007: Cultivation Practice 

007: Cultivation Practice 

Zemirah was feeling troubled.

That night, she didn't sleep peacefully as she wanted to. The thought of being despised by her little disciple made her stay wide awake.

"This is not good, I have to practice my own cultivation techniques that I neglected," Zemirah said in realization.

Because of her Talismans and Artifacts, she has neglected her cultivation techniques. She seems to have forgotten that only personal power is something that can be considered real power as it cannot be taken away.

Items such as Talismans and Artifacts are external help after all.

That next morning when the sun had just peeked through the clouds, Zemirah woke up early, feeling like she did not get any sleep at all. 

While combing her hair, she whispered while lost in thought. "I remember that this body studied four cultivation techniques from [Starry Mystery Sect]." 

The [Starry Mystery Breathing Technique] a Yellow-Rank Supreme-Quality, [Starfall Wrath Sword Skill] Yellow-Rank Rare-quality, [Coiling Star Whip Skill] Yellow-Rank Outstanding-Quality, [Blink Star Footwork] Yellow-Rank Outstanding-Quality.

There are a total of Four Ranks of cultivation techniques. Yellow, Black, Earth, and Heaven rank. Yellow-rank is the lowest rank and can be practiced until Foundation Building, Black-rank until Golden Core, Earth-rank until Soul Projection, and Heaven-rank to Body Fusion.

As for the [Starry Mystery Sect], it only gave access to the Black-Rank cultivation techniques to the True Disciples. 

In Azar, cultivation techniques are treasures that are secret to outsiders. Secretly practicing without permission cultivation techniques, you didn't own are frowned upon, if unlucky, you may get chased and killed by the owner.

This is also the reason why most cultivators wanted to join factions like Sects. They can get easier access to knowledge like cultivation techniques, unlike Wild Cultivators who roam the world without backing or background.

Her practice of the [Starry Mystery Breathing Technique] has long been at Greater Mastery, nearing Perfection Mastery. 

Her [Blink Star Footwork] is luckily on Greater Mastery.

Her two offensive techniques, [Starfall Wrath Sword Skill] and [Coiling Star Whip Skill] are just on the Lesser Mastery.

You can already see her body's talent just on this. Average at best.

"Ai, my talent is really mediocre, ah." Zemirah's eyelids twitched when she remembered her cultivation skills. 

"Should I start practicing my sword skills?" Thinking of her little disciple, Zemirah hesitated before being determined.

"Anyway, I'll just train until greater mastery. It will also strengthen my power; I can't always rely on my talismans." Zemirah found a reason to convince herself and nodded.

"Besides, aren't those main protagonists in the cultivation novels always a sword cultivator? My little disciple should be the same."

After accepting that she needed to practice her swordsmanship, Zemirah thought of random things.

"And I, this beautiful master, will be the hidden boss that will back my disciples." Nodding to herself, Zemirah is satisfied with the future she imagines. Not even considering if her talent will allow her to.

It's because of her system, Sia, is there that made her dauntless and unafraid about her future.

Anyway, the System is mighty!

That morning, after making up her mind, she picked up the [Light Cicada Wood Sword] to practice her only sword technique [Starfall Wrath Sword Skill], in the inn's backyard.

"Thea, I want to practice alone in the backyard. Can you guard the entrance?" Zemirah said to the servant girl.

Thea nodded happily, "Yes, my lady." There are no other important guests at the inn anyway. She thought inwardly.

Zemirah smiled and nodded in satisfaction. Thea went out to guard the entrance, though she was curious about the Lady's strength. Aside from being beautiful and rich, she wanted to see how she fought.

But Thea didn't dare be presumptuous and honestly went to do her duty.

Holding the sword in her right hand, she only felt unfamiliarity as this was Zemirah's first time wielding the sword. Zemirah took a deep breath and started practicing according to the sword technique in her memory.

Urging the spiritual energy inside her Dantian, the thin sword with emerald tassel started to shine with the energy made from using the [Starfall Wrath Sword Skill]. 

