Looking at Daiyu lying exhausted on the bed beside me, a slight smile on her weary face, I realised this was what it was like to be a b rat. Though I doubt b rats get such a pleasurable experiment… Hours had passed, and we had achieved levels of lovemaking that would clearly have been impossible without superhuman statistics. g’e’s blessing also helps Daiyu recover quickly, sure enough…

  “You know…” Shiro was saying to Eri, a wry expression on her beautiful face. “…I know it’s not a petition, but as a woman, it feels pretty plicated knowing that the girl that’s had the most sex with Aki here has got to be Daiyu… I feel like I’ve lost, you know?”

  Eri rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t be so sure. I know Shaeu is always jumping Akio whenever she gets the ce. She might still be number one. But it’s not all about quantity. It’s about the feelings involved.”

  “I don’t know about that. Daiyu sure looked to me like she was getting into it at the end there.” Her dark eyes looked at Daiyu beside me, who gnced down, shy. Shiro isn’t wrong though. Daiyu’s a quick study, and surprisingly passiohough whether that’s down to the effects of Dual Cultivation as well…

  “That is not-not what matters now.” Shaeu tried to ge the subject, looking a little guilty. “Are you ready to…”

  “No, I think that’s enough. I know Daiyu recover rapidly, but that’s from the physical exhaustion. The Qi deprivation ’t easily be dealt with.” I was able to pour aether into her, which she then Refined, but that didn’t seem to affect her Yin Qi, which was ing from some other source. “Besides, we’re not making love fain, I don’t want this to be work…”

  At my words, Daiyu rolled over, leaning on my bare, sweaty chest again. As the long night progressed, Daiyu had beore and more enthusiastid now she could satisfy me with her hands, mouth and more expertly. “I did not mind. If this is work, then it is a work I eagerly anticipate…”

  “Mistress Daiyu is right. Warming the bed is nooot merely work, it is a privilege.” Hyath brought over a bowl of water and a towel, not for the first time, and stated wiping down Daiyu’s sticky body. “Hyath is jealous, but knooows her time will e again soon.”

  “You are still my senior disciple in this.” Daiyu promised. “ime, you show me your skills.”

  As Hyath chuckled at Daiyu’s polite words and invitation, I nodded. “Actually, I do reend it. And no, not because I’m a pervert, Shiro, so don’t even say it.” She shut her mouth, grinning. “No, it’s… well, it deepens the retionships between you all right? I think we all o get along as best we . I’m not na?ve enough to think that you girls don’t get jealous or have problems with each other, but…”

  “But we have a long-long time to spend with each other.” Shaeu finished. “Just as you sider yourself selfish, gathering us all, we are most-most selfish as well. Else it would just-just be Eri here with you.”

  “It’s my job to manage our retionships.” Eri insisted. “Shaeu may have been joking, but I take the role as first wife seriously!” Now that she could move, albeit with difficultly, she stomped over to the bed, leaning on her crutches, looking at me early. “Just… do your part, and we’ll do ours. If you treat us all fairly… we won’t cause you problems. Ahat does…”

  “We get it, Eri! So fierce!” Shiro ughed. “What she means is don’t py favourites. Although, like us all, she would think it’s fine if you py favourites with her!” She stuck out her tongue, amused by Eri’s annoyed growl.

  “This is all fasating, but I am more-more curious about the results of our studies here.” Shaeu said, and Daiyu nodded.

  “Yes, I feel the energies withi should most definitely not be so rapid, nor so profound.” Daiyu insisted, though her expression leased. She snuggled closer, dark eyes glimmering with emotion. “I hardly pin at this, I?”

  “No.” I ughed, feeling warm inside. As usual, any lingering doubts I had about Daiyu’s situation had melted away as we became intimate, proving that my core as a pushover hadn’t ged entirely. “But we have learned a lot. We’ll have to fill the others in tomorrow. No, I guess it’s tonight now.” The hour was te, so the noble girls had gone home, and Kana had mahe training school, as well as a visit from Eleanor and her defeated teammates. We’ve also upgraded two Ether Spires to Rank 4… it seemed so easy, but the sums involved were crazy. Speaking of, it’ll sooime for Shiro to go bad buff the Tree again…

  “To delve into the mysteries of Dual Cultivation, the Dantians and more… I am shocked. Were you born in Kunlun, you would be a mighty figure in one of the Great Sects. Should they not have crushed you first as a dao their monopoly on profound knowledge.” Daiyu said sourly, still not having fiven those a Sects for the fwed knowledge they passed down deliberately, if Tan was to be believed.

  “You ’t take Aki’s skills as normal.” Shiro reiterated. “Tan thinks that Eye of his is a miracle. Even someone such as her would be delighted to have such a rare skill.”

  “Yes, I get that.” I agreed. “Anyway, Daiyu, I think we o go over our findings. Firstly… Dual Cultivation. The purpose of it seems multi-yered.”

