Mila
“The System only helps with cultivation. It makes things easier by granting energy, skills, and artifacts as rewards. It allows cultivators to know themselves better through being able to see their status. And it makes advancement easier through helping ease the process of increasing in rank. But cultivation existed long before the System and there are many manuals in existence which, by themselves, could allow a cultivator to reach A rank.
“The biggest difference between powers in the universe is usually not class paths or the possession of skill orbs, but the possession of cultivation manuals. A good cultivation manual helps in breaking through the bottlenecks cultivators face in rank advancement, helps with converting primal energy to useful level gain more efficiently, and helps wash away the residual impurities from cultivation treasures or injuries which could block cultivation in the future.
“Probably more important to you, however, cultivation manuals generally speed up skill activation, boost the power of certain types of skills, and increase the speed of resource regeneration.”
Nana Xara sounded excited, and Mila was starting to expect this would be the true advantage to gaining a deceased former god killer as a master, but the excitement in Nana Xara’s voice faded as she continued to talk.
“I didn’t want you to worry about things you couldn’t yet control, so I didn’t bring it up before, but F rank was known as the Foundation Establishment Stage before the rise of the System for a reason. It is very hard to change cultivation techniques after F rank, so, if you don’t start practicing with a good cultivation technique before advancing to E rank, your cultivation has a good chance of being blocked in the future.
“You and Diana don’t have to worry about this, however. I have one of the six best cultivation techniques in the universe, Yin Yang Cosmology, and you are both perfectly suited for it. You only need to decide between three different variants.”
Mila could read between the lines to hear what Nana Xara was very loudly not saying and found herself sighing. “You very deliberately didn’t mention Aalam.”
“I mean there is a reason I always call him insane.” Nana Xara sounded somewhat irritated. “No one I’ve ever heard of has made it to A rank following the path of twelve elements from the beginning. And there is only one cultivation technique which even makes it theoretically possible, the Twelve Element Primal Code.
“Granted, it was made by one of the Universe’s senior gods as the theoretically best cultivation technique, with power and ease of energy control surpassing The Six, but as far as I know, the best person to ever practice it only ever made it to C rank, abandoning the cultivation technique and moving to one of The Six as he couldn’t continue otherwise. And that man later became a god.”
“That is one good thing about the Twelve Element Primal Code, though. As it is at such a high level, it is very easy to change to one of The Six later if you get stuck. And, as it is mostly considered a theoretical technique, the strongest forces haven’t monopolized it so quite a few forces in the universe have a copy, even some C and B rank forces. I just never bothered to get one myself.”
Mila took a couple deep breaths to calm herself, but then she realized something. “You’re saying its impossible to cultivate but you’re acting like Aalam couldn’t choose anything else.”
“Oh.” Nana Xara didn’t say anything for several seconds. “I am aren’t I? He won’t be in the Id state anymore once he wakes up, yet I for some reason don’t like the idea of him training in Yin Yang Cosmology.
“Hmm. I guess it feels like a waste.”
“Can cultivation techniques be received as rewards from the System?” Mila asked.
“Normally, yes.” Nana Xara still sounded contemplative. “But even just the F rank portions of a copy of one of The Six would be considered a Heroic grade reward. And, while the Twelve Element Primal Code has much higher requirements and would thus usually be given a lower grade, it would likely take the System quite a bit more energy to produce, so it should be about the same.
“Cultivation technique manuals imprint on the soul like skill orbs, but they are generally made to be reusable as their imprinting process is a form of copying and doesn’t require the original copy to disappear, so, as a result, their creation takes quite a bit of energy.
“No matter what, though, it’s impossible to get a Heroic grade reward from the apocalypse style integration of an F++ rank world, so, if Aalam wants to practice the Twelve Element Primal Code, you would have to wait for the Trial Tower just like with the chance to get back to Earth.”
“Okay.” Mila felt herself grow energized. “So, the end goal is to perform well in the test of the Trial Tower and the way to perform well in that test is to grow as powerful as possible. The best way to grow more powerful is to gain resources from the System and the Shadow Thief’s inheritance, and to do that I need to show more guile and skill than ever before.”
Mila started to smile. “Nana Xara, what are the three variants of Yin Yang Cosmology I should be choosing from?”
“I like this attitude.” Nana Xara sounded excited again. “Just make sure you don’t stretch yourself too far and get yourself killed.
“There are a total of five variants of Yin Yang Cosmology, but I only have three of them. One of the variants focuses on psyforce and improves skills that use that resource by a larger extent than those which use qi or mana, and another focuses on qi. But those are the two variants I don’t have. I do, however, have the variant which focuses on mana, and that is the variant Diana chose.
