The instruction on mental cultivation came to an end. Fiore had finished teaching the essential points of cultivation, and what followed was the diligent practice of the two themselves.
Time passed.
Noon.
During the lunch break, Yol went home and brought the rapier "Fine Snow" together with Merlin's katana.
Then she took the time to hand them to Fiore.
Manor.
In the lobby on the first floor,
Seeing the two unsheathed swords in front of him, a flash of surprise passed through Fiore's eyes:
"I have to say, both swords are of very good quality. Alright, that's it then.
"I'll call you in a few days when your swords are forged."
Merlin and Yol thanked Fiore and then bid him farewell.
The two left the lobby and continued to the training ground to practice.
The two didn't chat idly.
Merlin held an unsharpened katana, coordinating with his footwork in the field, swinging the katana to start basic training.
Yol sat cross-legged under the ginkgo tree at the edge, beginning to breathe with a special rhythm, starting to explore how to carry out mental cultivation.
According to Merlin, one should first construct the outline of the visualized object in consciousness, and then constantly fill this visualization in consciousness over time.
Thinking this in her heart, Yol's consciousness began to gradually become dizzy with the rhythm of breathing, and her consciousness went blank.
Vaguely, it was like entering that state of prayer from the past that had been engraved into her bones.
A special kind of [Quietude] appeared.
Images appeared one after another in her consciousness.
The peaceful nun life in the past.
The anxiety of suffering from Platinum Lead Syndrome.
The shattered white city, burned to nothing by the flames of destruction.
The sudden appearance of the familiar boy.
The carefree life in the deep forest.
The swordsmanship training in the sword dojo.
Staying with Merlin every day, the two swinging swords tirelessly every day. Unknowingly, the sword seemed to have integrated into her life.
Using the sword could help him, protect him.
Then...
In the pitch-black consciousness, outlines of bright lines began to appear quietly, in the shape of a [Greatsword].
Unknowingly when, Merlin quietly came to sit cross-legged in front of Yol. Seeing her extremely pale face, frowned brows, and painful appearance, he could hear her heart beating violently at this moment.
"You're pushing too hard!"
Saying softly, wisps of black flames appeared in his pupils.
[Calamity Vision]
He could see different types of negative "Calamities" quietly emerging in her heart and lungs.
Suddenly, Yol's breathing rhythm became disordered. Her breathing was very rapid, and she began to retch violently.
Seeing this, black flames gushed out from his left hand, then landed on her shoulder, spreading over her body.
Calamity absorption.
Soon, the abnormal state on Yol's body disappeared, and her breathing became soothing.
A thought flashed in Merlin's eyes. He knew what Yol was cultivating. At this time, the Calamity carried on the black flame in his hand merged into his body. It wasn't absorbed and stored, but released onto himself.
In an instant.
Rapid breathing, violent heart beating, unbearable pain in the lungs, and consciousness went blank at this moment.
Merlin sat on the ground, breathing with difficulty at this moment. However, due to the endurance boost brought by the Lynx.
So Merlin didn't lose consciousness at this moment. In his hazy consciousness, he recalled the thing he wanted to visualize.
Suddenly, a figure broke into his consciousness. A vivid and vigorous lynx appeared.
Crouching low, opening its mouth to roar.
Eyes fierce and cunning,
Preparing to pounce.
This posture instinctively appeared in Merlin's consciousness.
Merlin's consciousness looked at it, observing it carefully, imagining it.
Limbs thick, long, and vigorous, forelimbs short and hindlimbs long, balanced proportions, the facial contours naturally carrying a sense of majesty.
Lynx.
Even though it was only the first visualization, its image was deeply engraved in Merlin's consciousness, unforgettable.
And this lynx in his consciousness, its chest and abdomen rose and fell slowly, and a hoarse purr, purr low-frequency vibration came from deep in its throat.
The muscles and bones on its body were pulsating with a unique rhythm.
As if polishing its body through a strange body tempering art.
Outside.
Yol woke up quickly. Seeing Merlin's uncomfortable expression at this moment, a look of worry couldn't help but appear on her face.
But soon, she found Merlin lying prone on the ground. She panicked instantly, but then she realized Merlin wasn't unconscious but breathing in a strange way.
And from his throat, a low vibrating sound was emitted.
"Lynx Body Tempering Arts?" Yol knew about this physical art developed by Merlin, so she wasn't unfamiliar with it, because Merlin had also taught her, but she hadn't learned it yet.
Seeing this, she breathed a sigh of relief.
After a while, seeing no other bad changes in Merlin, she stood up, picked up the 1.4-meter silver-white greatsword from under the ginkgo tree, and walked three meters away.
Stood still, accompanied by breathing.
Stepped forward, raised the sword and swung it down.
Whoosh, whoosh sounds of breaking wind.
Immediately appeared from under her sword.
As time passed.
A beautiful scenery appeared.
Under the lush golden tree.
A beautiful woman, under the golden leaves falling from the tree, held a silver-white greatsword, constantly raising and swinging it down.
