The Primal Hunter Chapter 1225 - Sacred Meditation

The Malefic Viper was forced to admit that the interval spent waiting for Jake to fully regain consciousness was hardly an entertaining pursuit. Ordinarily, he could maintain a lingering connection to Jake’s condition, but in this specific state, even a Primordial was barred from observing. Jake’s soul had retreated to a realm where only the system held jurisdiction.

Consequently, he could do little more than wait with mounting restlessness for Jake to stir. From all indications, the young man hadn't suffered any catastrophic soul damage; though he was clearly drained, he had fortunately acquired a meditation skill designed to accelerate his recuperation.

Naturally, the primary advantage Jake stood to gain wasn't just recovery. This specific advancement would significantly catalyze his future Cultivation and growth. The Viper noted that Artemis was aware of this as well, though her concern for his immediate awakening clearly outweighed her interest in his heightened potential.

It was a touching sentiment that the snake god quietly commended.

As the silence stretched on, a peculiar thought crossed the Viper's mind. Given that the First Sage had imparted so much wisdom to Jake, wouldn't his Chosen now be considered something of a half-disciple? If that were true, Vilas would technically be the senior brother. It was a strange logic, yet the Viper found it amusing, feeling only gratitude that his Master’s transcendent presence had ultimately benefited his own Chosen.

This wasn't to diminish Jake’s own feats. He had achieved something truly monumental, a feat the Viper struggled to imagine anyone else accomplishing, even with the First Sage acting as a tutor. He had successfully touched a domain usually reserved for the gods. While this access was incredibly restricted—judging by the aura he had radiated moments ago—the mere fact that he had reached it at all was unprecedented.

To be clear, this didn't imply Jake had suddenly become a demi-god; he had simply moved one tiny increment closer to that state, taking a step far earlier than the laws of Cultivation usually allowed.

Using a Meditate skill and the system to glimpse into concepts wasn't a privilege exclusive to divinity. Many cultivators obtained skills for this purpose at higher grades, typically centered on their specific Dao. A water mage might meditate on the essence of water and its related branches; a swordsman would focus on sword-related concepts, and so forth.

During such sessions, the system would provide filtered and restricted Records, essentially feeding them crumbs. It was comparable to having a single, dripping pipe installed into their souls, through which the system allowed concepts to leak at its discretion.

In contrast, Jake had secured a limited, direct link to the vast ocean that served as the primary reservoir. Had it not been restricted, Jake would have undoubtedly drowned. Even gods risked being consumed when venturing into that infinite sea of Records.

“Is it normal for it to take this long to wake up?” Artemis inquired after several minutes passed without change.

“I find it amusing that you think anything about this situation is ‘normal’,” the Viper replied with a chuckle and a shake of his head. “Just give him time. You understand as well as I do that time perception in that state is neither logical nor stable. Unlike us, Jake didn't bother to anchor himself before diving in; he just plunged straight into the depths.”

Artemis gave a slow nod, joining the Viper in their silent vigil. Several hours drifted by while Jake remained perfectly still. His aura stayed level, showing no signs of energy fluctuations or instability.

Then, roughly five hours after Artemis had last spoken, there was a shift. The Viper sensed a subtle change in Jake’s presence, followed immediately by a sharp spike in power that brought a smile to the god's face.

Navigating the path back was more complex than Jake had initially anticipated. He realized this was the final component of his upgraded Meditate skill that required mastery. He needed to map a route between his Soulspace and that bizarre realm that existed both everywhere and nowhere, utilizing his Truesoul as the bridge.

Fortunately, returning was far simpler than arriving. He found that he only needed to move in the direction where the crushing pressure from the massive, concept-leaking gate began to fade. Jake wasn't certain if he was physically moving or merely retreating his consciousness from the gate of concepts, but the method was effective regardless.

Gradually, Jake’s physical senses began to return. He felt the faint hum of energy circulating through his Meridians, and at that moment, his Sphere of Perception flared to life, informing him of his surroundings.

Through the sphere, he observed Artemis and Villy waiting patiently. They stood there in silence, and Jake felt a surge of warmth seeing the visible relief on Artemis’ face as she sensed his return.

Moments later, Jake’s consciousness settled back into his Soulspace. He found himself standing within the gazebo that had once held the First Sage’s tome. A massive wall of golden light had manifested at the back of the structure, marking the point of his exit; he knew instinctively that this was now his permanent link to the strange mental realm of concepts.

To be precise, it wasn't a physical portal. Everything within the Soulspace served as a representation of Records, and this was simply the manifestation of Jake’s simplified grasp of how to access that state. It was a mental trigger; by stepping through, he would subconsciously enter a state of ultra-deep meditation.

While the arrival of the gate was expected, what Jake found beside it was a genuine surprise. He had assumed the Legacy of the First Sage would have been exhausted during his enlightenment, yet the tome of the First Sage sat right there, appearing entirely whole.

Though he knew he should focus on his new system notifications and his sudden surge in strength, curiosity won out, and he opened the book.

He found the initial pages were now blank. Jake felt a pang of disappointment but nodded in understanding; it made sense that the Records infused by the First Sage had been used to pave that golden path.

However, as he continued to flip through, he realized he was wrong. Only the portion he had already studied had vanished. There were still numerous sections he couldn't yet access due to unmet requirements. Despite his efforts, he was unable to turn the page to the next chapter.

Jake shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. He wondered just how many Records the First Sage had bestowed upon him. It was an incredible gift. He also wondered if the system was truly comfortable with a transcendent being aiding him to such a degree. Even if it had cost five charges of his Path of the Heretic-Chosen, the deal felt heavily skewed in his favor.

Closing the tome, Jake suspected he wouldn't be able to glean more from it until he reached B-grade. Speaking of grades, he had several notifications to review—some confirming his progress on his pre-evolution checklist, and others bringing him closer to the evolution itself.

