cultivation

In a school, only four, or even three, out of every ten graduates manage to enter the military academy and eventually the battlefield.

Even with my high affinity and perception for energy particles (TL Note: 能子, ‘néngzǐ’, refers to a fundamental energy unit in this world, akin to mana or qi.), it’s impossible to become a true warrior without a phantom soul (TL Note: 幻魂, ‘huànhún’, a spiritual entity or power that grants special abilities).

Su Xuan withdrew from the pristine white space, allowing himself to sink into slumber.

During their recent exchange, he had already begun to lean towards utilizing his phantom soul for cultivation.

Yet, the deep-seated pride of a man still gnawed at him.

In a sense, Su Xuan perceived his phantom soul as an entity entirely distinct from himself.

Thus, whenever he confronted his phantom soul, a subtle urge to prove himself would arise.

After all, boys are often keen to demonstrate their strength in front of girls.

His strenuous efforts over the past three years had been a testament to this very desire: to show his phantom soul that even without its assistance, he, Su Xuan, could still forge himself into a formidable warrior.

However, reality often proved to be mercilessly unyielding.

He dared not imagine what he might become if he were to yield and speak those words today.

****

The following morning, Su Xuan rose exceptionally early.

Every day, precisely at six o’clock, he would complete his morning ablutions, then head to the hill behind his residential complex.

There, he would embark on a thirty-minute run along the gravel path—a small, yet vital, component of his disciplined routine.

During his runs, he would occasionally witness the breathtaking beauty of the sunrise, a sight that infused him with vitality for the day ahead.

Today, Su Xuan pushed himself with exceptional fervor and focus.

His teachers had often reiterated that engaging in various physical activities could enhance the body’s affinity for energy particles, which in turn would elevate overall physical prowess.

Thus, running was an excellent means to improve both his physical condition and his cultivation.

Clutching an energy stone (TL Note: 能源石, ‘néngyuánshí’, a crystal or gem that stores energy particles, used for cultivation.) in his hand, he meticulously sensed the energy particles circulating within his body, steadily strengthening his physique.

As usual, the half-hour run yielded far from outstanding results.

Compared to the period when his phantom soul had assisted him, the difference was like heaven and earth.

This was his final act of stubborn defiance, a silent declaration.

From this point forward, Su Xuan knew he had to fortify his resolve, ensuring his will remained unswayed by the phantom soul’s influence.

Even if he cultivated with its assistance every waking moment, he vowed to retain his masculine heart!

He gazed eastward, where a gentle ray of sunlight pierced through the horizon, as if emerging from the very juncture of heaven and earth.

It seemed to cheer Su Xuan on, offering him encouragement.

“Go, go, go, Su Xuan! You are the best!”

****

Despite the four-day holiday, Su Xuan had no intention of using the time for leisure.

On the contrary, he planned to return home and review his studies.

Unlike the schools of his previous life, where theoretical education reigned supreme, this world placed a far greater emphasis on physical practice.

Courses in martial arts, such as Kendo, Blade Arts (TL Note: 刀术, ‘dāoshù’, refers to techniques and mastery of various bladed weapons, particularly swords and sabers.), and combat, were offered.

Students were permitted to choose a discipline they favored and then specialize in it rigorously.

Empress Dowager Chen (TL Note: 陈太后, ‘Chén Tàihòu’, a respectful title for a powerful female figure, similar to a matriarch or queen mother.) often remarked, “I would rather you master one discipline over three years than dabble in three disciplines over one!”

While entry was simple, mastery was profoundly challenging.

Su Xuan held no particular fondness for swords; he found them too effeminate and their movements too light, ill-suited for a muscular man like himself.

Consequently, he opted for the Blade Arts course.

Furthermore, within the Anti-Evil Army (TL Note: 抗邪军, ‘kàngxiéjūn’, a military force dedicated to combating malevolent entities.), bladed weapons were predominantly used.