  “Yes.” Daiyu agreed. “The scrolls and tags that tained our knowledge merely stated how it worked, and that it would enable easy acquisition and transfer of Yin and Yang Qi, as well as slowly strengthening the Cultivation of the partits. I know that to be true, but…”

  “I think the easiest way is to go over your status.” I said, before my Eye fred amber. “I’ve already learned a lot, and more from watg your ges as we made love…” Of course, my own ges shed some light on this too, although there’s at least ohing that I ’t work out how the hell it happened…

  Zhao DaiyuBonded KinChosen Of g'e, Immortal Goddess Of The Moon[Material Statistibsp;[Intangible Statistibsp;Might244Fortune9Fortitude256Majesty3Intellect305Charm5Resilience499League6Acrity303Determination9Precision267Fht3Aether1570Fate3[Material Skills]RankCssType[Qi Skills] Silver CordRank 4Powerful (4)Foundation (4)Cultivator Chakra workRank 3Powerful (4)Rule (5)Lower Dantian Of High Spirit Water, Yang Moonlight And JadeRank 2Noble (5)Artifice (6)Qi Manipution Of Water, Yin, Yah And JadeRank 6Noble (5)Artifice (6)Qi PerceptionRank 5Powerful (4)Artifice (6)Qi bat TeiqueRank 2Powerful (4)Foundation (4)Third Eye And Root Chakra Of JadeRank 1Noble (5)Foundation (4)Third Eye Chakra Of Yang MoonlightRank 1Noble (5)Foundation (4)Sacral Chakra Of High Spirit WaterRank 3Noble (5)Foundation (4)Root Chakra Of EarthRank 2Powerful (4)Foundation (4)[Cultivation Skills] Spiritually Pure Qi RefiningRank 9Noble (5)Artifice (6)Spiritually Pure Foundation TeiqueRank 7Noble (5)Artifice (6)Spiritually Pure Dual CultivationRank 2Noble (5)Artifice (6)Spiritually Pure PhysiqueRank 2Noble (5)Principle (7)[Physical bat Skills] bat TeiqueRank 4trip (1)Simple (1)[Intangible Skills] [Unique Skills] Lovers' LinkRank 5Noble (5)Artifice (6)g'e's Moon Elixir Of ImmortalityRank 3Imperious (6)Principle (7)

  [Level] 37[Css]Dual Cultivator 2/10 Accumutor 0/10 Wielder Of A Mutated Element 5/10

  Karmically Pure 1/20 Fae-Bonded 6/20

  [Mastered Css]Qi Refiner 10/10 Foundationist 10/10Territory RankNone

  There were so many differences between Daiyu’s status and everyone else’s, although there were some points of simirity, such as her Silver Cord. The big shock was the rge number of csses she had.

  Qi Refiner, Foundationist and Accumutor were all csses awarded to someoraining in that Realm. Daiyu was surprised she had reached Accumutioe not having started the process, but perhaps that’s why the css is still at level zero? The csses themselves give bes geared to what you’d expect. Qi Refiner boosts Aether, I’m a little surprised my Eye still sees her stat as Aether not Qi, but then, Qi is refined from Aether, so it does make some sense. And Foundationist increases Aether, as well as Might, Fortitude and Precision….

  “Your strength is good. How were you eveen by your enemies?” Eri asked, a touch jealous. “Your stats are all better than mine, despite me being higher level!”

  “I was not s then.” Daiyu admitted. “I am not able to dis raw numbers as Akio does, but with my Qi I sense my own and others’ strengths to a degree. Evehat treacherous bitch Sun Lisha…” as she spoke the name, her usual stoic expressiourned, dark eyes gleaming with malice, quite uhe more animated, charming expression she had been wearing a moment before. “… made sure that her troops were armed with powerful ons. I am no expert in guns, such tools are a crutch, but I suspect the bullets were special, heavier, stronger. She wished us all to die. And would have succeeded…”

  “… but she didn’t, and you’re here now.” I hugged her until she calmed down. “Speaking of…”

  Qi Perception – This skill allows oo spread their Qi internally aernally, deteg that which others might not. All living beings taiher and miraces of Qi, so they easily be found uhey mask themselves. By further refining Qi perception, eveive strengths and positions of Qi, as well as elemental fvours, be detected, and judgements made orength and ability of such Qi. With greater skill, even ??????? be identified and located, and ?????? be found.

  After I expihat, Shiro nodded. “It’s basically a bargain basement appraisal. No outside assists like yours, Aki, but with her experiend talent she make educated guesses.”

  Ign the rather insulting way she phrased that, I nodded. “So, you weren’t as strong?” I asked Daiyu, snapping her out of her reverie.

  “Indeed. I was more focussed on increasing my Cultivation, rather than fighting aing the creatures that roam the Heavenly Realm, no, the Boundary. There is nothing Heavenly about it.” She pined. “Therefore my level was g, pared to those of you who fought stantly. It increased some when I joined your camp, and further in Kyoto… but I shall not uimate the improvement that it brings. I feel a rise in my Qi with each level, I am sensitive enough for that now… that being said…”

  “Yeah, that’s the strahing of all. Whearted Dual Cultivation, you were only level thirty-six!” I pointed out the most shog matter.

  “Aki’s do now.” Shiro whispered theatrically to Eri. “Now Aki’s gone beyond Lovers’ Link, and fug him gives levels! We’re in trouble, Eri, Shaeu! Now not only will every girl in the world want to jump his bones, but even desperate guys might be presenting their assholes, begging him to ram them!”

  Shaeu merely ughed nastily at that, while Eri shook her head. “No way, I’ll never let Akio go down that dark path! No more rivals!”

  “That’s your ?” Shiro raised an eyebrow, amused. As I transted for Daiyu, she burst out ughing, surprising us. When she finished, wiping tears from her eyes, she sighed.

  “I like this. The camaraderie, the closeness. I , I think. Even isoted as I was, as the prodigy, the genius Bck Jade, daughter of the Sect Patriarch, I still felt part of the Incorruptible Jade, and that gave me fort. The loss… I have been feeling it keenly. But… my heart is noeace.” She looked at Eri and Shiro, before speaking surprising words. “I agree. I have no wish to see our husband indulging recklessly. Cultivators are often lusty, and homosexuality is far from unknown, or even a , but… he has no need of such things. We will satisfy him. And not merely for Dual Cultivation.” She looked at me then, her expression surprisingly alluring, a mix of shyness, shame and lust, her features dyed pink. “…no, it was like water on my parched heart, filling me up. I still feel full.” She touched her belly, and looked dowween her legs, her blush intensifying.

  “Mistress Daiyu is lewd, but Hyath doooes not hate that.” She giggled. “But if we get strooonger by warming the bed, that is a good thing, nooo?”

  “Trust Hyath to be keen.” I ughed. “No, there’s more to it. I think it’s actually part of the Dual Cultivation. One aspect, anyway. You were watg, right Shaeu?”

  “My Mystic Eyes are not-not as potent as yours, Akio.” Shaeu admitted, a touvious. “Despite ing partly from me. How-how unfair. But I suppose my husband-to-be should be mighty, I accept no-no less. I did indeed intuit some matters though. But first, a question, ohat has-has been b me for some time.”

  “I think I get it.” Eri said. “Just what is levelling up, and why?”

  All eyes went to Shiro, and she snorted. “Tan isn’t dropping any hints, although… I think she feels she doesn’t o, that we figure it out. I think the why is probably most of the answer. What do you think, Aki?”

  “It’s something I’ve been p. No, there’s a huge amount I’ve been thinking about. Skills, csses… it’s not like there’s some mysterious system out there, handing them out like a game. Most people don’t even really know about them. It’s like what Miyu said, when I expio her. Isn’t it foolish to think of Piano Pying Rank two as something that exists?”

  “But they clearly do exist.” Eri insisted. “You just read out the bes of some of Daiyu’s skills and csses and I know I have them too!”

  “Yes, your Eye, it merely uses existing knowledge to make a parison, does it not-not?” Shaeu said. “I do not-not uand how it works, but…”

  “Tan does. And that she doesn’t mind sharing.” Shiro said. “Though every time she talks about it, I get a bit worried. She really wants that skill, Aki. But don’t worry!” she puffed out her rge chest, striking it with a fist. “I’ll not let her eat you. Or drink you, I guess I should say. Damn, that sounds lewd. I bet she would, for that skill, but it’d just be my body anyway, so… not worth it, I do that anyway!” she winked.

  “Enough.” Eri pined, exasperated. “This is a serious topic!”

  “I know, calm down Eri, your yandere is showing.” Shiro rolled her eyes. “But sidering Aki and Daiyu are lying there naked and covered in… look, I’m just lightening the mood. Aki…” she said, now serious. “The Eye merely pares what it sees against a store of knowledge. There are many systems of knowledge that Tan knows. Trees of Knowledge are one of the most on. So you could have a Piano Pying skill, it’s not hard. If someone who ’t py at all is Rank zero, a beginner Rank one, all the to a genius like Mozart at Rank whatever the hell it wants to be… then it be cssified. It’s not hard to think that swordsmanship, or even fancy skills like Ether Healing are the same, right? It’s just sg a test against the correswers, that’s all there is to it.”

  “That’s how I uand it, and Ortlinde expi to me, back at the beginning.” I agreed. “And it makes sense. But for one small detail…”

  “The measurement itself fers bes.” Daiyu pointed out what we were all thinking. “Therefore it is no mere simple measurement. Being called a Cultivator should not make you stronger as a Cultivator, no more than being Ranked as a pianist should make your skills with the instrument improve.”

  “I think the answers are all tied together. There are definitely underlying principles, and if we grasp them, we use them to predict the best ways to make acquisitions of skills and csses and grow stronger. Back to levels… first, I want to look at one of your skills, Daiyu. As it’s tied in.” As she nodded, I read out what my Eye could see, spelled out in fiery amber letters.

  Qi Manipution Of Water, Yin, Yah And Jade – Qi Manipution is the art of trolling Qi and using it to perform Teiques and Arts, activate Formations and more. Qi is refined from Aether, Elemental essences, Adherend ????????, and higher ability with Qi Refining, as well as higher Qi Manipution, greatly increases the effid strength of Teiques one use. Qi alsthens the body to a greater extent than raw Aether, and also ??????????? ?????????? ??????????.

  Current Leareiques: Jade Yang Stance: Crushing Palms. Jade Yang Stance: Gem Wall. Jade Yang Stance…

  “There are a lot of differences, but…” Shiro mused, catg on. “… at its heart, it’s the same. I see your point. You get it tht?” she said to Eri, who was frowning, her expression one of deep tration.

  “I do, I think.” She muttered at st. “What Akio is trying to say is that ether, aether, adherence… all these are ected. Qi is just a way of utilising them, but because it’s a well-prepared, well-used way…” she struggled to articute her point. “… if we assume that these foundational building blocks give rise to everything…”

  “Then the reason for levelling up, skills and their Ranks, csses, Cultivation… everything makes sense.” I said triumphantly. “My stat gains on each level-up have rgely been dependant on how well my body could utilise aether. I think that just as aether es from ether and Qi from aether and so oher is just a form of ether that is easy for the body to use. Each refi makes things more specialised and powerful, but less flexible. After all, we ’t use aether to develop our Territory, we?”

  “If Arisu was here, she’d probably love this versation.” Shiro grinned. “For a cold beauty and an actress, she’s smart and inquisitive, and has some erudite hobbies, such as reading sce books and magazines. From a programming standpoint, though…” she looked at me, and I expined.

  “Yes, it’s like going from binary to mae nguage to scripted nguages to wysiwyg text-based editors… less foundational, but easier to use for certain purposes.” I tried to keep the metaphor simple, but other than Shiro, the others had gzed eyes. No, Eri might not be a programmer, but she knows enough about puters to get it…

  “I do not-not quite get what you mean, but… if I do look at it like one of th’s I enjoy…” Shaeu grasped at the idea. “You o qualify for the skill…”

  “Yes, you have to have mastered the skill enough, and when you do…”

  “You gain bes from having the skill, just like a game. But then who-who and how…” her eyes went wide. “Ether. Aether. Adherence.”

  “Exactly. Multiversal standards. Look, ether, aether and Qi are all means of maniputing the energy of the world around us, no, more to the point, the Astral.” I expined. “And they fun on thought, right? I will a sword ience, and it’ll st while I trate and have the aether. The more plicated the sword, the more aether… but what if the Astral itself imagihe sword? Don’t you think it would stay real forever?”

  “Are you saying that the Astral is se? That’s a stretch, Aki.” Shiro said doubtfully.

  “No. But the Astral is full of se beings. Many trillions, maybe even hat ’t even be ted, right Tan?” I said, and she blinked Shiro’s eyes zily, a gleam of red all the firmation I needed.

  “I always thought it odd. The orcs Kondou Kazuo ahey were Japayle orcs. Western orcs are nothing like the pig-men we see in anime and manga. Kobolds too. I think they are supposed to be sprites. German or something like that, right? Dog-like and dragon-like Kobolds are a retively new iion, aren’t they?”

  “Some of the csses don’t make seher, unless you think of it that way. Elements too…” Shiro pointed out. “Earth, Air, Fire, Water. None of them are an actual element. Light, Darkness, Spatial… not them either. And what of the binations? Lightning, Wood, Ice, Metal. Shouldn’t elements be things like hydrogen, iron, uranium? No, maybe Light would qualify. Eles, photons, quarks maybe? Yeah, Arisu would have a field day with this…”

  “But the four elements of earth, wind, fme and water… they are ingrained in popur culture, ever sihe days of the Greeks.” I pointed out. “If it was ese, it’d be…” We were taking it in turns to transte for Daiyu, as this discussion was out of reach of her Japanese.

  “Earth, Water, Wood, Metal, Fire.” Daiyu said. “The elements of Cultivation. There is no wind.”

  “That leaves out lightning and ice. Then there’s Dust, Radiance…” I said, reinf the point.

  “You’re trying to say that the thoughts and beliefs of everyone living oh, no, not just Earth, the lower Astral, the higher Astral, and tless other worlds, moulds and shapes the Astral, and thus the abilities of living beings exposed to the power within it?” Eri was incredulous, finding it hard to her head around it.

  “It’s not se, Eri.” Shiro shook her head. “There’s the pcebo effect, right? That’s been rigorously tested. Trust me, I’m no Arisu, but I know a lot about medies…” Seeing her looking downcast, I reached up, and cheekily used a little aether to pull her down into my arms, where she fell on my other side. As I hugged her with my free arm, she flushed, before pung me, embarrassed.

  “Look, Aki, let go! This is a serious talk! I’m all fine now, I know! But you ’t bme a princess fretting her past!”

  “Mind over matter. But if ether and all its derivatives are matter of the mind…” Eri accepted it after thinking about it.

  “Spiritual beings are indeed far-far more mutable than those of you who dwell here oerial. The Material is a pce of ws of matter, while the Astral is a pce-pce where the ws of the mind hold sway. With enough strength, one be imposed oher, but…”

  “This is all hurting Hyath’s head…” she whined. “But I dooo think I get it. Hyath was a brownie, but when I grew cooold-hearted and vengeful, I became a boggart. Now… Hyath iher. Boooth?” she tilted her head. “Because I am what I and yooou all believe me to be.”

  “There are only so many tales in the world.” Daiyu said suddenly. “That is an old Cultivator saying. Its meaning was lost on me, but I believed it to mean there were only set routes to power. Now I think I grasp the i. The Dao is following oh that is fed by many before us. A Dao of fire exists because fire exists and always has, yet… a Dao of swords? Swords are but an iio many ons coalesto the shape of swords, aany cultures. And many worlds too, I imagine.”

  “Of course. A sword is an effit killing tool. There are many varieties, many shapes and sizes, many materials. But all are swords.” Tan snorted. “This one…” she poi Shaeu. “She has a replica of a powerful sword from the Endless Knot. Fragarach. Do you think that is ce? Or that I, Ta?hā, the Thirst, am here, yet also in your mythologies?”

