[Hlww,readers I started writing two novel first is this one and second is “Eliminating Protagonist”,please read both and it takes me late to uplode new chapter,because I am writing both novel please endure it…. and try to read both my novels] Power surged. Krishna's meridians burned, a fiery river of Qi erupting through his core. He pushed harder, sweat beading on his forehead, his jaw clenching. The energy accumulated, coiled, then hammered against an invisible barrier within him. A guttural roar escaped his lips, barely audible. Muscles strained, trembling with the immense pressure. He felt a snap, like ice cracking in a frozen lake, and then a profound rush of liberation. His body tingled, every cell awakened, vibrant with newfound strength. Energy coalesced around him, visible as a faint, shimmering aura. He felt lighter, faster, sharper. The air in his small, secluded cultivation room seemed to vibrate with his presence. He had done it. He had broken through. Suddenly, a series of rapid-fire chimes echoed in his mind, followed by a torrent of glowing notifications. They flickered across his vision, overwhelming his senses. "Ding! Host has successfully broken through to Beginner level 1!" "Ding! All stats increased!" "Ding! System Upgrade Initiated! Please wait..." "Ding! New Skill Unlocked: [Minor Illusion]!" "Ding! New Quest Available: [Establish a Sect]!" "Ding! System Upgrade Complete! Interface Enhanced!" "Ding! Host has gained 100 System Points!" "Ding! ..." The notifications continued, a relentless stream, making it impossible to focus on any single one. Krishna squinted, trying to filter the information through the haze of his recent breakthrough. "Shivam? Are you alright?" A voice cut through the mental cacophony. Viper stood at the entrance of the small room, his eyes wide with a mix of surprise and doubtfulness. He must have sensed the massive Qi fluctuations. Krishna blinked, shaking his head slightly to clear the lingering system alerts. His focus slowly returned to the present. "Boss? Yes, I'm fine. Just... a breakthrough. And a lot of new information." Viper's gaze swept over Krishna, a flicker of awe in his eyes. "A breakthrough, indeed. That was quite the display. I felt the energy from halfway across the compound. You've truly reached Mortal stage 5, haven't you?" Krishna nodded, a slight smile touching his lips. He felt invigorated, powerful. "Yes. The energy is different now. More refined." "Remarkable." Viper stepped further into the room, his expression thoughtful. "I knew you were talented, but to reach this stage so quickly... it speaks volumes about your potential. The clan will be very interested." "Speaking of the clan," Krishna started, remembering their previous conversation. "You mentioned something about becoming an official disciple. What does that entail? How does one become one?" Viper leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Becoming an official disciple isn't simple. There's an entrance exam. It's held only once a year. The competition is fierce, as you can imagine. Thousands apply, but only a few hundred are chosen." "Thousands?" Krishna raised an eyebrow. The scale was far larger than he'd imagined. "Indeed. This year, it's particularly competitive." Viper sighed. "The exam is exactly three months from now. It tests not just cultivation base, but also aptitude, temperament, and practical skills. Those who pass are then divided." "Divided?" Krishna prompted. "Yes. The top ten performers among the new recruits are immediately granted access to the inner courtyard. They receive better resources, better cultivation techniques, and direct guidance from elders," Viper explained. "The remaining 490 successful participants are placed in the outer courtyard. Still good, but the resources are more limited, and you have to prove yourself to gain access to the better stuff." Krishna absorbed the information. Three months. Top ten for inner courtyard. 490 for outer. Total 1000 participants. It was a clear target now. He needed to aim for the inner courtyard. "That's a lot to take in," Krishna mused. "Thank you for the information, Boss. It's... invaluable." Viper nodded, a serious expression on his face. "No problem. I hope you will pass the exam." "I hope so too," Krishna replied, a genuine warmth in his tone. He considered Viper a true friend here, a rare commodity. "Excellent. Well, I must be going now." Viper pushed off the doorframe. "I've been feeling a bottleneck myself. Seeing your breakthrough has inspired me. I'm going into closed-door cultivation for a while. Hopefully, I'll emerge stronger, perhaps even at Beginner level 1." "Good luck, Boss," Krishna said. "I wish you success." Viper smiled, a rare, genuine smile. "And to you, Shivam. Don't waste your talent." He turned and walked out, his bodyguard, a silent hulking figure, following close behind. --- Silence descended once more, but this time it was different. No urgent notifications, no surging Qi. Just Krishna, alone in the room, the scent of dust and ancient stone in the air. He re-read the system notifications, carefully this time. [Minor Illusion]: Create minor visual or auditory illusions. Range: 5 meters. Duration: 1 minute. Cooldown: 10 hour. Cost: 5 Qi. [Establish a Sect]: Quest – Establish a cultivation sect. Requirements: Find a suitable location, gather disciples, develop techniques. Reward: [Sect Master's Token], [Minor Realm Creation Manual]. A sect. The thought was audacious, exhilarating. He ha to establish his sect to protect his sisters and find his parents. First things first, he needed to solidify his current gains. He spent the next few hours meditating, consolidating his Qi at Beginner level 1. He felt the pure energy flowing, cleansing, strengthening every fiber of his being. The world seemed sharper, more vibrant. He opened his eyes, a faint glow lingering. He needed more information about this world. Communication. He remembered seeing a small bulletin board near the training grounds, where disciples sometimes posted notices. Perhaps he could glean some intel there without drawing too much attention. He waited until the dead of night. The moon was a