Cultivation Nerd

There was nothing quite like waking up at the break of dawn, the cool morning air brushing against your skin, a book in hand, and a cup of tea resting nearby. The peaceful stillness of the early hours made it the perfect time for quiet reflection.

Granted, the tea could have been hotter, but the limitations of storage rings meant time moved differently within their separate space. Still, cold tea was a small price to pay for the simple joy of this serene moment.

I leaned back in the rocking chair in my bedroom, letting the gentle sway soothe my thoughts as I gazed out the window. The soft morning light cast long shadows over the mansion grounds, but my eyes were drawn beyond the neatly kept garden to a lone grave just outside the estate's borders. A simple stone marker stood at its head—cold, unadorned, and without inscription. Buried beneath that nameless marker lay the body of the thief who had been killed by Speedy and the arrays.

Despite what the man had tried to do in his final moments, I had given him a proper burial, granting him the respect every soul deserved in death. His body would not be left to rot under the sun. By now, death no longer unsettled me as it once had.

The lush green yard before me stirred a wave of tranquility, easing any lingering tension. Even the hard wooden chair beneath me felt as comfortable as the softest cushion. A book rested in my lap, and the gentle warmth of the morning sun bathed my skin. I cradled a cup of tea in my hand, its scent mingling with the fragrance of blooming flowers and the wild, untamed essence of the summer forest. A smile tugged at my lips—there was no more perfect morning than this.

As hours passed, the early light gave way to the full warmth of morning. It grew hotter, and I returned the empty tea cup to my storage ring.

The lack of tea, however, did little to break my concentration as I finished reading the book in my lap. It was a collection of mental techniques detailing their use throughout the years. I had retrieved it from the Song Clan Library after the owl-man's ambush, though, like back then, it wasn't particularly helpful.

There were no techniques quite like my Eight Mind Phantoms. But then, a Sky Grade Technique was bound to be special. So unique, in fact, that very little was ever written about them. Most knowledge was likely spread through word of mouth among only the highest echelons of any organization.

Most mental techniques dealt with illusion, confusion, or, in many cases, some form of animal enslavement—controlling hordes of monstrous beasts.