Jumanji stood at the heart of his renewed kingdom, sensing deeply every atom of air and every pulse of energy within the boundaries of his farm.
With his expert intuition, he realized the place was no longer what it once was; it had shed its old skin to be born anew.
He cast a discerning gaze over the light brown soil that now teemed with vitality, nodding with calm solemnity.
"A medium-quality farm... not bad as a starting point in this critical stage," he murmured.
Although his tone suggested he was not yet fully satisfied, his eyes sparkled with a hidden sense of contentment.
Meanwhile, the Leech Jewels settled throughout the farm had a different opinion.
They began to sway and dance in their places with overwhelming joy, sensing the radical shift in their environment.
These jewels had lived through a period of "spiritual depression" when the farm was merely a barren, parched land lacking nourishment.
Now, however, they had found a true sanctuary in the new soil and intensified gravity. Their small spectral forms began to flutter as if they were breathing freedom for the first time in an age.
The harsh red color no longer dominated every inch. Instead, the landscape had turned to a light brown that suggested sobriety and fertility.
Even the great mountain that sat at the center of the farm had changed its features to harmonize with this new quality.
The jagged rocks that resembled crocodile scales had disappeared, and the river had grown larger than before.
The place appeared much wider and more open, as if the farm had been breathing in constriction and was now finally able to relax.
Jumanji wandered in silence for a while, exploring the corners of his rejuvenated spiritual farm.
He then let out a deep sigh, murmuring with satisfaction, "It has truly improved... the land is now worthy of what will be planted within it."
Then, in a calm voice, he summoned: "Thousand-Faced Leech."
As soon as the echo of its name faded, the creature appeared before its master in the blink of an eye.
Jumanji looked at it with a gaze of hidden appreciation and said, "You have your freedom now. Choose any spot across this farm to make your home."
The leech shook with vitality, as if bowing in appreciation, then glided away into the horizon in search of its perfect place amidst the new terrain.
Jumanji turned toward the crates the tribe had prepared and began examining their contents, whispering to himself:
"I have the Red Corn seeds now... Rank 8 seeds. They are the best I have currently, but they alone are not enough."
Jumanji paused, contemplating the vast spaces, realizing that a complete and rich farm rested upon three indispensable pillars.
The first was the crops produced by seeds to provide spiritual energy.
The second was the spiritual medicinal plants, which would serve as his private pharmacy and a source of energy.
The third and most important pillar for ensuring balance and rapid advancement was spiritual animals of the Eighth or Seventh Rank.
These creatures would transform the farm from a mere static field into an ecosystem pulsing with sovereignty and power.
"For now, let us be content with what we have gained. Everything will reach its completion in due time. The urgent task now is to return to the earth."
Only a few moments passed before Jumanji was entirely immersed in his work.
He had no excess time to waste in the euphoria of pride over his medium-quality farm.
For someone like him, even if the farm were of "excellent" quality, it alone would not be enough to guarantee a meteoric rise.
He knew with certainty that wild ambition, tireless labor, and patient perseverance were the true pillars of success.
This was alongside those treasures of knowledge and memories he had seized from bygone ages without anyone's knowledge.
The summit in this world is not trodden by the lazy who are satisfied with surface-level results, nor by the arrogant who believe talent alone is sufficient.
Rather, it is reserved for those who pour their sweat into the soil of their farm.
It did not matter if the cultivator was evil and followed dark sects or righteous and sought the light.
It did not matter if they belonged to an obscure tribe or a great sect, whether they were man or woman. All those labels dissolved before the Path of Cultivation.
This path demanded a steel-like will that would not break, and a spirit that would not yield before the storms of the impossible.
Thus, Jumanji began planting his seeds, taking his first practical steps on the path of absolute sovereignty.
Even with those ancient memories he possessed, Jumanji realized that knowledge alone was a crippled weapon unless supported by iron resolve.
Not everyone who held a secret deserved to be a cultivator, and not everyone who walked the path deserved to reach the peak.
Sovereignty is not a gift to be granted, but a tax to be paid from the soul's hardship and the body's toughness.
Such was the law of existence in this cruel world.
****
A full month had passed in the outside world, but behind the walls of the spiritual farm, five months of condensed time had elapsed, thanks to the time acceleration in that special dimension.
Jumanji stood with dignity near the spiritual pond that was now overflowing with thick and abundant energy.