“Diana has two Colossal mana wells and a uniqueness which boosts Magic, so that is the best choice for her, but it looks like you’re heading down the balanced route, and that is option number two. It has a balanced boost to qi, mana, and psyforce usage and is what I used to recommend to almost everyone in my force who qualified to study Yin Yang Cosmology.
“Finally, there is the mixed variant. This one is a bit special. Functionally, it is just a weaker version of the balanced variant, less effective by about 30%, but it allows another cultivation technique to be practiced at the same time, though that cultivation technique would also grow weaker than if it were practiced on its own.
“It was originally made for cultivators with powerful bloodlines, bloodlines which showed far more effect with special cultivation techniques, but I think you could use it in a different way. Should you stay working with Aalam, and should you get Aalam the Twelve Element Primal Code, your bloodline and second class would continue allowing you to share resources with each other.
“By relying on his resources and Laws, you would be able to practice the Twelve Element Primal Code yourself in a weakened form, one which would be perfect for becoming the secondary cultivation technique to the mixed variant of Yin Yang Cosmology.
“This would benefit you, as the mixed variant of Yin Yang Cosmology combined with a weakened version of the Twelve Element Primal Code would be stronger than the balanced variant of Yin Yang Cosmology by itself. And, should you ever separate from Aalam, it would be almost effortless to switch to the balanced variant, so you wouldn’t be losing anything.
“For Aalam it would be a win as well, as it would be easier for him to make use of your resources in the future.”
“And this isn’t even considering the types of classes such a combination of cultivation techniques might open up for the advancement of your second class, which would help you both.”
Mila started laughing, and she realized she didn’t even care that Nana Xara had obviously planned what cultivation technique to recommend from the beginning. She was the teacher. That was her job. And it was also her job to only introduce new topics when her pupil was ready.
Before being open with her emotions about how she died, Mila hadn’t been ready to deal with the stress of trying to get the Twelve Element Primal Code for Aalam, but now she was.
“Alright. I’ll go with both your recommendations.”
“You won’t regret it.” With Nana Xara’s last word, Mila felt the bond between her and her master and the bond between her and the System strengthen. Then, over her bond with the System, energy and information flowed.
Mila found a small cave in the forest where she’d been practicing with Phantasmic Doppelgängers, killed its monster inhabitant, and then sat down cross-legged on the floor as new information entered her mind and a new skill formed in her soul.
Congratulations!
You have learned the skill Evil Eyes - Lust (F-Legendary)
Evil Eyes - Lust (F-Legendary) Triforce, Diabolical, Charm
Your eyes inspire lust in all those who see them
Mila felt pain in her eyes as she almost fell unconscious, and to distract herself she started to look at her new cultivation technique.
Bonded to her soul in a way she couldn’t fully perceive, she was able to view Yin Yang Cosmology in the same way she could view the legacies stored in the Twin Dragons. If she put the attention of one of her mind’s on it, it was like she slipped into a different mental space and could see lessons from a teacher as if she were right in front of him. The only main difference between it and the legacies was there wasn’t an attached library in the mental space filled with other knowledge.
The teacher attached to the cultivation technique reminded her of the teachers in the legacies she had for the Laws of The Healer and The Reaper as, like those two teachers, he gave off the aura of a mortal, something Mila assumed meant the originator of the technique was a god. He looked like an old caucasian man with shoulder length white hair and a thick white beard, but his eyes were mono-lidded and his ears were pointed like the elves from the Life Tree Empire. Most disturbing of all, however, he had a third eye right in the middle of his forehead, right over his upper dantian.
Unlike the teachers from her various legacies, he didn’t say anything when she entered the soul space of inheritance and, when she asked questions, he didn’t respond at all. Instead, he just started moving his resources around, resources which perfectly matched her own. And she could somehow see how all three resource types moved inside him, guided by balanced early grade Law Eggs from each of the six elements of fire, water, light, darkness, life, and death.
The balance between the Laws was the key, however, so, even though her Laws were all far beyond early grade Law Eggs, she realized she wouldn’t be able to practice the cultivation technique until they were all balanced, and that was going to take a while.
Thirteen_Life_Legion
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If you are unable to support Shadow of the Soul King monetarily but are enjoying the story, please like, comment, and add Shadow of the Soul King to your reader list to help more readers see the story. It will be much appreciated, especially comments. As an author, feedback is always of value.
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Mila
“The System only helps with cultivation. It makes things easier by granting energy, skills, and artifacts as rewards. It allows cultivators to know themselves better through being able to see their status. And it makes advancement easier through helping ease the process of increasing in rank. But cultivation existed long before the System and there are many manuals in existence which, by themselves, could allow a cultivator to reach A rank.
