The Second Peak – Ch 120
I spend who knows how long in the soul space widening the channels and tributaries along the flow model, making sure each meridian has a good, solid connection to and past it when needed. Ios floats along to keep me company, and before I know it I take a step back to appreciate all my hard work and get a couple pings from the system. I skip to the last one, since I already have an idea of what they're about:
[Continued Quest: Become a Spiritual Cultivator!
Reach the 4th Realm of the 2nd Rank of Spiritual Cultivation!
Rewards: 250 Ability Points, 500 Shop Points, 25 Skill Points.
This quest will repeat with greater rewards as you progress through the realms and ranks of cultivation.]
[Progress: 100%]
Available Ability Points: 6,612
Available Shop Points: 43,550
Available Skill Points: 2,366
[Continued Quest: Become a Spiritual Cultivator!
Reach the 1st Realm of the 3rd Rank of Spiritual Cultivation!
Rewards: 500 Ability Points, 1000 Shop Points, 50 Skill Points.
This quest will repeat with greater rewards as you progress through the realms and ranks of cultivation.]
[Progress: 0%]
"Nice~! How long has it been on the outside, Ios?" I ask over to the floating woman, the pride at this whole affair nearly filling me to the brim at feeling a truly deserved success that's nearly all my own.
Ios chuckles back as she gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, her words mirroring my happy emotions as she replies, "You did so great honey~! It's been about two hours out in the real world. You've spent basically a day and a half in here working on this."
I get a bit stun locked at the admission as she continues to wrap me in an embrace. Damn, I know there's a lot of time dilation fuckery going on, but it's kind of wild to come face to face with it like this. And to realize it's only going to get more and more pronounced as I advance and bring up my Wisdom stat... I wonder if there will ever be a time where it just like... won't matter how long I spend in here, that the time outside will become frozen or something due to how much it slows in the soul space.
Voicing an answer to the unspoken question, Ios chirpily says, "Not quite~! It will eventually get pretty close though, you're not too far off base with the logic. At some point, probably about the time you start hitting baseline Apogee Ranked stats, you could spend literal years in here and only have a day or so pass on the outside. However, time will never truly stop its forward momentum due to its nature and place in the fabric of the universe."
Huh... "So," I say as we leisurely float back to overlook the flow model as a whole, "does that mean that people don't have time related abilities or techniques in this universe? Because [Quick Thought] and [Precognition] are pretty close to that if they aren't some... loophole or something."
Ios hums a little before replying, "Again, you're close to the truth of it. People can for sure have time related things that are a part of their cultivation, the main culprit being people who manipulate or take use of fate. Since concepts like fate and time are such mercurial yet powerful concepts, the majority of people stay away from making that the core tenet of their cultivation. Not to mention Akiko was right when she mentioned that most fate users are a bit... insane once they get to a certain point in the mortal ranks. Unless they can advance into Immortality quick enough, the mortal mind simply cannot carry the weight of such knowledge inside of itself for long and they start to go bonkers."
I shiver again at the reminder. How awful would that be? To essentially see the outcome of every little decision, the impact of every breath or word spoken before it happens? No shit they're all cuckoo for cocoa puffs, it makes my head hurt even thinking about it! We reach our destination to take a bird's eye view over everything one last time as I cycle some Qi through the model. The results are pretty instantaneous which surprises me.
Where before, the concept of filling myself with power was nebulous at best, mainly just me redirecting moon Qi to certain parts of my body to achieve greater results, this new model takes that concept and ramps it up to 11! As the glyphed planes begin to spin and multiply the power being fed into them, that whole section of my body feels powerful, more robust. I can only imagine what the knock-on effect from using the body technique with this new model is going to be~! Hehe~!
The real change though is that its not as limited as said technique, and all it takes is a willful thought to shift and scatter the Qi into the network as a whole. As soon as I do, my whole being feels that empowering warmth, filling my essence with power~. A little maniacal glee tickles through me in a small cackle before I power down the system and turn back to Ios.
"So, do you think I should just stick around in here and go straight to learning all the new techniques from the manuals? Or should I wake back up and see what Sam says?" I ask out after the bubbling feelings of power and control quiet within me.
Ios simply shrugs as she regards me, "Up to you, sweetheart. Sam probably doesn't think you're going to be done so fast, and to be honest neither did I~. You should have more than enough time to go see if you can deepen your comprehension with the manuals, see if they offer you further techniques. I'll come poke you after another hour of real-world time has passed, giving you a good chunk of another day in here to study if that works for you?"
