He breathed in.
A surge of fresh qi accompanied the air and filled his lungs. Felix continued to use [Heavenly Earth]'s passive patterns. The passive's weaker draw dragged tiny motes of the qi from his lungs and surroundings. His mind unbusied, he just watched his cultivation method.
It’s amazing how much more complex the method's patterns are at essence condensing vs essence gathering. It does build on the old pattern. The new additions mostly accommodate the increase in power of an essence condensing cultivator. Anyone familiar with [Heavenly Earth] would be able to see it is the same thing. It is similar to how a car engine is designed for a certain octane fuel and would be built differently for different levels. Otherwise, they would run suboptimal or even ruin the engine.
He followed a tiny bit of qi that made it in from his lungs. Right away it flowed into the circulation paths focused on attracting new qi. Once there it would flow to the right side of his chest or left. The left side was a more advanced version of the method’s qi purification. The right was another addition to the method for the Second Realm.
The portion in the right chest transforms ambient qi into the density and quality of the second realm condensed qi. The process appears to happen naturally when ambient qi enters my body but this accelerates it. It is one of those things all good cultivation techniques do but so many forgo it and instead rely on the natural pressure of their cultivation to make the conversion.
He breathed out, and let out nearly as much qi as he had breathed in.
Unfortunately, I can’t afford to progress my Dantian cultivation until I’ve modified it. All I can do now is focus on purity.
Yet his flesh sung with power more multifaceted than his flowing qi. It wanted to resist like a mountain but explode like a fire. Flow around all obstacles to the lowest point yet expand to fill all possibilities.
He breathed in and felt a prod on his cheek.
My body can progress. This feels confusing as hell. I may be affecting my thoughts. No wonder specificity is usually sought in cultivation manuals.
He breathed out and felt a few more prods.
----STATUS SHEET (abbreviated)---
[Name: Felix]
[Cultivation: Essence condensing 1 - body boiling 3]
[Fate] Tied: Your karmic spark is very vulnerable. Its stability is capped due to being a soul abomination]
[Remaining KE points: 56]
Seeing that '1' stays the same is so annoying! I need to change [Heavenly Earth]. I can't just go willy-nilly with it though, it is getting harder and harder to earn KE points. Creating the body cultivation method was justified as a proof of concept but I need to know how my soul is structured. Are four elements enough?
The cheek pokes came at a steady rhythm.
"You know if you want to talk to me, you can say something," said Felix, eyes still closed. “You know, like a mature adult.”
The poking continued. Felix opened his eyes and caught the next poke in his mouth.
Dark eyes stared into the black holes of an Onooka mask.
[Orange Voice] Lick it! Dominate her.
…Why are you so weird?
Daiyu’s glove tasted of the leather.
[Orange Voice] She has small fingers, doesn’t she?
Daiyu started to quiver.
I thought she would have stabbed me by now.
[Orange Voice] Strike why the irons hot! Lick it.
Fine, why not?
Felix licked.
The finger left his mouth with a pop as she jumped back and took out her board.
“Why did you lick my finger!!! What is wrong with you? 🙁” wrote Daiyu.
“Why did you stick your finger in my mouth? That’s sort of perverted Daiyu.”
She flashed several curse words at him with her hand holding her chalk.
Oh neat! I recognize that one. My studies are paying off.
“Well since you haven’t said anything, you must agree with me. What would people say if they knew this about the Onooka Heriess,” said Felix.
She had begun to quiver again. Felix eyed the chalkboard as she raised it as if it was an executioner's axe before she brought it back down and furiously wrote. Another chuckle escaped him.
[Orange Voice] And now the consequences.
She stalked forward and he tried to stand up. The board was shoved in his face.
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! YOU PERVERTED SCOUNDRAL. I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION AND YOU LICK MY HAND? YOU ARE ALL JUST A SECT OF DEGENERATES! MY UNCLE WARNED- IS THIS A WEIRD SEX- HOW CAN YOU JUST SIT THERE AND LAUGH? WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU. I COME ALL THE WAY TO SPAR WITH YOU AFTER RECOVERING AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT ME?”
The words were jagged and far larger than her normally dainty script. The effect was ruined by the main frowny and angry faces surrounding the texts.
I really want to laugh again buuut…
Silent as always, her body shook with the large breaths she took. Her quivering still going
Maybe laughing was too far.
Felix felt a warm orange heat blossom in his mind and reached out to engulf her hand in his own. Her gloves felt cool and the chalk-covered leather made them almost slippery.
Gently, he pulled her down to sit cross-legged next to him. With his free hand, he plucked the chalkboard from her grasp. He held it up for her to write on. She stared at him behind that inscrutable mask before looking away.
“Daiyu, I am sorry that I laughed at you,” said Felix.
