Calm Wanderer
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Chapter 101 - Who can determine what you deserve?
🕑 Added 2025-02-28 08:22:30 +0000 UTCBright Star City, Bright Star Island, Flowing Stars Archipelago, Earth
Demian's P.O.V.
Indeed, after a brief inspection, he immediately noticed his understanding of the Technique had moved from the equivalent of the first Flawed Rune to around 30% of the second one. All of that progress after only one ‘round of battle’ lasting no more than 45 minutes... Compared to the few hours it took him to barely reach the one Flawed Rune progress, it was... “This Perk is really pushing me to become a sex addict, isn’t it?” He mumbled, not knowing how to feel about his lightning-speed progress, as falling into ‘depravity’ felt somewhat... wrong. Was it not supposed to be something that only Evil Cultivators experienced? “Mmmhh, what are you talking about?” Sera’s voice suddenly broke him from his pondering, bringing a smile to his face before he responded teasingly. “Ready for round 2?” Gently tapping his chest a few times, the woman lying sloppily on him muttered. “Yes... I mean no. What were you mumbling about? You made me curious.”
The chuckles escaping his lips ended up shaking her body lightly before he answered. “Sure, my curious cat.” Pausing for a second, he explained his conundrum, not forgetting beforehand to mention the new Cultivation Technique, its Runes, etc. “See my problem? On the one hand, I really. REALLY. Enjoy having sex with you. Not only is it pleasurable, but it also gives us so many benefits that we’d be stupid not to use it. But on the other hand, don’t you think it’s too easy? It’s one thing that my Physiology Perk is broken, but at least I need to actually train. But by just having sex, I can not only improve my Cultivation Base, but even my understanding of Cultivation Techniques improves at ridiculous speed... It almost seems... Unfair, I guess? I’m not sure how to put it into words...” The two fell silent for a few seconds, each with their own thoughts, until Seraphine responded. “Why would it be unfair?” Scratching his cheek in doubt, he responded. “It’s like... Like I don’t deserve to have those benefits... At least for something I’m having so much fun doing. It’s like... Like it goes against everything I’ve been taught in the past. Something like ‘To get the reward, you need to put in the work’ kind of thing. Does that make sense?”
“Mmhhh...” She answered while laying her right palm over her left hand, the two set on his chest before placing her chin on the one on top and exclaiming with an amused smile. “Isn’t that a stupid way to think?” Seeing the look of confusion on his face, she added. “There are three things you need to understand: Suffering, Efforts, and Rewards. Your goal being the rewards, which in this case are the Cultivation Benefits, why would you need to suffer to get them? Or even do something you don’t enjoy doing? Isn’t cultivation something that can be enjoyed? It’s just that the way we cultivate involves sex, but it’s just another way to cultivate compared to the mainstream one. And it’s not like you don’t use the mainstream method at all. It’s just that it’s massively boosted by the Dual Cultivation method. So you do put in the effort, it’s just the method that differs.” After noting his thoughtful nod and comment ‘Makes sense', she continued. “As for deserving or not deserving, isn’t that just an empty notion? Who can say what you deserve or don’t deserve? In my opinion, as long as you don’t go against your Heart, then there’s no need to question everything around you.” Looking into the two grey veils that served as her eyes, he replied wryly. “I know all that, but I still can’t get rid of the feeling. It’s like there is a small voice constantly whispering into my ear that I don’t deserve everything I have... It’s both annoying and exhausting, to be honest...”
Letting out a sigh, he shook his head lightly before the woman’s smile turned comforting, and she moved to give him a light kiss on his lips and declared. “It’s just a matter of rewiring your brain, and the best way to do that is to repeat it over and over again until it’s etched deeply in your brain. As grandma always said: ‘As long as you repeat it enough times, there will be something left behind.’ So, my dear Demian, prepare yourself because I’ll say it as many times as I need: You, Demian Mikhailov, are worthy of everything you have today.” Her words brought a genuine smile to his face, prompting him to reply softly. “Then I’ll repeat myself as well: You, Seraphine Mikhailov, are one of the most amazing women I’ve known in this life and the previous. And I can’t see myself living without you anymore.” Giggling with delight, she retorted playfully. “Even if you could, I’d tie you up and keep you by my side forever.” That made the two chuckle together before Seraphine added with a knowing smile. “Speaking of which, I noticed that when you’re not busy, you tend to overthink. So, why don’t we find a way to distract you?” With a grin mirroring hers, he exclaimed exaggeratedly. “What a coincidence! I actually know a perfect method for that. Why don’t I show you...?” As soon as those words reached her ears, Sera’s lips were covered with his. The two then resumed the sacred but strenuous activity of Dual Cultivating, uniting their bodies and minds, the result not only enhancing their Cultivation but also bringing them mind-shattering fleshy pleasure.