Starting from the top, Jake reviewed the more mundane alerts. As predicted, the restoration and enhancement of his Palate of the Malefic Viper was recognized by the system, granting him three levels. [Level Up! Palate of the Malefic Viper (C) Level 109 -> 110] [Level Up! Palate of the Malefic Viper (C) Level 110 -> 111] [Level Up! Palate of the Malefic Viper (C) Level 111 -> 112]

Gaining levels was always a positive, but the next notification completely eclipsed them. Because it was a race skill, his other upgrade didn't grant levels, but Jake didn't care as he eagerly viewed the result of his long labor. It had been a long road, and it finally revealed the answer to a question he had pondered for ages: the tier that existed beyond mythical.

[Serene Soul Meditation (Epic)] --> [Sage’s Meditation of Enlightenment (Sacred)]: Relinquish portions of your ego to glimpse what lies beyond the veil, as your soul takes half a step toward the divine realm. This allows you to enter a meditative state that pushes resource regeneration to extreme levels. In this state, you possess absolute mastery over your energies and soul, enabling free movement within your Soulspace. By delving deeper, you can connect with the Gate of Enlightenment to explore infinite concepts. Warning: prolonged exposure to the Gate of Enlightenment may result in negative consequences. Due to this divine connection, you maintain absolute tranquility and mental clarity during meditation. This link also gradually heals the soul, repairing minor damage and imperfections. While meditating, all external connections are severed, and no outside influence can forcibly end the session.

This was the definitive Meditate skill. Every existing effect had been boosted to incredible heights, and he had even kept the benefits of Serene Soul Meditation, like the enhanced mental calm. The ability to mend his soul was a massive upgrade; while his old skill could technically do so, it was so slow that sleeping was often more effective. Now, meditation was the superior choice for healing soul wounds. He even wondered if he could combine the two and sleep while meditating.

Of course, the regeneration wasn't why the skill was so highly ranked. "Sacred" was a rarity Jake hadn't even heard of, but reading the description made the classification clear. He wasn't sure if Sacred was simply the rank above Mythical or a unique tier for mortal skills that incorporated divine elements.

This skill had clearly achieved Sacred status because of its link to divinity. Jake also finally had a name for the phenomenon: the Gate of Enlightenment. He had thought it was just a mental construct he'd built, but the system recognized it as a distinct entity. It was a simple name, but a fitting one for something so profound.

The ability to witness "myriad concepts" would undoubtedly speed up his progress, particularly in Alchemy. While it would help with his archery, its value in fields like ritual magic or transmutation was immeasurable.

The broad understanding he could gain would be vital. Even from his short time with the skill, he had already picked up insights into nomological laws. These small, Feng Shui-like realizations would allow him to optimize his magic circles and formations moving forward.

Jake found it slightly humorous that the warning about staying in his Soulspace too long had been replaced by a warning about the Gate of Enlightenment. He didn't feel he needed the reminder, as the danger there was palpable, but he appreciated the system's thoroughness.

Ultimately, Jake knew the true worth of this upgraded Meditate skill wouldn't be felt instantly. It wouldn't grant him immediate godhood or unlock the secrets of the universe in a day. Instead, it was a tool that raised his ceiling, ensuring his potential remained unmatched and allowing him to stay at the peak of his level.

...Or so he thought. Jake had actually overlooked something. He had felt a surge in power, but he hadn't stopped to analyze the source. As he scrolled further down, he was reminded of a crucial element he had momentarily forgotten: Titles.

Specifically, the Prodigy titles. His Mythical Prodigy title had been a cornerstone of his strength, and now, it had evolved.

[Mythical Prodigy]: A talent far beyond the norm, reaching even for the mythical. Your Path has only just begun, yet you refuse to be limited by your rank. Creating a mythical skill before C-grade is a monumental task, marking the rise of a true legend. Let your Path be affirmed. +100 all stats +20% all stats --> [Sacred Prodigy]: A genius who has transcended the curve, grasping even the sacred. Your Path is becoming clearly defined, and by your own hand, you stand at the summit. Creating a sacred skill before B-grade is a nearly unprecedented feat, the mark of a true sacred prodigy. May your Path remain supreme as you approach divinity. +500 all stats +30% all stats

Jake had sensed himself becoming stronger after the meditation upgrade, but his disoriented state made him unsure of the scale. Between the level-ups and the title, the source of his new power was now obvious.

The title upgrade provided an additional 400 to every stat and a 10% boost to the overall multiplier, which stacked with his other buffs. Since Jake’s total stat amplification from titles already exceeded 100%, that 400-point increase was effectively worth nearly a thousand points per stat.

To put it in perspective, Jake gained roughly 200 stats per race level. This title was essentially the equivalent of 18 race levels across his nine stats. While stats usually came from a mix of class and profession levels, this was five levels' worth of pure power. With the extra ten percent added in, Jake couldn't suppress a massive grin.

In a very short window, he had repaired his Palate of the Malefic Viper, evolved his Meditate skill to a Sacred rarity, and secured a massive title upgrade. He felt significantly more powerful. His profession was also nearly at its limit, leaving only his class levels behind.

He wasn't worried; he intended to fix that deficiency soon. After all, he still had a dragon to hunt. But before that, he had two pressing matters to attend to.

First, he had to deal with the "downside" of his new power. Because his stats had jumped so significantly, he needed to brew fresh batches of poisons and potions for the hunt. If he didn't, his old supplies would be underpowered compared to his current capabilities—a "struggle" he was sure every other C-grade cultivator would find deeply relatable.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, he really needed to open his eyes and talk to the two gods who were waiting impatiently for him to stop admiring his system logs and rejoin reality.