Sarina Sempress decided to stop teasing the poor youth and deactivated her divine aura, one of the perks of having reached the 70th stage. As she retracted it, Jin's feelings changed. As he looked again at her, he still found her beautiful but that was it. He was no longer in awe and attracted like before. She chuckled as she apologized: "Sorry for that, little one, I forgot to retract my aura"

Jin had never once heard about this 'aura' and wondered what it was. After all, it was strong enough to force him to act out of character. It made him feel like a young kid facing his first love... This kind of power, it could definitely be useful. He wanted to learn more about it and inquired with such a goal in mind. Sarina expected so and told him: "It is a perk of reaching the 70th stage. Unfortunately, it is an innate ability to those whose existences have reached a certain height. It can't be taught. Anyways, we have much to do, little one. First, how about you introduce yourself?"

"Jin"

She waited for a moment but he spoke no further. She couldn't help but believe that he was socially awkward. She coughed once and moved on: "Right, Jin then, pleasure to meet you. So, first, I will now teach you how to erase the corruption's existence"

"Wait"

He didn't want things to move so quickly. There were still many questions to be asked and more than anything, he had to know. He needed to know that there was a way to survive. The woman stayed quiet as she waited for him to speak and he did so: "You said there was a way to survive, teach me that first"

She laughed and coldly retorted: "Who told you you could order me? Listen well, Jin. I am here because I need something from you but you have yet to prove yourself worthy. Right now, you are in a state where your body isn't even yours. If you want me to tell you of the way, then show that you can walk it first"

Jin gazed at her calmly for a moment. He pondered. Then, he nodded at her. She didn't speak wrongly there, he was indeed in a bad spot. If he couldn't suppress the corruption, what rights did he have to ask for anything? It would be useless and a waste of the woman's time. Obviously, she wouldn't agree to that. To a remnant like her, 'years' were precious. Time was the most precious thing to her. He understood her intentions. She saw that he did and her smile returned as she began: "So, let's start with the basics. Do you know what those spears of yours are?"

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"Shape of will"

"Right. But beyond that?"

Jin shook his head sideways. He had ideas, guesses and read a few things but it was better to hear it from a true master. He decided to have her explain things since his shallow understanding might only waste more time. She acknowledged and approved his decision. A pupil that admitted his lacks and was willing to learn was perfect.

She began to tutor him: "The shape of will comes in many forms. Every being will find his own. It is the object that one is closest to or the object representing an image that the cultivator believes in strongly. In your case, it is a spear, probably because you spent a long time with that particular spear, am I right?"

Jin nodded and she continued: "But there are other forms. In my case, it is a blade, like you but some people will instead shape a belief. A religious man might end up with a book when he tried to create a shape of the precepts he believes in and so on. Regardless, the shape of will consists in creating an image of something that represents who we are. When you made the first spear, what were your thoughts as you did so?"

Jin thought back upon that day he created the first spear... He recalled vomiting blood but not his thoughts. At the time, he was only trying everything that might have worked to find a solution to the problem he had. He sighed and said: "I tried many things. I read that it had to be something you knew all about and I knew that spear"

She nodded and added: "This spear was probably the weapon you used the most, right?"

He agreed with a nod and she moved on: "I understand. Well, that is the shape of will. It is the first requirement to begin using the power of one's will. In fact, without reaching this step, you would never be able to cross to the 40th stage...Not like that matters to you...Anyways, you have already mastered this part"

"The first step in making use of this power is also something you know. It is called the manifestation of will. You used it during the previous battle"

He interjected: "Was it the additional power I combined with the spiritual spears?"

She nodded: "That's right. It was the power of your will. It means to manifest your will outside the soul sea. To empower things with your will of the spear, giving the meaning of the 'spear' to whatever you used it on. In your case, you simply placed it over spears. You could have turned even a simple twig into a spear with this, you know?"

Jin's eyes opened wide. From the start, he thought that a 'spear' could only be a 'spear' but it seemed like she was trying to convey it was not? He was having difficulties in comprehending this kind of metaphysical sophistry. And it was written all over his face. She saw that and tried to make it easier to understand: "Your will is intangible. Using it is the same as using a spear though it needs a vector at this level. But regardless of what you used, it would become a 'spear' through your will to shape it so. Your mastery over this is far from complete, maybe even being instinctive, but we don't have the time to work on it. What you need to learn are the things that come after"