A night thus passed by in happiness for the two lovers. An unknown time later, Demian’s body twitched slightly, his consciousness returning from the land of blissful dreams. Despite feeling a bit sticky from the sweat covering most of their bodies, the warm sunlight shining on his skin did manage to bring a contented smile to his face. To be fair, the lingering sensations and delightful memories of the previous night’s activities did play a big role in his jolly mood. Feeling a bit lazy, he still chose to open his eyes after enjoying the comfortable sensation for a few moments. Instantly, the sunlight washed over his blue irises, although without inflicting any temporary blindness that Mortals experienced because of their more fragile biological structure. The only sensation he experienced was some slight warmth as a complete image of the room they were in appeared in his vision. Unsurprisingly, his attention was immediately attracted by the sliding glass patio door, taking a large part of the wall facing their bed, since the flooding sunlight inundating the room came from the clear glass. The door itself was divided into multiple sizable square glass panels, with each having a wooden framework as support, the panel not only letting in the sunlight but also displaying the bedroom’s private zen garden behind, something that each of the four rooms in the Guest Courtyard possessed.
The view radiated calm and harmony, improving his already great mood right away. ‘Aunt Ling and Teacher were really inspired when they built this place.’ He thought while being careful to avoid waking Sera from her deep slumber. With a thought, a small wave of Water Elemental Energy gathered around them and washed both of their bodies, leaving their smooth skins pristine. ‘I only needed a night of passion to completely comprehend the second Flawed Rune and a few percent of the Third... The progress is amazing, especially when you take into account that the more Rune comprehended, the harder it becomes to decipher the next one...’ He contemplated while also noticing that his mastery of the Water Element seemed to have slightly improved. ‘Well, if I understood correctly, once I comprehend the equivalent of nine Flawed Runes, I’ll have the opportunity to condense the Tide Intent. Although I can wait ‘til I break through into the Foundation Building Rank, which would make it easier to condense it, it seems to be a case of ‘the sooner you do it, the better your Foundation’. So, I’ll do my best to condense it while I’m still at the Peak of the Chi Gathering Rank. It shouldn’t be that hard, right?’ He wondered with some doubts. Shaking his head slightly, he decided. ‘Even if it’s difficult and it takes more time, if it can improve my future prospects, it’s worth it. Plus, with enough time, my Perks can grind down any bottleneck to metaphorical dust, so I should be fine. That being said, I do need to cultivate the other two systems, which should take even more time. Will I have to condense an Intent for each of them, though...?’ He paused his inner rant for a second as another depressing thought surfaced in his mind. ‘There was no mention of that in the information I got from Teacher, so I’ll have to ask him later. But whatever the case, I WILL need to go through the Tribulation Lightning, so my arsenal of Spells, Body Techniques, and Soul Spells will definitely need some updating... Why is it that although my lifespan has skyrocketed to beyond 250 years, I still feel like I don’t have enough time to do what I need to do?’
Letting out an exasperated sigh, he then simply decided to let it go. ‘No use complaining about it. Instead, I might as well use my time to practice more.’ Having made his decision, he used gentle movements to avoid waking Sera as he moved her body to the side, tucking her under the blanket before leaving the bed, and, having already cleaned himself, he simply grabbed a pair of underwear and pants from his Peak Tier 2 Void Ring and put them on. He then walked to the door, quietly sliding it open, and exited the room. “It’s really peaceful.” He mumbled as his gaze caught several insects and birds flying around the trees, bushes, and flowers planted here and there in what he could vaguely recognize as a Formation Array, although its effect was unclear. “Soothing the Mind, maybe?” He guessed from the calm feeling washing over his thoughts. Shaking his head gently, he then went to get a Cultivation Mat stored in an open cabinet located on the left side of the patio. Not one to be picky, he grabbed the first one from the pile, noting the strong fluctuations coming from every one of them. ‘Tier 2 artifact? So lavish!’ He thought, half amused, half impressed.
It did not take long for him to understand the Item’s preciousness, however. Once he set the Mat down in the middle of the garden and sat on it, a wave of Energy washed away any stray thought, leaving his Mind pure and serene. It was not the only effect, though, evidenced by a major growth in sensitivity when perceiving the Spiritual Energy along with the different Elements. It was akin to dust being removed from his Perception, leaving his Senses unusually crisp and clear. While taking deep, rhythmical breaths, the young man then started operating his new Cultivation Technique, using the breathing Patterns to regulate his body and boost the absorption of Spiritual Energy while his Soul was used to guide, refine, and integrate the Energy through the use of the Technique’s visualized Runes. With each unit of Energy passing through his Spiritual Channel and Lower Inner Space, a trace of understanding passed through his Mind, improving the completion of the third Flawed Rune’s understanding, converting and purifying his Energy, which also benefited his Body and Soul along the way.