“The biggest difference between powers in the universe is usually not class paths or the possession of skill orbs, but the possession of cultivation manuals. A good cultivation manual helps in breaking through the bottlenecks cultivators face in rank advancement, helps with converting primal energy to useful level gain more efficiently, and helps wash away the residual impurities from cultivation treasures or injuries which could block cultivation in the future.
“Probably more important to you, however, cultivation manuals generally speed up skill activation, boost the power of certain types of skills, and increase the speed of resource regeneration.”
Nana Xara sounded excited, and Mila was starting to expect this would be the true advantage to gaining a deceased former god killer as a master, but the excitement in Nana Xara’s voice faded as she continued to talk.
“I didn’t want you to worry about things you couldn’t yet control, so I didn’t bring it up before, but F rank was known as the Foundation Establishment Stage before the rise of the System for a reason. It is very hard to change cultivation techniques after F rank, so, if you don’t start practicing with a good cultivation technique before advancing to E rank, your cultivation has a good chance of being blocked in the future.
“You and Diana don’t have to worry about this, however. I have one of the six best cultivation techniques in the universe, Yin Yang Cosmology, and you are both perfectly suited for it. You only need to decide between three different variants.”
Mila could read between the lines to hear what Nana Xara was very loudly not saying and found herself sighing. “You very deliberately didn’t mention Aalam.”
“I mean there is a reason I always call him insane.” Nana Xara sounded somewhat irritated. “No one I’ve ever heard of has made it to A rank following the path of twelve elements from the beginning. And there is only one cultivation technique which even makes it theoretically possible, the Twelve Element Primal Code.
“Granted, it was made by one of the Universe’s senior gods as the theoretically best cultivation technique, with power and ease of energy control surpassing The Six, but as far as I know, the best person to ever practice it only ever made it to C rank, abandoning the cultivation technique and moving to one of The Six as he couldn’t continue otherwise. And that man later became a god.”
“That is one good thing about the Twelve Element Primal Code, though. As it is at such a high level, it is very easy to change to one of The Six later if you get stuck. And, as it is mostly considered a theoretical technique, the strongest forces haven’t monopolized it so quite a few forces in the universe have a copy, even some C and B rank forces. I just never bothered to get one myself.”
Mila took a couple deep breaths to calm herself, but then she realized something. “You’re saying its impossible to cultivate but you’re acting like Aalam couldn’t choose anything else.”
“Oh.” Nana Xara didn’t say anything for several seconds. “I am aren’t I? He won’t be in the Id state anymore once he wakes up, yet I for some reason don’t like the idea of him training in Yin Yang Cosmology.
“Hmm. I guess it feels like a waste.”
“Can cultivation techniques be received as rewards from the System?” Mila asked.
“Normally, yes.” Nana Xara still sounded contemplative. “But even just the F rank portions of a copy of one of The Six would be considered a Heroic grade reward. And, while the Twelve Element Primal Code has much higher requirements and would thus usually be given a lower grade, it would likely take the System quite a bit more energy to produce, so it should be about the same.
“Cultivation technique manuals imprint on the soul like skill orbs, but they are generally made to be reusable as their imprinting process is a form of copying and doesn’t require the original copy to disappear, so, as a result, their creation takes quite a bit of energy.
“No matter what, though, it’s impossible to get a Heroic grade reward from the apocalypse style integration of an F++ rank world, so, if Aalam wants to practice the Twelve Element Primal Code, you would have to wait for the Trial Tower just like with the chance to get back to Earth.”
“Okay.” Mila felt herself grow energized. “So, the end goal is to perform well in the test of the Trial Tower and the way to perform well in that test is to grow as powerful as possible. The best way to grow more powerful is to gain resources from the System and the Shadow Thief’s inheritance, and to do that I need to show more guile and skill than ever before.”
Mila started to smile. “Nana Xara, what are the three variants of Yin Yang Cosmology I should be choosing from?”
“I like this attitude.” Nana Xara sounded excited again. “Just make sure you don’t stretch yourself too far and get yourself killed.
“There are a total of five variants of Yin Yang Cosmology, but I only have three of them. One of the variants focuses on psyforce and improves skills that use that resource by a larger extent than those which use qi or mana, and another focuses on qi. But those are the two variants I don’t have. I do, however, have the variant which focuses on mana, and that is the variant Diana chose.
“Diana has two Colossal mana wells and a uniqueness which boosts Magic, so that is the best choice for her, but it looks like you’re heading down the balanced route, and that is option number two. It has a balanced boost to qi, mana, and psyforce usage and is what I used to recommend to almost everyone in my force who qualified to study Yin Yang Cosmology.
