategy involved using the bead and an array formation and divine inscriptions to improve their odds of success. The quantity of Qi needed for the process was great, and it would require the combined effort of many supreme cultivators of the Ashura clan. Even then, no one was sure that they would succeed. The patriarch then instructed the elders to prepare for the process and gather all the necessary resources. He also appointed the grand elder and the vice patriarch to lead the effort to organize the exodus of the clan members. They were to prioritize the safety of the clan members and ensure that they were all accounted for. The elders immediately got to work, gathering all the necessary resources and preparing for the process. They worked tirelessly for several days, making sure that everything was in place. Finally, the day of the refining process arrived.
The elders had set up the array formation, and everyone in the room had gathered around the formation. In a hall, a large array formation had been inscribed in the middle of the room. The array looked very intricate and complex. It was an array that could help people cultivators refine treasures that their cultivation did not allow. This array had been laid out by the Ashura clan to refine the mysterious bead. In the middle of the array was an altar and at the centre of the altar one could see a little baby boy sleeping in peace. This baby was precisely the young master of the Ashura clan and the one that had been chosen to carry the hope of the Ashura clan. On his body various inscriptions had been engraved, they were the divine inscriptions and talismans that would ensure his safety during the refining process. Twelve men sat around the array, each one of them giving off a very profound aura. These were the 12 highest-ranking members of the Ashura clan. Strands of Qi could be seen connecting them with the main array. They would serve as the fuel for this array to operate. Not only that. the array had been modified by the array masters of the clan to provide some benefits to the young master during the refining process.
Using a part of the cultivation base of the elders as the price they would refine the bead for the young master and also help him evolve his physique.This way his body, meridians, flesh, organs and soul would grow stronger. Especially the soul strength, as for how much it will help the young master, no one was clear about that.
"Husband, I am worried about our son. He is just a 3-year-old little baby and he has to take part in such a major event, I do not wish for my son to be involved in this major matter. This will dictate the direction of his life and he has no say in it" the wife of the patriarch said with clear pain and sadness in her voice. It had always been her dream to conceive a child with the man she loved but due to their high cultivation bases, they had to wait for thousands of years before she could achieve her wish and now her son whom she loved dearly had been chosen to carry out a great mission for their clan. How can the life of a person carrying such a great treasure be uneventful? She knew that he will have to face a lot of trials in his life.
Each patriarch of the Ashura clan was an accomplished cultivator who had proven their worth by overcoming numerous trials. Only after surmounting all the obstacles could they ascend to the esteemed position of the Ashura clan master. Their individual strength was so exceptional that throughout history, during the race wars, the Ashura clan was chosen to represent the peak power of the human race. Even in the last race war, humans selected the Ashura clan as their leader. However, in the previous human race, the vitality of the Ashura clan was significantly damaged. If it were any other peak human race clan, they would have perished already. The human heart is fickle, and friends can quickly become enemies. After the last race war, the Ashura clan was betrayed by many human peak powers, and they had to retreat to their strongholds. Although they suffered significant losses due to the last great race war, they also gained much. Those who led their respective races in this war would be blessed with great karma and the blessings of the heavens. However, since the presence of the Bead of Nihility was exposed, the Ashura clan has been facing one threat after another.
The young master of the Ashura clan was given the name Zhenyuan by his father, Ashura Zhixiang Zhanji, which meant "true origin". This name was carefully chosen after much consideration. The Ashura clan had a tradition of middle names, and only those with the middle name Zhixiang, meaning "leader" or "guide", were eligible to contend for the position of patriarch. Zhenyuan was unique, as he was born from a marriage between two great clans. In the human world, there were only two other clans that could match the Ashura clan's greatness, one of which was the Xuan clan. Zhenyuan's mother, Xuan Fenghua, was from the Xuan clan.
In fact, there was another human clan that had a more powerful and deep background than the Ashura clan, but they had already cut off relations with the human world for unknown reasons. The Xuan clan had stood the test of time and was renowned for their expertise in soul cultivation and their ability to channel the power of the phoenix, a symbol of rebirth and immortality. The Phoenix Soul clan, as they were known, possessed a fiery spirit cultivated through years of intense meditation and spiritual training. Legend has it that the founder of the Phoenix Soul clan was a powerful sorceress who discovered the secrets of soul cultivation through a vision of the phoenix. She began teaching others the techniques she had learned, and over time, the Phoenix Soul clan grew in numbers and reputation. Members of the Phoenix Soul clan are known for their fiery and passionate demeanor, and their ability to channel powerful soul techniques with ease. They are respected by other cultivators for their spiritual purity and unwavering devotion to their craft. Many among them also possessed a great talent for alchemy and divine inscriptions.
Xuan Fenghua was not born into the main bloodline of the Xuan clan, but her exceptional physique and natural talent for cultivation distinguished her from other members of her clan. Despite not sharing the same pedigree as some of her counterparts, she quickly ascended the ranks and became one of the most powerful cultivators in the clan. Fenghua possessed a fiery personality and an unwavering determination to protect her clan at any cost. She actively participated in numerous wars and battles on behalf of the Xuan clan, earning a reputation as a fearsome warrior and strategist. Her triumphs on the battlefield brought her great honour within the clan, and she soon became one of its most respected and esteemed members.
