The Emperor of Cultivation Prediction

Chapter 10: Ancient Ruins & God's Legacy

The air inside the Ancient Meditation Cave vibrated violently, as if space itself rejected the existence of the energy Dexa had just released. The system's blue light suppressed the sect founder's golden projection until the figure dimmed, revealing cracks in his soul manifestation.

"System, report the integrity of this projection. Does he still have access to close the exit?" Dexa asked, his voice echoing coldly against the glowing stone walls.

[Beep! Answering Host. Founder's Projection Integrity: 12%. His consciousness has been neutralized by 'Architect’s Dominance.' The exit remains open under system control.]

"Good. Now, Sect Founder... or whatever your name is in this memory fragment, speak. What exactly is this Sword Core? I don't need any nonsense about 'trials' or 'worthiness,'" Dexa stepped forward, staring at the swirling ball of golden energy behind the projection.

The old man's projection coughed, a hollow sound escaping his transparent throat. "You... you are an anomaly. For five hundred years, I waited for someone with a pure 'Sword Heart.' But you... you have no sword heart. You have something far more terrifying. You see this world as if it were a collection of numbers and patterns."

"Because that’s exactly what it is," Dexa replied flatly. "This world is a construction. And I am the one holding the blueprint. Now, answer my question. This Sword Core... it didn't originate from this sect, did it?"

"You truly are a clever devil..." The projection smiled bitterly. "The Sky Sword Sect was built upon these ruins. We found it. That core... it is a fragment of a 'God’s Legacy' that fell from the upper realm thousands of years ago. I was only able to absorb five percent of it to establish this sect. The rest... the rest will destroy anyone who tries to touch it."

[Beep! System Analysis Confirmed. Object: Primordial Sword Core detected as a low-level 'Cosmic Logic Battery.' Contains data on the laws of space and energy.]

"Only five percent and you already became a legend?" Dexa chuckled disdainfully. "How low the standards were in your time. System, what is the probability I can absorb one hundred percent of this core without exploding?"

[Calculating Variables...] [Without System: 0.00001%.] [With Simulator System & Destiny Points: 100%.] [Cost: 1,000 Destiny Points for real-time Dantian stabilization. Does the Host agree?]

"Do it. Don't let a single drop of this energy go to waste," Dexa commanded with absolute authority.

"What are you doing?! Stop! You'll bring this entire mountain down!" the founder's projection screamed as he saw Dexa walking directly toward the golden energy sphere without any protection.

"Be silent, ghost of the past. Watch and learn how an Architect works," Dexa reached out, touching the surface of the burning energy sphere.

Instantly, an explosion of golden light filled the entire cave. Dexa felt as if his body were being pulled in a million directions simultaneously. The pain surpassed anything he had ever felt, yet his voice remained silent, uttering no complaint.

[Beep! Initiating God’s Legacy Integration...] [Warning: Pressure on Main Meridians has reached 400%. Activating Destiny Points for instant reinforcement!] [Cultivation Increase: Level 6... Breaking through... Level 7!] [Cultivation Increase: Mid-Level 7... Peak Level 7!]

"S-System... more... give me more!" Dexa growled, his eyes now emitting a pure golden light that pierced the darkness.

[Beep! Locking energy frequency. Extracting 'Sword Law' data into Host's memory. You now possess a God-level understanding of basic and intermediate sword techniques.]

Outside the cave, at the Hidden Peak, chaos erupted. The previously clear sky was suddenly covered by thick black clouds swirling into a giant vortex directly above the cave. Flashes of golden lightning struck repeatedly, yet without the sound of thunder, creating a terrifying spectacle.

"Sect Master! What is this?! Is our protective formation collapsing?" the Holy Elder shouted, his beard fluttering in the sudden, violent wind.

The Sect Master stood frozen, his face deathly pale. "No... this isn't destruction. This is 'Heavenly Resonance.' Someone in there is forcing the laws of nature to submit to him! Dexa... what on earth are you doing in there?!"

Leriana ran closer, her face full of anxiety. "Sect Master! We have to help him! This energy pressure is too great for the Qi Gathering stage!"

"Don't go near, Princess!" the Sect Master snapped. "If you go in now, you'll be turned to dust before you even reach the entrance! We can only wait... and pray that he doesn't blow up this entire mountain."

