Chapter 29: Gern’s Ascent and a Dangerous Encounter

Within the confines of her room, Gern meticulously etched the initial chapters of the cultivation method into her memory. Following the precise instructions outlined in the text, she settled into a cross-legged meditation posture.

With a focused mind and a tranquil spirit, she purged her thoughts of all distractions.

The silver-haired Gern keenly attuned herself to the rhythmic ebb and flow of her own breathing. Slowly, an awareness dawned upon her—the palpable current of power coursing through her veins.

She meticulously guided this nascent energy, drawing it towards her dantian. It felt as though countless warm currents surged from Gern’s very limbs and bones, traversing each meridian until they converged at that central point.

Within her dantian, a small flame flickered to life. As Gern’s gathered power intensified, the nascent fire grew, its tendrils reaching further.

Beads of sweat, fine and numerous, now dotted her forehead.

“Almost there, just a little more!”

Gern strove to stabilize her mental state. The mastery of any cultivation method was inextricably linked to one’s composure; a lapse in one’s mental fortitude during comprehension could lead to irreversible ruin.

Yet, for Gern, this challenge proved relatively straightforward. After all, in her previous life, she had even delved into the forbidden arts of the Heretic God Cult.

The Heretic God Cult’s methods were insidious; even the slightest tremor in one’s resolve meant complete subjugation, transforming the practitioner into a loyal hound of the cult.

Even after successfully cultivating their arts, practitioners were constantly assailed by the insidious corruption of the Heretic God. Few indeed managed to cling to their sanity under such relentless assault.

Only Gern, through sheer force of will, had managed to preserve her own consciousness, refusing to be assimilated by the Heretic God’s malevolent influence.

Once the turbulent energies within her had completely settled, Gern slowly opened her eyes. Sensing the profound power brimming within her, she gently clenched her delicate fists. She had now ascended to the formidable rank of a Third-tier Knight.

Should Lilia ever again attempt to coerce her, Gern knew she would no longer be utterly defenseless as she had been before.

With this thought, Gern resolved to venture outside and gauge the true extent of her newfound strength.

****

Deep within the forest on the city’s outskirts, Gern wielded her longsword with practiced grace. Each swing unleashed searing slashes of sword qi, igniting the surrounding undergrowth in their fiery wake.

Feeling that her mastery over her internal power was nearing completion, Gern ceased her movements and settled onto the forest floor for a brief respite.

This particular cultivation method had profoundly enhanced Gern’s abilities; nearly every strike and stance she executed was now infused with elemental flame.

She pondered what effects might arise from combining this cultivation method with her Refinement Blade Art. Gern’s proficiency in the Refinement Blade Art typically involved channeling power directly into her weapon, a technique that, upon reaching the Third-tier and acquiring battle qi, would allow her to infuse the qi itself. Given that one was a martial technique and the other a cultivation method, it implied they could be employed in tandem.

Spurred by this notion, Gern immediately put it to the test. In the very next instant, a blinding white light enveloped her entirely. Within the radiant glow, her silhouette slowly elongated, transitioning from the petite, almost loli-like figure, to that of a young man.

As the brilliant light receded, Gern’s strikingly handsome features were finally revealed. He clenched his hands, a faint sense of unfamiliarity washing over him as he re-inhabited this body.

A flicker of unease stirred within Gern; he wasn’t certain if this sensation was normal. Yet, the sight of his body, unchanged from its original form, offered a measure of reassurance.

Following days of recuperation, Gern’s wounds had indeed mended. Still, at the precise spot where he had been impaled, a formidable scar remained, a stark and unsettling testament to his past ordeal.

After a brief period of adapting to his re-assumed form, Gern simultaneously activated both the Heavenly Sun and Refinement techniques. In the ensuing moment, the two distinct energies surged, colliding within his body and igniting a volatile reaction.

Gern had utterly failed to anticipate such a devastating outcome, leaving him entirely defenseless. The two energies, like opposing elements of fire and water, raged and clashed violently within his very core. The next instant, a sickening sweetness filled Gern’s throat, and he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.

Swiftly disengaging the Refinement Blade Art’s power, Gern collapsed onto the grassy ground, gasping for breath. A cold sweat drenched his forehead; had his reaction been but a fraction slower, his entire body would have surely detonated. If he had disintegrated into a mere mist of blood, Gern wasn’t even certain if the power of the Kindling could have salvaged him. ‘Henceforth,’ he vowed silently, ‘I must never again recklessly attempt to combine Heavenly Sun and Refinement. Otherwise, I’ll self-destruct before I even face an enemy.’

He spent a considerable time in cross-legged meditation, eventually managing to stabilize his turbulent aura. Nevertheless, his male form remained profoundly weak, with scarcely a single unblemished spot left on his body.

However, there was a viable method for his male form to swiftly recuperate. Having reached the Third-tier, the Refinement Blade Art’s capabilities were significantly augmented. This particular patch of forest, largely untouched by human development, was home to numerous animals. By locating and sacrificing some of these creatures, he could effectively heal his grievous wounds.

He slowly exhaled a turbid breath, purging his mind of extraneous thoughts. With a mere flicker of his will, the Heavenly Sun cultivation method receded, its presence completely concealed, as though he had never even begun to learn it.

This was a crucial life-saving technique Gern had devised in his previous life. After all, the moment a Heretic God Cult method was employed, its tell-tale energy signature made discovery almost inevitable. This particular ability wasn’t inherited from the cult; rather, Gern had serendipitously created it himself during a mission long ago.

It had proven incredibly effective in countless situations, perfectly aligning with his ‘King of Stealth’ persona. Alas, in his previous life, under the relentless coercion of Bishop Matia Fio, he had been forced to reveal this invaluable ability to the Heretic God Cult. Thankfully, such a misfortune would not befall him in this new life.

Gern, dragging his weary frame, traversed the forest. Yet, not a single trace of animal activity presented itself.

Forced to halt, he began to strategize. The absence of animals here likely indicated a scarcity of resources vital for their survival. Consequently, he redirected his primary destination to a river nestled deeper within the forest, where the likelihood of encountering wildlife was significantly higher. Conveniently, Gern was also beginning to feel the pangs of hunger, making it an opportune moment to showcase the survival skills he had meticulously honed during his previous life in the wilderness.

Gern retrieved a topographical map of the vicinity. The river, he noted, lay merely three *li* ahead. The destination was tantalizingly close; just a short trek further, and he would…

Roar!

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from ahead, and Gern’s eyes gleamed with renewed interest.

He swiftly drew a simple iron sword from his pendant, then crouched low, cautiously advancing towards the source of the sound.

Just ahead, not far off, a slender, pink-clad figure was locked in combat with a colossal black bear, easily three meters in length. This was no ordinary beast; a faint aura of magic emanated from its formidable frame, unequivocally marking it as an adult Third-tier magical beast.

That pink-haired girl possessed audacious courage, indeed. She was merely at the peak of the Second-tier, yet she dared to clash head-on with a Third-tier bear of such immense power. ‘Wait…!’ Gern thought, ‘Pink hair? Peak Second-tier?!’ His eyes widened slightly, and he rubbed them in sheer disbelief. As he scrutinized the scene more closely, his heart plummeted with a sudden jolt. The pink-haired girl battling the monstrous bear before him was none other than Miss Sina.

“Tsk, what in the world is this girl doing!”