Eventually, she plucked the chalk from between their hands, still not facing him.
“It isn't nice to poke fun at my inability to speak." she wrote. “I don’t like that I can’t talk with you.”
“I was laughing with you,” said Felix.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“But you were the only one laughing,” wrote Daiyu.
“That’s because you couldn’t see how cute you were,” said Felix, squeezing her hand.
[Orange Voice] Keep going.
“Really?” she wrote.
“Of course,” said Felix “Why were you poking me anyway? I might have been cultivating. What if you had caused a qi deviation.”
"I wouldn't attack you when you were focused on something like that." she wrote and added, "unless it was for training your awareness. You should always be careful."
"For the last time, I don’t need awareness training,” said Felix.
"Yet you didn't react to my repeated pokes. How are you going to repel a real attempt." wrote Daiyu.
“Didn’t I block your final poke? I even captured my assailant.”
“That doesn’t- fine. You are an idiot.” She wrote. “What were you working on anyway?”
“Just reviewing how my body and Dantian cultivation interacted. My body cultivation just advanced a stage! The cultivation cave was too stuffy though. I am just out here on the cliff's edge to get some fresh air,” said Felix with a wave.
The private yard behind Elder Rong’s estate had a commanding view of the sect. The surrounding flowers and privacy fence gave the area a peaceful feel.
“So why haven’t you visited me yet?” wrote Daiyu. “It's been months since we came back and I expect you to stop by.”
"It’s been that long?" said Felix. He tried not to laugh when she tried to jab him. She stared at their clasped hands as he overpowered her. "Alright, alright. I get it. Look, I’ve been busy cultivating. I want to be able to protect us next time. Was there anything you need to talk about?"
"I’ve bet all you’ve done is read books." wrote Daiyu. "You should spar and practice your skills. With me."
"You can’t expect me to spar with an injured person. I thought you were healing from our journey," said Felix.
"Uncle helped my recovery and it has been months. Don't change the topic," wrote Daiyu.
"I'm not, but I think not wanting to fight when you are injured is reasonable. Besides, sparring isn’t what I need to focus on. You were there, we need higher cultivations."
"So you have time to play cards but you don't have time to spar," wrote Daiyu
"Kind of, yeah."
This time she jabbed him with the chalk. Despite being qi reinforced, the chalk broke on his stomach leaving her with a nub. He gave her a winning smile.
“See! I have been training. Besides, we all need hobbies. Like you with your music. How's that coming along? Learn any new songs."
"Yes." wrote Daiyu, perking up. "The constant interaction with other sects has allowed me to meet those with similar musical inclinations. It’s been pretty amazing. I’ve always had to wait on ordered music or traveling cultivators to visit the clan. The few missions I’ve been on were all work with no time to work on such frivolous things.”
“Love to hear you play again.” Said Felix.
“Are you sure you have time? Not too busy cultivating or playing cards.” Wrote Daiyu.
“I would make the time for that. I don’t think your music was frivolous. It was beautiful.” Said Felix.
She looked away again and Felix felt a rush of heat.
[Orange Voice] Well played. Now kiss her! She’ll fall at the next blow,
She has a mask on you idiot.
[Orange Voice] A tiny barrier to love. Kiss the mask!
Felix felt a warm orange heat blossom through him as he held her hand. She turned to look at him, head tilted up.
Wait… It was you!?!
Then he let go of her hand and rose to his feet. She stared at him, head cocked in confusion. He paid her no mind, fumbling at his mind for the portion of memories and thoughts he had begun to tie to the [Orange Voice].
[Orange Voice] Mmmm.. What was me? Why did I stop?
An almost full mind was there, processing alongside him. A few subconscious thoughts traveled without words. They belonged to him but were flavored in orange.
You're the reason I’ve been so horny! I thought it was just puberty or something. My body is what, 17 now?
[Orange Voice]. Or is it the reason ‘We’ have been so horny? Mmm?
Felix felt the intellect turn shaky. Whatever confluence of events had given it animation was not enough.
Stay with me.
[Orange Voice] Who are we- what are we-I-were-Tired
Not now! I need more info. What has always brought out this voice in the past?
[Orange Voice] Confu-s-
He looked around wildly.
Ask an elder? No, too far. What if I cultivate? Fight? What always gets the voice to talk?
He reached down and drew Daiyu to her feet. She fell into his arms and he could feel the shape of her body even through the clan robes. He followed the Orange Voice’s instruction and kissed her lightly on the mask.
It tasted of lacquer. The chaste kiss roused something in him. In turn, a sea of orange lust rose. The orange mind stabilized. Each dirty thought allowed it to coalesce. Felix felt himself being swept along.
I was right. You always pop up in these situations. Why are you like this?