During their long struggle against the Black Evil (TL Note: 黑邪, ‘hēixié’, a malevolent force or entity.), a comprehensive set of blade techniques had been developed.

Combining his passion with his future profession, his studies became twice as effective.

Su Xuan’s proficiency in Blade Arts was arguably among the best in the entire school.

This was a conclusion he had drawn from years of observing the disparity between his own techniques and those of his peers.

How could someone who could defeat a group of phantom soul users with sheer physical prowess be considered a useless individual?

The Blade Art Su Xuan studied was called “Shattering Evil!” (TL Note: 破邪, ‘pòxié’, literally ‘break evil’ or ‘shatter evil’, referring to a technique specifically designed to combat evil entities.).

It was the only blade art he had ever learned.

This technique, Shattering Evil, was an authentic, unadulterated blade art that fused the ancient Thirteen Blade Arts with a century of experience battling the Black Evil.

While emphasizing lethal efficiency, it still retained room for innovation.

This adaptability ensured that the blade techniques could be applied by most individuals, preventing them from becoming rigid or their movements stiff and mechanical.

Perhaps due to his lifelong affection for blades, which granted him a unique insight, Su Xuan’s comprehension of Blade Arts was likely on par with that of seasoned blade masters.

Nevertheless, while his blade techniques were comparable, his blade intent (TL Note: 刀意, ‘dāoyì’, the spirit or profound understanding behind a blade technique, often imbued with a practitioner’s will or cultivation.) lagged by a thousand miles.

The reason was simple: he had never received assistance from a phantom soul.

In a sense, a weapon imbued with a phantom soul and one without were two entirely different concepts.

Without the phantom soul’s aid, no matter how unparalleled Su Xuan’s blade techniques might be, they were merely a flamboyant display.

In this era, to lack a phantom soul was to lack a soul itself—to be nothing more than a hollow, false shell.

Su Xuan was a diligent individual, for he firmly believed in the adage that Heaven rewards the diligent.

Yet, witnessing others effortlessly grasp the profound essence of blade intent with the assistance of their phantom souls, how could he not feel disheartened?

But today, I, Su Xuan, shall abandon my principles!

I, too, will use my phantom soul.

Surely, all I need to do is resist her will’s encroachment?

As for willpower, Su Xuan considered his own to be exceptionally resolute.

How could someone who had maintained a disciplined lifestyle for three years possibly possess a weak will?

Clutching a gleaming black iron blade, Su Xuan simultaneously circulated the energy particles within his body and wielded the weapon in his hand.

The speed gradually accelerated from a slow pace.

The blade, in Su Xuan’s grip, moved like an obedient child, cooperating with his every varied movement.

As the speed intensified and the maneuvers grew more intricate, a soft ‘whooshing’ sound filled the air.

Su Xuan felt the energy within him slowly accumulating, gathering to a point, pushing, pushing, yet it could never quite reach its destination.

He swung the blade for a considerable time, expending a significant amount of energy particles, yet he still failed to break through the bottleneck and reach the legendary initial form.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he sat there blankly.

After an indeterminate amount of time, a thought finally stirred within him.

“Hey! Are you there?”

Su Xuan had finally made up his mind.

As long as he remained steadfast in his will, she would be nothing more than a tool at his disposal.

“Have you finally understood?”

The clear voice resonated within his mind, carrying a hint of slyness, much like a little girl who had just won a game.

“Just one hour!”

Su Xuan secretly set a time limit.

For his first time, caution was necessary; doing too much at once might lead to unforeseen drawbacks.

He checked the time: nine in the morning.

It was time to begin.

The pale blue phantom soul merged with Su Xuan.

Under the phantom soul’s impetus, the black energy stone clutched in his hand, mixed with the blue aura emanating from the phantom soul, rapidly flowed into Su Xuan’s body.

“Ah, what exhilaration! It’s been too long since I’ve felt such satisfaction!”

