Lordi nodded to himself as he conducted internal examination of his transformed physique, evaluating the specific improvements this breakthrough had granted him.
With his current massively enhanced defensive capabilities, with skeletal structure that had achieved this top tier of refinement and density, he could literally stand completely still in one location without taking any defensive action whatsoever, and even a typical Ninth Layer sect comrade like Rodney Luther attacking him with full force would find themselves unable to inflict any meaningful injury.
His passive defense had reached a level where ordinary attacks would simply bounce off harmlessly, unable to penetrate the spiritual density of his reinforced skeleton.
Of course, Lordi was careful to maintain realistic perspective about the limits of this defensive advantage. This protection would prove effective against common sect comrades at Ninth Layer, but it wouldn't make him invincible against truly exceptional opponents.
If he were to face someone like Krogh Hanz—a genuine prodigy who had achieved High Grade Jade tier Bone a decade ago and awaken his accumulated countless previous life memory of combat experience and the near Core-Formation strength Sword Intent which slashed the reality open—the comparison would be entirely different. Quality of achievement mattered as much as the achievement itself, and a newly advanced Ninth Layer Qi Refinement Stage cultivator couldn't be casually compared to someone who had refined that same realm to its absolute apex.
The memory returned to him with brutal clarity: Donovan's fist, a thing of eerie, concentrated power, crashing into him. Even now, with his bones tempered to their zenith. Were he to stand and let Mister First Dominator strike him fully, that same terrifying force would shatter his defenses and paint his lips with blood.
"My cultivation level is now adequate for the Grand Tournament," Lordi assessed, "Now it's time to focus on the second major component—learning and mastering appropriate combat techniques that will give me an edge in actual battles."
Turning thoughts toward next phase of preparation, Lordi rose from his meditation cushion, stretched his body for a while, then departed from the quiet chamber. His destination was the small martial arts training ground that came as one of the Lantern Cliff Residence's many useful facilities.
Upon arriving, Lordi resisted the temptation to immediately begin technique training. He first invested considerable time and effort in carefully installing the protective mechanisms and interrupt triggers he'd designed specifically to prevent the AwfulOS System from dragging him into dangerous situations during one-click-cultivation sessions. He positioned trip wires at the entrance, installed pressure plates that would launch projectiles if stepped on, and arranged various other simple but effective traps
The key design principle of these safeguards was straightforward: the instant he—or rather, the AllFullOS System controlling his body—attempted to approach the doorway and exit the training ground, he would immediately be struck by flying gravel and other harmless but jarring impacts. The traps wouldn't cause any real injury given his enhanced defensive capabilities, but they would definitely trigger the system's interrupt protocols.
Only after completing these security preparations to his satisfaction, only after triple-checking that every mechanism was properly positioned and calibrated, did Lordi finally settle into ready stance in the center of the training ground.
"System, I want to cultivate! Select the martial technique. Select the Untitled Martial Technique #0001. Smart Duration! One-Click-Cultivation!"
~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> All-Smart Full-Host Cultivation System™ is at your service!
> One-click-cultivation, worry-free-ascension!
+ [Features]
- Intelligent upgrades tailored to your cultivation needs!
- Fully automated cultivation: Sit back, relax, and let the system do the work!
...
> 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...
...
But then, barely a minute after this initial announcement, the system chimed again.
~ Ding! System Notification Chime ~
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> Scanning cultivation requirements...
Detected lack of Cultivation Material: [Blood Burst Pill] (Error: 212)
- Host inventory: EMPTY
- Error: Insufficient materials for cultivation.
> Executing optimal solution... Pending...
...
~ Ding! System Notification Chime ~
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> Pending...
> All-Smart Full-Host Cultivation System™ has decided to be GENEROUS today!
> Blood Burst Pill x5 will be gifted to the host for FREE.
> Processing...
The words were still echoing through Lordi's mind when the system immediately seized control of his body and sent him sprinting at full speed directly toward the training ground exit.
However, this time the protective mechanisms performed exactly as designed. The moment Lordi's body crossed the threshold approaching the doorway, the carefully positioned traps activated in perfect sequence. A barrage of gravel, small rocks, and other projectiles came flying from multiple directions, pelting him from several angles simultaneously.
The instant these rocks touched Lordi, AllFullOS fled away.
~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> External attack detected.
> Cultivation session status: TERMINATED
> Host control: RESTORED
> Thank you for using the All-Smart Full-Host Cultivation System™ (AllFullOS v1.0.0)
> Feedback request:
- We value your opinion! (No, really, we do.)
