Cultivating in Honkai!

"...areas that are off-limits to us. Keep watch for the signs… Cocolia Matushka told us about it when we first arrived."

Looking at Seele who solemnly explained the 'restricted areas', I nodded my head. Her dark blue eyes focused on me alone. Her shoulder-length blue hair, paired with a long sleeved white dress, made her look extremely stunning. The hint of blush on her cheeks made her... cuter.

It is my first time appreciating her looks seriously. I could not speak properly with her before. 

I could not help but sigh inwardly. The people of this world have lethal face cards. The most lethal ones are the main cast. The symmetrical faces, clear skin, different colored hairs…

Fortunately, I built up enough resistance from Kiana.

"Thanks, Miss Seele. I will keep this in mind."

"...Y-you can call me Seele."

"..?"

It almost flew over my head. Seele is only… twelve or thirteen years old? I got too accustomed to my previous life habits.

Kiana… Well, I got comfortable enough during our first meeting. I didn't call her 'Miss'.

"I got it. Seele."

After saying my farewells, I operated my [Cloud Seeking Steps] again. It contained a myriad of effects.

For example, my footsteps won't leave a mark on anything. I can freely walk in snow without any footsteps.

The technique allows us to walk on walls, also. That's what I used during Seele's kidnapping. I did not regret practicing this technique. Focusing on [Taiji Inversion] takes more time. I am learning [Cloud Seeking Steps] every time I teach Kiana; two birds in one stone.

Cultivation takes up too much time.

I even forsook the practice of alchemy and talisman-making. My focus is either on [Xiutian Yin-Yang Jue Art], [Toushen Manual], or [Wuxing Dao Sutra]. 

As for sword cultivation…

I have to re-adjust some of my cultivation time.

My thoughts did not hinder me from meeting up with Kiana. My decision to let her wait near the orphanage is a good one. 

"There are restricted areas near the orphanage. I think it's related to the honkai."

"We are practicing over there?"

Kiana's eyes lit up. She understands by now that honkai equates to spiritual qi whenever I am around. 

"...Let's not go there for now. We can find a tree to chop somewhere else."

"Oh."

She looked down at my feet.

"You are using it now!"

Her surprise came off as unexpected.

"How?"

"Haven't… I forgot to tell you." I facepalmed inwardly. "Going to the middle stage increases your spiritual qi reserves several times. Your recovery goes up as well. I can maintain this state forever… or until I lose consciousness."

The opening formulae of a technique along with the spiritual qi guidance 'locks' its duration to 'infinite' until it can no longer be sustained. The more 'connections' I establish with spells, the larger the burden to my mind. I can barely maintain three spells thanks to the [Xinhai Sutra]. 

Their 'weights' varied also. Light techniques have half the weight as a spell technique. Their consumption is also half. Still, it is considerable expediture in the early stage.

It's different in the middle stage.

Kiana…

I don't think she can maintain it.

"Teach me!"

"Alright…"

For a while, I explained the mechanisms behind it. Cultivation knowledge is akin to a never-ending study. I am thankful I learned to explain things more precisely.

"...in short, you need to reach the middle stage to do this."

"Okay."

"Ah?"

It is my turn to be silent.

"I want to learn that technique. The one you are talking about… True Taixu something?"

I looked at Kiana's determined look.

Never in a million years did I expect this. 

Since when…

Since when did she become this diligent?

"True Taixu Spirit Raising Art. It increases your talent..." I briefly explained the specifics. "I'll teach it after we're done with the sword."

"Um!"

The orphanage's surroundings are filled with trees. Maybe because it's situated within a small town. There are some with leaves; there are some with none. It's a mixed bag.

I chose one with bald branches. One look is all it takes to see it will die soon.

I unclipped the locks of the silver case. It revealed the familiar jian. A hole could be seen on the center of its guard. 

Without honkai energy, it is only a multi-functional sword—not that I would care.

The moment I held it, I felt a vague sense of familiarity.

Hum.

"Huh."

My Sword Heart got activated unknowingly. It coated every single inch of this sword. A three-dimensional image of it appeared inside my mind.

…

This is it.

The fabled spiritual consciousness of late stage Qi Refining cultivators can turn their 'mind' into eyes, see everything on their 360 degree radius, and view the world with a different set of eyes.

The Sword Heart has that trait too, but only to swords.

It reminded me of a certain Archer who frequently uses swords.

My eyes scaled the tree.

Seven, no, eight.

Maybe nine meters tall?

I looked at Kiana beside me. She is looking at me with her big blue eyes. I looked back at the tree. 

"Fu…"

I exhaled lightly.

My mind unknowingly got into a state of concentration. All that mattered is me… and my sword.

To cut the entire tree in half.

My body responded to my thoughts. I pointed the jian downwards before thrusting it forward.

Crack-!

The first sensation I felt at the sword's tip is cutting butter. The blade effortlessly penetrated the tree trunk. The actual blade hadn't penetrated to the trunk's other side when my mind 'felt' it—an imaginary arc.

As I started swinging my jian upwards, I saw it with my own two eyes.

The tree has been penetrated by a hazy silver light. It extended far beyond the jian's blade. The said light began to extend until it cut through the entire tree. It is an extension of the jian.

My 'mind' felt it as if the jian's blade had been that long since the very beginning… except it's not.

It is very strange. I can't explain it much. But it felt very natural.

Bam-!

Rumble-!

I blankly looked at the tree that had been cut in half. It fell sideways. The cut on its body is very neat. Even a chainsaw or other industrial tools can't do this.

"Even a Titan…"

I don't know whether I can cut Anti-Entropy Titans. Honkai beasts, too.

My hands began itching. 

"That's uber cool! Leveling up does that?!"

I faced Kiana. Her enthusiastic look could not be faked.

"It does. You can do it in the future."

"Um. That's it. I really want to learn it too!"

I might have underestimated the impact immortal cultivation brought.