"He won't explode," Leriana whispered to herself, her eyes fixed on the glowing cave entrance. "He is Dexa. He doesn't do anything without calculation."

Back inside the cave, the golden energy sphere had shrunk to the size of a marble before finally being completely sucked into Dexa's palm. A sudden silence returned, but the aura inside the cave was now so heavy that the air felt as if it had turned into metal.

Dexa stood tall. His clothes were shredded, revealing a body that was now more compact and adorned with golden light patterns that slowly faded beneath his skin.

"System, final status?"

[Beep! Integration Complete.] [Cultivation: Peak Level 7 Qi Gathering (Perfect Foundation).] [Technique Mastery: Whirling Wind Sword Technique (Transcendent Grade), Shadow Step (Perfect Grade).] [New Function Unlocked: 'Structural Analysis Eye'—Host can permanently see weak points in objects, formations, and living beings.]

"Peak Level Seven... in one hour," Dexa clenched his fist, feeling the pure power flowing through his veins. "And those techniques... I feel them as if I’ve practiced for a hundred years."

He turned toward the sect founder's projection, which was now just a few flickering spots of light. "Thank you for the 'legacy,' Founder. This sect you built on lies... I will make it the foundation for something much greater."

"You... you truly are a monster..." the projection's final voice faded with the wind. "This world... will never be ready for you..."

Dexa didn't answer. He took a new robe from his spatial ring, put it on calmly, and walked toward the cave mouth. As he stepped out, the black clouds in the sky instantly dispersed, and sunlight once again shone upon the mountain peak, as if the universe itself were making way for him.

"Dexa!" Leriana was the first to run toward him, but she stopped three steps away, stunned by the pressure of the aura the young man radiated. "You... you succeeded?"

"I told you, it was just a data library, Leriana," Dexa replied calmly. "How is the situation outside? I feel many people gathering."

"You nearly brought this mountain down, young man!" The Sect Master stepped forward, his eyes widening as he realized Dexa's cultivation level. "Level seven?! Peak?! How is that possible?! You went in there at only the fifth level!"

"The cave holds many secrets, Sect Master," Dexa replied flatly, handing the jade medal back to the man. "The Sect Founder left behind something very precious. I only took what was meant to be taken."

The Holy Elder approached with trembling hands. "Did you... did you meet the Founder's projection? Did he give you instructions?"

"He said he was tired of waiting," Dexa lied with an expressionless face. "He gave the Sword Core to me and requested that this sect no longer be a place for narrow-minded people."

The Sect Master fell silent, staring at Dexa with a new mixture of fear and respect. "Peak Level Seven at your age... you are no longer just a genius. You are a blessing to the Sky Sword Sect. But Dexa, the messengers from the Heavenly Dragon and Holy Phoenix... they are already at the foot of the mountain. They felt the resonance earlier."

"Good," Dexa smiled thinly, a smile that sent shivers down the Holy Elder's spine. "I need a stage to show them that their era of dominance is over."

"Dexa, they brought Level Eight and Nine fighters as guards," Leriana warned. "Even if you are Level Seven, that gap still exists."

"Level Eight and Nine?" Dexa looked toward the mountain gate in the distance. "System, give me a brief analysis of the messengers below."

[Beep! Scanning... 12 Cultivators detected.] [Primary Targets: Heavenly Dragon Messenger (Level 9), Holy Phoenix Messenger (Peak Level 8).] [Victory Analysis: With Transcendent Techniques and the Structural Analysis Eye, the Host has a 100% probability of victory in a one-on-one duel.]

"Don't worry, Leriana," Dexa said as he began walking down the peak. "Levels are just numbers. I will show them that in front of an Architect, raw power is nothing but a pile of stones waiting to be crushed."

"Sect Master," Dexa paused for a moment without turning back. "Prepare the main hall. I want this meeting to be held openly. Let all the disciples see how we welcome 'guests' who don't know their place."

"As you wish, Dexa," the Sect Master answered subconsciously, not understanding why he was obeying the order of a newly promoted outer disciple.

As Dexa walked down the stone steps, Leriana caught up beside him. "You're really going to challenge them openly? My second brother must have sent someone very cunning."

