Cultivating in Honkai!

Griseo’s life experience is a crappy one. Something I would have expected from the Previous Era. They didn’t have many choices to begin with. They also fumbled at several junctions that would have otherwise placed them at a better position. Vill-V’s belated realization, for once. There was also Mobius’ self-destructive actions when she became too desperate to succeed at Project Soldier. I wouldn’t forget about their horrid treatment to RIN, which cemented their downfall.

Nobody lived a good life during that time… and Griseo did not just face that. She was unlucky enough to be caught on Sa’s net. She lived through a day in her life repeatedly for more than a thousand years. It never surprised me that she became mentally unstable.

The worst of them all is that I, as her teacher, never did much to help her. I was too preoccupied with other things. I could have set aside even a single day to help her resolve things, but I did not. This is my biggest shortcoming in this regard. If I didn’t have the time to help her, I shouldn’t have become her teacher in the first place.

Feeling the warmth transmitted into my hands, and then the faint shaking of her upper body, I could only remain silent. Just then, Griseo’s “skin” slowly melted like heated wax. It turned into a variety of colors, turning into a pool of ink blotting the ground. She grew up in a blink, returning back to her mature form. Bits of paint stained her slightly pale cheeks.

Griseo never moved since then. I remained still, allowing her to do as she pleased. Time passed before she separated from me. Her pale purple pupils are clearer compared to before. A sense of clarity surrounded her very being. Spiritual qi gathered around her all by itself, sporting a faint golden light reminiscent of a heavenly phenomenon. It extended throughout the entire Cave Heaven’s skies—looking a bit like aurora borealis.

“Thank you… teacher.”

“Mhm. I will leave you to sort things out. If you don’t mind, we can have a proper talk within this week. I am planning to go into seclusion after that…”

*****

“A realistic star system-wide drill… The Headmaster is as decisive as ever.”

“I am not going back to that seat!”

The familiar office brought a lot of memories to Theresa. The glass wall behind the seat gave a full panoramic view of the city beneath. It was the place she worked on for decades before she stepped down to enjoy a life of retirement.

Because she happened to be available, Theresa was forced to placate the emergency orders automatically triggered within the Federation. It was a response made by Prometheus and Ai-chan—two ‘data lifeforms’ responsible for regulating the Federation’s Star Network and the Wushi Dao Sect’s independent Heavenly Network. Both of them judged the threshold of the attacks at the Void Refinement Realm, hence they activated the failsafes designated to deal with that event.

Theresa, as one of the former Presidents who happened to also have authority within the Sect, rushed back to deactivate all of those. To the outside world, she explained it was a realistic military drill that tests the Federation’s combat readiness. Her explanation made a lot of sense to the public, hence the day went on without a hitch.

Coincidentally, Rita exited her seclusion. She volunteered to help Theresa in dealing with these troubles. Her experience as the Overseer’s chief intelligence officer suited this job very well.

“I am not completely lying about the drill. Everyone needs to have a certain degree of readiness.” Theresa explained. “We have less than a thousand years remaining.”

Rita recalled the things that they missed out.

“Was it related to the event three hundred years ago?” She asked.

“Mhm. We faced off with a God of this universe.”

“Aeon…”

“THEIR influence is on another level. THEY possess a level of status we cannot match at our current levels. Most importantly, one of THEM treads from the future of this universe. Once THEY reach the present point in time, it would be the end of all.”

There were only eleven slots for Shi Tian’s simulation of the eleven Primum Mobiles back then. A total of fifteen participated in that event—their twins included. Through the power of Remembrance left by Shi Tian and the Nine Lives Burning Samsara technique, they all managed to unleash a Dao Integration-level attack. Not only did it obliterate IX’s influence, it also severed the prying gazes of other Aeons. It gave Shi Tian more time to pull off his subsequent plans.

This experience coupled with Kiana’s premonition gave Theresa a sense of urgency.

“I drafted a timeline to deal with the coming troubles.” She said with utmost seriousness. “We must all reach the pinnacle of Void Refinement Realm before that time breaks out.”

“That is not impossible.”

Rita swiftly calculated their means. All they needed was to reach the middle stage of Void Refinement Realm. The amount of seventh-grade Realm Breaking Pills refined by Seele was enough to let everyone jump over two minor realms. All that was left is to process the breakthrough granted by the pills and stabilize them. These could all be accomplished within five hundred years at minimum.

Just then, she asked a rather surprising question to Theresa.

“Did the Headmaster already settle it with the Sect Master?”

“W-w-what?!”

Her startled reaction gave it all away. Theresa knew it was over, though she still tried to do damage control.

“O-of course we talked about some things…”

Before she could explain further, another person entered her office. Her lustrous golden hair was tied into a neat ponytail. She was currently wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. It was a casual wear she grew fond of.

“Since when did you arrive, Aunt? Rita, too…”

Bianka was about to say something when she saw Theresa’s flustered look. The latter hurriedly faced the transparent glass wall to hide her expression. Bianka looked back at Rita, confused.

“You came at the perfect time, Lady Bianka.”

“Yes? I was ejected out of seclusion because of a high-level alert. Did some enemies arrive?”

“No. It is a lengthy matter I would prefer to discuss over a cup of tea. The most important thing is the Sect Master’s safe recovery from his injuries.”

“He’s already awake? That’s good…”

Driven by her desire to improve, Bianka’s first idea was to spar with Shi Tian. Both of them treaded the path of swords. Every spar they held was to verify whether she was in the right path or not.

In short…

Her nature as a training maniac never changed.