sliver in the sky, casting long, eerie shadows. Slipping out of his assigned quarters, he moved like a phantom through the silent corridors of the outer compound. His new agility made the task simple. He found the bulletin board. It was mostly trivial notices: sparring challenges, lost items, requests for minor tasks. But one notice caught his eye. It was old, faded, detailing the requirements for the previous year's entrance exam. The information corroborated Viper's words. Three months. Intense competition. He also saw mentions of various regions, including Jinan, as common recruitment grounds. Krishna memorized everything, a plan already forming in his mind. --- Dawn painted the sky in soft hues of orange and pink when Krishna returned to his room. He packed a small bag, mostly containing his minimal belongings and the cultivation pills he had acquired. He knew he couldn't stay here indefinitely without officially joining. He slipped out of the clan compound before anyone stirred. The air was crisp, cool against his face. He moved quickly, using minor illusions to remain unnoticed by any early risers or guards. His destination: home. The familiar streets of Jaipur slowly came into view. He kept to the back alleys, his senses alert. Finally, he reached his small, humble house. The door was unlocked. Anya would be preparing for her day. "Anya?" he called softly, stepping inside. The scent of cooking spices filled the air. His sister emerged from the small kitchen, her eyes widening in surprise, then relief. "Brother! You're back! I was so worried! Where have you been?" He pulled her into a tight hug, inhaling the familiar scent of her hair. "I'm fine, little sister. I was... exploring. Found a good opportunity." He couldn't tell her everything, not yet. "An opportunity?" she asked, pulling back, her brows furrowed slightly. "You haven't been in trouble, have you?" "No, nothing like that." He gave her a reassuring smile. "Just something that could help us. Help *us* to get some money." Anya's face brightened instantly. "Really? Oh, Brother! That would be amazing!" "Speaking of which," he said, remembering the notice he saw. "Your entrance exam is tomorrow, isn't it?" She nodded, her excitement tempered by nerves. "Yes. I'm so nervous, Brother. What if I don't do well? What if I fail?" He held her shoulders, his gaze firm. "You won't fail, Anya. You're smart, dedicated, and you've worked incredibly hard. Believe in yourself. You're going to ace it. I know it." Her smile returned, a little more confident this time. "Thank you, Brother. I needed to hear that." They talked for a while longer, about mundane things, about her studies, about his vague 'opportunities'. He helped her review some of her notes, offering encouragement. He loved seeing her light up with hope. Later that evening, after Anya had gone to bed, Krishna slipped into his own room. He locked the door, drawing the thin curtains. The world outside could wait. He had training to do. He sat cross-legged on the floor, closing his eyes. He activated his system, pulled out his cultivation pills, and began to absorb the spiritual energy. Hours melted away as he immersed himself in the flow of Qi, refining his core, strengthening his meridians, pushing the boundaries of his new realm. He felt the subtle changes, the slow, steady accumulation of power. He was not just cultivating for strength anymore; he was cultivating for a future, for Anya, for a sect, for the path to immortality. The night passed in a blur of focused meditation. When the first rays of dawn pierced through his window, Krishna felt refreshed, invigorated, and a notch stronger. He stood up, stretching his limbs. He had a lot to do today. First, to ensure Anya was ready for her exam. Then, his own path. He watched Anya leave for her exam later that morning, a knot of pride and worry in his chest. He gave her one last encouraging smile, and she returned it, a newfound determination in her eyes. He knew she would do well. After waving her off, Krishna didn't go to college. Not today. He had a far more pressing task at hand. He needed a place. A stronghold. A foundation. He consulted his internal map, a mental projection from the system that highlighted points of interest and spiritual energy concentrations. Jinan. It was a region known for its ancient structures, its historical significance, and rumored hidden spiritual veins. His gaze fell upon two specific locations within Jinan: the majestic Amber Fort, steeped in history and power, and the enigmatic Ever-Burning Pyre, a place of legend said to hold an eternal flame and mysterious energies. Both locations pulsed with potential. He knew he couldn't just walk in and claim them, but they were starting points. He needed to scout, to assess, to find a place worthy of his ambition. He took a deep breath, his mind alight with possibilities. A sect. His own sect. It was a grand undertaking, but the system had given him the quest, and he was determined to see it through. He left his house, not towards college, but towards the bustling roads leading out of Jaipur, and the whispers of power that emanated from the Amber Fort and the Ever-Burning Pyre, places where he might just find the perfect location to build his legacy. His sect, a stronghold for the path he had chosen to walk and the family he had sworn to protect, but the true challenges of finding such a location and establishing a name for himself were only just beginning as he stepped onto the dusty road, leaving the familiar city behind for the unknown territories that lay ahead, hoping to find a place strong enough to withstand the coming storms, a place he could truly call home for his future disciples and his sister. "If she chose to follow his unique path after her own journey of discovery at medical college, a journey that felt worlds away from his own quest for immortality and power, yet was inextricably linked by the bonds of family and destiny, pushing him forward into the vast, unpredictable expanse of the cultivation world, where every step was a gamble and every discovery held both promise and peril."

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