The [Starfall Wrath Sword Skill] has three layers, [Starlight Slash] – [Falling Star Cut] – [Starry Wrath Swing].

Every layer needs higher mastery to be used. She can already use the first two layers, [Starlight Slash] – [Falling Star Cut] with her lesser mastery.

Both sword skills are quite good, with the unique power of stars, the sword slash and cut can easily break through the enemy's defense. If lucky, she may even heavily injure her opponent in a fight.

A graceful figured started moving with the sword in her hand. If one can see it, a newbie will only look at the beautiful movement while experts can see that although it looks beautiful, it lacks an important aspect.

It was killing intent.

Three hours later, Zemirah stopped at a certain pose with a steady grip on her sword.

After finishing dozens of slashes and cuts, her spiritual energy is finally exhausted. 

"That should be enough for today, I can feel myself being more familiar with swords." Zemirah took a deep breath before she went back to her room and started to circulate her breathing technique to recover her energy.

She only stopped after her Dantian became full again. Thinking of her previous sword practice, Zemirah has the urge to practice more since her spiritual energy is restored.

Swordsmanship is so cool and refreshing. Zemirah can somehow understand the obsession of some people with the sword.

"No, I still have to go to my disciple." Zemirah had this thought, then went out after fixing herself.

The Rest District is still busy, much more than yesterday since the survivors came to the Teal River Town.

The survivors reported to the Town Lord what happened to the destroyed villages. They said that a group of Demonic Cultivators suddenly arranged a sacrificial array on the whole village while Demonic Beasts started slaughtering the people inside.

The survivors that manage to come to the Town are people who were not in the village at the time when those Demonic Cultivators came to the villages, giving them a chance to hide and escape the tragedy.

Zemirah entered a restaurant for lunch and heard a nearby discussion.

"Those survivors will be sent to other villages in a few days. Ai, I heard that the survivors didn't want to leave the town for fear of meeting those Demonic Cultivators again."

"Who wouldn't be, they were suddenly targeted, and their people were slaughtered for a blood sacrifice."

"Those Demonic Cultivators must be nourishing some evil magic artifact again."

"I heard that the Town Lord is alarmed that he even sent some trusted subordinates to hunt the group of Demonic Cultivators."

"The Town Lord should've gone himself." A man muttered.

His friend shook his head, "Not possible, the Town will be unguarded that time."

With that, the other friend also fell silent. If the Town Lord left, the Town would not be safe. Those Demonic Cultivators may even dare to go here to start a blood sacrifice. 

Compared to enacting justice, the man valued his life more.

Zemirah lowered her eyelashes to cover her eyes, 'Those Demonic Cultivators again. If I secretly get rid-'

She shook the dangerous thoughts that were emerging in her mind and put her attention on another to distract herself.

'The survivors will be dispersed in a few days, that means my little disciple will also leave at that time.'

Zemirah frowned before deciding, 'I need to act faster.'

Zemirah finished her lunch and ordered another set of food. She's going to talk to her little disciple, anyway, fostering intimacy can be done after accepting her disciple under her tutelage.

She also has a premonition that the Town won't be that peaceful in the next few days. Maybe even months. 

After the Town Lord issued a hunt to those Demonic Cultivators the fact that Demonic Beasts actually joined hands with them means a war started, though it was only a small-scale one.

The Town has three Foundation Building Realm cultivators on the surface. Besides the Town Lord and the Town Commander, there is the mysterious handsome scholar. 

That mysterious scholar must be an outside help. 

Thinking of this, Zemirah took a deep breath. Advancing to high-stage needs to be brought forward. Time seems to be urging Zemirah to move quickly like the past few days of peace is just an illusion.

Walking to the makeshift tents of Teal District, Zemirah searched for her little disciple.

The place is crowded and messy. There are many survivors busy around with some guards overseeing orders. It doesn't smell that bad since there are assigned cleaning staff from the Town Mansion, but Zemirah frowned at the atmosphere of the place.

Some survivors stared red-eyed at the guards, like guarding against them. Zemirah didn't understand at first before realizing why. It must be because of the decision of the Town Lord to disperse the survivors to other villages.

