As his breathing calmed, his thoughts drifted toward the girls. He hadn't seen them in a while, and a subtle sense of longing took root. Missing them, he decided to go and spend some time with his beloved Dao Companions.
Each of the girls was busy with her own activities, and no one was currently at the Cultivation Manor. But through his Identification Plaque, Mikael was able to contact them. After a short exchange, they quickly agreed on the idea—they would take turns spending a day with him, enjoying simple, precious moments together.
Each girl would have an entire day alone with Mikael, where it would be just the two of them, sharing time as Dao Companions.
How they spent that time varied depending on the person and the mood. Sometimes it meant strolling hand in hand through the Sect as lovers—with Kiara's fingers always tightly laced with his. Other times it meant quietly reading and researching side by side in a shared world of knowledge—Lyra's favorite. And in Amelia's case, they often sparred and trained, their connection deepening through effort, strength, and pain.
Though their days together differed in rhythm and activity, one thing remained consistent. Each of the girls spent a significant portion of her day sharing intimate moments with Mikael—tender, passionate, and personal.
In this way, three full days passed before reality pulled them apart once again. Life, and the pursuit of cultivation, waited for no one. The path of cultivation was arduous and unforgiving—one could not afford to pause for too long, lest they fall behind.
They all understood this truth. And even though they would have preferred to remain by Mikael's side, they each returned to their own cultivation paths. Mikael was no exception.
Alone, he departed for Sword Heart Peak, determined to finally begin his true journey into cultivation.
After activating a teleportation formation and traveling a short distance from the arrival point, he discovered a stunning natural spot nestled deep within the peak. It was secluded enough to remain undisturbed, yet spacious and open—perfect for training. Settling into a meditative position, Mikael summoned all of his Cultivation Methods and Techniques, spreading them out before him with focused intent.
They were divided into two distinct categories. The Cultivation Methods included: the Sun-Moon Unity Technique, the Elemental Unity Path, the Ninefold Physique Method, the Obsidian Spirit Reinforcement, and the Divine Sense Refining Method. The last of these, however, didn't appear—the manual was currently with Amelia. But that wasn't an issue, as Mikael had no intention of furthering his Divine Sense for the time being.
In addition to the Methods, several Cultivation Techniques had been selected: the Moonpiercer Sword Art, the Cloudbreaking Stride, and the Sword Nurturing Art.
Mikael adopted a thoughtful pose, one hand absently rubbing his chin. 'So, what should I cultivate first?'
'Hmm… I think the best course of action would be to aim for all these Cultivation Arts to reach the Entry level. That way, not only would I receive a considerable boost to my overall cultivator battle power, but it would also deepen my understanding of cultivation in general.'
'After all, while my theoretical foundation is solid now—thanks to the intense studying I did over the past few weeks—there's nothing quite like hands-on experience. Reaching Entry level in all of these techniques would offer me that crucial practical knowledge. The only pity is that I don't have a Soul Cultivation Method. It's not quite the training regimen I would've loved, but it is what it is. Nothing can be done about that for now.'
His eyes swept over the cultivation manuals lying before him. Thoughts surged through his mind, but even after some time, he remained undecided on which one to tackle first. Although his plan was to eventually train all of them to Entry level, attempting to do so simultaneously would be a mistake. It would be far more efficient to focus all of his efforts on one technique at a time—mastering it to the Entry level before moving on to the next.
'But which one should I choose first? That's the real question.' He continued to deliberate, torn by the unique appeal and promise each technique offered. However, after a moment of quiet contemplation, he finally settled on his choice: the Moonpiercer Sword Art.
With the decision made, he stored the remaining Cultivation Arts inside his spatial ring, leaving only the selected manual before him. Then, slowly and steadily, he began delving into the comprehension of the Moonpiercer Sword Art.
It didn't take long before his expression shifted slightly. 'So… training in the Moonpiercer Sword Art is significantly more effective when done at night under the moonlight. It offers twice the results for half the effort. That changes everything.'
'That means I'll need to revise my entire training plan. Dedicating full days to this technique is no longer the most effective strategy—not when cultivating it under moonlight yields such significantly better results.'
'Pairing the Moonpiercer Sword Art with another Cultivation Art during the daytime would be the most efficient approach... but which one should I choose?' He paused to consider the options before nodding to himself. 'Staying within the same "theme," focusing on the Sword Nurturing Art during the day sounds like a smart move.'
Since it was currently daytime, he returned the Moonpiercer Sword Art manual to his storage ring and retrieved the Sword Nurturing Art manual instead.
As he began reading through it, Mikael's comprehension of the technique deepened. The manual was impressively detailed, far more expansive than the brief introduction he had previously reviewed. It developed the foundational concepts thoroughly, offering a wealth of practical guidance.
Several key points stood out as he read. One of them emphasized that the cultivator must treat their chosen sword as though it were already a living entity in order to foster the growth of sentience within it. This wasn't just poetic language—it meant genuinely respecting the sword, speaking to it, caring for it, avoiding any form of mistreatment, giving it a proper name, and consistently addressing it as a "he" or "she" rather than an "it."
Another point that particularly piqued his interest was the unique way this Cultivation Technique functioned. The Sword Nurturing Art was divided into two primary components.
The first component was the level of comprehension the cultivator held over the technique itself. Like most Cultivation Arts, it was classified into four main stages: Entry, Small Success, Great Success, and finally, Mastery. Reaching Mastery meant fully understanding the technique to the same extent as its original creator. Any progress beyond that point would essentially modify the technique, transforming it into something new altogether.