Although she was known for her fiery nature, Fenghua deeply respected and loved her husband, and was obedient to him. Their marriage was arranged by the clan elders for political reasons, but over time, they developed a deep bond and mutual respect. Despite being from different clans with competing interests, they remained devoted to each other and eventually conceived a child after thousands of years of trying.
Fenghua was overjoyed at the birth of her son and devoted herself to his upbringing. She was determined to raise him to become a great cultivator and leader, instilling in him the same fierce loyalty and determination to protect his family and loved ones at all costs. Though she knew that her son's destiny was uncertain, she remained confident that he would rise to become a powerful cultivator worthy of both Xuan and Ashura bloodlines.
The refinement of the bead was still ongoing while Zhenyuan lay asleep, unaware of the changes transpiring around him. "Concentrate your qi on the bead," one of the elders directed the others. "We must refine it and unlock its power. Although it will be a difficult process, we must succeed no matter what." The other cultivators nodded in agreement and began to channel their qi into the bead. The bead illuminated as mist in the chamber swirled around it. The Ashura grand-elder, Ashura Xianren, closed his eyes and focused all his energy on the bead, stationed at the primary control node of the array. The cultivators exerted great effort for hours, their faces contorted. The mist grew thicker, and the air grew hotter, but they persisted. After an unknown duration, the array altered color and new patterns became inscribed in the array design, indicating that the refining process had entered its later stages. As the refinement continued, the entire array pattern changed to a more intricate design and the mist in the hall grew denser than before. Refining such a heaven-defying bead into an infant's consciousness was a daunting task.
After what felt like an endless period of time, the bead started emitting a brighter and brighter glow. Gradually, the mist in the chamber began to disperse and the air cooled down. The Ashura patriarch watched intently as the bead hovered above Zhenyuan's head. He had refrained from participating in the refining process until now, waiting for the critical moment when the bead was about to be refined. This was the most perilous stage, as any mishap could endanger his son's life, and even the elders would face the repercussions of an unsuccessful refinement. The patriarch activated a refined array plate, causing a grand array pattern to manifest. The purpose of this array was to ensure the smooth assimilation of the bead into Zhenyuan's consciousness, and to avert any possible backlash that could harm him.
"Zhenyuan-er, my dear son, what I am about to bestow upon you is a great destiny, a great karma, an opportunity that many aspire to attain. However, hidden within this fortune is a great trial. Your path ahead will not be an easy one, my son. You must tread the path of a sovereign, obliterating and devouring anything and everything that may obstruct your ascent to the pinnacle. There will be many who covet what you possess, but a true man never gives up. You carry the hopes of me, your mother, and our clan," said the patriarch in a resolute tone, his gaze fixed on Zhenyuan,as he prepared for the final stages of the refining process.
Throughout the refining process, Zhenyuan underwent significant physical and spiritual changes. His physique, meridians, and organs were all enhanced, and the Dao comprehension of those involved was transferred to him. This knowledge was sealed in his subconscious and would only reveal itself when he sought to comprehend martial techniques and other Dao-related matters. Despite its challenges, the refining process was ultimately successful, and the bead entered Zhenyuan's soul consciousness through his forehead, marking the start of a new chapter in his life.
In addition to physical changes, Zhenyuan experienced a profound spiritual transformation during the refining process. As the elders and cultivators focused their energy and intent on the bead, it became infused with a potent spiritual essence and soul strenght that was passed onto Zhenyuan when it entered his soul consciousness. This essence contained the accumulated understanding and knowledge of the Dao gained by the elders and cultivators over their lifetimes of practice, including insights into reality, the universe, and existence itself.
All this knowledge was sealed away in Zhenyuan's subconscious, waiting to be awakened and integrated into his consciousness as he grew and developed. As he began his training and study of the Dao, this knowledge would reveal itself, allowing him to comprehend and master the most profound and esoteric martial arts and spiritual practices. For now, Zhenyuan remained asleep, integrating the changes wrought by the refining process. The elders and cultivators present were relieved, knowing they had successfully refined the bead and secured a possibility of a prosperous future for the Ashura clan.
Zhanji let out a sigh looking that the whole event happened without any mishaps.He went to the altar and picked up his son and put him in his lap. Looked at his son's face, he noticed a strange symbol on his forehead. It was a small, intricate design that glowed with soft, blue light and sometimes purple . Zhanji had never seen anything like it before, and he knew that it must be a sign of the power of the bead that had just been refined. The symbol was a swirling vortex, like a miniature galaxy, with faint streaks of light radiating outwards from the center. It was not static, but constantly moving and evolving, as if it was alive. At times, it would glow with a soft blue light, and at other times it would pulsate with a purplish hue He reached out and traced his finger over the symbol, feeling a strange energy coursing through his body. The symbol seemed to be pulsing with a life of its own, and Zhanji could sense that it was somehow connected to the bead. "This symbol...it's incredible," he said to himself, his eyes filled with wonder. "It must be a manifestation of the power of the bead. I wonder what kind of abilities it will grant my son?" Zhanji knew that the symbol was a symbol of great power, and he couldn't wait to see what kind of potential it held for his son. As Zhenyuan slept, the symbol glowed softly, a reminder of the power that lay within him.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
TheFateWeaver
TheFateWeaver I've completed two chapters in two days and already have a story in mind. However, for now, I'll focus on the background of the Ashura clan and the world itself before delving into Zhenyuan's story. Did you find these two chapters interesting? I know there's room for improvement, but what are your thoughts so far? Just a heads up, I plan on releasing four chapters per week.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone