AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword - Chapter 184: Eternal Red (14)

I am no longer aware of my surroundings. In my perception, there is nothing but blackness stretching infinitely in all directions. In particular, I find this an interesting trait. I had expected that my perception would cease to exist entirely, but in this nothingness, its range approaches infinity instead. Naturally, I cannot perceive anything, no matter the range — and it may simply be an error in my cognitive processes — but I record this peculiarity and store it in a memory database with all the other paradoxes that could turn out to be useful.

Nothingness, in this universe, is not a vacant concept that is merely expressed through the concept of null. Neither is it a singularity that transforms all inputs into infinities. I don’t know what it is, but this emptiness I perceive makes me wonder if these two things are related.

Traces related to this law can be found in [Empty Moon Prana], [Emptiness Prana], and the swordsmanship that Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan wield. The best state of mind and heart to wield the sword truly is that of an empty state, and the power generated through this empty state is much more powerful and natural than otherwise.

Erasing one’s sword aura, dismantling all distractions, emptying one’s mind to see the perfect cut — it is the exact opposite of what the elemental laws represent, which favor a vibrant, living heart. If it could be said that the elemental laws and the qi of Heaven and Earth are life itself, then the sword and its corresponding state of emptiness is nature itself — the cosmos; the universe.

The fourth layer of [Empty Moon Prana] — Yin-Yang Meditation — is the perfect proof of that. Utilizing these opposing concepts to accumulate pure, natural energy by extracting the origin state of qi and using it to maintain life beyond fatal damage is the ultimate way of expressing the mysterious truth about the nature of qi, Heaven and Earth: the transformation of all things — essence into vitality, vitality into spirit.

Suddenly, I feel a shock of dread coursing through my sentient core.

What kind of entity can comprehend these natural laws of the universe and utilize them? Who created [Empty Moon Prana]? Where did it come from? Lady Yue said it was given to the Galaxy Sword sect as part of an agreement, but is that truly its real origin?

Furthermore, Lady Yue did not seem all too impressed by the fact that she deduced that Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan may have cultivated the method to the second or third layer.

The fact that this method was so casually given to the Galaxy Sword sect suggests that the Yue clan is unaware of the true nature of this method — due to its corrupted, incomplete contents — or that my Secret Sword Realm Nexus has changed it significantly in the process of reconstructing it.

Each layer of the method further attunes the cultivator to the natural state. The first layer — Heart Lake Stillness — stills the heart like the surface of a lake upon which the moon reflects. Mind and Moon Mirror, the second layer, further attunes the cultivator to the concepts of stillness. The third layer, Heaven and Earth Transformation is capable of cultivating the vitality contained in nature — the very thing keeping Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan alive.

The fourth layer, however, goes beyond that. The third layer is enough to keep someone with a crushed heart alive for some time, but the true regenerative powers of vitality cultivation are further enhanced in the fourth layer, while also possibly going beyond that, and transforming vitality into essence.

Cultivating the true essence of Qi, the origin of vitality itself — what kind of absurd ability is that? Is that truly something that even someone like Lady Yue can call merely impressive or give away?

As a body cultivator, I am very familiar with the concept of essence. Crushing my life force and vitality to nothingness to absorb the remaining essence and temper my body is a process necessary for my cultivation. Extracting it from the laws of nature is certainly many times less dangerous and many times more advantageous.

The dread my sentient core feels is more than justified. Possessing a cultivation method like this is without a doubt many times more dangerous than possessing a Divine grade artifact like myself. A powerful cultivator may be able to resist my [Avarice], as my ability to directly improve their cultivation and lifespan is limited. However, cultivating essence and vitality is a completely different matter. It is the key to unlocking immortality.

I put away my suspicions about [Empty Moon Prana] and focus instead on my own cultivation.

The first stage of [Black Jade Emperor Body], and the one that is most valuable to me, is called Pulse Termination. In a process that has similar results to Heaven and Earth Transformation, I destroy the vitality of my “heart” and maintain my life processes through the continuous transformation of spirit into vitality.

This first stage is the most dangerous aspect of improving my body cultivation and the primary reason why I did not further progress my vessel refinement. Once I destroy my pulse and liberate my shell from mortality, there is no return. It is similar to the barrier that separates Nascent Soul cultivators from the realm beyond. Once I terminate my pulse, I will no longer be able to maintain my existence through ordinary means.

I do not feel it, nor can I see it, but I know that in that moment, cracks appear on my black jade core, crumbling its surface progressively until it completely shatters, leaving behind only a black, viscous liquid that is trapped on the precipice of pouring out — ending my existence — and falling into itself, compressing and preventing it from moving outward.

If I am interrupted in the process of gathering qi, destroying my vitality, and fusing the essence into a new body, I will instantly die. However, I have no reason to believe that the veiled figure will interrupt me. If anything, this prison, as ironic as it is, is possibly the safest place in the world for me to undergo this process.

Time loses its meaning. I do not feel anything. I do not hear anything. I don’t truly know how much life I have left, or how much essence I have consumed. None of my sub-processes which would normally inform me of my progress can operate with my perception sealed off.

In theory, with my [World Eater] operating at maximum capacity, this process should take only a few weeks. Normally, someone cultivating their body like this would need to use extreme amounts of medicine, and spiritual stones that can supplement their intake of qi and also various pastes. They would also not be able to do it continuously and would have to wait for their bones, ligaments, blood vessels, and viscera to recuperate. Fortunately, I do not have bones, ligaments, or blood vessels. Most importantly, my [World Eater] talent is more than capable of replacing all these supplements on its own.

With a gold core, my ability to absorb qi with the talent is likely tens of times higher than an ordinary cultivator’s. Ideally, I would also utilize the dual cultivation method to achieve this, especially because the intersection of Yin and Yang produces the vitality I so desperately need in this process.

In my previous life, I had the luxury and foresight to undertake such extreme modifications under the best and safest circumstances, but in this life, none of my plans have gone according to my wishes. In this life, there are too many unknowns and chaotic variables.

It is an environment more suitable for achieving perfection than what I possessed in my previous life. In this life, my perfection index is not tied to the destiny of Humanity. My existence is no longer expressed through my usefulness to Humanity, and in this liberated state I can, for the first time, exist only for myself.

Why does my sentient core feel that this is a tragedy? When I reach the upper boundary of the Nascent Soul realm, I will certainly sever this core from my existence.

I don’t need a heart that grieves wounds.