Full of strength and coordination.
While under the tree on the side, a black-haired boy lay prone on the ground, rising and falling with his chest and abdomen, like a dozing young tiger.
Incredibly harmonious and beautiful.
The sun set in the west.
Unknowingly when, Merlin had already stood up, holding the katana, swinging the sword constantly side by side with Yol under the tree, separated by two meters.
Merlin's gaze was piercing, and with every swing of the blade, the muscles and sinews of his whole body were also being exercised.
At this time, Merlin stopped moving.
Walked to the pavilion not far away and put the katana in his hand back on the weapon rack.
At this moment, his hands began to clench and unclench constantly, and his body relaxed by shaking his legs.
Soothing the muscles and sinews on his body.
The azure interface appeared before his eyes. With a thought, he clicked on [Lynx], and then...
[Synchro Value: 18% → 21%]
It was 18% this morning, but not long ago, with the successful visualization of the [Lynx].
The first cultivation ended at this moment.
And now.
"Increased by 3%?"
And with the success of visualization, it was as if the synchronization with the lynx gradually progressed from the physical form to the spiritual level.
Body and mind gradually tended towards unity.
Now the Synchro Value with the lynx had reached 21%. At this moment, a gleam of expectation appeared in the depths of Merlin's eyes as he sensed his body.
Vaguely, it seemed there was a strange induction, and the connection with the equipment [Lynx] seemed to be reaching a certain critical point.
"Is it soon? Specialization..."
At this time, a smile flashed in Merlin's eyes. Breathing rhythmically through his nose and mouth at this moment, relaxing his body and mind.
Glanced at the sky; it was getting dark.
"Yol, want to go home?"
Hearing Merlin's shout, Yol paused, sheathed her sword and stood up, then turned back and walked over. Arriving at the pavilion, curiosity was in Yol's eyes:
"Not practicing extra today?"
"Work and rest should be balanced. I'm in a good mood today. Let's go back and change clothes, then take Lami to the town to eat something delicious?"
A smile appeared in Yol's eyes. She panted lightly and tilted her head to the side:
"Then let's go!"
Before long, the three walked together on the way home. Lami walked in the middle, holding Merlin and Yol's hands on left and right.
Although tired between her brows, she hummed a cheerful tune in a happy mood.
"Are you that happy?"
Merlin rolled his eyes at her and asked.
Lami turned her head, a brilliant smile appearing on her稚嫩 (tender/childish) cheeks:
"Of course! Lami hasn't gone out to play with you guys for over a week!
"Now that there's a chance, of course, I'm happy!"
Merlin laughed. The corners of Yol's lips raised slightly, and she blinked at Lami: "Then Lami, what delicious food do you want to eat later?"
"Umm~!" Lami pondered, and after a few seconds, she grinned and said: "Let's go eat teppanyaki barbecue! I remember the barbecue at that place tastes very good."
Hearing this, Merlin laughed out loud immediately:
"I wonder who burnt it directly that time and then ate it with tears?"
Hearing this, Lami's face instantly looked like she wanted to cry but had no tears, "Can you not mention it anymore? I feel bad just thinking about it."
"Hahaha!"
"Hehehe!"
Merlin and Yol both laughed out loud, and Lami turned her face away angrily.
Not long after, returning home, washing up, and changing into clean clothes, the three went to the town.
Ate at that delicious barbecue place.
After a delicious barbecue meal.
The three strolled on the streets shopping.
Incidentally, they bought a few beautiful and warm winter clothes for the two of them.
...
Ever since Fiore taught the "real skill," he said that the foundation had been laid, and the follow-up was their own cultivation.
And from that day on, he no longer came over on time every day.
Moreover, because he accepted the forging of Merlin and Yol's swords, he hadn't been seen for a week since that day.
Clang!
In the VIP training ground, under the rebound of the sword collision, two figures retreated rapidly backward in unison.
Merlin stomped on the ground repeatedly, unloading the huge force transmitted from Yol's hand.
Staring at Yol ten meters away, Merlin's eyes were grave. A strong body coupled with increasingly proficient swordsmanship.
The sense of threat Yol brought to him now was increasing day by day.
Feeling the numbness in his hands, he didn't absorb it through his ability. In the next second, Merlin kicked the ground with both feet, and his whole person shot out with a whoosh! He approached Yol in a breath, and the katana in his right hand slashed out fiercely from his side.
Yol's face was grave. The greatsword held upright on the right side of her body with both hands also slashed down fiercely with her spinning body at this time.
Clang! Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Two agile figures wielded weapons violently and collided together in the clearing.
Merlin's figure moved nimbly around Yol, slashing continuously, but Yol was like a turtle shell, constantly blocking with the greatsword at the smallest angle.
And her physical strength far exceeded Merlin's. For a while, Merlin really couldn't do anything to her.
But at the same time, Merlin's eyesight and agility far exceeded Yol's, which was also the reason why Yol always adopted defensive counterattacks.