CHAPTER 46: LUCY’S BREAK THROUGH

Chapter 46: Lucy’s Break Through

"So this is how it feels to have a breakthrough?" Lucy reacted as her body shimmered in a light blue glow, her hands darting to various parts of her body as she explored this new sensation.

"Does your body feel cold?" Liza asked, her gaze fixed on Lucy. "Or something else?"

"Yeah, It feels cold" Lucy answered. "I also feel... really good. I totally love this feeling."

Arios must be good at dual cultivating, Liza thought, her gaze flicking between Arios and Lucy.

"That’s the Mana Refinement stage," Liza said. "At this stage, your body becomes more responsive to mana, allowing for a higher rate of mana absorption. We need to refine a lot of mana to begin building our spirit veins."

Dual cultivation sure is effective, Arios thought, observing Lucy’s reaction to her body’s response to the influx of mana.

"That’s the realm everyone is in?" Lucy asked.

"Technically, no," Liza answered. "While a portion of the class has ascended past the Novice Realm, to say it’s the majority would be a stretch."

"So I’m one of the lucky ones?" Lucy said, a wide smile spreading across her face.

"If you wish to say that," Liza answered, turning her gaze to Arios, gesturing with a hand toward him. "Arios truly helped in your ascension, Lucy. By dual cultivating with him, you’ve finally had a breakthrough."

Lucy blushed and turned to him. "Thanks... for the help."

Arios looked slightly surprised. It certainly wasn’t the first time Lucy had thanked him for something, but the fact that she was thanking him for basically having sex with her felt out of place.

"No need for thanks, Lucy," Arios said, waving his hand in disapproval. "I did nothing, truly. It was all you."

"Hey, Liza," Lucy called out. "You said something about needing to refine a lot of mana for building... uh... spirit veins. So this realm basically enhances the rate at which we absorb and refine mana so we can build the veins?"

"For most, that’s correct," Liza answered.

"So not to sound too eager, but how long is the average time for building someone’s spirit veins?" Lucy asked.

"That’s a bit rough to say, but normally it takes an average cultivator about three months before they can build their spirit veins," Liza responded.

"Three months?" Lucy reacted, her gaze immediately locking onto Arios. "Maybe some extra dual cultivation won’t hurt, Ari?"

"What? Who the f—" Arios quickly looked away, a blush creeping up his neck. "I’m flattered and all, Lucy, but don’t you think it’s a little too early to ask for another round? You’ve got to savor the moment, don’t you think?"

"I’m just joking," Lucy said, giving Arios’s shoulder a slight tap. "Lemme guess you’re hard already by the share thoughts of putting it back into this mouth of mine," with a filthy wet pop, Lucy lips parted and she brought them close to Arios gaze.

With a quick gulp, Arios’s face flushed even redder. Damn it, she’s not wrong, he thought, cursing his body for betraying him.

"Okay, that’s enough with the jokes," Arios said, his voice a little strained. "And also, you guys should probably put on some clothes."

Liza smirked, bringing her face close to his, and he swallowed hard. "I thought you loved seeing us naked?"

Damn, this girl really loves teasing me, Arios thought, averting his gaze from Liza. "I said, that’s enough with the jokes."

He quickly lay on his bed, wrapped himself in a thick blanket, and faced away from Lucy and Liza.

Time to review where I’m at, Arios thought, flickering his hand to materialize the translucent system screen at the edge of his vision.

----

[Stat Window – Arios Pureheart]

Job: Academy Student

Class: Swordsman

Realm: Mana Refinement - First Stage ( 500/1000 XP)

Affinity: Earth (A) | Wind (P)

Mana: 2,300/10,000

STR: 97

INT: 16

WIS: 12

CHA: 11

AGI: 77

REP: 10

----

Arios stared at the glowing numbers on the screen. The mana gauge, previously at a disappointing 800, now read 2,300/10,000. He was nearly a quarter of the way to the mana needed to build his spirit veins, a critical step toward true cultivation. The sight made his stomach clench with a mix of excitement and unease.

It’s a long road ahead, he thought, confronting the sheer scale of the task. He was still in the Mana Refinement realm, and while his raw stats were impressive, he had to wonder how long it would take. The numbers were clear: he was making progress, but the journey to building a true spiritual foundation was far from over. It was a grind, and he was only just beginning.

----

[Skills]:

Swordsmanship (Passive) (LVL 7):

Enhances blade control, attack speed, and precision with every swing.

Higher levels grant instinctive parrying, armor penetration, and sharper mana efficiency.

Always active when wielding a sword.

Dual Mana Cultivation (Passive) (LVL 5):

By passively engaging in acts of intimacy and pleasure, you gain both experience points (XP) and mana. If performed with a partner who is two cultivation stages above yours within the same realm, you will ascend to that Cultivation stage within that realm.

Notice: Threesome Cultivation now available.

Note: This skill is only compatible with female partners.

MILF Prime Seduction (Passive) (LVL 3):

Any MILF with a cultivation stage at least two levels higher than yours within the same realm who touches you will fall madly in love with you and immediately becomes one of your harem.

Higher levels will increase the scope and intensity of the effect, and broaden the criteria for what constitutes a "MILF."

Flash Step (Active) (LVL 1):

Upon activation, the wielder can Instantly teleport a short distance in any direction, making them difficult to hit.

---

Arios’s gaze swept across the skills on the screen, a familiar sense of satisfaction settling in. The Flash Step, he had tested it, and the result truly held a promise that gave him a fresh surge of excitement.

I need to train with this first thing tomorrow morning, he decided, a new plan forming in his mind. Before the test he knew that mastering this skill could be a game-changer.

But the ability to instantly teleport short distances would make him incredibly hard to hit in combat. But then, a more cautious thought entered his mind. Would I even be allowed to use a skill like that in the test? It might draw too much attention. He wasn’t sure if the rules prohibited such techniques, but the risk of exposing his unique abilities to the academy’s proctors was something he couldn’t take lightly.

----

[Bond Log]:

Liza Garnet:

Bond level:★★★☆☆

Realm: Mana Refinement - First Stage (270/1000 XP)

Mana: 1,380/10,000

Title: ’The First among Many’

Lucy Nightshade:

Bond level:★★★☆☆

Realm: Mana Refinement - First Stage (181/1000 XP)

Mana: 550/10,000

Title: ’The Night Queen with Prefect Hands’

----

So happy to see Lucy finally at a higher stage, Arios thought, the strain in his eyes growing stronger, pulling him toward sleep. After improving my grip on the flash step skill, I would visit Greg to give him a final prep before the test.

Arios finally succumbed to the embrace of sleep, a deep rest earned after a long and eventful evening. As the hours passed, he held on to the fleeting peace, knowing he would need all his strength for the combat test that awaited him at dawn.