[Orange Voice] A lover. A Charmer. A people person. I am what I am and I like what I like.
With the words came memories. Life as an orphan and begging for food. Having to charm adults as a kid and continuing to charm others to cultivate as an adult. Then came a wave of a different type of memories. Flashes of hot passion and whispered words. Long nights to sore even cultivator's bodies.
I am not accepting all the blame for how we are acting. You’re a whore.
[Orange Voice] From where I am sitting, ‘we’ are a whore. A real man takes responsibility for his actions. Besides, I think charmer is more appropriate. I rarely traded my love but I would convince people of my needs after a night.
A real man does not let others use his pride against him. Don't conflate us as one. Plus how can anyone act reasonably with this kind of influence at the back of their minds?
The orange voice laughed and other scenes played out. Convincing the City lord's daughter to elope. Tricking a merchant to the wrong investment.
See! How can I be responsible for all that?
[Orange Voice] Oh please, we both know that is splitting hairs. We are a little too close to be separate.
Wait… You're a woman?
[Orange voice] Labels are so limiting. Is the memory of having tits fun?
You are a woman!
[Orange Voice] It appears that way, king of the obvious. Though I am not sure what ‘we’ are now. This is quite a strange coupling even for me.
I- whatever. What was your name in that life?
[Orange Voice] It was… It’s here somewhere.
Felix could feel the rummaging in the Orange memory pile. Memory after memory turned over. They were clearer than they'd been, but the Orange Voice was losing strength.
[Orange Voice] Well this is embarrassing. I can’t seem to find my name. I know it’s here somewhere. It’s at the tip of our tongue.
Why are there only memories up to peak essence condensing here? Hell, where are you from? I don’t recognize the language. Though I understand it the more I view our memories.
[Orange Voice] If you waited and reviewed our newly revealed memories, you would see my past life is from another of the nine mortal worlds. Obviously. More importantly, Essence Condensing 9 is pretty good for there. It's higher than yours. Anyone higher was a famous person and our sects had a much more hands-off policy than yours.
That doesn't explain why you stopped there and didn't go for core.
[Orange Voice] Fine. I suppose it won't be a secret for long.
Pure memory was pushed toward him and he saw her story. She had a Yang Body physique and cultivated the wrong manual. It had strict requirements and she had known none of them. Not until it was too late.
When she was a teenager, excited to finally cultivate she had fervidly started the first one she got. The method of acquiring it was shady but an orphan had to make do. Felix felt surprised at the quality of the manual that would have been a good find even in the sect. He also saw right away it would be bad for her.
She hadn’t known that yet her diligence was impressive. At first, she had grown in leaps and bounds. Her talent was quite high in general. Life was her oyster and she was living it to the fullest. Then at mid essence gathering it had begun to hurt. By late essence gathering had come real pain.
Years went by and she diligently cultivated. Her story wasn't an unheard-of situation and she had an inkling of her issue. However, there was no Hall of Knowledge at her fingertips and few would recognize a Yang Physique. Even fewer in a woman.
Finally, she ‘befriended’ the daughter of a severing stage elder. Her friend had begged him to come down and check on her, which he had. With one look, he saw the truth. At that point, it was too late and the damage had been done. Any fix would require her to abolish her current cultivation completely, but she was far past her prime.
After this, the memories’ quality quickly degraded. She did try to find a solution but nothing she found in her years of searching worked. Even the legend she had heard didn’t mention anything that would help her, at least not in her little mortal world.
So she indulged in something she had always enjoyed. Sex and the thrill of the chase. If she couldn't cultivate actual cultivation, she'd decided she might as well cultivate her skills. Despite that though, the memory of that nascent soul expert's look of pity when he told her burned.
This is a lot to digest.
[Orange Voice] It is funny how our emotions are mixing on this. It’s both old news and new news. Weird.
Well, you have my condolences.
[Orange Voice] Save it. You know I don’t need it. I would almost be jealous you’re in charge if our soul situation wasn’t so bad.
Then her consciousness fell apart.
Hello?
The space in his head where the voice had been was once more memories. A few lustful thoughts did nothing to stimulate a reaction. Only the rare subconscious thought flashed to the surface.
All that and you are already gone?
What had changed was the ‘Orange’ space in his mind was clearer. Felix could reach out with a thought and connect with it, even if it was no longer animated. Exploring the Orange’s memories now available, he discovered a new sensation. At the ‘borders’ of where their minds had joined, sharp jabs of pain occurred.
This is weird. Didn’t the Hydra God say that I shouldn’t be able to sense the pain from my soul? For what else could this be? Maybe by waking up that part of me in my mind, my mind has begun to mirror the issues present in my soul.
Fuck that, why was Orange’s so open. Do I reject this part of me?
Wait, I'm not bi, am I?