But soon, Mikael thoughts shifted.
‘Still, as amusing as Lianyu may be in her own eccentric way, she doesn’t matter right now. What does matter is finding the necessary Cultivation thods!’
‘So far, I’ve already acquired the Adaptive Cultivation thod from the Elental Unity Path and the Standard Cultivation thod with the Sun-Moon Unity Technique. All that remains is to locate thods for body, mind, and soul cultivation. Once I have those, I’ll possess the foundational material I need to begin my research in earnest.’
With those thoughts in mind, Mikael resud his exploration of the fourth floor, silently weaving between the dense shelves of ancient tos. Ti passed as he scanned bookshelves after bookshelves, dismissing most without a second thought. Finally, after a prolonged search, he ca upon two techniques that t his criteria:
{Ninefold Physique thod
Introduction: A powerful body-tempering thod built around nine successive cycles of total bodily refinent. Each stage demands the use of rare tempering resources and the endurance of grueling, inhuman physical conditioning. Though the process is both agonizing and resource-intensive, each completed cycle permanently enhances the user’s overall physique—boosting durability, raw power, and regenerative capacity. Widely regarded as one of the most extre and unforgiving thods available for those pursuing absolute bodily strength.}
{Obsidian Spirit Reinforcent
Introduction: A ntal cultivation technique focused on strengthening one’s willpower, clarity, and focus. The thod relies on absorbing and refining obsidian-infused spiritual minerals, which gradually fortify the practitioner’s mind against external pressures, ntal fatigue, and intrusive influences. Over ti, users gain enhanced cognitive endurance and greater ntal stability. It is considered essential for formation masters, battlefield strategists, or anyone cultivating under high-pressure environnts.}
At this mont, Mikael held four Cultivation thods in his hands, his gaze lingering particularly on the two he had just acquired. He let out a quiet sigh.
‘It’s unfortunate… I’ve managed to find Cultivation thods covering every category I needed—except for the Soul. It seems that, within the Akashic Records Universe, the soul is treated as a high-level subject. Even here on the fourth floor, there’s not a single thod tied to it, which is rather problematic for .’
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he frowned. ‘Hmm… what could I do about this?’ He contemplated the issue for a while, but no imdiate solution ca to mind.
‘The core problem is simple—there’s nothing related to the soul on the fourth floor. Maybe the higher floors hold sothing more relevant, or perhaps the sect itself doesn’t possess any such thod at all. In either case, it’ll take ti before I can get my hands on a Soul Cultivation thod.’
‘Which is… not ideal for my current plan. Without a thod focused on the soul, I won’t be able to complete the frawork I envisioned—it’ll remain fundantally incomplete…’
With a light shrug, he dismissed the frustration. ‘For now, delving further into the issue won’t help. I’ll focus on what I can do, and simply postpone my work on the soul until a later stage. As for the fifth book I’m allowed to take from the fourth floor…’
His eyes swept over the shelves once more. ‘There isn’t much else here that truly interests . In that case, I’ll head down to the third floor and pick up an attack technique, a movent technique, and a defensive technique. That way, I’ll be covered in almost every basic category.’
‘Originally, I hadn’t planned to go this route. I figured I could learn techniques in those categories directly from Master, and I’d intended to use my fifth choice on a Soul Cultivation thod instead. But plans never survive first contact… so, this will do.’
With those thoughts, Mikael descended to the third floor. There, his search did not take long—he quickly identified three techniques that suited his needs. They were:
{Moonpiercer Sword Art
Introduction: A complex Sword Art centered on channeling the elegant yet lethal qualities of lunar energy to enhance slashes with precision and refined control. This art revolves around the idea of striking with a fluid grace, mimicking the moon’s serene but overwhelming presence in the night sky. While it does not prioritize brute strength, it excels at delivering rapid, pinpoint attacks designed to exploit flaws in an opponent’s defense. Those who master this technique can imbue their blade with lunar Qi, allowing them to pierce even the sturdiest of defenses with minimal effort.}
{Cloudbreaking Stride
Introduction: A high-grade movent technique that emphasizes weightlessness, speed, and reactivity. Inspired by the drifting, unpredictable nature of clouds, this thod enables the user to maneuver with exceptional swiftness and evasive finesse. Though not built for direct confrontations or overpowering force, its unmatched fluidity makes it an invaluable asset in fast-paced skirmishes, pursuits, or retreats.}
{Crystalline Shell Art
Introduction: A defensive cultivation thod that revolves around forming a dense, resilient barrier of condensed energy, shaped like a crystalline structure. This technique excels at absorbing and deflecting incoming attacks, with each successive layer reinforcing the previous one for increased protection. Mastery requires precise energy control, as maintaining the crystalline shell’s integrity demands a refined balance between defense and latent offensive potential. In its final stage, this art allows the user to unleash devastating counterattacks using the accumulated energy stored within the defensive layers.}
Now carrying seven Cultivation Technique books in his arms, Mikael found the load rather cumberso. Unfortunately, none of them could be stored inside his storage ring, so he had no choice but to bear with the inconvenience.
He moved quickly, crossing a large portion of the expansive third floor. Along the way, he briefly encountered an unfamiliar Core Disciple. The two exchanged a polite nod, but aside from that, no words were shared.
As he neared the staircase leading to the lower levels, Mikael found himself within the Sword Technique section—the largest category present on each floor of the Scripture Pavilion. In fact, it occupied over 40% of the total Cultivation Techniques available!
