Cultivating in Honkai!

Clarity gradually returned to my mind. The first thing I did was to open my eyes. 

"What kind of buff is this…"

Things became extremely clear in my eyes. Whenever I focus on it, my eyesight turns into a magnifying glass. It is somewhat similar to the times I had a fever. Only, it is very clear.

My vision soon returned to normal.

"Mint leaves… The mind-enhancing effect… It's the late stage."

I am sure of it.

Qi Refining involves opening a person's three dantians. 

Jing is responsible for creating a flawless body; 

Qi is responsible for enhancing the spiritual qi's quality;

Shen is responsible for opening a cultivator's spiritual consciousness.

These stages correspond to the early, middle, and late stages, respectively.

"I needed two months before. Now, I can reach the late stage in less than a month. If my talent improvement continues, plus the Sword Heart… Two weeks."

It took a while before I snapped out of my thoughts. My eyes glanced at the clock. This lengthy monologue only took a minute to do.

I realized it is caused by my stronger mind.

"Fu…"

My exhale carried a hint of transparent blue gas. My mouth felt extremely cold from the mint leaves I swallowed.

When I tried to look inside my meridians, a surprise came.

Instead of the usual blind touching with spiritual qi, I can see the thousands of small dots all over my body. They look like white dots. The transparent blue gas circulated.

All of these 'pathways' led to a pure white sphere. Its fullness made me certain it is my Jing.

Then…

I looked at the other pure white sphere. It is slightly smaller compared to the first one.

It is my Qi dantian.

Inside it, a pale green light remains fully trapped. Each time the light rotated, it brought along my automatic spiritual qi circulation.

"The plant's effects…"

A strange force trapped it inside my dantian. I can 'feel' the feeling of being stuck. It is the effect of both the [Xiutian Yin-Yang Jue Art] and my high grade Spirit Roots.

Thinking of the records of a high grade Spirit Root, I knew it is the entirety of its efficacy.

Low grade Spirit Roots can only retain a fraction of a spiritual plant due to their imbalance with nature; middle grade Spirit Roots remain the same.

Only high grade Spirit Roots can intake most of the spiritual plant—that, or a special technique. Since I have both, everything got absorbed.

My eyes traced the origins of the 'stuckness'.

"...Huh."

Located somewhere in my heart's position is a five-colored sphere. It blazed with a bright color, symbolizing purity and innateness.

It is my Five-Element Yang Spirit Root.

"...X-ray..."

I blinked my eyes. I willed my vision to return to normal, and so it did. My eyes could not 'see' behind my back, yet I can already see the situation inside my body. It is like an x-ray of sorts.

I adjusted my vision several times. I found out I can see through my closet and even clothes…

"Nope."

My eyes remained stuck on the floor. Much to my surprise, the floor started to disappear from my sight. I shifted my gaze back to my body and willed it to return to normal.

I made sure to revert my vision to normal before looking at Kiana.

Judging by the time I swallowed the plant, two hours had passed. It is already 11 o'clock in the evening. She's still going.

Looking at the two remaining leaves frozen a few meters atop from my bed, I thought hard.

"She will definitely break through…"

*****

Kiana opened her eyes to Shi Tian holding the sword on his lap.

"Oh. You are finally done."

"Hm?"

"I want to give something."

He pointed out the strange leaves that floated mid-air.

"Consider them as medicine."

"Medicine?"

"It will make you reach the next stage."

"..!"

Kiana's eyes lit up. Leveling up by eating? The mere prospects of it alone lit her entire face up.

"I'm in! What do I need to do?"

"Once I give it to you, you need to go to the bathroom."

"Um."

"Don't get scared by the black stuff coming outside your body. It will stink very bad. I suggest you take a shower quickly. Things should go smoothly, but in case something happens, I will wait outside."

Suddenly, Kiana's tuna brain worked too well and thought of something.

"Won't I grow up?"

"...Maybe?"

There are a lot of doubts about the incoming breakthrough. Shi Tian trusted her high grade Void Spirit Roots, though. It will be as smooth as his breakthrough.

'If the honkai comes and interferes…'

The numerous techniques he learned on a daily basis comes into play. A fraction of them are auxiliary techniques that assist cultivation in many ways. Forcefully stopping a breakthrough and preventing injuries are one of them.

Although, that needs physical contact.

"Do you have any clothes you are willing to lose?"

*****

"Hm..?"

It is 11:30 PM in the morning. Few kids are awake at this point. Seele is surprised to see the bathroom hall's lights open.

"Oh? Seele."

"Um… Someone's inside?"

Her question stumped Shi Tian. No matter which angle he looks at, his excuses will sound weird.

Why would he have to wait for Kiana outside the bathroom?

In the end, he resigned himself to fate. 

"Kiana's having some issues."

"Ah?"

Seele's blank look was evident to Shi Tian. She did not know which matter required his help.

"Oh. Um. Okay."

Seele entered the bathroom right away. She could not help but think of Shi Tian and Kiana. The two of them entered the orphanage together. They spend time together.

Scratch that. 

They are always together! If there is Kiana, there is Shi Tian; the same goes for the opposite. They are the iconic duo the teacher will find if one gets into trouble.

"It's not a surprise…"

Seele looked at the ground. She does not know what she's feeling. Disappointment? Regret?

She did not know.

One thing that is certain is that…

…Shi Tian has a secret admirer.

*****

A/N: Alrighty, alrighty. We reached the 400 power stone goal. There's going to be a bonus chapter tomorrow ;)

This promise continues (until y'all bury me in power stones). Remember the guy who drew one square per subscriber? I do hope I won't end up like him LMAO