"Huh? Now?" Ruru’s voice quavered, her delicate features creasing with disbelief. "Are you serious?... "
"Yes, Senior Sister," Lordi said, his tone unyielding, eyes blazing with determination. "This humble junior begs for your mentorship. Time’s running out—I can’t explain why in a short moment. Please, teach me the Spirit Swallowing Technique now. Look, Senior Sister, I don’t have many Spirit $tones, but I’ll trade Legendary Level Bone Tempering Pills for it."
Ruru shook her head, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks under his intense gaze. "Keep your pills," she said softly, her voice wavering with an unexpected warmth. "If I need them, I... I’ll buy them from Junior Sister Kim myself." Her lips twitched, almost a smile. "The Spirit Swallowing Technique wasn’t from the Pavilion of Myriad Arts—it came from a private task. Sect law doesn’t restrict sharing it."
As an Eighth-Layer elite of the Holy Abyss Pit Sect, Ruru was no stranger to squeezing Spirit $tones from juniors, her days of naive trust long buried in the demonic sect’s cutthroat world. She’d planned to charge Lordi a thousand spirit stones for this martial spell—standard practice for a technique of its caliber. But his earnest stare, those thick lashes framing a face carved with resolve, sent her heart racing for reasons she couldn’t grasp. The words tumbled out before she could stop them. "If... Lordi-kun... you want to learn it, I’ll teach you. For free."
She steadied herself, clearing her throat, her voice soft but confident, laced with a hint of warmth. "Um, okay... The Spirit Swallowing Technique sounds powerful, right? Stealing your rival’s spirit energy mid-fight—it’s the kind of move that feels invincible. But since you’re asking me—and you’re, like, super smart about this stuff—let me share some secrets I’ve learned. Just... don’t tell anyone I went this deep for you, okay?" She giggled nervously, then steadied herself, her fingers brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"First, the casting. It’s fragile, like balancing on a thread in a storm. You need a razor-sharp mind, no distractions. You seem like you’d be great at focusing, but even a stray thought or sudden dodge can break the spell. My tip? Practice in silence first—somewhere quiet, like the sect’s lotus pond at dawn. Drill the sequence until it’s muscle memory. Once you can hold it against a breeze or a chirping bird, try it in sparring. And, um..." She bit her lip, a shy smile flickering. "Maybe don’t practice where your girlfriend might see and worry."
A mechanical chime cut through Lordi’s mind, sharp and jarring.
~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> Detected external data.
> Pattern identified: [External Martial Spell]
> Spell Recording initiated...
Ruru continued, oblivious to the system’s hum in Lordi’s head. "The real danger is the absorbed spirit energy. It’s not clean qi from a spirit spring—it’s messy, chaotic, like swallowing a storm. If you don’t purify it right, it’ll clog your meridians or throw your cultivation into chaos. You’ll feel it—like fire in your veins that doesn’t belong. The Pure Spirit Pills are non-negotiable. Never cast without at least two in your pouch. Here’s a secret: take half a pill before you cast, as a buffer. It preps your qi to handle the foreign energy. I... kinda learned that the hard way." She gave a small, shy laugh. "You’re welcome for the shortcut."
"Another thing—and this is big, so listen close, okay?" Ruru’s voice softened, her eyes locking onto his. "Know your opponent’s cultivation level before you try swallowing their energy. If they’re too far above you—like a Ninth-Layer when you’re Seventh—the energy’s too dense. It’s like pouring a river into a teacup. I’ve seen cultivators burn out their dantian that way with a similar martial spell." Ruru paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I’d hate for that to happen to someone like you, so... be careful, yeah? Stick to rivals within one minor realm until you master it."
"Last thing, and this is serious," she said, twirling a strand of hair before catching herself and stopping abruptly. "Don’t rely on this technique too much. It’s tempting—that rush of power when you steal their strength. But it’s a crutch. It’ll weaken your foundation if you lean on it instead of building your own qi. Plus, the pills are expensive, and... I don’t want you wasting all your spirit stones on this." Her voice softened, almost wistful. "You’re already strong, you know? You don’t need a flawed spell holding you back."
~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> Progress: ... 50%... 100%
> New Martial Spell added to database: [Untitled Martial Spell #0012]
> Recording complete.
> Please rename the martial spell!
"Call it the Spirit Swallowing Technique," Lordi declared in his mind, his focus unyielding as Ruru’s voice pressed on.
Ruru glanced down, her cheeks flushing faintly. "So... that’s everything I’ve got on Spirit Swallowing. Just, um, be safe out there, alright? And if you need more tips or... anything... Listen—if we make it out of this alive, you can find me at Raven Silk Peak. But don’t you dare tell Junior Sister Kim I said that!" She laughed, then quickly averted her eyes, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Lordi didn’t notice Ruru’s shy flush, her cheeks tinged with a warmth she hid beneath her exterior. His focus was razor-sharp as he fixed Ruru with a serious stare.
"Senior Sister," Lordi said, his voice low and deliberate, "Are you absolutely certain the Spirit Swallowing Technique requires the Spirit Cleansing Pill, and that all of those pills are at your courtyard on Raven Silk Peak? No chance we’d find any in the Hanz Clan Estate?"
Ruru blinked, puzzled by the intensity of his question, but her voice held firm. "Yes, I’m sure," she said, her tone steady despite the blood streaking her face. "The Spirit Swallowing Technique was a rogue cultivator’s creation, unique to him. He died alone—no disciples, no Dao companions. Only a few sect comrades who explored his seclusion grotto with me even know the spell exists. None of them are on this Hanz Clan Estate task."
She paused, her brow furrowing as she considered. "Even if someone secretly kept a stash of Spirit Cleansing Pills, they wouldn’t be here. They’re not part of this task."
Relief flickered in Lordi’s chest, a rare spark in the suffocating dread. The absence of the pills in the estate was a lifeline—it meant no single cultivation resource could be found here, and his plan hinged on reaching those pills outside the array with AllFullOS.
Lordi leaned closer, his voice dropping to a grave whisper. "Senior Sister, no matter where I go next, you have to follow me closely. I’m heading for the life gate of the grand defensive array. One wrong step, and we’re trapped in this haunted estate forever. You with me?"
Ruru’s eyes widened, shock flashing across her delicate features. "What?!" Her voice trembled, not with fear but awe. "Lordi-kun... you know where the life gate is?" Joy surged within her, a quiet thought blooming: No wonder Junior Sister Kim chose him over Shaun Zet and those higher-realm suitors. Her heart steadied, doubts crumbling under his resolve. Despite his youth, Lordi was proving himself in this deadly hour, his presence a beacon in the chaos.
"No worries, Lordi," she said, her tone firm, trust absolute as she met his gaze. "Lead on. I’ll follow you closely." Her earlier hesitation dissolved, replaced by anticipation as she gripped her whip, ready to move.
Nodded at Ruru’s trustful gaze, In his mind, Lordi commanded, "System, I want to cultivate. Select the Spirit Swallowing Technique. Smart Duration! One-Click-Cultivation!"
~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> All-Smart Full-Host Cultivation System™ is at your service!
> [OCC] - One-Click-Cultivation activated.
> Features: Temporary practice, smart duration, and questionable decision-making.
> One-click-cultivation: Enabled
> Cultivation hosting: Initializing...
- Friendly reminder: During cultivation, the host will lose control of his/her body.
- Do not panic. This is a normal system function.
> Initializing body control override...
> Activating [Spirit Swallowing Technique] Cultivation process...