I give her a big kiss on the lips, and a few nuzzles against her face which makes her give a little squeal of laughter and delight, "That'd be perfect, Ios, thank you~. I guess I'll go get started on that then. Of course, if something comes up make sure to come and get me." I add on before moving my avatar back to its normal spot in the model and then pulling my attention inwards. Just as I'm about to go under and search my inner self for the manuals, I hear Ios give a high-pitched, "Okay~!" and I'm out like a light.
It takes a bit of willful thought, but without too much effort on my part I am once more standing in the midst of the three opulent, beautiful manuals who seem to regard me in turn. "Uh... Hey guys? I'm just here to see if you have anything new for me for the 2nd Ranks" I say out kind of awkwardly, not really knowing how I should interact with them yet since they seem so... alive? Thankfully, the energetic scrolls seem more than eager to acquiesce to the request, and after a little jostling amongst themselves the cold and radiant body technique comes to land squarely in my hands.
I can't help but laugh a little at the smug air mixing in with the chill and radiance of the moon attributed manual, like it knew it was going to be first even if it had to prove it. "Alright then, you first your highness~." I jokingly tease to the scroll although it seems to relish a bit in the verbiage. I open it up without issue, at least enough to reveal more of its pictograph and rune laden pages than before though it stops me after a certain point. I get the hint that it's only letting me study up to the 2nd Rank, presumably, so I nod and then turn my full attention to what it's trying to show me.
One set of pictures detail the vague outline of a woman high in the sky, having launched herself into the air on the previous panel before she comes crashing back down to the earth in a mighty eruption of rock and stone. Another framed directly below the previous depiction shows the same woman going through a series of footsteps and arm motions, almost like a dance, before shoving her palm forward and striking the center of a second, even less detailed silhouette. The destruction caused from the impact is surprising though, as the little near stick figure doodle gets evaporated from the released energies and power behind the attack.
I pull my focus more and more toward studying what the manual is showing me, memorizing and ingraining every bit of detail to heart, although no names of the two techniques filter to mind. Maybe I have to name them? Or they will be revealed to me once I start using them, like the 1st Rank techniques did... I abandon the distracting train of thought and keep studying the series of drawings and glyphs until all too soon I feel a presence poke at me from outside.
"Aims~. It's been about another hour outside; you should probably wrap up in there so you can wake up and go tell Sammy girl the good news~." Wait, what?! I close the scroll back, a small little tinge of regret at leaving my hands wafting off the beautiful parchment as I release it. I pat the top of it a couple times in comfort before giving them all a small bow and then pulling my attention back into the soul space.
"Seriously? I swear I've only been reading the body scroll for like, ten minutes..." I mumble out. I do honestly kind of want to stay there with them, to learn everything I can all in one swoop. And it is kind of annoying that I feel like I didn't fully comprehend what the body manual was showing me, even if I got the gist of it easily enough. Ugh... well, I guess that's normal. Much as its a pain in the ass, I shouldn't expect to just be a master at everything on the first try, like with the bitch ass salad that wouldn't take my Qi. Dumb plants...
"Yes, yes, all plants will rue the day you finally overcome them~." Ios jokingly teases as she kisses my pouting face a couple times before continuing on, "How'd it go? Did the moon attributed path show you anything neat?"
I fill her in quickly about the two techniques that was trying to be imparted on me, watching her nod along as I comment further, "It's still kind of weird to see how animated and intelligent the manuals are. I'm seriously starting to think they are like actual people, and that when we all break into the 6th Rank they'll get bodies or something. Which is fine, of course, but it does make the whole owner relationship aspect a bit too close to internment for my liking..."
A hand gently rubs my back as Ios' voice sings out into the space, "That may be true. We'll have to see if they evolve with you when you reach Immortality, but I have a distinct feeling they will. If it helps, try to think of them like aunts or older sisters or something who are helping to guide you along the path instead of indentured servants tied to your will."
I give a little hum of consideration before she graciously changes the subject, "It looks like the body scroll was showing you some pretty powerful offensive techniques! Given how attuned you are to the element, those will likely be devastating attacks once you master them! Not to mention moon related techniques are pretty powerful all on their own. I'm sure if you spent some of your off time studying more that you'll reach apotheosis in no time sweetie~."
A smile crosses my face at her unconditional support and pep, leaning over to give her another peck on the lips which sees a faint spark of pink flutter about between us before I reply, "Thanks~. That means a lot to me. And as much as I'd like to bathe this whole place in pink, I think we should be getting back to reality."
