A screen popped up in front of Liam, explaining the enlightenment to him. The text read:
[Enlightenment Achieved: Path of the Ascendant
Description: You have achieved a rare and profound enlightenment, unlocking the Path of the Ascendant. This path grants you enhanced physical and spiritual abilities, allowing you to surpass the limitations of ordinary cultivators. Your body has been tempered, your meridians strengthened, and your Qi capacity expanded. You have gained heightened senses, increased strength, agility, and endurance. Your understanding of the world and your place in it has deepened, granting you wisdom beyond your years.
Benefit - You now have access to Advanced Cultivation Methods and Techniques
Note: The Path of the Ascendant is a rare and coveted path, sought after by many but achieved by few. It is a testament to your dedication, perseverance, and potential. Continue to cultivate diligently, and you will unlock even greater powers and abilities.]
As the energy around Liam dissipated, another pop-up appeared in front of him, congratulating him for completing the quest. The screen read:
[Quest Completed: Achieve Qi Projection
Rewards:
-1 RP
-2000 XP
Total RP: 9
Total XP: [3100]
Note: You have now completed 9 quests and have 9 RP. You need to finish 1 more quest and collect 10 RP to redeem them and return to the real world. Keep up the good work!]
DING!
[Congratulations! You have received a skill!
Skill Name: Celestial Ascendance
Rank: SS
Description: You can channel the power of his enlightenment, and temporarily ascend to a higher realm of existence. In this state, your physical and spiritual abilities are greatly enhanced, allowing you to move with unparalleled speed and grace, and your attacks are imbued with devastating celestial energy.
Effects:
-Enhanced Physical Abilities: Your strength, agility, and endurance are significantly increased, allowing you to perform feats beyond his normal capabilities.
-Celestial Energy: Your attacks are infused with celestial energy, dealing massive damage to enemies and bypassing most defenses.
-Increased Qi Capacity: Your Qi capacity is temporarily doubled, allowing you to use more powerful techniques and sustain longer battles.
Heightened Senses: Your senses are sharpened, granting your heightened awareness of your surroundings and the ability to anticipate enemy movements.
Invulnerability: You become temporarily invulnerable to most physical and magical attacks, with the exception of divine or transcendent-level attacks.
Aura of Dominance: Your presence exudes an aura that suppresses the abilities of nearby enemies, reducing their strength, speed, and Qi flow.
Time Dilation: Your perception of time slows down, allowing you to react more quickly to enemy attacks and capitalize on openings.
Duration: 30 seconds
Cooldown: 48 hours
Limitations:
-You cannot use any other skills or techniques while Celestial Ascendance is active.
-The enhanced state places a significant strain on your body, requiring a period of rest and recovery after use. You will pass out after using this skill.
-The invulnerability effect does not protect against divine or transcendent-level attacks, which can still harm you.
-The aura of dominance affects enemies within a 50-meter radius but has no effect on allies or neutral parties.
Usage: Celestial Ascendance is a powerful skill that can turn the tide of battle in your favor. The skill's effects make it suitable for both offensive and defensive situations, allowing you to adapt to various challenges.]
'Holy shit! That's my first SS rank skill! And Unlike my other skills, this skill's effect will grow stronger the more powerful I become.' Liam celebrated his achievement.
'However, its long cooldown and limitations mean it must be used strategically, ideally in critical moments when I need a decisive advantage. My body will be fucked if I use it, so I should save this skill for the last move and call it my 'Ultimate Skill'.'
"Congratulations on your first enlightenment, Lee! That's amazing! And you look great after your enlightenment. You're even more handsome and badass now." Rin hugged him.
Liam chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through him at her words. "It's all thanks to you, Rin. Your words helped me break through. I couldn't have done it without you. You should get enlightenment too."
Rin giggled softly, her cheeks flushing with a mix of happiness and embarrassment. "Enlightenment doesn't work like that, Lee. Otherwise, everyone in the world would be enlightened by each other all the time."
A while ago, Joon Ho, Joon Soek, and Soo-Min were resting in the cage. Joon Soek and Soo-Min were fast asleep, but Joon Ho couldn't sleep. He kept changing sides, each movement more aggressive than the last. His face was filled with anger, and his mind was a mess of thoughts.
He kept glancing back and forth at the entrance and the spot where Rin and Liam usually slept. After a few minutes of rolling on the floor, Joon Ho sat up and shook Joon Soek to wake him up.
Joon Soek woke up with a start, his voice groggy. "What happened?"
Joon Ho's voice was tense. "Lee and Rin still haven't returned. It's been hours since they left."
Joon Soek had a faint idea of what Liam and Rin might be up to, but he couldn't tell Joon Ho, who had a crush on Rin. He chose his words carefully. "Lee was facing a wall, and Rin must be helping him. They help each other. You shouldn't worry about them. Just go back to sleep."
Joon Soek thought to himself, Lee and Rin are probably having sex somewhere. If Joon Ho finds out, he might lose it. Better to keep him in the dark.'
Joon Ho's frustration boiled over. "I'm not worried about them! I'm worried about what's between them!"
Joon Ho's loud voice woke up Soo-Min, who sat up startled. "What happened?"
Joon Soek calmly explained, "Joon Ho is worried because Rin and Lee haven't returned, even though it's past midnight."
Soo-Min suggested, "We should look for them."
Joon Ho immediately agreed, but Joon Soek was reluctant. He thought to himself, 'If Joon Ho sees Lee and Rin having sex, he might do something to them or himself. I need to keep him away from that.'
Nonetheless, they set out to search for Liam and Rin. They first went to the training ground, but it was empty. The guards yelled at them, ordering them to return to their cages if they didn't want to die.
They then went to the valley. On the way, they heard loud rustling, howling, and crackling noises. Joon Soek thought to himself, 'Lee and Rin are going too hard on sex. They shouldn't do it so roughly at night when it's so silent. If Joon Ho finds out, he'll flip.'
But when they finally reached the place, they saw Liam's body floating in the air, surrounded by a shimmering aura of energy. He was in the midst of achieving enlightenment. They all stood there, shocked and unable to move.
Joon Soek's mind raced. 'Enlightenment? How is this possible? Liam was struggling just hours ago. Rin must have helped him break through.'
Once Liam finished and his body gracefully landed on the ground, they cautiously approached him and Rin. Joon Ho's eyes were wide with disbelief, while Joon Soek and Soo-Min exchanged bewildered glances.
"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Liam asked, his voice filled with surprise and curiosity.
Joon Ho was the first to speak, his voice a mix of awe and confusion. "What… what just happened?"
Liam turned to them, his eyes glowing with newfound power. "I achieved enlightenment."
Rin smiled proudly, her voice filled with joy. "Lee has unlocked the Path of the Ascendant. He's stronger now, and we're one step closer to escaping this place."
Joon Soek stared at Liam, his thoughts a whirlwind. 'The Path of the Ascendant? That's incredible. Lee's potential is beyond what I imagined. Maybe there's hope for all of us.'
Soo-Min looked at Liam with admiration. "This is amazing, Lee. Congratulations."
Joon Ho, still struggling to process what he had witnessed, managed a nod. "Yeah… congrats, Lee."
Liam smiled at them, feeling a sense of camaraderie. "Thanks, everyone. We'll get out of here together. I promise."
"Do you have a plan?" Joon Soek asked.
Liam nodded. "I do. Let's first go back to our cage. I will explain my escape plan."