Chapter Six: Another Breakthrough

After carefully examining the spiritual energy within William Thompson, Guide Messenger finally understood why he could even break through just by roasting something.

The abnormal cultivation manual practiced by this perverse disciple allowed him to autonomously absorb the surrounding spiritual energy under any circumstances. In other words, whether he was cultivating or not, the spiritual energy in the air would continuously pour into him. Coupled with the fact that he was already at the late Heart Movement stage, just a step away from the Spirit Silence stage, it was no wonder he accidentally mobilized spiritual energy and broke through while roasting food.

After another life-and-death lecture to William Thompson, Guide Messenger sent him to the edge of the forest to practice spells. There are three indispensable parts to cultivation: meditation, combat, and crafting. Since William Thompson had no interest in artifact refining or alchemy, he could only be sent into the forest to find low-level spirit beasts to practice spells on. Only low-level spirit beasts roamed the forest’s edge, and with a tracking spell placed on William Thompson for real-time monitoring, Guide Messenger wasn’t worried about his disciple’s safety.

After stepping into the Spirit Silence stage, William Thompson's power soared. Previously, he could barely handle second-rank spirit beasts in the forest. Now, even if a mid-tier third-rank spirit beast appeared, William Thompson felt he could put up a good fight.

Now, William Thompson strictly followed his master’s teachings and no longer dared to cultivate recklessly. Even when meditating to recover, he would inform Guide Messenger just in case.

Half a year passed. Another immortal ascended from the Immortal Pregnancy Lake, but this one was not from Earth. The process of presenting a greeting gift was necessary. Thanks to his master, William Thompson received an ice-attribute flying sword from the immortal. Overjoyed, William Thompson showered him with flattery, while Guide Messenger looked on with a very unpleasant expression.

During this half year, William Thompson spent most of his time in the forest harassing low-level spirit beasts, becoming increasingly proficient in spell control. He could now easily defeat upper third-rank spirit beasts, but he never killed them—just beat them until they couldn’t fight back, then healed and released them. As a result, whenever the nearby spirit beasts saw William Thompson enter, they would flee in panic, warning each other to stay away from this tormentor.

Meanwhile, William Thompson's cultivation continued to grow slowly through constant combat, and he was close to breaking through to the mid Spirit Silence stage. If not for the suppression of Guide Messenger's Spirit Sealing Technique, he might have already reached the Nascent Soul stage by now, but the risks would have increased accordingly.

One day, William Thompson walked through the forest for a long time without seeing any living creatures. Feeling bored and dejected, he walked back. He had been here for over a year now. Day in and day out, all he did was cultivate—he was about to go crazy from the monotony. Life on Earth was so much better: fine clothes, delicious food, everything one could want.

William Thompson began to feel nostalgic for his life on Earth. Although he had already passed the Heart Movement stage and, in theory, should have become indifferent to worldly things, the truth was that William Thompson had been forced into cultivation and hadn’t truly chosen it of his own free will. Moreover, he had only been cultivating for a year and a half, far too short a time to truly let go of material desires. After all, in the mortal world, those who reached the Spirit Silence stage had usually cultivated for nearly a hundred years. Who else could have started cultivation with such a freakish manual, and been able to train by the Immortal Pregnancy Lake—a place even immortals dreamed of?

He walked over to Guide Messenger, sighed, and sat down.

Guide Messenger let out a sound of surprise: “Why didn’t you go practice spells today?”

“They all ran away. No targets to practice on.”

Guide Messenger chuckled, stroked his goatee, and gazed into the distance.

William Thompson glanced at his master’s pensive look and couldn’t help but ask, “Master, what are you thinking about?”

Guide Messenger frowned slightly, didn’t answer, and instead said, “Since you’re not practicing spells today, how about refining artifacts with me?”

“No, Master.” William Thompson replied with a bitter face.

“Didn’t you just get a new ice-attribute flying sword? Don’t you want to fly on a sword?” Guide Messenger raised his eyebrows.

At the mention of sword flight, William Thompson immediately perked up and quickly replied, “I do, I do! Let’s refine artifacts then.”

“Take out that flying sword. I’ll erase the previous owner’s spiritual imprint for you,” Guide Messenger said.

William Thompson took out the flying sword and handed it over.

Guide Messenger took it, pinched a hand seal, and brushed it over the sword. Instantly, a blue light flashed on the sword, then faded. He handed it back to William Thompson.

William Thompson asked in confusion, “That’s it?”

Guide Messenger glared, “What more do you want?”

“Don’t the books all say that when immortals act, it shakes heaven and earth, makes ghosts and gods weep? Shouldn’t there at least be some thunder and lightning?”

Guide Messenger rolled his eyes, “Do you think the Thunder Lord and Lightning Mother have nothing better to do?”

William Thompson scratched his head awkwardly and said with a grin, “I was just guessing.”

“Enough nonsense. The sword’s previous owner’s spiritual imprint has been erased. It’s impossible for you to refine a brand new flying sword right now. Just make some modifications to this one so you can better use its power. Remember to use the artifact refining techniques I taught you.”

“Got it,” William Thompson replied impatiently. With that, he focused his mind, pinched a hand seal, and poured his full power into the flying sword before him, channeling the technique into it.