"Cunning is my favorite, Leriana," Dexa replied. "Because nothing is more satisfying than destroying someone's plans right in front of their face."

"What's your plan?"

"Simple. I'll let them insult me for a moment, let them feel like they have the upper hand, and then I'll use the 'Analysis Eye' to dismantle every flaw in their cultivation techniques in front of everyone. Once their reputations are ruined, only then will I deliver the physical 'slap.'"

Leriana laughed softly, her fear now replaced by anticipation. "You really are wicked, Dexa."

"I'm not wicked, Leriana. I'm just precise," Dexa stared straight ahead. "System, simulate an opening dialogue that will make the Heavenly Dragon messenger lose his emotional control within the first ten seconds."

[Initiating Simulation...] [Suggestion: Use facts regarding the recent internal scandal involving their leader's concubine. This data was obtained from the integration of the Sword Core's memory, which stored old secrets.]

"Oh? Very interesting information," Dexa smiled broadly. "Let's see if that 'Dragon' can stay calm while I pull his scales off one by one."

That day, the atmosphere in the Sky Sword Sect changed completely. Dexa's aura of victory spread to every corner, igniting the spirits of other disciples who had long felt oppressed. They didn't know what had happened inside the cave; all they knew was that their hero had returned with unimaginable power.

"Look! Senior Brother Dexa is coming down!" "His aura... I can't even look him in the eye!" "Is he really going to meet the messengers of those great factions?"

Dexa walked through the crowd of disciples with steady steps, Leriana by his side like an empress accompanying her king. At the gate of the main hall, two figures in luxurious robes—one gold with dragon embroidery, one red with phoenix embroidery—were already waiting with arrogant expressions.

"So this is the 'anomaly' everyone is talking about?" The Heavenly Dragon messenger, a tall man with a thin mustache, snorted dismissively. "Only Level Seven? The Sky Sword Sect must be truly desperate to worship a brat like this."

Dexa stopped right in front of the man, looking at him as if he were inspecting a piece of meat at a market.

"System, activate Structural Analysis Eye on the target," Dexa whispered.

[Beep! Analysis Complete.] [Target: Heavenly Dragon Messenger. Weak Point: Damaged left kidney meridian due to excessive use of strength-enhancing drugs. Technique: Raging Dragon Fist—has a 0.2-second delay during the third movement transition.]

"Only a Level Nine built on cheap drugs?" Dexa spoke in a very calm yet insulting tone. "I wonder, does your wife know that you spend your entire monthly allowance on kidney-strengthening pills just so you don't faint in front of your leader's concubine?"

Silence.

The entire hall suddenly became so quiet that even the sound of breathing was clear. The Heavenly Dragon messenger's face turned from pale to crimson, then to deep blue in less than five seconds.

"YOU... WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" the messenger screamed, his Level Nine aura exploding, shattering several floor tiles beneath his feet.

"Ten seconds," Dexa muttered, glancing at Leriana. "He's weaker than I predicted. He lost control in seven."

"How dare you insult the Heavenly Dragon Clan! Die, brat!" The messenger lunged forward, his fist glowing with golden light aimed directly at Dexa's heart.

Dexa did not move. He did not even draw his sword.

"Now," Dexa whispered.

Swoosh!

With one small movement, Dexa simply shifted his body two inches to the left. The messenger's fist passed over his shoulder, and at the same time, Dexa touched the meridian point on the man's left kidney with two fingers reinforced by golden Qi.

"Argh!" The Heavenly Dragon messenger shrieked in pain, his entire energy instantly scattering, and he fell face-first onto the floor, rolling around while clutching his waist.

"One down," Dexa said, his eyes now turning to the Holy Phoenix messenger, who had begun to tremble. "Now, do you also want to discuss your little secret, or do you want to kneel immediately and apologize to Princess Leriana?"

The God's Legacy hadn't just given him power; it had given him the tools to destroy his enemies before the battle even began. And for Dexa, this was just the warm-up.

[Beep! Destiny Points earned: 1,500.] [Reputation among disciples: Reached 'Living Legend' level.]

"The cultivation world..." Dexa looked toward the sky. "Prepare for the real slap."