Ios slides in a little closer, her breath taking on that teasing and husky quality that never fails to make my knees weak as it caresses my ear, "Aw~. I'm sure we could get a quickie in before Sam is any the wiser~." I'm honestly tempted to take her up on the offer before a wet sensation tickles my earlobe followed by a wet pressing of lips to my cheek and Ios dances away, giggling all the while. Such a teasing troll of a woman!
I huff as I level an accusing finger towards her fading form, "I'll remember that! You're so mean, riling me up and then leaving! Unbelievable..." My words seem harsh, but the faint pull on the corners of my lips tell a different story as I steady my breath and then pull my focus out of the soul space. The warm breeze is the first welcome back into reality, its scent tinted with flowers and grass as it weaves its way past me and through my crimson hair.
I turn to the side to see Samantha still deep in meditation, various strands of Qi filtering inside of her cross-legged sitting form as she holds her eyes closed in concentration. I shuffle back to vertical as quietly as I can manage, tip toeing a few paces away before stretching out my arms and legs a few times, even if it's not really needed anymore. I do it anyway because it still feels nice~. As I'm leaning down to touch the ground between shoulder spread legs, my back facing toward Sam, I hear a chuckle from behind me that startles me almost into a faceplant.
"If this is the view treating us after every session of cultivating, then I fear nothing else at this estate would be accomplished~." Her cheeky tone says as I realized I basically just showed off my ass right to her, heat flushing to my face in a firestorm as I right myself and pat off my battle dress a couple times.
"S-sorry about that, I was trying not to disturb you since you were still cultivating." I awkwardly apologize though she just gives another soft laugh and pats the spot next to her in invitation. I resume my place to her side as she turns to me with a playful look on her face.
"Think nothing of it, little pup~. As fine as the view was to wake to, I would like to turn my focus more to what you gained during your first extended session. I can sense that you made great strides while you were under, and though my perception is not quite as advanced as Jun Li or the Mistress', even I can tell that you have reached the peak of the 2nd Rank in spiritual cultivation." She pauses as she ruffles my hair lovingly a couple times before saying with a smile, "You truly are a marvelous and terrifying person~. I cannot wait to see the heights you achieve as you progress."
I bask under the warm and sunny touches of Samantha, nuzzling my head upwards into her hand as it pats me and strokes my hair~. "Yep~!" I say out cheerfully, my eyes closed in bliss due to her ministrations, "It did take me a little bit to figure out how to advance and grasp what the concept was in general, but once I did it went by pretty fast! I even had a little bit of time to study one of my manuals, although that did end with a roadblock..."
The hand praising me pauses which makes me open my eyes in a true pout only to see the slightly stunned face of Sam looking down to me. "What? Why'd you stop?" I ask in question to her changing demeanor. She shakes her head a couple times, casting off the silly expression before head pats resume and all becomes right in the universe once again~!
"I apologize, little pup. You merely continue to impress me with your tenacity and hunger for advancement. Do not think yourself lesser because you did not comprehend something on the first viewing of it. Cultivators on Mara can spend years studying and implementing the techniques learned from the 1st to 2nd Ranks and Realms. I know that is essentially an unfair comparison to said cultivators when examined under the lens of your talents and system-based support, but the message is the same. I am sure that you will overcome whatever obstacle is blocking your path to understanding in record time."
"Yeah, that's fair~" I happily say out as she begins to weave her fingers down to my scalp and scratch my skin perfectly~. We stay like that for a bit, my shoulder coming to lean against hers as she keeps the massage going. Like all good things though, this sadly has to end as well as she leans over to lock our lips together before sending me a wink and standing up. I groan internally but follow suit regardless, dusting off my butt from the imaginary grass before turning back to face her.
"We should still have time for you to get some further combat experience in. Since you have hit a roadblock with your martial techniques, I shall summon your opponents and then call out different weapons for you to use so you become more and more familiar with the artefacts on your wrists. Make sure that you pay attention and follow my orders, even if the called for weapon seems inappropriate in the moment. A cultivator must be ready for any change in environment, including adapting to non-ideal situations. Do you need any water or food before we begin?" Sam says in a drill instructor like persona, arms crossing behind her back.
I get serious and shake my head, signaling I'm ready to go whenever to which she just nods. "Good. Take a few paces into the fields and then prepare yourself. Start with the sword and shield for now."
And so, with resolute footsteps and the *shing* of summoned metal, I don the requested weapons and take my place before the purple mist that signals an opponent begins to swirl in front of me.