Cultivating in Honkai!

One year of inactivity meant I have a lot to catch up on.

By that, I mean a lot.

I left a considerable number of first and second grade spiritual plants to Welt Yang. Their research was stunted by the lack of materials back then. It should be enough for them to develop more potent and efficient treatment for honkai corruption. Of course, once the resources I left them are gone, they are back to being broke.

That was just one of them.

There is also Anti-Entropy's research on what I call "post-modern spiritual artifacts".

I found out that spiritual artifacts can also be high-end technological stuff like smartphones and likes.

It can either be "pre-modern" with the typical swords, spears, armors, boots, and the likes.

It can also be "post-modern" with guns, industrial machines, computers, and even mechs!

It requires a lot of complex stuff like high-precision machines that support spiritual consciousness. There is also "programming" featuring countless codes written in the so-called Dao Syntax Source Language.

My jaw dropped when I learned them.

I shouldn't have been surprised. The rate of spiritual qi's decay can be calculated in a mathematical equation (i.e., Differential Equations).

That was when I realized there is more to immortal cultivation than swords, spears, talismans, and the likes. Immortal cultivation and technology works hand in hand. At least that's how it works in my immortal cultivation.

Click.

My thoughts ended when I opened the doorknob.

A familiar office greeted my sight. This is where we met Cocolia several times.

Now…

"Who… Ah."

Light purple hair could be seen beyond the desk. Sin Mal's small stature made her look similar to Theresa.

She put down the book she was reading and stared at me for ten seconds.

I took the time to sit on the chair opposite the desk. My eyes caught the title of her book.

Efficient Economic Planning (2013 Edition).

…

"I did not expect you to come here." She said.

"I got caught in a lot of trouble."

"Hmph. I won't forget what you did."

"???"

I looked at her in confusion.

"You did not trust me at all!" She explained. "Seele and Sister Bronya became very strong. You taught them… not me."

She…

She is not wrong.

I taught Sin Mal how to approach Bronya. That allowed her to integrate into their circle. The only problem is during their practice. The effects of immortal cultivation are extremely evident.

Seele mentioned they outmatched the rest in terms of honkai adaptability.

"I guess it's fine. I would have spilled the beans to Cocolia Matushka anyways."

Sin Mal went back to her grumpy self.

…

I almost forgot she is a psychopath. It is hard to look at her like that when all she's done is to act like a normal girl.

Then again, it is better to be like this. I can't say anything about the murder of her adoptive parents, but it is better to see her act like a normal child.

"Why did you come here?"

"The kids are suffering from an illness. I want to teach them something that will make them healthy."

"The same one as Sister Bronya's?"

"Yes."

Sin Mal fell silent for a while.

"How long will you stay?" She asked. "Your previous room is occupied by those two brats. You'll be living on the third floor."

Brats…

I can't help but look at her.

Isn't she one?

"...Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Feel free to guess."

"..."

I stopped playing around with her.

Thinking about her being a nonchalant stalker, it is hard to imagine she will actually take on Cocolia's role. I can foresee she will mature faster than in game. She earned Bronya's attention, hence she won't be narrow-mindedly doing some shitty things.

That's it.

I will help her.

"Stay still. I will help you practice."

"Okay…"

Her eyes are dubious. She must have been confused how immortal cultivation works.

I casted the [Two Phase Art], enveloping the area of the entire orphanage. A low first grade spirit vein was successfully made.

My spiritual consciousness led the surrounding spiritual qi to Sin Mal's metaphysical body.

My eyes did not see her meridians and dantians. I did not panic.

Swoosh-!

The spiritual qi began tracing her meridians. The moment it touched them, they "appeared". The meridians' location is consistent for everyone.

Soon, all of her 1,599 meridians are successfully passed through. Her inactive Jing dantian was all that's left.

Once it was completed, a tiny dot of gray light emerged. The intensity of its glow continued increasing until it reached the threshold for high grade spirit roots.

