CHAPTER 277: FREE SPIRITS

The training ground Húxiān had assigned him was a simple stone platform suspended between two floating islands.

Symbols were carved into the surface. They enhanced the flow of spiritual energy in ways that made cultivation feel effortless.

Grim settled into a cross-legged position at the center of the platform and began the breathing exercises Yongrun had taught him.

The air in this realm was thick with power, and each breath drew more mana into his body than an hour of cultivation in the human world.

As he entered the meditative trance, his consciousness turned inward to examine the complex web of mana that flowed through his body.

The fox companion materialized beside him, its blue fur gleaming in the strange light of this realm. It settled next to him as if guarding his vulnerable state.

Grim lost himself in the rhythm of cultivation, his breathing synchronized with the flow of mana through his channels. Time seemed to have no meaning here. Minutes could have been hours, or hours could have been days.

He was completely unaware that he was no longer alone.

A spirit had taken position directly across from him, sitting in the same cross-legged posture with perfect stillness.

An ancient warrior whose translucent form flickered between solid and ethereal. His eyes never left Grim’s face, studying every micro-expression with the intensity of someone conducting a detailed examination.

"Still watching the new student?" came a lazy voice from nearby.

The Lazy Spirit was sprawled across a collection of silk cushions that had appeared from nowhere, his form more solid than most of the other spirits in this realm.

He wore magnificent robes that were covered in gold.

"He’s interesting," The spirit replied without moving his gaze from Grim. "The corruption is unlike anything I’ve seen before."

"Corruption’s corruption," the Lazy Spirit said with a yawn. "Seen plenty of humans try to control dark mana. Most end up dead or worse."

"This one’s different," the Spirit insisted. "Look at how stable the containment is."

Two additional figures materialized at the edge of the platform.

"Its weird to see a human here."Guard Spirit 1 said.

"Húxiān approved his presence," Guard Spirit 2 replied. "Though I admit, it’s unusual to have a mortal here."

The Lazy Spirit propped himself up on one elbow, finally showing interest in the conversation.

"What’s really unusual is how much attention he’s getting. When’s the last time you watched a student this closely?" he asked.

"It’s been... some time," The Spirit admitted.

"Some time?" the Lazy Spirit laughed. "Try centuries. You haven’t shown interest in anyone since that dragon princess visited, and that was what. Three hundred years ago?"

"This is different," The spirit said, his tone growing defensive. "The dragon princess was powerful but predictable. This human is a unkown variable."

Guard Spirit 1 moved closer to observe Grim’s cultivation. "The dark mana signature is familiar. It reminds me of battlefields I knew in life."

"Battlefield corruption is chaotic," Guard Spirit 2 observed. "This is controlled somewhat."

"Exactly my point," The Spirit said with satisfaction. "He’s turned a curse into a tool. That requires either exceptional skill or exceptional luck."

"Or exceptional guidance," the Lazy Spirit added with meaningful emphasis. "I’m hes here because of Húxiān he’s had help."

They watched in silence as Grim’s cultivation deepened. His fox companion remained motionless beside him.

The Spirit explained. "His fox is something else."

"Dangerous," Guard Spirit 2 said immediately.

"Very," The Spirit agreed. "But, it’s also fascinating."

The Lazy Spirit yawned again, though his eyes remained sharp as they studied Grim."What’s Húxiān’s plan for him? Standard combat training and spiritual refinement?"

"Unknown," Guard Spirit 1 replied.

They continued their observation as hours passed. Grim remained locked in his trance, completely oblivious to the intense scrutiny he was receiving from beings who had been powerful enough in life to maintain consciousness after death.

"He’s going to be trouble," Guard Spirit 2 predicted.

"The good kind or the bad kind?" the Lazy Spirit asked.

"Both," Spirit 1 said with anticipation. "Definitely both."

As if responding to their conversation, Grim’s cultivation suddenly intensified. The dark mana in his fourth heart pulsed with increased activity, while his fox companion’s eyes began to glow with purple light.

"Interesting," The Spirit murmured, leaning forward despite himself. "He’s integrating the corruption more deeply while maintaining separation. That should be impossible."

"Should be," the Lazy Spirit agreed. "But then, most things about this human seem to fall into that category."

"Look at his mana circulation," Guard Spirit 1 observed. "Some of his pathways are broken. And he’s cultivating too fast."

"Because it’s not standard," The Spirit replied, still focused intently on Grim. "He’s created his own technique, or someone taught him something extraordinary."

The Lazy Spirit rolled onto his back, staring up at the impossible sky above them.

"You know what’s really bothering me? The way his corruption responds to his emotions. Most dark mana users become slaves to their anger, their hatred. This one seems to be learning to use those emotions as fuel without being consumed by them."

"Dangerous," Guard Spirit 2 noted. "If word spreads that dark corruption can be controlled rather than purged..."

"Every ambitious young cultivator will start seeking it out," Guard Spirit 1 finished grimly. "The realms would be flooded with wannabe dark mages who lack his body."

"What advantages?" the Lazy Spirit asked, though his tone suggested he already suspected the answer.

The Spirit was quiet for a long moment, his eyes studying something about Grim that the others couldn’t perceive.

"He’s not fighting alone in there. There’s another presence guiding his cultivation, something with considerable knowledge."

"Húxiān?" Guard Spirit 2 suggested.

"No," Spirit 1 said with certainty. "This is something closer, more intimate. Almost like he has a master dwelling within his own consciousness."

The observation sent ripples of unease through the assembled spirits. Internal guidance of that nature implied either divine blessing or something far more dangerous.

"Should we report this to Húxiān?" Guard Spirit 1 asked.

"She already knows," the Lazy Spirit said with confidence. "Divine beings don’t miss details like that. If she brought him here anyway, she has reasons we’re not seeing."

"Or she’s testing something," The Spirit added thoughtfully. "Using his training to evaluate whatever force is guiding him."

The fox companion beside Grim suddenly raised its head, its glowing eyes scanning the assembled spirits.

For a moment, it seemed to look directly at The Spirit, and the ancient warrior felt something like recognition pass between them.

"Even his manifestation is unusual," Guard Spirit 2 observed. "Most spiritual projections in this realm barely hold itself together, let alone notice us. This fox can clearly see us and doesn’t care."

"Because it’s feeding off the ambient power here," The Spirit realized. "Every moment in this realm makes it stronger, more independent. By the time his training is complete..."

"It might not need him to exist," the Lazy Spirit finished, sitting up with genuine interest for the first time. "Now that would be something worth watching."

The spiritual observers settled in for what promised to be a very long and very interesting training period.

And for spirits who had been watching the same training exercises for centuries, that was perhaps the most intriguing development they had witnessed in ages.