The energy stone was still new, having been used for less than a day.

However, encountering Su Xuan, who was as ravenous as a wolf or tiger, was like a parched land finding long-awaited rain.

It was drained completely in an instant, not a single drop remaining.

With the phantom soul’s assistance, Su Xuan felt his cultivation speed soar through the roof.

He was utterly lost in his cultivation.

He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall; its hands pointed to ten o’clock.

“That’s good, phew~ I really am a punctual man, aren’t I? Though draining an entire stone in just an hour… that’s quite intense!”

As he spoke, he sat up, feeling a pang of hunger, and started walking towards the classroom.

“The curtains aren’t drawn, are they? Why is the living room so dark… It’s already dark outside…”

Su Xuan stared blankly at the distant flickering lights, then foolishly at his phone, which displayed ten o’clock at night.

“Why didn’t you remind me?”

Su Xuan muttered inwardly, a sense of being tricked washing over him.

‘…Wasn’t that your body’s own desire? You say one thing, but your body is quite honest, isn’t it~’

A voice echoed in Su Xuan’s mind, lazy and sweet, yet to him, it sounded like a demon’s.

Thirteen full hours of cultivation—who knew what profound impact she had inflicted upon him?

“…Heh heh, no matter what you say, I never forced you to do anything, did I? Wasn’t it all your own doing? Including that summer holiday?”

“Heh, aren’t humans just creatures of hormones? You directly influenced my endocrine system; how dare you claim you didn’t force me?”

Su Xuan also scoffed coldly.

Every time she assisted his cultivation, she would seize the opportunity to subtly tamper with his body.

This was precisely why Su Xuan’s appearance had transformed from that of a cheerful young man to a melancholic beauty.

Even during that summer holiday, he had never once cultivated madly for thirteen hours straight in a single day.

Now, having cultivated for thirteen hours in one go, who knew what she had done?

Su Xuan trudged glumly towards his bedroom, intending to grab some loose change for a late-night snack downstairs.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the wardrobe, which he had opened that morning to retrieve an energy stone and forgotten to close.

Inside, several pieces of women’s clothing lay neatly, looking brand new, beckoning Su Xuan like alluring women.

“Gulp…”

He swallowed with difficulty, feeling as though he were possessed, unable to stop himself from walking towards it.

“No, I don’t want this…”

Yet, this situation was akin to masturbation: despite knowing it was harmful to the body and offered no benefits, how many otaku could truly resist such urges?

For Su Xuan now, those women’s clothes were far more stimulating than the so-called ‘Five Dragons Coiling to Heaven’ technique (TL Note: 五龙绕住冲天术, ‘Wǔ Lóng Ràozhù Chōngtiān Shù’, likely a fictional cultivation or martial art technique, here used humorously as a comparison to something less appealing than cross-dressing.).

In a daze, he began to fantasize, vividly imagining the sensation of wearing women’s clothing that day.

A light JK uniform (TL Note: JK uniform, ‘joshi kōsei’ uniform, a Japanese schoolgirl uniform, often associated with a specific aesthetic in East Asian popular culture.) felt weightless on his body.

The skirt’s hem felt empty, each step filled with the fear of revealing something.

Lace brushed against his skin, creating a thrilling and tense sensation, along with the lecherous gazes of men…

“Huu… huu… *smack*!”

Su Xuan swung his palm, slapping himself across the face, jolting himself awake.

He quickly grabbed his money and headed downstairs.

“I won’t let you succeed!”

Su Xuan fumed inwardly.

He had been ensnared in the phantom soul’s trap today, almost losing his very identity.

If he had donned those clothes, he truly couldn’t imagine what he might have become…

He had nearly fallen for her trick, but thankfully, his inner resolve had been strong enough to drag him back from the precipice of cross-dressing.

As Su Xuan pondered this, he resolved to throw away all the women’s clothes tomorrow.

He would fight that woman to the very end!