  “I think that answers us. Thanks Tan.” I ughed, and as she muttered a grumbled denial of her io help before retreating again, I came back full circle to the start of the discussion. “So, what are levels and why? Simply, it’s iiher, and perhaps more thaher, the strength of mind and will that es with it, into the body. We level when we defeat powerful enemies, row Territories, times whe aether is scattered, and also great feats where we think it’s likely to level.”

  “If it’s that simple, why ’t we level without help from Lovers’ Link or a Throne?” Eri pressed.

  “I think it’s the same reason that Territories don’t seem to start having an Anchor, at least until higher Ranks, yet Chosen such as me and Shiro start with o’s the Favours.” I tapped my right wrist. “I think it’s probably hard permaly making ges with aether. Ether seems to be less mutable, and is able to struct perma Buildings, right? But aether is tra, yet far more flexible. But Chakra works don’t seem to use ether. Not mine, not yours, Shaeu’s, Hyath’s, not even Tan’s, I’d wager. It’s like food. We have to break it down before the body use it.”

  “So you’re saying that the Divine Favours are a package, designed not only to give a useful, powerful ability, but to provide both an Anchor and the ability to absorb and make aether our own strength?” Shiro said, and I nodded.

  “Shaeu, Fae grow stronger as they age in general, right?” I asked, and she nodded.

  “Yes, by age, or by abs elemental energies, though that-that is seldom done nowadays, at least it was not-not. Or sometimes by defeating great foes and surviving a terrible ordeal, one break through…”

  “I think that is in a way levelling up, just somewhat different… it goes back to what we were talking about before. They might be called something else. We might see them as levels, as it’s ingrained in the sciousness of us humans. Get experience, level up. But just as a sword might have many different forms but be a sword, levels should be the same too.”

  “Multiversal standards.” Shiro said. “I get it. So the Thro funs as a minor catalyst for levelling. Lovers’ Link… I think I see. You bee ected, sharing your strength, and that allows a little of your ability to process and absorb aether to flow to those you love. Thus they level up, at least a bit…”

  “And skills work the same. Their bes are surely not because we know how to do something. Being able to py Piano doesn’t give faster thought speeds aao finger injuries, for example…”

  “But if enough of the thoughts in the vast universe thought pying the piano allowed you to resist blunt-force trauma then…” Shiro smirked, and Eri let out a surprising giggle.

  “… then pying Piano would be pulsory for police officers and the army!”

  “So, Dual Cultivation… I gained a level, because Dual Cultivation makes oronger, increases their Qi!” Daiyu finished. “Because it is known, and desighat way, if performed properly, it will work!”

  Spiritually Pure Dual Cultivation – This Teique is based on the Yin/Yang Duality between a man and a woman, harvesting the natural Yin and Yang Qi all Cultivators possess, and by eg the Dantians, strengthen each other’s bodies and spirits. The inal Teique has been enhanced by the addition of powerful Spiritual Qi derived from the pure Spirit Water that bubbles at the heart of the Cultivator, and the effect will be magnified if both parties have spiritual purity. Yin and Yang Qi will be drawn in, and it is one of the best ways to gain access to Yang Qi as a female, and Yin Qi as a male, and the purity of said Qi will be deepened by the feelings shared during Dual Cultivation.

  Dual Cultivator – This css is gained by a practitioner of Dual Cultivation and will increase affinity and ability to trol Yin and Yang Qi, as well as increasiher and Charm. Skills and Csses that involve emotional bonds are strengthened, and pleasure during the act of lovemaking with your Cultivation panion will increase.

  I read out the details, and Daiyu nodded, uanding, as did Shaeu. “I see-see. I did wonder why I noticed aether being drawn from you both into each other, which then-then seemed to vanish. I had thought it was being ged into light and darkness element, this Yang and Yin, as you so-so call them, Daiyu…” she tinued. “… but perhaps that is not-not simply the case. You each produce aether, or Qi. It seems you turn it into experience points, no?” Her expression was bright, and she was lig her lips lustily. “Daiyu, I must-must insist you teach me this. There will be less-less excuse to hold back when making love is a way tthen ourselves!”

  “This is bad though, right?” Shiro pointed out. “I joked about it earlier, but it seems that Aki … and Daiyu I guess… actually screw people to level up!”

  “Yooou worry too much.” Hyath said, shaking her head. “I dooo not get it all, but you said that ooordinary people ot level, no? Those that , would it nooot be easier to simply do what they have been doing until nooow? Besides…” she looked at Daiyu, her violet eyes gleaming. “Yooou will not sleep with another, will you, mistress?”

  “No, most certainly not. I am Zhao Daiyu! I am too proud to offer myself to just anyone. I have already chosen, and this bed…” she smiled shyly, flushing again, as she saw the terrible state of it, covered i aions, despite the ministrations of Hyath. “… is proof of my loyalty to my Dao panion, to you.” She looked into my eyes, and I knew she was serious, so I kissed her. Now there was ation in her, aaongues, going deep, until we parted, and she sighed lustily.

  “I know that look.” Eri said, and as I looked at her, she shrugged, her movements still awkward, but I felt warmth within, knowing her healing was going well. I feel your amusement too, Ginneka. But… I’m grateful.

