Playing inventor in a cultivation world

Chap

Seraph checked through the three slips, then pocketed them. Raising his head, he met the woman’s gaze and smiled.

"Thank you."

Turning around, he walked out of the hall briskly.

He headed back to his room, where he took off his bloodstained robes and changed into a random clothing.

After washing it, he dried the robe and rested on his bed. The wound was still there, but he didn’t go seek healing from anyone.

Instead, he closed his eyes and delved into his mind space.

Appearing before Halo, he took a glance at the lightless expanse.

"It has been a while since I came here."

Halo, in its cubic form, spun in the air.

["Well, you’ve been busy in the past few days, haven’t you?"]

Seraph agreed, walking around the yellow cube.

"I need a healing potion or something. Something to address my wound. Does the Divine Shop have it?"

Halo turned its body slightly.

["A healing potion? There’s only a healing pill. But it’s at the lowest level for now."]

"How so?" Seraph asked.

["If you take it now, you’ll only be getting your desired healing in two days."]

Seraph nodded subtly. "Hm. Not as instantaneous as I thought."

The cube shook, as if shrugging.

["When you become richer, perhaps you can get a life element skill scroll or a light element skill scroll."]

Seraph was intrigued. Although he knew he had affinity for a lot of elements, he hadn’t heard of life or light element.

"When do you think I can get those?"

The cube spun midair. ["Maybe when you bow and kowtow to me."]

Seraph deadpanned, glaring at Halo.

["Hehehehe, don’t be that glum. I might be generous sometimes and give more than just that."]

Seraph wasn’t having it. "Just answer my question."

["Fine, fine."] Halo grunted. ["Just like the Time Element Cultivation Manual, the other high-level element cultivation manuals are expensive and need a level of cultivation before you can start using them."]

Seraph nodded subtly. He had expected this.

"What level of cultivation is needed?"

Halo took a moment to answer.

["Hm... let’s see. For the light element, you might need to have a Core Master Stage cultivation."]

"Master Stage?" The boy was surprised, taking in a deep breath. That was the level of Core disciples and some elders of the sect.

However, Seraph had no doubt that he only needed a few months or a complete year to reach that stage.

Since his body filtered the spiritual energy he absorbed, he could always nurture his dantian with pure spiritual energy.

["Well, enough about that. Do you still want the healing pill? It’s just 20 divine credits."]

Seraph nodded. "Give me four."

Having an extra few for the upcoming mission wouldn’t be bad. After getting the pills from the shop, Seraph disappeared from his mind space.

The first thing he did was to take one of the healing pills. As soon as it melted in his mouth, he felt a cooling sensation slither down his throat and spread through his body. He could already feel his injuries slowly mending.

Perhaps Halo had exaggerated when he claimed it might take two days.

’What a scummy system.’

Clicking his tongue, Seraph laid on the bed, ignoring his grumbling stomach and went to sleep.

Hours later, he was awakened by the grumbling of his stomach and a frequent pang of hunger that never ceased.

With a disgruntled expression, Seraph rushed out of his room to the cafeteria. Although the sky hadn’t brightened fully, the workers at the cafeteria were there.

’Oh. It’s a 24/7 eatery.’

Seraph sighed in relief, immediately heading to the counter and collecting a tray filled with empty plates. After dishing a sizable meal for himself, he headed towards a secluded table in the corner.

To his surprise, someone was already there, eating like a secret glutton.

"Huh..."

The two locked eyes, then Seraph slowly placed his tray on the table.

"Good morning, Senior Sister Sylvia."

The girl struggled to swallow the food in her mouth in a dignified manner. After her first few attempts failed, she forcefully chewed the food then swallowed with a big gulp.

"Ahem. Morning, Junior Brother Seraph."

Without saying another word to him, she began eating slowly in tiny amount.

Seraph’s eyes crinkled in amusement, and he also began eating.

’So Senior Sister Sylvia has such a side to her. Geez.’

His smile remained, but it had become playful.

Whenever he lowered his head, he noticed that her food always reduced by a larger margin.

’Glutton.’

He suppressed a chuckle to avoid choking on his own meal.

After some time, when she was almost done eating, Sylvia spoke up.

"Did you see me at the cafeteria today?"

"Huh?"

