A/N: Lately, I've been feeling that the recent chapters — since the end of the Mortal Kingdom War Military Mission— have been a bit too slow-paced, with more slice-of-life and less action than usual. While a slower rhythm can be nice now and then, I think it's been dragging on for too long. Or at least, that's how it feels to me.
Maybe some of you enjoy the slower pace or don't feel like it's particularly slow — as the author who may be disconnected from what the reader likes from my book I feel like it's too slow paced. But since I'm not sure how everyone feels and may be wrong, I'd really appreciate your feedback!
Because of this, I've decided to experiment a little. Starting with this chapter, I'll be trying out some changes to my writing style. The goal is to improve the overall quality of the novel while also picking up the pace a bit, so things feel less "slow" and more "fast-paced." That said, the next few chapters might feel a little different as I test out some new approaches.
That's all for now — enjoy the chapter!
'Now that I've reached Entry, if I want to maintain this momentum, I should try to push the Sun-Moon Unity Technique to Entry as well. Enhancing my Qi's attributes across all fronts would certainly be a worthwhile boost to my combat potential.'
He brushed a hand through his hair as he mulled over the next steps.
'The only drawback is that cultivating multiple techniques of the same type can cause interference, making comprehension more difficult and raising the resource cost for future breakthroughs… Still, this is a small price to pay for strength. If I'm to get accustomed to managing "conflicting" Cultivation Methods, now's the perfect time. That experience will only serve me later, considering the path I've chosen.'
Resolved, Mikael closed his eyes once more and shifted his focus. This time, he began circulating the Sun-Moon Unity Technique, determined to bring it to the same level of mastery.
Four more days passed in silent dedication before he finally reached Entry in the Sun-Moon Unity Technique, a testament to its increased complexity.
Despite having already grasped the practical rhythm of cultivating a classical-type method, it had still taken him twice as long. Under normal circumstances, it should have been shorter—but the internal contradictions between the two arts had added a layer of resistance he had to overcome.
Now, with both techniques brought to Entry, Mikael allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. Yet he had no intention of stopping here.
Determined to raise all his Cultivation Arts to the same level, he continued his training, diving next into the arts he had yet to temper.
Three days of focused Movement Technique training later, Cloudbreaking Stride finally reached Entry.
Another five days passed before Obsidian Spirit Reinforcement followed suit. This particular method took the longest so far. Cultivating it required obsidian-type spiritual materials to strengthen the mind—something that would normally pose a significant obstacle.
However, thanks to Mikael's special status—even among Core Disciples—he managed to acquire the necessary resources effortlessly. Still, despite these excellent conditions, absorbing the materials and tempering his spirit took more time than any of the previous Cultivation Arts. The mental strain caused by the method's intensity simply couldn't be rushed.
Once Obsidian Spirit Reinforcement was secured, Mikael's attention shifted to the last of his Cultivation Arts that had yet to reach Entry: the Ninefold Physique Method. It was a painful, resource-intensive Body Tempering technique that, when mastered, allowed one to forge a fearsome and resilient physique.
Several paths existed to cultivate this technique, but Mikael chose the route of full-body tempering through medicinal baths. Though among the fastest methods, it came with drawbacks—chief among them, intense pain and the rarity of the necessary ingredients. Naturally, this wasn't an issue for Mikael. Leveraging his status within the Wandering Sword Sect, he easily obtained all the required resources.
With everything prepared and safely stored in his storage ring, Mikael made his way back to the Cultivation Manor. Beyond the main section, where the cultivation abodes stood, lay a more secluded area–quiet, serene, and dotted with several natural hot springs. Each was divided by gender, a standard design meant to ensure privacy.
He didn't waste time.
Approaching a smaller spring in the male section, he swiftly disrobed and stepped forward. From his ring, he retrieved the tempering materials and placed them carefully into the steaming pool. He had chosen this particular spring not for comfort, but for its size–deliberately narrow to avoid diluting the medicinal potency across a wide surface.
Soon enough, a dense, invigorating fragrance began to rise from the surface. The water shimmered faintly, the result of Qi-rich water blending with potent herbs. It was exactly what he wanted.
Without hesitation, Mikael stepped in.
"Hiss—"
A sharp breath escaped through gritted teeth as the water met his skin. The concoction was potent, its intensity immediate. Every nerve in his feet screamed, his body registering the searing energy coursing through the water.
But he didn't stop
Biting down on the pain, he sank deeper, his composure unwavering even as the intensity climbed. Soon, only his head remained visible above the surface—until he let that go too, slipping beneath the water into a seated lotus position at the bottom.
Ordinary humans would've suffocated in such a position. But at the Spiritual Foundation Realm, Mikael no longer needed to breathe. Oxygen had become irrelevant. What mattered now was the real threat—the agony of body tempering.
His entire frame throbbed, like his bones were being dissolved in molten metal and reforged one cell at a time. Pain flared from every inch of flesh as he activated the Ninefold Physique Method, his mind anchoring to its sequence.
