Chapter 7: Shadows and Breakthroughs
Actually, In a typical normal Low-Grade Cultivation World like Earth, cultivators are rare. The spiritual Qi is so scarce, and heavenly treasures so few, that most people never even glimpse the path to true power. The cultivation ceiling is a wall most cannot break, and those who do are legends whispered about in secret.
But to make Tian Mo's story thrilling—full of life-or-death battles and high-stakes intrigue—I, the author (yes, yours truly), went a bit above board. I introduced a secret organization known as The Hidden Circle—a shadowy cabal composed of the heads of hidden sects and powerful families who control human civilization from behind the scenes. They keep cultivation knowledge suppressed, ensuring the masses remain ignorant while they reap the benefits.
Because most sect leaders belong to this Circle, open conflicts are rare. They divide territories and rule covertly, maintaining a fragile balance of power. These sect leaders are mostly cultivators at the Core Formation Realm, many on their last legs, hoping for breakthroughs to ascend the heavens—or simply waiting for death.
The Hidden Circle and the Heavenly Chosen
But quantity alone wasn't enough. To raise the stakes, I added quality—introducing the Heavenly Chosen. These are the true protagonists of this world, born with innate luck bestowed by the universe itself. They're like unkillable cockroaches, surviving countless attempts on their lives until their luck runs out.
I wrote in every popular trope:
The Return of the Soldier King (easy difficulty)
The Return of the Dragon King's Son-in-Law (medium difficulty)
The Descent of the Genius Doctor from the Mountains (hard difficulty)
And, of course, the Return of the Reborn Immortal King (straight road to hell difficulty)
Honestly, I don't know what I was thinking piling so many protagonists into one story, especially when the hidden sects and families already created enough chaos.
The Challenge of Luck
Defeating these Heavenly Chosen is both simple and difficult. Simple because I have Fortune Seeing Eyes—a unique ability that reveals the luck and opportunities surrounding people. Difficult because these chosen ones' luck is vast, and to kill them outright risks severe backlash. A force kill might injure me, or worse, bring the world's wrath down on my head.
Alternatively, I can steal their luck slowly—through opportunities, women, and influence—like boiling a frog in water. This slow erosion is safer but requires patience and cunning.
Tian Mo's Saintly Past and Ruthless Present
In my previous life as the original Tian Mo, I was a good-natured saint who only stole opportunities from protagonists and never touched their heroines—the main source of their luck. What a waste of resources!
Don't blame me for rewriting Tian Mo this way. The original was too noble, fighting openly without fear, which ultimately led to betrayal—poisoned by his wife on his thousandth birthday.
Now I am dealing with this pain in the ass situation create by my own hands, reborn with full knowledge and a ruthless heart, I'm ready to take what I want and build my secret empire.
Earth is a Low-Grade Cultivation World, where spiritual Qi is scarce and treasures are rare. Most cultivators never reach beyond the Body Refining Realm, and only a handful ever break into the Core Formation Realm.
Cultivation realms progress roughly as follows:
Body Refining Realm (lowest)
Foundation Establishment Realm
Core Formation Realm
Nascent Soul Realm
Soul Formation Realm
Divine Transformation Realm
And beyond, into the Immortal Realms
Each realm breakthrough requires a qualitative transformation of the body or energy, often accompanied by dangerous tribulations.
The Hidden Circle's leaders, mostly Core Formation cultivators, rule from the shadows, dividing the world into territories. The Heavenly Chosen, born with immense luck, roam freely, challenging the status quo.
For me, Tian Mo, this means walking a razor's edge. I must grow strong enough to survive and surpass these forces without drawing too much attention too soon.
I know where the treasures and opportunities lie—those rare artifacts and secret techniques that could skyrocket my cultivation. But grabbing them now would mean war with the Hidden Circle and the Heavenly Chosen.
Instead, I'll wait. I'll grow richer, more powerful, and build my name in the elite world. When I'm ready, I'll snatch those treasures and harem pieces without mercy.
This world is brutal and unforgiving, but with my unique physique, cultivation technique, and knowledge of the future, I'm poised to break through every limit.
The game is set. The players are many. And I, Tian Mo, am ready to write my own destiny—ruthless, cunning, and unstoppable.