At first, Seraph was confused, but he soon understood the meaning of her question. Smiling, he shook his head.

"Nope. I didn’t see you, Senior Sister. Why?"

Sylvia sighed secretly, her expression still aloof. "Don’t ask me. How is your injury? Are you taking care of it?"

Seraph nodded. He was grateful that she showed some concern.

The Inner Court disciple nodded, then stood up.

"I’ll be going now." She said, her tone flat.

As she left, Seraph wondered why her steps seemed stiff.

’Whatever.’

He rolled his eyes, returning his attention to his own meal. Minutes later, he finished the meal and returned to his room.

The sky had already brightened, and other disciples were already coming out of their rooms.

Seraph took a moment to clean the Outer Court building again, then explore the environment.

He was still being regarded with weird looks by the other Inner Court disciples, but no one approached him at least.

’This is nice. Let’s just fool around till evening. Then, I can go into closed-door cultivation to advance into the Core level.’

...............

Meanwhile, at the Winter Peak...

Ariana had been feeling grumpy ever since she was separated from Seraph. Since she had been four years old, a day had never passed by without her seeing him. And now, she felt uncomfortable not seeing him for two days.

’Which might become even weeks. Ugh.’

Putting on a disgruntled expression, she picked a wooden sword from the weapon rack and struck the dummy’s head.

The thing cracked under the force of her blow, stunning the other outer court disciples who were in the training ground.

Unlike the other peaks, the atmosphere around the Winter Peak was frigid, so the new disciples had to cover themselves with thick robes.

Only Tamar seemed indifferent to the biting cold.

She also picked up a wooden sword, then approached Ariana.

"Junior Sister. Do you want to spar? I would like to test your skills in swordsmanship."

Although their first meeting had almost become a quarrel, they had gotten slightly close after the entrance examinations.

Ariana glanced at her, then nodded. "Alright. I’m feeling unhappy anyway."

"Unhappy? Why?" Tamar frowned, concerned.

The silver-haired girl pouted. "Big Brother isn’t here."

Tamar exhaled, astonished. Was this girl really that dependent on the white-haired freak?

"Forget it. Let’s start."

"Ready?" Tamar asked.

Ariana nodded once.

They moved at the same time.

Tamar struck first, a clean diagonal slash aimed at Ariana’s shoulder. Ariana parried with ease, their blades sliding against each other with a sharp hiss. Tamar followed immediately, pivoting into a thrust—but Ariana stepped aside, her footwork smooth, almost effortless.

Fast.

Tamar adjusted, pressing forward with a flurry of controlled strikes. Each swing was precise, measured—not to harm, but to test. Ariana met them all.

She blocked, deflected, and even redirected some attacks.

Her blade seemed to flow rather than move, always exactly where it needed to be.

Their swords clashed again, closer this time.

Ariana twisted her wrist, guiding Tamar’s blade off course, then tapped the flat of her sword lightly against Tamar’s side.

"Point," Ariana said calmly.

Tamar exhaled, stepping back with a faint grin. "Not bad."

They reset.

This time, Tamar circled, watching more carefully. She lunged suddenly—then broke the motion halfway, switching angles. A feint. Ariana didn’t fall for it. Instead, she advanced, turning defense into offense in a single breath.

Their blades rang out rapidly now.

Tamar blocked high, Ariana dropped low. Tamar pivoted, while Ariana spun past her guard. The pace quickened, but neither lost control. It was a dance, not a fight. Each strike carried intent, each movement answered with equal precision.

Then Ariana slipped inside Tamar’s guard.

A soft tap against Tamar’s wrist. Another at her shoulder.

Tamar froze.

Silence settled over the yard.

Ariana lowered her sword first. "Again?"

Tamar stared at her for a moment, then let out a short laugh, lowering her own blade.

"No... that’s enough."

She rolled her shoulder, then looked at Ariana with a new expression, one stripped of casual confidence, replaced with something sharper.

Respect.

"You’re good," Tamar admitted. "Better than I expected."

Ariana blinked, slightly surprised, but said nothing.

Tamar smirked, resting the sword against her shoulder. "That footwork... and your timing. You’re not just reacting—you’re reading ahead."

Ariana’s grip loosened slightly. "I learned from Big Brother."