"Gurgle…"
The surface bubbled with thick steam, carrying both Qi and pain in equal measure. And still, Mikael didn't so much as twitch. His body remained still. But deep within his thoughts, the torment wasn't silent.
'Fuck… no wonder cultivators skip body tempering. This is hell."
Every part of him screamed for escape. One motion. One push. That's all it would take to end the suffering. But Mikael's will didn't waver. Even if every fiber burned, even if every second felt like an eternity, he endured it.
Because pain meant progress.
Because weakness had no place in his path.
Time dragged on, and slowly—so slowly—he began to notice it. Subtle changes in his physique. Strength weaving its way into his flesh, layer by layer, as the medicinal properties of the herbs seeped deeper into him.
"...re...nic…"
A whisper. Barely audible. But it wasn't imagined.
He stilled completely.
"...It is really cozy."
Voices—two of them, soft, feminine, and not in his head.
Mikael's eyes opened beneath the water.
Then, in one calm motion, he rose.
Steam parted as he surfaced, eyes immediately locking onto two very familiar, very stunned faces.
The first were a familiar shade of violet—Lyra. She stood frozen in place, her surprise mirrored in her wide-open eyes. She wore a tasteful bikini of purple and pink, modest in design but alluring in suggestion, the hidden skin beneath inviting curiosity more than blatant exposure.
The second pair of eyes belonged to Senior Sister Lian'er. Her usual mischievous glint had vanished, replaced by visible shock. Her hazel eyes were widened in disbelief, and her mouth hung open, clearly caught off guard. Like Lyra, she wore a similarly modest bikini, hers in a deep maroon that contrasted beautifully with her fair skin.
For a few long seconds, no one said a word. Silence hung thick in the steamy air as Mikael, still neck-deep in the water, finally broke it.
"Didn't expect visitors," he said, his voice calm and steady. "If I had known…" He shook his head with a trace of faux regret. "I would've prepared a larger hot spring."
Lyra, aside from her initial surprise, remained unfazed. Being seen in a bikini by Mikael didn't bother her in the slightest. After all, he'd already seen her naked multiple times—what difference did a non-revealing swimsuit make?
But Lyra was one thing. Lian'er, on the other hand, was rooted to the spot, her expression frozen in sheer embarrassment. Her face had turned a vivid beet red, and her wide eyes were locked on Mikael. From her position, the upper half of his chiseled body was clearly visible, steam clinging to his defined muscles.
"Gulp."
The usually mischievous and playful senior sister audibly swallowed as she stared. She stood frozen for a few more seconds before finally snapping out of her daze.
"Eh… What?? Junior Brother, why are you naked like that!?" she half-exclaimed, half-screamed, her voice cracking with disbelief.
Mikael met her outburst with the same composed indifference he always carried. He merely raised an eyebrow before responding in a calm tone, "I'm doing some Body Tempering. Of course I won't wear clothes for something like this—and let's not forget, this is my private Cultivation Manor."
"This…" Lian'er tried to speak, but the logic in Mikael's statement made her falter.
But Mikael wasn't done.
"Also, I'm in the male section of the hot springs," he added pointedly. "So technically, the two of you are the ones who shouldn't be here."
Still beet red, Lian'er mumbled, "Junior Sister Lyra was showing me around before we were going to enter the hot springs…"
Mikael remained undeterred. "And on top of that, my clothes are clearly folded on the ground," he continued, gesturing toward the edge of the spring where his taoist robes were neatly placed. "With all that evidence, it's starting to feel like…"
He paused briefly, as if a sudden realization had struck him.
"Wait…" Mikael tilted his head, his gaze sharp. "Could it be… you wanted to see my naked body?" He clicked his tongue. "Tsk. I didn't take you for a pervert, Senior Sister."
His tone hovered somewhere between teasing and serious, making it impossible to tell whether he was joking or not.
Lyra let out a quiet chuckle, clearly enjoying the scene unfolding before her. The amusement in her eyes was unmistakable, a soft contrast to Lian'er's horror-stricken expression.
For Hua Lianyu, the situation was far from humorous. No—she was mortified. It felt as though the image she had so carefully crafted over the last months—that of a reliable senior sister—was shattering into pieces before her very eyes.
Her thoughts raced at lightning speed, scrambling for a way out. She blurted out the first excuse that came to mind.
"It was Junior Sister Lyra's idea! She said she wanted to come bathe with you—I'm innocent, I was dragged into this!"
"Eh?" Lyra, who had been quietly enjoying the lively scene, suddenly found herself hit by a stray bullet. Her expression blanked for a second, confused by the unexpected turn. But when she noticed Mikael's surprised look directed her way, her eyes narrowed sharply.
"Senior Sister, stop lying," she retorted, her tone sharp and precise. "You were the one who asked me to show you the hot springs inside the Cultivation Manor."
