AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword

Chapter 60: Inner World Sphere (3)

In an instant, I feel a foreign Qi generate from the array that governs my existence my soul, perhaps and it forms a webwork of profound symbols and inscriptions on the surface of the black sphere.

I only notice this development because I am paying such close attention to my internal system. At least, with half of my consciousness that remains under my own control. The rest is dedicated to maintaining Lan Xiaohuis internal system.

Lan Xiaohui plays with the corsage in her hair, adjusting it this way and that while studying the effects her modifications have on the reflection painted across the surface of the water. She goes about this ritual with a happy hum, like she is making herself pretty for someone.

I cannot fathom for who she wants to look appealing. The next cultivator that enters this grotto will likely separate her head from her torso. Maybe that is why she is making herself pretty at least it wont be a complete waste if her legacy is a pretty severed head.

Perhaps this proximity to death has made me a bit morbid and fatalistic. I am sure that in some way this helps her mood attribute, even though I am not so certain if her mood attribute has any relevance to her healing speed I doubt it.

Should I wear it on the left, or the right? she asks, likely referring to the corsage.

It is fine as it is, I tell her, trying to walk a fine line between letting her know that I dont care while keeping up her mood attribute.

I wonder if this is a blood lily, she says.

I am not sure blood lilies actually exist. The martial art she practices is based on a mythical reference an imaginary construct to capture the Dao in a way that can be comprehended by mortals, based on the cultural norms of what is appealing.

Well, they certainly exist now, if that flower is a blood lily.

I suppose so, I tell her.

She falls quiet, her expression thoughtful. She still squirms as my independent consciousness pressures the points on her body corresponding to her internal structure vessels, pushing through sword Qi and stabilizing her system.

Meanwhile, I fail to make sense of the array that forms around the black sphere. I thought my Dao would be significantly advanced enough to understand at least something, but even though I am looking at the input for consciousness, I cannot understand how or why it works.

I consider using [Critical Analysis] on it, but this time I strongly suspect that the result will be the same as when I tried to use the Talent on the array that defines my existence. If the Talent suffers a failure, I am not sure what would happen once the Qi and consciousness that operates the Talent flows back through my vessel.

Immediate termination of all life support, I suspect, and I am sure this has nothing to do with the increased tendency towards morbidity.

Do you like cultivating together? she asks.

Yes.

Theres no reason to think about the question. Dual cultivation provides extreme benefits to both of us, and that sentiment does not even include the utility it provides allowing her to expand my arrays and modify my internal system.

Yes, I like it a lot.

The part I dont understand is why my answer causes such flurry of chaotic, indecipherable thoughts to crawl across the surface of her consciousness. Id prefer she focus on what is important remaining calm.

The Crystal Spring Water that used to make up the composition of this pool has undergone some changes, either due to the extreme cold outside or the fact that we underwent our tribulation here probably the latter. It now contains parts of Heavens Dao as well as an understanding of Sword Law most likely because it was struck by tribulation lightning, but I cannot discount the possibility, as unlikely as it may be, that the reason could be the changing of seasons.

Even though it still has a calming property, with a very soothing Yin aspect to it, it also has a more fierce aspect to it. Bathing in this water is like being immersed in weak sword Qi which has several effects.

First, it aggressively attacks injuries and impurities on the body and though it is aggressive it is not painful. Second, controlling the Qi is very difficult requiring half of my consciousness to be dedicated to it but it is very potent and beneficial in aligning Lan Xiaohuis meridians. Lastly, it has an effect, apparently, that excited and liberated Lan Xiaohuis inhibitions, similar to drinking alcohol.

In other words, I can somewhat understand why Lan Xiaohuis thoughts are chaotic, and why she is so eager to make changes to her attire or what is left of it.

I decide that studying the array around the black sphere will not be useful at the moment.

Are you aware of my sea of consciousness? I ask her.

Surprised, Lan Xiaohui purses her lips. Faintly.

Interesting.

There should be an array there. Can you access it?

Lan Xiaohui closes her eyes, and I feel a trickle of her consciousness pour into the vast sea of my consciousness.

My vision suddenly fades.

[ FIRST LAYER: BATTLE SIMULATION - EXTREME LOAD TEST. HAPTIC FEEDBACK DISABLED. TIME DILATION: 12x ]

At the same time that the sub routine informs me of various parameters, a genderless voice roars out the same information.

Lan Xiaohui and I find ourselves in a place that is pitch black in all directions and seemingly infinite. There is no horizon, but the pitch black is not darkness or the absence of light, and we can still strangely enough see infinitely in all directions. It is an enlightening experience on the nature of space geometry.

Lan Xiaohuis form, surprisingly, is not naked. She also finds this surprising because her first reaction is to attempt to cover herself, only to find that she is wearing her white dress with black sleeves.

What is this place? she asks.

As if to answer her question, a flash of light appears in the distance and the form of a creature emerges, charging toward Lan Xiaohui with a bellowing cry.

To my pleasant surprise, and Lan Xiaohuis unpleasant surprise, the creature charging towards her is none other than Wukong.

His gigantic form twice as tall as Lan Xiaohui is made of pure muscle and the very apex of the Foundation Establishment cultivation. His body cultivation is deeper still, though I have no way to measure it.

Though, it immediately becomes apparent that this is not Wukong, but rather an illusion of the creature. I do not sense any presence of consciousness in the creature that approaches Lan Xiaohui only a profound and intense desire to kill her.

Understanding this as well, Lan Xiaohui braces herself. Though in this battle simulation, her body is not injured and yet she still acts in a manner that is rather defensive and rigid, so as not to antagonize the injuries she has outside this Inner World Sphere.

The result is as unsurprising as it could possibly be.

When Wukong reaches Lan Xiaohui, he strikes out with his large fist, connecting with my vessel which Lan Xiaohui interposes between her sensitive vitals and Wukongs murderous rage. As a result, my vessel smashes into Lan Xiaohuis ribs and instantly pulverizes all her internal organs, killing her on the spot.

[ FIRST LAYER: BATTLE SIMULATION END. ]

Lan Xiaohuis eyes snap wide open and she groans, her hands rising to her chest as if to verify that she is alive and unpulverized.

Her eyes remain wide open.

Can I go again? she asks. I will do better this time.

She really is a deviant.