There are three commonly known ways to achieve a higher level of existence.

The first and most common method is cultivating one of the three primary energies.

However, this approach limits the cultivator to the Reformed Level of Existence, as the bottlenecks become increasingly difficult to overcome when cultivating a single type of energy.

The second method involves cultivating two different energies by creating different cores within one’s heart.

This is also a common way to strive forward, and those who pursue it have a chance to achieve Ascension within fifteen thousand years of cultivation.

The third method is through Biological Enhancements, though this requires the assistance of a skilled Biomancer to avoid severe consequences.

The mildest of these consequences might leave someone crippled, while the worst could result in the destruction of their soul, as happened to Garuth.

There were also secret techniques exclusive to powerful factions.

Dracony, for example, possessed a cultivation method that allowed them to fuse two energies into a higher form, creating a denser, more powerful Energy Core.

However, such techniques were neither necessary nor desirable for Sokram, whether for himself or his family. Mainly because he had always intended to cultivate Soulforce from the start.

He knew that attempting to do so at his current level would be suicide, as Soulforce was the strongest form of energy in the entire Multidimensional Plane of Existence.

Even in their journey toward the Realm of the Kings, after he and Nhiria left their universe behind, only the highest-ranking individuals could master it.

With this in mind, Sokram decided to pursue a different method.

One that would not only strengthen himself but also empower his loved ones while he paved the way for them to safely cultivate Soul Force from the Awakened level onward.

His plan was to cultivate Chaos Energy while simultaneously using his knowledge of Biomancy to elevate them to a level where mastering Soulforce wouldn’t be an impossible dream.

Although it was widely believed that cultivating Chaos Energy was impossible due to its violent and destructive nature, Sokram knew otherwise.

Chaos Energy was simply the result of fusing Magi, Aura, and Vitha into a single, higher energy. A process that would eventually rename Chaos Energy to Energy of Change.

In the wild, beasts and monsters, known as Chaos creatures, naturally cultivated this energy, which is why their flesh was rich in it, but it also enriched its nutrients.

Thus, once purified, their flesh became imbued with mana, spirit essence, and vital energy.

However, purifying it alone would not be enough to cultivate Chaos Energy.

After purification, the energy's properties would change and split back into Magi, Aura, and Vitha.

Yet Sokram knew of a method to cultivate it, one that he had developed in his previous timeline.

The benefits of this method were vast.

Even the smallest of them would grant him combat power two tiers above his own. As a Tier 1, he would be capable of fighting and defeating anyone at the initial stage of Tier 3, as long as they did not cultivate a higher form of energy or weren't at a higher Level of Existence.

The biggest challenge in his plan was avoiding attention until he had a plausible reason to explain his knowledge and discoveries.

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Fortunately, the treasure he had found for now ensured that much.

As he considered his plans, Sokram answered Hannah’s questions, and she was deeply impressed by the depth of his knowledge and understanding.

She assumed that he had acquired it all through reading, though she could not yet know the real depth of his experience.

“Alright, you little genius,” Hannah teased, leaning back with a sly grin. “Let’s see how much you really know. Why do we call Magi ‘mana’ when it’s within us or our reach? Or Aura ‘spirit essence,’ and Vitha ‘vital energy’?”

She raised an eyebrow, challenging him to rise to the occasion.

Sokram didn’t hesitate. “Well, when we are speaking of the type of energy itself, we call it by the name of the seed of power from which it originated. We call it mana because once it’s absorbed, it becomes part of our aethereal bodies. I’ve also read that ‘mana’ is an abbreviation for ‘Magical Nature' as Magi is the most powerful energy between the three primary ones and the only one capable of bending the laws of creation.”

He continued, “Aura, on the other hand, strengthens both our aethereal and physical bodies, but it can’t bend reality. That’s why we call it spirit essence. As for Vitha, it gives, enhances life, and speeds its growth. It’s the only one of the three that can naturally feed off and be strengthened by the other two, making us stronger, live longer, grow, and heal faster. Once absorbed into our bodies, it infuses itself into our blood cells. That’s why we call it vital energy.”

Hannah blinked, surprised by the thoroughness of his answer. “Well, I didn’t expect such a detailed explanation. You’ve done your homework well, Sokram.”

Sokram shrugged modestly, though his expression was proud. “I just want to understand the world around me.”

“Well, with that kind of theoretical knowledge, we can move forward,” Hannah said. “Now, I’ll show you a breathing method for gathering mana. This is the method I use, called ‘Ascending Dragon Method.’”

She motioned for Sokram to get closer, instructing him to sit cross-legged.

The first step was to learn how to meditate properly so he could absorb mana without harming himself.

As Sokram followed her instructions, Hannah sat behind him and placed a hand on his back. “Close your eyes and breathe slowly,” she said softly.

Sokram complied, focusing on his breathing.

Though he knew the steps already, he allowed her to guide him through them.

After a moment, she instructed, “Now, extend your will toward the blue gassy lights you spoke about yesterday. That is Magi. Will for it to come toward you, but not your fist this time.”

Sokram did so, and the mana surrounding him surged forward.

Seeing the amount he was attracting, Hannah quickly added, “Slowly. If you draw more than you can handle, you’ll suffer a backlash.”

Sokram adjusted his pace, drawing in the mana more carefully.

Hannah nodded approvingly. “Now, breathe it in. We dragons can breathe mana directly without filtering it. Our lungs do that for us naturally, so no need to worry. Just go slowly.”

He did as instructed, drawing mana into his body.

Yet Hannah’s voice came again, "You’re doing well, but don’t let your body ‘eat’ the mana.”

Sokram felt her mana move within him as she continued, “Instead, guide it through this vein here, directly into your heart. Keep doing that slowly until I tell you to stop.”

Sokram followed her guidance, feeling the mana that his lungs purified automatically accumulate in his heart.

Little by little, he built up a small reserve of mana, but when he reached about one-third of the goal, he sped up the process.

Hannah noticed this but didn’t stop him, as it was expected that he would grow accustomed to the process.

His talent allowed him to move faster, even if it was a little too quickly for her taste.

After a while, Hannah instructed him to guide the mana through the path she would show him.

It took them two hours to complete the first round as she carefully guided him through the process of cultivating mana and channeling it through his veins into his whole body and then back to his heart.

When they finished, she said, “Now, will it toward the walls of your heart and hold it there until your heart absorbs it all.”

Once the mana was gone, she smiled. “Now, do it again. This time, I’ll simply watch. Let’s see how well you remember the steps.”

Sokram decided to hold back this time, completing the cycle in fifteen minutes. Though he knew he could do it in less than ten seconds without hurting himself, he didn’t want to shock Hannah too much.

However, despite his efforts, his speed still startled her.

As she observed, she pushed back the urge to tell him to slow down, as his execution was flawless.

The mana absorption speed Sokram demonstrated was unparalleled for a first-timer, even by dragon standards.

“Did I do something wrong, Nana?” Sokram asked, sensing her surprise.

“No!” Hannah laughed, though she sounded slightly out of breath. “I should be used to it by now, but you still manage to surprise me. You did perfectly, darling.”

Sokram’s face brightened. “Then can you teach me how to use this?” He pointed to a small mark on his hand, which had appeared with the ring carrier glove he had received the day before.

Hannah’s smile grew sly. “I’ll teach you,” a mischievous glint in her eye, “but only if you can tell me about the Six Curses of Creation.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Though I doubt Hilda ever allowed you to read about something like that at your age.”