“My technique has no name, so you will have to give the technique a name when you practice it,” master said.

After master said that, she left me alone to practice. I decided to start practicing the technique. First, I looked through the first form of techniques. The most basic part, consists of a single swift strike. I copied the visions that I saw in my head, and repeated it over and over. When I started practicing, when the sun started to rise, but now, the sun was at high noon. I took this opportunity, to take a break.

I went over to the river to wash my face, then I saw a face in the river. Who is this person? Wait . . . that’s me! How do I look so pretty? Before, the color of my skin was dirty brown, but now, my skin was pure white. Pure white like the moonlight. Could this possible be due to the Moonlight Absorbing Technique? Although I was washing my body at first, I didn’t pay much attention to myself. I was rushed, eager to attend my first lesson. Now, a single glance from me, can cause cities to go down, and a second glance will lead kingdoms in ruin. My hair now, extends to my waist which is long, compared to my previous length that was only to the neck. The reason why the cultivator he came in search for the carvings didn’t attack me, was probably because I looked pretty ugly. But if he saw me now, I wouldn’t know whether I would stay pure anymore.

My beauty, however, has its own goods and bads. With this completely new appearance, i could seduce men very easily (just like how the servants back then seduced father for their own  greed). Of course, I won’t go all the way, but get close enough to kill the target off. And the bad reason couldn’t be anymore obvious: I attract too much attention. I would have to constantly disguise myself when I’d want to seduce someone, so other people would not notice that it was me. Also, more people would pay more attention to me, this limiting my actions.

The thought on looks, however, should be thought about later. First, I should at least try to master the basic forms of the technique. I gathered some Azure Moon Berries; just because my body has transformed doesn’t mean I’ll stop eating them. At finishing my meal, I went back to practicing.

When the moon started to show, I eventually stopped practicing my sword techniques. I would then, switch over to cultivating the Moonlight Absorbing Technique. When cultivating, this also counts as sleep for cultivators, so I would cultivate for the entire night. This lifestyle continued on for around another moon cycle . . .

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Yes! I finally hit the advanced level for my sword techniques. During this time, I’ve been just cultivating and practicing sword techniques. I learned the basic forms in a few days, while the advance techniques took a bit longer. Also, I broke into the Advanced Stage a few days after learning the basic forms of the dagger technique. Master told me that I should go find her when I broke through with my dagger techniques.

I went back to the cave with the carvings, the place where everything began. Master was sitting there in a meditation pose, well the body she controlled was sitting there. By the time I approached close enough the maser, she already stopped meditating.

“You coming here must mean that you have broken through to the Ethereal Palace Realm,” said master.

Again with this Ethereal Palace Realm. What exactly is that? If I don’t ask, I will never know, but . . . No no no. I need to have courage to speak to others now, and this is my master.

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“What, what is the Ethereal Palace Realm?” I said while stuttering.

Master’s eyes opened wide, and responded, “Looks like you can talk. Hearing your question you must not know much about the cultivation realms. Cultivation realms consist from the weakest to the strongest of the Qi Condensation Realm, the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Ethereal Palace Realm, the Dao Core Realm, the Dao Foundation Realm, the Dao Seeking, and finally the Immortal Realm. Many people have misconceptions of the realms. Many people called the first three realms: Initial, Intermediate, and Advanced. They only started calling these realms this 10,000 years ago. This is due to the misconception that external techniques, such as your dagger technique, were related to your cultivation realm. Technique mastery were usually divided into: Initial, Intermediate, Advanced, One with the World, True Meaning of the Dao, Dao Realm, Dao Path, and so on. “

I finally understand what master kept talking about now. So the phrases he uses, were the real names of the realms, and the phrases that people commonly use now are just a mistake. That explains a lot of what he meant now.

“To prove my point that techniques and cultivation is not related; currently you are only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, while your dagger techniques are now at the Advanced level. Now that you have improved yourself, you must leave this area and go temper yourself in the outside world. One person can only improve when facing true dangers. Go to the treasury,”

master commanded.

` I went to the treasury with master. When we arrived, master went straight into the middle of the pile, where she took out two rings.

Master gave both rings to me and said, “Bind both rings with your blood.”

I used my dagger, and pricked my own thumb. The blood fell from my thumb, and landed on both rings. Then I felt a spiritual connection form from one of the rings.

“The first ring, is a spatial ring,” master told me, “the other one . . . is used to bind my soul! During your journey, I will accompany you instead of rotting away alone inside this cave. Use your spatial ring to store everything in this treasury inside.”

Following master’s instructions, I used the spatial ring that was given to me, and started storing everything inside the realm. All the items in this room, flowed into the ring to no end. How much storage does this ring even have? If I asked master, I’d probably be too shocked to live anymore. Some things are better left unsaid.

“Before you departure on this journey . . . would my disciple tell me her name?” master asked.

“I threw away my name a long time ago,” I said without hesitation.

I threw away my name too long ago. The moment I stepped out of the doorway, I left my identity behind in that place. How would ever want to keep that name? No good memories ever comes from it anyways.

“I see . . .,” master started pondering. When master seemed to have thought of something, she declared, “You shall be called Cynthia! It comes from an ancient language meaning “the moon. Since everything around you revolves around the moon, there is no better name.”

“Cynthia,” I muttered with a small voice.

I smiled creeped up on my face, different from my usual cold, yet elegant face. Master’s body suddenly collapsed on the floor, but I realized that he probably just moved his soul into the ring have he gave me. I put the storage ring on my second finger. Afterwards, I took a chain out of the storage ring, and looped the ring through the chain, making it look like a necklace. Although the chain may seem ordinary, I’m sure it’s another priceless treasure out there in the world.

Before leaving, I cleaned up the entire cave one more time. I reached every nook and cranny, before finishing cleaning up the entire cave. By the time I finished, the sun has already set. I went to the river to pick the Azure Moon Berries one last time. This time, however, I picked as much as there was, only leaving a bit so the berries can continue growing. A little extra resources wouldn’t hurt.

I was finally leaving. The place where I resided in peace. After today, my life would consist of ups and downs. The road will not be smooth, but I will endure it. My entire life, I was alone. But not anymore. Now, I have master with me. I still not know why master treats me so well. I do not believe just because I treated her nicely, she would do all this for me. Although master may not tell me today, one day in the future, I will make sure she tells me the reason. Whatever the reason, however, master was still the one who gave me a new chance in life. A rebirth. I will have to repay this debt someday by finding a new body for master to live in.

I wonder how long has it passed, even since I came here. The sounds of the river flow, the wind blowing, the leaves falling, and the crunching sounds that I make when I step over the leaves that fall. I will be leaving them all. I will be back one day. After reaching the apex, I will come back here. A person tend to return to their roots. Next time, however, I won’t be coming back as a nobody, but as immortal Cynthia.