The moment Lyra spoke, panic surged across Lian'er's face. Now that her lie had been exposed so bluntly, she scrambled to salvage the situation. She began spouting excuses one after another, but each one sounded more absurd than the last, making her sound increasingly desperate.
Mikael, who had been silently watching the exchange with growing amusement, could no longer hold back. A hearty burst of laughter escaped his lips, echoing across the steamy hot spring.
"Eh?" Lian'er blinked, confused. Why was her Junior Brother laughing? Shouldn't he be disappointed in her as a Senior Sister?
Seeing her baffled look, Lyra also turned her head slightly, shoulders trembling as silent laughter overtook her.
Once Mikael calmed down, he looked at Lian'er with a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
"I'm not mad at you for 'seeing me naked' or anything like that," he said with a relaxed tone. "Not only am I not prude, but I also know you're not some kind of peeping tom. It was just an accident, right?"
A wave of relief washed over Lian'er, and she exhaled deeply. 'Thank the heavens… my image as a proper Senior Sister is still intact!'
She nodded so fast it was almost comedic. "Yes, yes, totally an accident! I was chatting with Junior Sister and didn't expect anyone to be here—sorry again!"
Mikael waved it off without concern, clearly unbothered. The mood seemed to return to something close to normal—until Lyra, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke.
Her voice was calm, but carried a noticeable edge.
"And what about me, Senior Sister?" she asked, eyes narrowing slightly. "Why did I get caught in your little story?"
Lian'er froze.
Sweat gathered at her temples as she fumbled for a way out. "U-Um… I… I lied. Sorry!" she blurted, bowing in a sheepish apology with all the grace of a flustered fox caught mid-scheme.
Mikael and Lyra exchanged an amused glance. Neither of them had bought Lian'er nonsense for a second, and it wasn't like Lyra was genuinely upset—it was just too fun to let her stew a little longer.
With that, the tension gradually ebbed, giving way to a more relaxed air as the three of them fell into light conversation. Much to Lian'er's relief, it seemed her Junior Brother and Junior Sister bore no grudge.
But just as things began to settle, Lyra suddenly furrowed her brows. She tilted her head slightly, sniffing the air with a faint crease between her eyes.
"Mikael, why does the bath you're in have such a strong medicinal fragrance?" she asked , a trace of curiosity threading her voice.
Her question pulled Lian'er's attention as well. For a brief moment, her expression matched Lyra's—then she blinked, a thought surfacing.
'Wait, didn't Junior Brother mention it earlier? Something about Body Tempering?'
Her suspicion was confirmed a seconds later when Mikael replied calmly, "I said it before—I'm currently doing some Body Tempering. The smell comes from the herbs in the bath."
"Right…" Lyra murmured, the realization settling in. "Forgot about it because of the 'chaos' that followed…"
Beside her, Hua Lianyu had gone quiet. Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Mikael's exposed upper body—firm, sculpted, and glistening slightly under the steam. For a moment, she stared, completely zoned out.
Then, she blinked, startled, and the question she'd been holding back finally slipped out.
"Um, Junior Brother, you said you're still Body Tempering right now, but you look so composed. Isn't it supposed to be… painful?"
Her tone was hesitant, genuinely confused. She followed up quickly, eyebrows furrowed.
"From what I've heard, it's agony. The few times I tried it, I felt like my blood was turning into molten lava. So how are you this calm? Or did you finish already? But that wouldn't make sense—the smell of the medicine is still thick in the air…"
Mikael simply shrugged, as if the answer was obvious.
"I am still tempering my body," he said voice relaxed. "The grind never stops. As for the pain…" He exhaled lightly. "It's just a little discomfort. If I want to grow stronger, I deal with it."
His tone was casual—but underneath the words, there was something sharper. A steel resolve that didn't need to be shouted to be felt.
Lyra, who'd know him the longest, didn't react. She had expected this kind of answer. It was Mikael, after all. That quiet determination was just part of who he was.
But for Lian'er, it hit differently. Her understanding of him was still shallow—this side of him, this unshakable will, was new.
For a few seconds, she didn't know what to say. Then, slowly, her expression softened with something that was a mix between admiration and respect.
She stayed silent, but her gaze spoke volumes—an unspoken admiration filling her eyes.
After that exchange, the atmosphere lightened. The three of them drifted into more relaxed, casual conversation. Laughter and small talk replaced the earlier tension, and time passed more gently—until Lian'er, suddenly once again become aware of her less-than-decent state of 'dress', began fidgeting awkwardly.
"W-We should head to the female section now, Junior Sister Lyra," she mumbled.
Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel. Lyra followed, shooting Mikael a brief smile over her shoulder. And just before stepping out of sight, Lian'er glanced back—one last look toward her Junior Brother.
Mikael watched them go, the calm returning to his eyes.
Once they were gone, he inhaled deeply, letting the steamy air fill his lung—not out of necessity, but ritual. A way to center himself.
Then, without hesitation, he sank into the water once more, returning to his lotus position.
The training hadn't stopped. Not for a second
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