At first glance, 40% might not seem excessive, but when one considered that there were five major categories of techniques—each containing nurous subcategories—the figure beca staggering. That a minor subcategory like Sword Techniques within the broader Attack category could take up such a massive portion of the collection spoke volus about the sect’s deep-rooted emphasis on the way of the sword.
While walking through this area, occasionally casting glances at the technique nas displayed on the towering bookshelves, Mikael abruptly ca to a halt. Sothing had caught his eye.
It was a sword technique with a particularly striking na—one that instantly piqued his interest.
{Sword Nurturing Art
Introduction: A distinctive cultivation technique centered on the profound spiritual connection between a swordsman and their weapon. The Sword Nurturing Art teaches that a sword is not rely a tool for battle—it is a companion, a reflection of the cultivator’s heart, will, and chosen path. Those who follow this art devote themselves to the lifelong refinent and elevation of a single blade, nurturing it as one would a living being.
Through the continuous infusion of Qi, practitioners gradually enhance both the physical structure and the taphysical essence of their sword. The quality of the cultivator’s Qi, the depth of their emotional bond, the ti spent nurturing, and their understanding of the Sword Nurturing Art all influence the pace and scope of this growth. As the connection deepens, the sword becos increasingly spiritualized, responding more intimately to the wielder’s intentions, movents, and instincts.
At its highest attainnt, the technique enables the sword to awaken sentience, transforming it into a genuine living entity—a spiritual companion with thoughts, instincts, and will of its own, bound by unwavering loyalty to its master. However, reaching this stage demands not only strength but absolute commitnt, as abandoning the blade without just cause is seen as a betrayal of the sacred bond. On the path of a true swordsman, blade and soul must walk as one.}
At first glance, the technique's na didn’t sound especially awe-inspiring—certainly not compared to sothing like the Heaven Cleaver Sword Art, another sword technique he had seen earlier. Yet, the potential hidden within this one…
Mikael’s fingers ca to rest on Sangrelia’s hilt as he gently caressed the familiar weapon, feeling a subtle ‘resonance’ stirring in response. ‘I could cultivate you using this technique… Let you grow alongside …’ It was this thought that ultimately convinced him to choose the Sword Nurturing Art.
After all, he had wielded Sangrelia for nearly three full years, forming a natural attachnt to it. The idea that, as his strength continued to rise, he would eventually be forced to part with his longsword due to its increasing ‘fragility’ hadn’t been a pleasant thought. The knowledge that it would one day beco obsolete—shattered by the burden of his power—had left a bitter taste. But with this technique, he could continue using his faithful blade, strengthening it as he grew. That alone made him feel good, almost relieved.
If the absence of a Soul Cultivation thod had been an unwelco surprise, then finding this technique was a satisfying counterbalance. Combined with the fact that he had already acquired a considerable number of useful cultivation thods and techniques, Mikael found himself in a rather good mood as he made his way downstairs, swiftly arriving at the first floor where his master awaited.
Upon seeing the sheer number Cultivation thods Mikael had selected, Great Elder Jianhai raised a curious eyebrow, clearly surprised. After all he was able to recognize them as Cultivation thods of the fourth floor and he didn’t expect him to use four of his free techniques on Cultivation thods. However, he offered no further reaction, remaining true to his earlier words—he would not interfere with their choices, leaving each of them the freedom to forge their own path.
Afterward, Great Elder Jianhai personally guided Mikael through the process required to formally take the selected Cultivation thods and Techniques out of the Scripture Pavilion. He explained the procedure in detail, ensuring Mikael understood how the registration and confirmation process worked. Following his instructions, Mikael first placed the Sun-Moon Unity Technique onto the counter, followed by his Core Disciple Identification Plaque.
“At this point,” Jianhai explained, “you would normally use your divine sense to finalize the transaction. But since your recent breakthrough has left your control over it unstable, you won’t be able to do that yet. I’ll finalize it on your behalf.”
True to his word, he completed the process for him and continued doing the sa for each subsequent technique, all while calmly elaborating, “This is just one of many examples of how essential divine sense is in the everyday life of a cultivator. That’s why refining your control over it should be among your highest priorities moving forward.”
Mikael gave a nod of understanding. “I see. But I don’t have any cultivation technique that can help refine my divine sense…”
“Once we return to the Sword Heart Peak,” Jianhai replied calmly, “I’ll assist you with this crucial matter myself.”
With those words, the conversation ca to an end, and the two of them quietly waited for the girls to arrive.
It took a little while, but eventually, each of them finished their own ‘shopping’, having selected cultivation techniques aligned with their personal preferences and the insights they had gained thus far. Alia, for example, had chosen a variety of techniques, though a clear emphasis on archery-related content could be seen among her selections. Kiara, unsurprisingly, had focused on techniques linked to the Music Dao and its related fields—everything resonating with the art she held so dear.
Lyra’s choices were a bit more eclectic. She picked cultivation thods and techniques that all shared a common the: either Alchemy or Elental Control. It was clear she intended to walk the twin paths of alchemist and ‘elental mage’, deepening her mastery in both disciplines. As for Hua Lianyu, she hadn’t taken any books at all. She simply seed content to accompany them and enjoy the ti spent chatting with her newfound junior brothers and sisters.
Once everyone had completed their transactions and secured their new techniques within their storage rings, the group took to the skies once again, flying together as they returned to the serene heights of the Sword Heart Peak.
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— End of Chapter —
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