The higher one's Comprehension Stage, the more efficiently they could nurture their sword—enhancing all aspects of it, including durability, sharpness, spirituality, Qi capacity, and more. Essentially, every quality of the blade would benefit from a deeper understanding of the technique.
The second core aspect of the Sword Nurturing Art was time itself. Nurturing a sword was a slow and steady process, influenced both by the cultivator's comprehension level and their personal strength. It required continuous infusion of Qi into the sword, gradually strengthening it over time. But what made this technique truly extraordinary was that there was no defined limit—it was possible to endlessly enhance one's sword, elevating it far beyond its original state.
By the time he finished reading, Mikael found himself genuinely intrigued. The idea of endlessly refining his sword through dedication and understanding spoke to him on a deeper level. Without wasting another moment, he set the manual down and immediately began putting the technique into practice.
Drawing Sangrelia from his back, he gently laid her across his lap, keeping his hand wrapped around the hilt as he slowly began to channel Qi into the blade, following the manual's instructions step by step.
A thin stream of Qi flowed from his dantian, coursing up his arm with practiced control before attempting to merge with Sangrelia. Yet the moment it reached the blade, it was as if it struck an invisible wall—the Qi simply rebounded, not a single trace managing to penetrate the sword's surface.
"As expected…" he murmured, his voice calm. Undeterred, he persisted, repeating the process over and over, each attempt a careful effort to align with the manual's guidance. Even when the results didn't change, he didn't waver.
Of course, he wasn't merely forcing his Qi into the sword mindlessly. Alongside each attempt, he sought to grasp the essence of the Sword Nurturing Art, reflecting on its deeper meaning. Hours passed, marked by trial and error, until finally, a small shift occurred in his understanding.
"I see… nurturing isn't only done through Qi—it also involves the spirit," he whispered, realization dawning.
The moment the insight struck him, he shifted his approach. Rather than fixating on the Qi's infusion alone, he turned inward, focusing his awareness entirely on aligning with the sword—on entering into phase with it.
This new method proved more difficult, requiring a finer degree of mental clarity and emotional subtlety. But it was effective. As night slowly draped itself over Sword Heart Peak, Mikael felt the first threads of Qi seep into the blade, breaking past the barrier that had previously rejected all his efforts.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as the feeling settled in his chest. Still, he didn't allow himself to grow complacent. At the first sign of progress, he pushed forward with renewed focus, concentrating on making the infused Qi fuse with the sword—blend with its very essence, refining it from within.
Unfortunately, it was at this precise stage that things began to unravel. Just as the fusion seemed within reach—so close he could almost feel it—the Qi suddenly scattered, dissolving harmlessly into the air, unable to anchor itself within the blade.
'I'm making the same mistake again,' Mikael reflected, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. 'I keep focusing on how the Qi behaves rather than forming a true connection with Sangrelia. This isn't like Dirarnia, where aura techniques followed rigid, clearly defined rules. No… the cultivation world is different. While it does operate on principles, those rules are far more flexible. They can bend—or even break—under the right conditions.'
His mind shifted as he compared the two worlds, the differences becoming clearer. 'In Dirarnia, if a small fireball fused with another of equal size, the outcome was simple: a larger, hotter fireball. Predictable. But under the logic of the Akashic Records, outcomes aren't bound to such expectations. Two fireballs merging could result in a stronger flame… but they could just as easily vanish completely, or—paradoxically—transform into an ice spike. Logic doesn't reign supreme here. I need to stop clinging to rigid cause and effect. I must open myself to the ethereal, the unpredictable, the unseen undercurrents of this world.'
This realization settled heavily within him, grounding his thoughts. But before he could apply this newfound insight, a pale beam of moonlight broke through the trees and landed on his body. The light's soft touch reminded him that night had already fallen—and with it came the time for a different training.
Without delay, he put away the Sword Nurturing Art manual and retrieved another—one bound in silvery cloth, faintly glowing under the moonlight: the Moonpiercer Sword Art.
Once the precious technique was in his hands, he resumed reading, continuing from the place where he had previously left off.
'To absorb and attune myself to the moon… to imitate her movements, to learn how to channel Lunar Qi through my swordplay… I understand.'
As understanding deepened, a subtle shift stirred within him. Theory alone would never be enough. Practice was essential. Holding Sangrelia tightly in hand, Mikael rose and stepped into the center of the clearing. The soft glow of moonlight cascaded down, illuminating his form—his black hair catching silver streaks, his blood-edged blade gleaming ominously. He stood like a serene immortal beneath the heavens… calm, silent, yet holding the latent promise of ruthless slaughter.
"Swish."
Sangrelia sliced through the air as Mikael began to perform the Entry level Moonlight Sword Dance—a foundational training sequence within the Moonpiercer Sword Art, meticulously crafted for cultivators seeking to grasp its entry level mysteries. Practicing this sword dance beneath the moonlight, while attempting to attune with the art's essence, was said in the manual to be the most effective method for accelerating one's cultivation in the technique.
Author Note:
EnjoyingAscension Through the Records?
A quick Power Stone, short review, or thoughtful comment helps the novel rise in the rankings.
Want to read ahead? Unlock advanced chapters on Patreon—just search SDASLUMMY.
You're part of this story's ascent. Thanks for being here.
— End of Chapter —