His eyes closely watched that foggy wall, which had begun to groan under the brunt of the pressure as cracks spread through it like spiderwebs.
He whispered in a tone carrying the echo of anticipation, "The time has come... Stage Three is beginning to manifest."
In the heart of his being, the black seed with two leaves was pulsing with immense energy, shaking violently like a trapped volcano searching for a vent to pump its spiritual lava.
Suddenly, the fog split with a terrible force, and the stagnant white nebula transformed into a raging sea of energy waves striking in every direction.
As he had done in previous times, Jumanji took a few steps back, watching the scene calmly and coldly from a distance.
But the spiritual pond did not give him a chance to move away.
Its narrow walls failed to restrain that raging energy, exploding in a violent upheaval that shook the foundations of the entire farm, sending out waves of spiritual pressure that nearly uprooted the trees.
Jumanji raised his arm to shield his eyes from the sweeping flash.
After a moment in which a majestic silence prevailed, he slowly opened his lids to reveal a legendary sight.
The modest pond had completely vanished, replaced by a vast "lake" shimmering like a polished celestial mirror, reflecting the clarity of the horizon in its deep, clear waters.
The lake was many times larger than its predecessor, as if it were an inland sea storing the secrets of power.
In the very center, the black seed floated with dignity, its third leaf having just sprouted, radiating an aura of weight and sovereignty.
Jumanji had successfully completed his advancement, firmly placing his foot in Stage 3 of Rank 1.
Jumanji allowed only a small, cold smile of victory to touch his lips.
He murmured in a voice filled with tranquility, "Stage Three... the Lake Stage."
****
Outside, the atmosphere was one of cautious calm, but beneath the surface, the winds of events were blowing exactly as Jumanji's memories had predicted.
What was expected had occurred with startling precision.
An external party had intervened and stopped the deterioration of the Leader's "Fetus" after forcing it into a deep slumber, allowing the Leader and the Elders to breathe a temporary sigh of relief.
After that mysterious person departed, the Elders gathered once again in a circle of apprehension.
The "Flower Elder" spoke in a calm tone, attempting to reassure those present.
"Now that your suffering has ceased, O Leader, nothing separates us from ending this dilemma except for the Spirit Fellow emerging from his seclusion."
However, one of the Elders, who looked at the Flower Elder with eyes full of doubt and frustration, muttered slowly:
"I only hope that this person you brought in is not just a clever imposter."
"The Spirit Fellow seems sincere in his endeavor, and his energy does not lie," the Flower Elder shot back, defending Jumanji.
Another Elder replied coldly, "We will know the truth soon. He has only one month left, and if it turns out he is lying, then death is the only thing that will be waiting for him."
At that moment, the Leader raised his hand firmly, ending the argument.
"Close this subject now. We will wait for him to emerge from his seclusion to judge him. For now, there is something more important I must inform you of."
The Elders sat up straight in their seats when they saw the look of stern seriousness on the Leader's face.
He continued, "The envoy of the 'Stork Clan' will arrive tomorrow morning... and it seems they have an urgent matter regarding the Rift that emerged two years ago."
"Did they find out so quickly?" one of the Elders asked with a hidden sense of dread.
The Leader replied with a bitter tone, "Can such a thing be hidden from a Rank 4 Clan? They have eyes and ears in every corner of every tribe. Nothing passes without their knowledge."
"A Rank 9 Rift... do they intend to seize it as well, even though it lies within our territory?" one of the Elders asked with a tone full of resentment and anxiety.
Another Elder corrected him seriously, "It has already nearly exceeded Rank 9. Say it is Rank 8; not much separates it from its rank changing completely."
"We have exhausted our resources and watched it with long patience, waiting for it to reach Rank 8 so we could pounce on it and close it for our own benefit. But it seems the wind of their greed has preceded the winds of our planning."
The Leader attempted to calm the charged atmosphere, saying confidently:
"No matter. I will negotiate with their envoy regarding this issue."
"Even if they impose their control over it by the strength of their fourth rank, we will wrest the right for our youth to enter it, no matter the cost."
He then added firmly, looking into the eyes of the Elders:
"This matter is vital for us; the opportunity hidden within this Rift is irreplaceable."
"In its depths, we may find a rare leech, legendary seeds, or even sp
iritual animals capable of moving our tribe to an entirely new level."
"Therefore, we must thrust our youth into this invasion, no matter the sacrifices."
End of Chapter