Ravihiro's breath slowed as he entered a deeper stage of cultivation, the energy of the forest flowing into him like a river. Five months had passed since he reached the Soul Refinement level, and his progress in cultivating soul power under the spirit's guidance had come with challenges. The soul cultivation method taught by the spirit was steady but seemed... incomplete. No matter how hard he tried, the results were not as potent as he had imagined.
One night, during his usual meditative trance, a memory flashed across Ravihiro's mind—an old donghua he used to watch back on Earth. Soul Land, where people cultivated their soul power differently. The path to greater strength there wasn't just about refining one's soul, but about hunting soul beasts, absorbing their soul rings and soul bones after every ten levels to evolve.
His eyes snapped open, realization striking like a bolt of lightning. "Of course!" he muttered, his pulse quickening. "I need to cultivate like that... I can use the beasts' essence and rings to advance more efficiently."
However, he made a solemn vow to himself. He wouldn't absorb any soul rings until he had reached the 99th level of cultivation. This would push him to the absolute limit, forging his strength through pure cultivation first. The decision set his path, and for the next seven months, Ravihiro focused entirely on pushing his soul cultivation further. The world around him faded away as his body and soul worked in perfect harmony.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months.
During this period, Ravihiro felt his mind and body become sharper. His cultivation had gone smoothly—almost too smoothly—until something strange happened. A soft voice interrupted his deep meditation.
"Brother... Brother..."
At first, Ravihiro ignored it, assuming it was just a dream—a remnant of his fading human memories. But the voice persisted, clear and innocent.
"Brother... wake up."
His eyes flickered open, irritation rising. "What now?" he growled, his focus broken. He blinked as he saw a teenage girl standing before him, her eyes gleaming with life. Shocked, Ravihiro jumped to his feet, instinctively on guard. "Who... are you?"
The girl smiled sweetly, tilting her head. "I'm your sister."
Ravihiro narrowed his eyes. "Sister? I don't have a sister. Who told you this?"
She pointed at the ring on his finger, where the spirit resided. "The spirit told me."
His breath caught in his throat as realization dawned. This girl was not human. She was the spider beast from the egg he had found and hatched months ago. In disbelief, he looked her over—she appeared to be a 15-year-old girl, but her aura, her connection to the beastly power, was undeniable. Somehow, she had taken on a human form.
Ravihiro exhaled slowly. He let his guard down and gave her a small nod. "Alright. I'll accepts her as his sister"
The girl's face lit up with joy. "Really?!"
"Yes." He glanced at her curiously. "But you don't have a name, do you?"
She shook her head.
He thought for a moment, a name coming to mind that felt fitting for someone born from such a mysterious and powerful origin. "I'll name you Haruno."
The girl's smile widened, her happiness almost overwhelming. "Haruno... I like it."
Just as Ravihiro began to feel the strangeness of their encounter settle, something shifted in the air—a tension, an unspoken power. The forest around them seemed to respond to this moment, as if acknowledging Haruno's birth and Ravihiro's growing strength. The spirit had been watching silently but now spoke in his mind.
"Ravihiro... you truly are an anomaly. Few have progressed as rapidly as you, and to hatch such a powerful being is extraordinary. , the cultivation beyond this... it is a dangerous path."
Ravihiro's eyes gleamed with ambition. He had heard warnings like this before, but his will was unshakable. "I know the risks. I've always known. But I will stop at nothing until I've reached the peak."
Haruno looked at him, her new brother, sensing his unwavering determination. She, too, knew she had been born into something far greater than herself.