Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2866 - 2867: Heaven And Earth Dual Cultivation

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Kireina's body and soul exploded!

She died!

Or... not quite.

Wasp stared at her in disbelief. She was engulfed in constant flames, yet her form held together, refusing to shatter.

"You pushed so fast that your soul couldn't withstand it and burst," he sighed. "You should have taken a full year to reach this point naturally, even with the greatest talent imaginable. You truly are in a hurry, aren't you?"

"I am," Kireina admitted with a nod. "But here we are. Finally, Peak Stage of Ki Building! Now what?"

"To ascend, you must gather your Ki and Spiritual Energy within your soul and form a Golden Core," Wasp explained. "Normally, this requires a specialized method. Fortunately, the Thousand Soul Flame Furnace Refinement Art was designed precisely for that. All the Soul Flames you have accumulated in your soul were meant for this moment."

"Oh!" Kireina's eyes widened in amazement. "So that's the purpose...!"

"Yes. Now simply condense those Soul Flame Furnaces within your soul to the size of a palm and compress them with your Intent. This refinement usually takes months, but—"

FLAAASH!

A brilliant golden light erupted from Kireina's chest. Her entire body transformed into pure white radiance for a fleeting moment before the glow slowly faded.

Within her soul, a beautiful Golden Core now floated, a perfect crystallization of all her cultivation efforts.

"W-What...!" Even Wasp was stunned. "You already did it?!"

RUMBLE!

Golden thunder crashed from the heavens, striking Kireina directly.

A Heavenly Tribulation.

It proved utterly ineffective; she remained unscathed.

"Yeah, it's done!" Kireina nodded, exhilaration surging through her. "Wow, everything feels so different!"

She felt immensely stronger, at least ten times more powerful physically, far more agile, with greater stamina and vitality than before.

Her regeneration had surged dramatically. With a Golden Core, even if her head were severed or her body torn apart, she could regenerate everything anew as long as her soul and core endured.

Of course, she already possessed similar resilience, so that aspect felt redundant. Still, the massive boost in energy and physical prowess filled her with fierce joy.

By reaching Golden Core in just three weeks, Kireina revealed herself as a talent capable of defying not only this world but all the Heavenly Realms connected through the Great Heavenly World Tree.

"Hah, well, congratulations," Wasp laughed. "Now let's advance your Earth Path to Golden Core as well."

"Ah, right," Kireina nodded. "I don't have an Earth Path method yet... do I?"

"You will learn mine," he replied. "The Swift Cicada Method. Actually, I've already been engraving it into your body."

"Huh?!" Kireina blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"The Insectoid Race is classified as Beasts; thus we are blessed by Earth," Wasp explained. "We can perceive the forces of Yin and Yang and the Ley Lines. In contrast, those on the Heaven Path—mostly humans or humanoids—can read fate, fortune, and divination through constellations. Very rarely does someone master both; most consider it impossible due to the self-destructive nature of Earth Path Cultivation."

"Self-destructive?" Kireina asked, a chill running through her.

"Explosions of Ki define the early stages of Earth Path Cultivation," Wasp continued. "You channel Ki through your body and force it to detonate, triggering drastic physical changes. As you adapt to these violent transformations, you grow stronger and tougher. This is how Beasts cultivate—there is little profound philosophy, unlike the Heaven Path. Even mindless creatures can become cultivators if they are strong enough and fortunate. Some intelligent Beasts, like my tribe, developed methods to make the process less agonizing and destructive. The Swift Wind Cicada Method is one such technique. Over these three weeks of relentless combat, I have been infusing the Paths into your body. Now release your Ki and let it explode within each Path. That will awaken your dormant Earth Cultivation Potential and, if luck favors you, propel you straight to Golden Core."

"...?!" Kireina's heart raced with shock. "What about the actual method?"

"This is the method," Wasp said, handing her a scroll.

Kireina read it carefully.

Unlike the Thousand Soul Flame Furnace Refinement Art, the Swift Wind Cicada Method consisted of a single stage. Absorb Wind from the Elemental Roots through constant fighting, movement, and flight. Channel it through the Dantians, gather and harness it in each pre-selected "Path" forged through training.

Then, release the accumulated Ki and, using the absorbed Wind while fighting and soaring, trigger explosive Winds in every Path. To Kireina, the Earth Path felt dangerously reckless—almost masochistic compared to the refined elegance of the Heaven Path.

Nevertheless, she steeled herself and tried it.

She released her Ki and...

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

"Nngh!"

Kireina gritted her teeth as dozens of explosions erupted inside her body. Her flesh swelled painfully with each blast while she drew upon the strength from her new Heaven Path Golden Core to keep herself from being ripped apart.

The ordeal lasted twelve grueling hours. Finally, battered and aching all over, Kireina collapsed onto the ground. A crimson core formed within her, born from her own Lifeforce, mirroring yet contrasting the golden one.

The two cores overlapped and fused, becoming a radiant Golden Crimson Core that embodied both Heaven and Earth.

Dozens of thunderbolts rained down upon her prone form, yet they left no mark.

She had grown far too resilient.

"Wow..."

As the cores merged, Lifeforce and Ki surged abundantly through her veins. Spiritual Energy from the surroundings nourished her weary frame.

Her physical body had ascended to a new pinnacle of power. Even without her soul or spiritual strength, her raw flesh alone could now split mountains and churn oceans with bare fists.

No—thanks to her Dual Cultivation of Heaven and Earth, that potency had doubled.

"Well done. You're finally a proper Cultivator," Wasp said with genuine praise. "The Swift Wind Cicada Method is simple, isn't it? But feel what it truly grants you."

"...!" Kireina leaped into the skies. Wing-shaped winds manifested behind her, propelling her at breathtaking speeds and even allowing her to briefly transform into wind itself. "Oh, this is incredible."

"It is, isn't it?" Wasp replied, pride evident in his voice. "That is Wind Shaping, a special Mystic Art passed down through my clan and woven into the Swift Wind Cicada Method. Master it as you advance, and you will command the heavens, summoning storms as I once did."

"Huh, thank you, Wasp," Kireina said, her smile warm and sincere. "You've been an amazing teacher."

"Hmph, don't get sentimental," Wasp muttered, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. "Anyway, now that the basics are complete, it's time for you to learn the Grazing Heaven Philosophy—a Heaven Path Cultivation Method that will guide you through Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Heavenly Being. Like the previous one, it will complement and merge with your Earth Path."

"Oh, I'm excited," Kireina nodded eagerly.

Kireina studied the Grazing Heaven Philosophy book with fierce concentration, dodging Wasp's relentless attacks and forcing herself to blend her two Cultivation Methods to fight and evade.

After a single day, she grasped its essence.

The Grazing Heaven Philosophy involved transforming one's Flow of Ki into "People" and becoming a master of Fate within one's own body, thereby grazing the heavens themselves.

Kireina never imagined that the key to resisting her Star of Misfortune and rewriting her cursed Fate lay hidden within Cultivation all along.

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