  “What look?” I asked, and she sighed.

  “The look that you are thinking over a difficult problem, but know there is a solution. I’ve known you forever, Akio. Aiko gets the same look too. Though usually with more fusion. So, you’re thinking that if you level, Lovers’ Link, your Throhe White Snake Earth Altar and more all add the ability to gain levels to people, there has to be some other method that will unlock it for everyone, right? Just like you did with Chakra works and elements?”

  “Obviously.” I agreed. “I doubt very much that the higher Astral is full of weak, ordinary people. Besides, if spiritual beings like Fae grow… perhaps humans simply lost the ability to ie aether properly here oh over the st fifteen hundred years and we’ll get it back as the ether density increases…” The reason Shaeu, Hyath and the others didn’t have levels is probably because their growth meisms are different, and I’ve forcibly altered them… just like they didn’t have Silver Cords, because they didn’t have Material bodies…

  “So, that’s the mystery solved.” Shiro said, still lyio me. I looked down and immediately felt bad, as her clothes were rather dirty now, and she grinned. “I agree with Shaeu, Daiyu, you have to teach us! You owe me a favour for this. Besides, with Tan, I think I’d be a natural for Cultivation. I’ve got the peerless jade beauty and the princess bit down! I’d fit right in a ese novel! You sp the faces of anyone who covets me too!” She let out a little chuckle, amused at her own jokes.

  “I do not mind, but…” Daiyu looked at me, and I nodded.

  “Yeah, Dual Cultivatioainly worked, but I’m still not sure how safe mixing Cultivation with our inal methods are. So we shouldn’t be hasty.”

  “Yeah, I guess I still have questions.” Shiro ged the subject. “Just what is Yin and Yang energy? And also… why the hell jade?”

  “That oumped me too. But I worked out some of it.” I said, and though it was still difficult to use such a powerful ability as Prominence Dawn here ierial, the ring of light and darkness fred ience, into which I fed my Masu ah element, which created a beautiful shining crystal projectile, shaped like a flint dagger. Moments ter I allowed them to fade away, and Hyath let out a soft sigh, disappoihat the pretty item was gone.

  “Looks like light element ah bio form crystal element. It’s arange bination that makes no sense.” I said, a little perplexed. “And Daiyu’s jade is a mutated crystal element. As for how she got it… that I ’t exactly answer.” I thought back to what had happened. I was feeding her Masu ah element, since she wao master her inal Foundation as well, and my water element was resonating with hers, giving moonlight to her too. There were hints of spatial and other elements mixed in as well, despite me doing my best to keep the Dual Cultivation pure, even as I felt some of my aether verted to light element, no, Yang as well.

  Third Eye And Root Chakra Of Jade – the Third Eye and Root Chakras gee this potent mutated elemental energy of Crystal nature. Jade is a of emotion, healing and strength, and is extremely durable, while having many forms and colours. It shares the base properties of Crystal, in that the effects of Light element be solidified, and it is an excellent element for both offense and defence.

  Yi – this mutated Darkness element is a type of Darkness Qi which be used in Cultivation and simir Arts tthen aspects reting to femininity, emotion aive forces. However, without a bang Yang, the power of Yin is imbanced and imperfect, uo show its true power.

  Yang element – this mutated Light element is a type of Light Qi which be used in Cultivation and simir Arts tthen aspects reting to masity, physicality and positive forces. However, without a bang Yin, the power of Yang is imbanced and imperfect, uo show its true power.

  With those described, I offered my own suspis. “I think that Masu, being as it focuses on blessings and buffs, got mixed in, and it seems rather simir to Yang in a way. Coupled with the earth element, and finally…”

  g’e’s Moon Elixir Of Immortality [Css: Imperious] [Type: Principle]

  This Divine Favour is made of trated Adherence, refiher and ??????????. The bearer regee from severe injuries, recover stamina quickly and shrug off most diseases and ative influehough the more damage accumutes, the slower the recovery will be, ah e if the Elixir is overwhelmed. Just as g’e stole the Elixir of Immortality from her husband Hou Yi, and carried it to the moon to live eternally, so too will the wielder endure, death struggling to cim them.

  “Looks like we have to step up ame, Eri.” Shiro joked. “Shaeu, Hyath and Asha already have their long lives booked with Aki, and now it looks like Daiyu isn’t going to age much either.” She looked at Daiyu’s chest and grinned. “Bit of a shame though.”

  Daiyu didn’t rise to her provocations, but Eri excimed tiredly that “You have Tan inside yht? Wasn’t the pn for her to help you live for turies? You’re not on my side!”

  As the twued, though I thought it was a sign of their closeness, as Eri teo think little of and ighose she didn’t care about, Shaeu was starting to put together what I meant about Daiyu’s mutated element. “So, you believe that-that a bination of the Divine Favour, which focuses on durability and permanence, bined with your potent light element, which shares many-many properties with the Yang Daiyu was seeking, perhaps with the Yang itself, from this Dual-Dual Cultivation, has somehow crystalised, perhaps with the moonlight resonance as well?”

  I nodded, and Shaeu gnawed on one fingernail irritably, a sour expression on her face.

  “What is wrong?” Daiyu asked, puzzled, and Shaeu sighed.