It is…

Dream Spirit Root.

It quickly matched one of the qi cultivation techniques inside my head.

[Eternal Dream Scripture].

It is a technique suited for those with Dream Spirit Roots, a kind of mutant root. They are masters of manipulating dreams, creating illusions, and even turning them real. It is connected with the Dao of Dreams, something as complex as Dao of Void and Dao of Five Elements.

"Huh. I feel better."

I snapped out of my thoughts.

"You are talented. It's on the same level as Bronya's."

"Really?! Hum, hum!"

She nodded enthusiastically. Those words were all she needed.

"What's next?"

I took out one of the first grade jade slips inside the warehouse-like space. I transmitted my spiritual consciousness onto it, carving down the contents of the [Eternal Dream Scripture]. To not make her feel overwhelmed, I only gave the Qi Refining chapter.

Soon, the jade slip was handed down to her.

"Use it to touch your forehead. You will be able to read words from the technique. Write down the parts you are confused about. I will answer them."

"Oh. Oh."

"Here are the basics of practicing. Make sure to read this first before the technique."

I began handing her several more jade slips. Sin Mal went completely silent, trying her best to process my instructions.

"Basics. Qi Technique. Talent. Spells. Finally, footwork. Prioritize the [Cloud Seeking Steps] and spend less time on [Dream Weaving Footsteps]. You will use that later."

"Oh. Oh…"

*****

Sin Mal stared at Shi Tian's receding back and then to the six jade slips on her desk. Her heterochromatic eyes shifted between him and the jade slips until the door closed.

Before he left his vision, Sin Mal tried to use her good old sharp eyes. It was this that allowed her to see the ever-growing strength of Seele and Bronya.

"Ow!"

It was akin to a flick to the eyes. She was forced to close her eyes. She was forced to wipe her tears with her sleeve.

"Huff…"

It did not end in simple eye strain. Her arms are shaking; her entire body trembling. Drool uncontrollably escaped from her mouth.

Sin Mal did not see anything. Her instincts took over and stopped her from doing so. That rendered her paralyzed for a good five minutes.

Still…

'Hehe… You became even more beautiful…'

A twisted sense of joy came from her heart.

Life was ordinary for the young Sin Mal. It held a certain sense of beauty that cannot be erased in her mind. Being with her loving parents and doing whatever she wanted, all the whilst being doted on... It is irreplacable in her heart.

That changed when the accident happened, leaving her an orphan. What came next is the adoption of her uncle and aunt. They only cared for her inheritance money, and as such, went through all sorts of legal and illegal loopholes to take it.

They locked Sin Mal to her bedroom. It remained so until Bronya broke in.

That marked the second beautiful thing in her life.

She helped Bronya hide and eat. Although their interaction only lasted for half a day, it never mattered to Sin Mal.

She began cooking plans of escaping. She showed off her 'power' over honkai, leading to Cocolia knowing about her.

That continued until her uncle's plan prematurely happened—a butterfly effect. Her uncle soon went to debt after losing big-time at a casino.

Instead of gaining favor from Cocolia, they wanted to marry her off to a nobleman in exchange for money.

Sin Mal was taken to meet with her soon-to-be husband…

When the entire Seele hostage crisis occurred.

That was the third beautiful thing in her life. She witnessed the budding of a blinding light. It was hidden, but the notion of carefully unraveling it like a present filled her mind.

Then came her joining of the orphanage. She saw the budding light fully grow within Shi Tian. There was also Bronya's presence.

Over time, she considered Bronya as the main gift and Shi Tian as the side gift.

That was until now.

'Beautiful…'

*****

A/N: I hope this explains everything; on why she didn't fear Shi Tian. Him showing off his aura back then is basically giving what Sin Mal wants. That's how life is. He now has two potential yanderes after him.

Anyways, the bonus chapter will be uploaded tomorrow (if I finish my lab work early).