“Finally, there is the mixed variant. This one is a bit special. Functionally, it is just a weaker version of the balanced variant, less effective by about 30%, but it allows another cultivation technique to be practiced at the same time, though that cultivation technique would also grow weaker than if it were practiced on its own.
“It was originally made for cultivators with powerful bloodlines, bloodlines which showed far more effect with special cultivation techniques, but I think you could use it in a different way. Should you stay working with Aalam, and should you get Aalam the Twelve Element Primal Code, your bloodline and second class would continue allowing you to share resources with each other.
“By relying on his resources and Laws, you would be able to practice the Twelve Element Primal Code yourself in a weakened form, one which would be perfect for becoming the secondary cultivation technique to the mixed variant of Yin Yang Cosmology.
“This would benefit you, as the mixed variant of Yin Yang Cosmology combined with a weakened version of the Twelve Element Primal Code would be stronger than the balanced variant of Yin Yang Cosmology by itself. And, should you ever separate from Aalam, it would be almost effortless to switch to the balanced variant, so you wouldn’t be losing anything.
“For Aalam it would be a win as well, as it would be easier for him to make use of your resources in the future.”
“And this isn’t even considering the types of classes such a combination of cultivation techniques might open up for the advancement of your second class, which would help you both.”
Mila started laughing, and she realized she didn’t even care that Nana Xara had obviously planned what cultivation technique to recommend from the beginning. She was the teacher. That was her job. And it was also her job to only introduce new topics when her pupil was ready.
Before being open with her emotions about how she died, Mila hadn’t been ready to deal with the stress of trying to get the Twelve Element Primal Code for Aalam, but now she was.
“Alright. I’ll go with both your recommendations.”
“You won’t regret it.” With Nana Xara’s last word, Mila felt the bond between her and her master and the bond between her and the System strengthen. Then, over her bond with the System, energy and information flowed.
Mila found a small cave in the forest where she’d been practicing with Phantasmic Doppelgängers, killed its monster inhabitant, and then sat down cross-legged on the floor as new information entered her mind and a new skill formed in her soul.
Congratulations!
You have learned the skill Evil Eyes - Lust (F-Legendary)
Evil Eyes - Lust (F-Legendary) Triforce, Diabolical, Charm
Your eyes inspire lust in all those who see them
Mila felt pain in her eyes as she almost fell unconscious, and to distract herself she started to look at her new cultivation technique.
Bonded to her soul in a way she couldn’t fully perceive, she was able to view Yin Yang Cosmology in the same way she could view the legacies stored in the Twin Dragons. If she put the attention of one of her mind’s on it, it was like she slipped into a different mental space and could see lessons from a teacher as if she were right in front of him. The only main difference between it and the legacies was there wasn’t an attached library in the mental space filled with other knowledge.
The teacher attached to the cultivation technique reminded her of the teachers in the legacies she had for the Laws of The Healer and The Reaper as, like those two teachers, he gave off the aura of a mortal, something Mila assumed meant the originator of the technique was a god. He looked like an old caucasian man with shoulder length white hair and a thick white beard, but his eyes were mono-lidded and his ears were pointed like the elves from the Life Tree Empire. Most disturbing of all, however, he had a third eye right in the middle of his forehead, right over his upper dantian.
Unlike the teachers from her various legacies, he didn’t say anything when she entered the soul space of inheritance and, when she asked questions, he didn’t respond at all. Instead, he just started moving his resources around, resources which perfectly matched her own. And she could somehow see how all three resource types moved inside him, guided by balanced early grade Law Eggs from each of the six elements of fire, water, light, darkness, life, and death.
The balance between the Laws was the key, however, so, even though her Laws were all far beyond early grade Law Eggs, she realized she wouldn’t be able to practice the cultivation technique until they were all balanced, and that was going to take a while.
Thirteen_Life_Legion
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thirteenlifelegion
Vote for SotSK on TopWebFiction! http://topwebfiction.com/listings/shadow-of-the-soul-king/
And a special thank you to Shadow of the Soul King's patrons, who get to read the latest chapters as they are written and edited.
If you are unable to support Shadow of the Soul King monetarily but are enjoying the story, please like, comment, and add Shadow of the Soul King to your reader list to help more readers see the story. It will be much appreciated, especially comments. As an author, feedback is always of value.
Also, any mentions on social media would be awesome. Let's see if we can get that thief who posted the first 25 chapters of the story to webnovel.com off the first page of a 'Shadow of the Soul King' google search.