  “I am most-most pleased for you, Daiyu. You are my sister now, especially…” she patted the bed, heedless of getting the residue on her hand. “… after this. But I ot-not help but have a twinge of envy. Seg h Moonlight Spirit Water was a great-great challenge, and now you have gaihis Jade with such a pleasurable effort. You have two.”

  “Three, I think.” I said apologetically. “Yang Moonlight is a double-mutated element.”

  Shaeu barked a ugh. “That does sound like something I should-should be wielding. After all, as a princess of the Fae, I am of the moon. Though… it seems you are too, Daiyu.”

  Daiyu nodded. “So g’e believes. As for my fortune…” she looked at me then, face slightly red. “…I will not downpy my hard work. No Cultivator worth the title would. But I do thank you. You supported me, did not abandon me when I sought fort, and have accepted me.” She touched her bare chest, by the heart. “It is f, this Lovers’ Link. I feel your care. For someone lost like me, there is no greater happiness.”

  “All right, enough of the emotional crap.” Shiro said. “I get it Shaeu, I do. I’m jealous too. I know Eri is as well. pared to you though, we’re weak little chicks, so we find it hard to sympathise. Besides… if I know Aki, and I damn well do, better than anyone here except maybe Eri…”

  “There’s no maybe. Only Aiko es close, and she will never know the sides of Akio I do…” Eri muttered, but she was nodding, agreeing.

  “… then Aki is defihinking up ways to make sure we all get access to as many top-tier elements as we . Just like with csses. Speaking of csses… doesn’t her Fae-Bonded css seem way too high? Level six?”

  “I ’t be certain, but my only guess is maybe the blessed water from that sacred ke she took from the Tower did it?” I shrugged.

  “Speaking of water, all your Cultivation skills are Spiritually Pure now.” Eri observed. “And you have a css, Karmically Pure.”

  Karmically Pure – This css is gained by a Cultivator who has washed away their impurities and is now a bnk ste, ready to find their Dao. While the bearer of this css avoids evil deeds and accumutes the favour of ???????, their Fate and Fht will increase, and beneficial effects will st longer and be more potent. The handling and affinity for Yang Qi is improved, and elements and materials that raise Cultivation have an increased effect, with less ce of Cultivatioion or Backsh, and intuitiarding the path of Cultivation will be greatly heightened.

  “Spirit Water is precious. Such is only found in sacred pces, small springs that run dry quickly, and have been dead for mauries, or iher world, that we call the Astral now.” Daiyu said. “Most treasures are like that. Sacred Ginseng, Spirit Grasses, rare elemental resources…”

  “So, you being able to create it, and not just Spirit Water, but High Spirit Water…” Shiro looked at me, and Daiyu’s gaze followed, her smile bright. Her hand sought mine, and I gave her a reassuring squeeze.

  “That is correct, Shiro.” Daiyu agreed with her ses. “I owe more than I ever repay. But to think of repayment… it is wrong. I know this, after Dual Cultivating. We only o think of each other, of happiness. Our joys shall be our repayments.”

  “Don’t fet us now.” Shiro faked a pout, and there was ughter.

  “So, we’ve gone over pretty much all of Daiyu’s stats iail. Just the st few bits and pieces…”

  Third Eye Chakra Of Yang Moonlight – The Third Eye Chakra gees the mutated Qi Yang Moonlight, a potent Yang Energy that has also been infused by Moonlight. This is beneficial to both the Yang, as the full moon shines bright in the night sky, and Yihe energies bance, as the dark of the new moon hides many undercurrents and mysteries.

  Lower Dantian Of High Spirit Water, Yang Moonlight And Jade – The Lower Dantian, the Golden Stove, is a furhat creates great strength for the body, verting Qi into Elixir, gradually fortifying all aspects of the physical form. This Dantian bines multiple mutated elements, greatly increasing the effectiveness of this improvement, and the Elixir has been subsumed by the High Spirit Water, greatly rooting out impurities, while Jade will strehe physical body further, and the Moonlight will empower the spirit.

  “Damn, girl. Sounds like yoing to be strong as hell if you keep Cultivating. But then, that’s the point, isn’t it?” Shiro scratched her cheek, thinking.

  “Yes, my Foundation is solid. Perhaps more solid than any since Kunlun.” Daiyu agreed.

  ”Speaking of Foundations…” Eri said. “… didn’t you have ahe Invincible Jade Yang Teique? That’s so… well-named.” Eri could barely hold in her ughter. “Aiko would say that you’re very i, Daiyu. But wasn’t that why you wanted light ah elements? So where’s that in your skill list?”

  Daiyu sighed. “Yes, I believe I could plete the Foundation now, as I wished to before. But… whether it is my heightened intuition, I ot help but feel it would be a mistake for now. I believe that the reason Dual Foundations are not attempted is not merely due to the difficulty. Something is still missing.”

  “This Dantian…” Shaeu and Hyath had talked about it while the rest of us were discussing the Foundation. “It is not quite as the lunar Chakra. The lunar Chakra increases the aether and the elements we possess, but does not otherwise strehe physical form.”

  “Yes, but the middle Dantian refines spirit and Qi, right? So that would be closer…”

  As we tio discuss that, Hyath spoke up. “So, Akio. Did yooou make any gains from this? I am pleased for mistress Daiyu, but I wooould be sad if you did not grow stronger!”

