3 THE PATH OF DOMINANCE

Long Tao visualized all the content in his memories. He was shocked to the core. How can this be possible? The body's memories started appearing in his mind.

He remembered his father and mother. Growing up as a particular child, nurtured, and cared for. His cultivation practice. Him being attacked and crippled. The humiliation he had to bear. Even the last assassination attempt on his life.

The Bai family was too ruthless. They were not giving up on his life, even after crippling his whole body. "Damn those bastards. I swear to wipe you all out." Long Tao swore on his pride.

He remembered how he tried to cultivate again and again but failed each time, with the condition of his body getting worse with each trial.

Until the chief doctor said he should be banned from cultivating, all his activities were forbidden by his father (to protect him). He could see the reluctance in his father's eyes. He slowly started distancing himself from Long Tao.

The same went for his mother too. Even his sister was barred from meeting him. It was termed as a waste of her time.

Clutching his fists, he marvelled at the fact that he was still alive even after the fall from the cliff. As he recalled the new memories, he got from the accident. The three ancient arts that were in his mind. He condemned his fate. If only he had these arts before the Bai Family attack, he might have been unbeatable among his peers.

But suddenly, a spark of desire arose from the bottom of Long Tao's heart. It urged him to give one last try at cultivating Qi. Clutching his teeth and gathering all his courage, Long Tao began his final trial on cultivation, chanting the sutra he was given in the clan.

He thought of himself as a failure, but to his surprise, he was able to circulate his blood according to the sutra. Visible tears appeared in the eyes of Long Tao as he gathered himself up "the world has not forsaken me.".

A thought occurred to him as he remembered the three sets of Sutras present in his memories.

He immersed himself back into his memories. Three sets of bright light sources were visible (red, golden, and blue). One could see three books-like figures present in these sets of light.

As Long Tao urged his mind to concentrate on the set of red lights, a flooding set of memories came into existence. "Hell, forger art: The art of devil gods. He is cultivating the body to create hell within oneself. To dominate heaven and the underworld. One stomp gives rise to calamity; one roar destroys the universe."

Long Tao was shocked to read those words. What arrogance? The art spoke as if its practiser was invincible within the world. As Long Tao continued concentrating on the skill, he saw the book's first page was opened. It read, "12 forgings of death".

The contents were the chants of a sutra, similar to what his clan gave him and described as follows "The foundation is the source of everything. Only by putting a great foundation can great cultivation be built. Forge the body 12 times with the aura of hell. Go through death and come back with tenacity. They were tearing the earth and sky apart, stomping on everything in your way. Create an absolute foundation. "

As Long Tao continued to study the scripture, he found that 12 forgings were a self-destruction and re-creation art where the practitioner needs to go through torment 12 times with the help of hell's qi (the method to invoke which is given in the art) and hence set up a solid foundation.

Long Tao was shocked to know of the 12 levels. Ordinary arts only had nine stories in the foundation-forming realm. It signified that contemporary art was not only dominant but miraculous. It was the pathway of the renegade( someone who derailed from the traditional path)

Long Tao immersed his mind into the other set of bright lights; he saw a group of similar manuals. The one in the golden light stated, "99 stances of Beast god: Render the body through sheer will and hard work, to shed the body of a mortal, become the demon that reign upon all beings."

The first section of this manuscript read of a formula that helps in the cultivation of blood called the "blood tempering formula". It requires one to take the blood essence of beasts and convert it into his bloodline. It involves the blood of beasts to practice and can help form a perfect foundation with the help of 10 steps—another renegade path.

The last one was The blue light signifying the "omnipotent soul law", which was related to the soul cultivation of a martial cultivator.

The first part was named the 'Heaven pestle art: grinding the soul nine times to reach the next level. Destruction and creation go hand in hand. 

Going through each art, Long Tao began generalizing what he understood and gradually putting them in line. He was given a second chance at cultivation. He will use this opportunity to prove himself in this world.

The first was the cultivation of Qi. The second cultivated blood, while the third was for soul cultivation. Long Tao decided to practice all three of them.