Before Jared could answer, Corin appeared, leaning on his cane. One sharp sweep of his gaze took in Lyra’s awkward posture, flicked to Jared, and settled there with an all-too-knowing smile.
“Youthful vigor is admirable,” said, beard quivering. “Everything in moderation, though, excess tips into harm.”
He had not spoken the charge aloud, but the meaning in his eyes was bright as noon. Lyra heard every syllable. Her neck reddened to the roots of hair. She fled toward chambers, skirts flying, never daring a backward look. Inside, berated Jared in silence.
A whole year and never once thought to pace himself. Now, even walking is a challenge…
Jared rubbed the bridge of his nose, mortified. Corin moved closer, and the moment felt the vast, newly forged Earthly Immortal Realm spiritual energy on Jared’s body, his eyes widened. “Y-You’ve stepped into Earthly Immortal Realm already?”
It was important to note that Jared had just broken through to Wandering Immortal Realm a few months prior. Such cultivation speed was unheard of. Jared chuckled, scratching his ear. “I consider myself lucky. Dual cultivation with Lyra accelerated the process.”
Corin nodded again and again, his eyes full of relief. “Excellent-excellent! At last, Sword Sect has an expert who can stand alone on the field!”
He then turned to Flaxseed, sensing an unfathomable aura. Eyes widened in shock, stammered, “M-Mr. Flaxseed… You…”
“Only restored to Earthly Immortal Realm Level Nine,” Flaxseed answered, casual as breathing. Yet the proud tilt of his chin betrayed how pleased was with himself. Hearing this, Corin drew a sharp breath.
Three days gone, and they’ve both advanced so far. Jared has broken through to Earthly immortal Realm, and Flaxseed has regained Earthly Immortal Realm Level Nine. The Pentacarna Tower truly is a divine item!
“You have only just shattered your bottlenecks. Give your strength a few quiet days to settle. Swordmaster City is calm for once, stay put and use that peace,” Corin said to Jared and Flaxseed.
Truth be told, Corin feared that the two would charge straight to Malevolent Path Hall right after they had broken through.
Fresh breakthroughs looked impressive, but foundations still as soft as clay could crumble at the first reckless skirmish. Jared tipped his head in grateful assent.
“Your warning is noted, Master Morden,” said, the words steady though excitement still pulsed beneath his skin.
***
For the next several days, Jared, Lyra, and Flaxseed kept to the sect grounds, drawing slow breaths, circulating energy, and tightening each fragile seam left by advancement until their cores felt dense as forged steel.
Yet even after Lyra climbed to Earthly Immortal Realm Level Seven, Jared sensed a faint hollowness threading spiritual energy.
Inside the Pentacarna Tower, they had chased progress too hard during the dual cultivation, spiritual energy entwining at a pace meridians were never built to endure. Jared’s own primal essence had surged into again and again, raising cultivation level while leaving hairline cracks along meridians.
At first light one morning, Jared ordered the martial arts arena cleared and had disciples lug in several dozen blocks of warm, earth-rich Submerged Jade. He laid them out in a rough seven-star pattern, carving a swift yet meticulous spiritual energy collection array that would pool energy like water in a basin.
“Lyra, over here. Give It a try.” Jared tapped the flat top of the central jade platform. The Submerged Jade shimmered under the newborn sun, veins of amber light drifting through each slab filled with spiritual energy.
“Mr. Chance, what’s this?” Lyra asked as approached, longsword cradled against shoulder, curiosity flickering in eyes as looked at that jade arcane array.
“A Submerged Jade spiritual energy collection array,” Jared replied, his voice as calm as the stones themselves. “Nothing better for mending strained meridians.”
He motioned for to sit cross-legged atop the platform. “You’ve just advanced your cultivation level, and your spiritual energy is fierce but uneven. Today, we use the slowest, dullest method imaginable, press that spiritual energy, grain by grain, into every meridian until it settles like warm clay.”
The instant Lyra closed eyes and activated cultivation technique, the Submerged Jade flared a muted ocher. Gentle, weighty spiritual energy rose on every side, folding around limbs like a hot spring coaxing tension from tired muscles.
“Steady your mind… Follow my lead.” Jared kneeled across from her, palms hovering before elixir field, the distance of a heartbeat away.
Earthly Immortal Realm spiritual energy flowed from in rivulets, threading into body and roaming through meridians with soft, deliberate patience.