  “He’s strong enough… is what my jealousy says, but yeah, Aki being stronger is a win for all of us. So, fess? Get any sexy skills and csses? Rank three super stud. No, it’d be Rank six, right, sidering you repeatedly broke Daiyu’s bottleneck.” She snickered nastily, enjoying the dirty joke, and Daiyu’s shy expression.

  “Shiro…” Eri warned, but Shiro raised an eyebrow at her, her grin even wider.

  “I’ve heard all about you and your sexy shenanigans. So don’t pin.” As they began tue good-naturedly again, I raised a hand, halting all the discussions.

  “It’s getting te… or early, I suppose. We might as well this up. So yes, I did make some gains.” I expihat Light Manipution broke the Rank 6 bottleneck, and that I had gained several skills and csses as well.

  “I got the Dual Cultivator Css and Qi Refiner. Both level ohat’s iing but not the most iing thing.” I had everyone’s attention. “I got a couple of very iing skills.”

  Moonlight Jade Qi Refining [Css: Powerful] [Type: Artifice] – You refiher, bined with Light ah elements, into a potent Qi which tains the properties of Jade and Moonlight, bang both physical and spiritual strength. This is a mase, Yang-type Qi. At your current Rank, you have aremely poor effi the version.

  “Mase Qi, huh? Makes sense. You’ve got surprisingly manly over these st few weeks.” Shiro said. “Daiyu, wasn’t yours a baype, leaning mase too?”

  Daiyu nodded. “The Teiques and Arts I have studied since I was a child have all been biased towards male Cultivators. Bance is good, but…” she smiled. “… if I am to master the path of Dual Cultivation, I need more Yin-side Qi. Darkness, Water, Air…”

  “I thought Dual Cultivation was looked down on? I bet you did too…” Shiro teased, and Daiyu nodded.

  “I did of course. I only wao follow the more traditional paths. But I was eager to learn, so I studied the Teiques, as I studied everything. Now I know I was a fool.” She admitted. “Any path is worth following, in the right pany.”

  Damn, she’s shogly cute now. I think it’s the gap between her usual stoicism, and her softer, embarrassed side. But… “I’m not done.” I said, smiling, “There was one more odd skill. Oh, and Spiritually Pure Dual Cultivation, but that’s just a repeat of Daiyu’s so is b.” I joked. “No, the skill I got was … well, saying I got it would be incorrect. One skill evolved.”

  Might Of Iructible Jade [Type: Noble] [Css: Artifice]

  This ability allows othen the physical body so long as it tains Crystal element. Crystal Qi be ed to purify the physical body, strengthening bone, muscle, skin and more.

  “It’s actually made me weaker…” I ughed. “I don’t have Crystal element, and my Qi is ent, But the potential…”

  “It is surely an omen from the heavens.” Daiyu looked supremely happy. “After all, you already possess Bck Jade do you not?”

  “She’s getting bolder!” Shiri guffawed happily. “But yeah, it was earth element before, right? Which you have a ton of. So you lose out on some Might and Fortitude, right? Fortunately you already have crazy-high stats so it shouldn’t be a disaster. Though… you are a level one Qi Refiner, right?”

  “Yeah, as bottom-tier as it gets.” I said, and Shiro looked at Daiyu once more.

  “I doubt I’m wrong, but that doesn’t strike me as a Qi refiner-css teique. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Yes, it is an enviable one. I am not sure how a Teique such as this could appear from nowhere. It is simir to Spiritually Pure Physique, but… there are treasures tthen the body, of course.” Daiyu admitted. “But sihe days of Kunlun they have dwindled, irrepceable. When I was younger, my father gave me a tincture of some of our st remaining medial herbs. Now anything that was left will be destroyed as our Sect burned, or in the hands of our enemies…” she ched her fists. “…But that does not matter. The Spirit Water I received could buy and sell me, never mind what our Sect had remaining,”

  “So, we don’t know?” Shiro said, and everybody exged puzzled looks. “All right then.” She finished. “I guess that’s not a bad thing. It’d be b if we knew everything. Tan likely knows but isn’t telling. So, how about… a wager?” she grinned.

  “A wager?” Daiyu asked.

  “Yeah, we all bet on the reasohink Aki’s skill ged and now seems to be a hybrid between what we are used to and Cultivation. For the record, my gut tells me it’s got something to do with Lovers’ Link and Dual Cultivation.”

  A bet, huh? Normally that’s a bad idea… I eyed the grinning Shaeu. … but even with her Fortuhis isn’t random, so it shouldn’t make it unfair. As for me, what do I think? “All right then, so what does the winner get?”

  “A date with Aki, just me!” Shiro said, and Eri s her pride.

  “Who’s to say you’ll win? And what do I get if I’m right? And why would I have to pay the winner anyway?” I interjected.

  “Shut it! If you win, you take any of us losers out on a solo date, and the rest of us won’t pin. Fair?”

  Everyone nodded. I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s all just a bit of fun. And I admit, I’m yself…

  Ohe answers were in, Daiyu’s leaning towards some Cultivation terminology, while Shaeu focused more on possible elemental reasons, I looked at the clock. Damn we’ve been talking for hours. Not just talkiher. It’s time to get ready for a new day… “It sure would be o be able to use the skill properly… perma buffs are better than temporary power…”

  ShipTeaser