Engrossed in his Cultivation, hours passed by without him noticing. Only when the midday sun touched his eyelids did he stop circulating his Technique and open his eyes, his irises flashing briefly with spirituality before recovering their natural hue. Turning his head to the left, he said in an amused tone. “Like what you see?” Lying on her side with her head in one hand and a knowing smile on her face was Seraphine, the mysterious grey veils serving as eyes incapable of hiding her thoughts from him. “Very much. Gained something?” Nodding his head, he responded with a calm smile. “I did. I’ve reached the Peak of Chi Gathering with 99% of my Inner Energy turned into Elemental Energy. The last one percent should be done by tomorrow at the latest. Besides that, I also comprehended around 50% of the Third Flawed Rune. It’s a lot slower than when we Dual Cultivate, but I’m already satisfied. What about you?” Gazing at him for a few seconds in thought, she then let herself ‘fall’ down on her back while exclaiming with exasperation. “I did have some gains, even reached the High Ninth Level with 100% Inner Energy conversion, but... I’m still stuck at the Ninth Flawed Rune! Well, not exactly stuck since I did reach 10% comprehension, but it feels so slooow!”
With her words reminding him of that ‘first world problem’ meme in his previous life, a few chuckles escaped his lips before he replied. “I don’t see why you’re complaining. From what I know, reaching that step usually requires you to be at the Late Stage Foundation Building Rank. And you’re a whole Rank below. Just take your time and you’ll succeed. Plus, don’t forget that my Perk also works for you, which should lower the difficulty the more you contemplate it.” Shaking her head slightly, she retorted. “Easy for you to say. Every three Runes is a major hurdle, so wait until you reach the Fourth Rune or even worse, the Seventh Rune. I’m sure you’ll understand my pain then.” This time, it was his turn to shake his head as he stated playfully. “The efficiency of my Perk for me is twice what it is for you. Not only that, but as I keep comprehending, my talent improves as well, making it easier and easier to comprehend the Runes. I don’t believe it will take me that much time to finish mastering the Nine of them, although using those nine to condense the Tide intent might take longer. But it’s no big deal since I can use that time to improve in the other two Cultivation Systems and even start practicing Spells, Techniques, and Skills.”
Turning her head in his direction, she said exasperatedly. “Ever the glass-half-full kind of guy, uh?” His silent, grinning face prompted her to let out a sigh before she added. “Not that I disagree with you. I know we’re already progressing quickly, and it’s not like there’s a deadline. Also, the higher we go, the slower the progress... I know all that. It’s just...” As those words left her lips, the previously playful expression disappeared, replaced by confusion. “I don’t really know how to explain. It may have to do with what happened to us previously with the Danilov fiasco. I don’t know... I’m probably overthinking...” Seeing her distress brought a pang in his heart at her distress, prompting him to grab her, seat her between his legs with her back against his naked chest, and gently hug her. “It’s gonna be fine. The four of us are together and safe. We’re also all growing stronger very quickly, and we’ll all live a very long time. Possibly forever. We don’t have any enemies. Alive at least. So there’s no reason to worry, okay, Love?” She only responded with a ‘Mmh’ and fell silent afterward, with the two simply enjoying each other’s company, the peaceful scenery, and the warm breeze blowing against their skin.
Only after a while did Demian say. “It’s noon right now. Why don’t we go eat something? Plus, Liya and Bryn might be waiting for us.” With the tranquil atmosphere disturbed, Seraphine nodded, and the two quickly stood up before something seemed to come to her mind. Looking in his direction with a curious smile, she asked. “Speaking of those two, when are you planning on capturing Mom’s body? I’m not asking about her Heart because even a blind woman like me can tell she’s already fallen for you.” Her question brought a slight feeling of awkwardness before the latter disappeared, leaving only calm confidence. “I want to reach Tier 2 first. I’ll feel more confident. Don’t ask why, I don’t know myself. Then I’ll take her out on a date and... Well, I’ll adapt on the fly.” A few giggles escaped her lips before asking rhetorically. “The age-old date technique, uh?” Chuckling along, he responded. “It did work with you, didn’t it?” With a playful grin, she replied. “I guessed it did, didn’t it? Seems like you’ve become a master of seduction when I wasn’t looking.” Playing along, he retorted. “Well, my wing-woman does the heavy lifting, so it’s just a matter of going with the flow.” Doing a power pose, Sera exclaimed thoughtfully. “I’m sure she’s a great woman. I mean, she’s doing her best to put other women in her man’s bed after all...”
Nodding firmly, Demian stated. “I am very lucky, that’s true. Joke aside, thank you again for being, well, you. There is one thing, though. You keep saying you’re doing it for selfless reasons, but knowing how ‘open-minded’ you are when we have sex, I’m starting to suspect that your motives aren’t as pure as you claim.” His narrowed eyes met the ‘innocent’ expression on her face as she retorted. “What are you saying? That I can’t wait to have some steamy sex sessions with my own mother and big sister? Or maybe that I would enjoy seeing them taken in every hole by my own man? Or even that I...” Her words were cut off by the young man’s hand, whose back started sweating as he exclaimed. “Alright, alright! I got it! You’re a huge pervert. No need for more details. I may not be pure and innocent myself, but you at least need to give me some time to prepare myself psychologically.” Halting his words, his gaze caught the teasing expression on her face, prompting him to declare. “Let’s just go eat something, and we’ll cross that depraved bridge once we get there. Alright?” The half-demanding, half-pleading look made her giggle before she nodded, gave his palm a lick, and said. “Sure. Let’s go then.”