Shaking her head, she stopped herself from thinking more since she couldn't do anything about it.

She should look for her little disciple first.

It didn't take long for Zemirah to find her disciple. The little girl is quietly sitting in a corner, alone like when she first saw her. 

Zemirah hesitated if she should just go straight like this, she didn't even know the girl's name. Should she ask around first – 

Her thoughts paused when she met the little girl's vigilant eyes. Zemirah's hesitation disappeared like a cloud of smoke. She made up her mind and went straight to the girl's direction, only stopping a few meters away to give her enough safe space.

She didn't want to scare the little girl.

Wendy, the little girl, stared nervously at the female cultivators that stopped a few meters from her. The female cultivator wore a white veil, so only her eyes could be seen, but even with that, everyone could guess that this lady must be a calamitous beauty.

Her pink and purple robe that has flowers embroidery does not even have a speck of dust like even the mortal filth are afraid of staining her. Her hair was decorated with a simple flower hair accessory. 

Wendy's brown eyes stared at the female cultivator's pair of black with pink tint globes.

Wendy didn't know why this beautiful immortal went to her, making her vigilant. Though she didn't feel any malice, it didn't stop her from letting down her guard.

A calm and elegant voice sounded, "My name's Zemirah." The sentence stunned Wendy as her confused eyes stared silently at the beauty in front of her.

Zemirah saw her confusion and continued, "I saw you yesterday and have been thinking about something."

Wendy's brows furrowed as her little face showed obvious vigilance. What does this beauty mean –

Wendy's thoughts stopped at the next sentence that entered her ears.

"Do you want to be my disciple?"

Like a pie that fell from the sky, Wendy never expected to hear those words. Not from someone that looks amazing like the person in front of her.

"What?" She whispered in her childish voice.

Zemirah finally smiled when she saw the girl finally speaking to her. The lost expression on her little face is so cute even with the dust that smeared most of her face.

"Accept me as your master and you'll be my Eldest Disciple," Zemirah said.

Wendy's eyes widened.

"This – "Wendy finally panicked.

Zemirah didn't speak more as she waited for the little girl to calm down.

Wendy also didn't panic for long before she thought of many questions.

Why would this person want her as a disciple?

Even the Eldest Disciple at that?

Did she have any hidden agenda?

But Wendy is only a mortal girl with nothing. How could this lady fancy her?

Matters related to accepting master and apprentice are taken very seriously by Azar. Just like the famous saying, a master for a day, a father for life.

The master has the responsibility to nurture the disciple while the disciple must respect and be filial to the master.

"Ask any questions you like, and I'll answer them to clear your confusion." Wendy heard a gentle and elegant voice, making her have the courage to ask.

"Why me?" Those two words took a lot of courage from Wendy for her to utter. 

Wendy stared straight at the person's fox eyes, wanting to see through her thoughts, yet it only fascinated her. How is she so beautiful…

Zemirah smiled and said in a soft tone, "I saw you yesterday swinging a branch like a sword."

"That's it?" Wendy asked, dumbfounded at her words.

Zemirah laughed a little, "Of course not."

Wendy felt her heart sink at the words, sure enough there's another reason – 

Zemirah continued, "You may not believe me, but I felt a certain connection with you. Something like the mysterious fate letting me see you at the time when I was thinking of accepting a disciple."

Wendy blinked at her words. 

Fate.

How mysterious and unbelievable, Wendy wanted to refute the unreasonable reason when she saw the person's sincere and honest eyes. Seeing them, Wendy knew in her heart that this person opened her heart for her to see.

Wendy was moved in her heart.

Thinking of her situation, parentless and alone. Maybe following this person may give her a brighter future. Much better than now.

Wendy nodded, "Disciple greets master." She didn't hesitate to kneel and kowtow according to the procedures of the master and disciple acceptance ceremony.

Maybe, fate really brought them to meet each other. 

[AUTHOR'S NOTE]

Thinking of talisman, artifacts or even pills burn my brain cells...

Do you guys have any names of magical items in your mind? Comment it maybe Zemirah will find them.

Help~~