- If you are satisfied with our service, please give us a five-star rating.
> Tap to Rate: [☆☆☆☆☆]
Lordi smoothly resumed control of his body mid-stride, stopping his forward momentum before he actually exited the training ground. With practiced efficiency born of repetition, he pulled up the system's review interface and clicked the one-star negative rating.
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> [★☆☆☆☆]
> Submitted. Thanks for your feedback.
——
Lordi then quickly left the residence and made a direct trip to the Tower of Hundred Treasures, where he purchased an adequate supply of Blood Burst Pills.
After returning to his manor with the properly acquired materials, he reset all his protective mechanisms to their ready positions and initiated the AllFullOS one-click-cultivation process again.
With the cultivation material requirements satisfied and no need for the AwfulOS to "help" by stealing anything, the training sequence proceeded smoothly without further incident.
The cultivation of Untitled Martial Technique #0001 completed successfully after several hours of intensive practice, the system drilling the movements and energy circulation patterns into his muscle memory and spiritual pathways through thousands of repetitions. When consciousness fully returned and Lordi tested the newly learned technique, performing it manually to evaluate its characteristics and practical utility, he discovered it was a combat method that operated on a high-risk, high-reward principle: the technique allowed the cultivator to sacrifice speed, agility, and reaction time—temporarily crippling those attributes almost completely—in exchange for a dramatic, all-or-nothing enhancement to raw physical striking power.
It was essentially a desperate gambit combat move, useful when you needed to land one devastating blow but couldn't afford to miss because you'd be helplessly slow afterward.
Curious about the technique's origins and formal designation, Lordi retrieved the various cultivation manuals he'd obtained from the Hanz Clan Treasure House and began systematically searching through them, comparing the technique patterns he'd learned against the documented methods.
Before long he located the relevant manual, discovering that this particular combat method was formally known as the Strength Blood Technique—a straightforward name that accurately described its function of channeling blood qi of meridan directly into temporary physical enhancement.
After updating the technique's designation in AllFullOS's martial technique catalog, changing it from the placeholder "Untitled Martial Technique #0001" to its proper title, Lordi proceeded to apply exactly the same methodical approach to start learning Untitled Martial Technique #0002.
This second martial technique proved to require Eye Washing Grass as cultivation materials, and after interrupting the one-click-cultivation training process—which again required a shopping trip when the system detected the missing raw ingredient. After finally mastered it, and located its real name among the martial manuals, Lordi tested this move and found it to be a sensory enhancement technique.
The method was called Spirit Eye Technique, it significantly strengthened visual acuity and perception, granting the ability to see through illusions, detect hidden objects or beings, and pierce through various forms of visual deception or camouflage. However, the technique's effectiveness was limited by the user's overall cultivation level; it wasn't an absolute ability that could penetrate any concealment regardless of the power differential.
The next move Lordi mastered was called Spirit Cleansing Technique. Well this was considerably more mundane. This method turned out to be designed to purify the cultivator's body of accumulated dirt, sweat, and grime through spirit energy manipulation, leaving the user fresh and clean without need for conventional bathing.
Dude...
Lordi released a weary sigh. It was already past midnight. Hours gone. Spirit $tones spent—a tangible, foolish cost.
And for what?
He stared, hollow-eyed, at the three martial methods before him. Not one contained a single useful ability.
Lordi sighed once more and forced himself to go on.
This pattern of methodical martial technique acquisition continued for a couple of weeks.
Through persistent application of the AllFullOS's One-Click-Cultivation—repeatedly enduring the cycle of attempted theft or robbery, trap activation, shopping trip, proper cultivation, and technique mastery—Lordi successfully learned and mastered the vast majority of the combat methods and martial techniques that had been stored in the Hanz Clan Treasure House.
His martial knowledge expanded dramatically as dozens of fighting styles and spirit energy manipulation methods became part of his permanent skillset.
The remaining small portion of techniques that he failed to successfully learn all shared a common characteristic: when Lordi attempted to One-Click-Cultivation, the AllFullOS immediately provided prompt indicating that these particular methods required Foundation Stage level cultivation strength as a minimum prerequisite for practice.
And whenever the AllFullOS detected that Foundation Stage level was a necessary requirement, this Artificial Intelligence inevitably proceeded to its next logical step. Automatically select the Cosmic Path Foundation Establishment Technique on Lordi's behalf, and then cheerfully announce it decided to be "GENEROUS" and prepare FREE gifts. Well, these supposed FREE gifts included things like concentrated evil flow of Ninefold Malice, a Natal Soul-Bound Artifact maceration in pure grudge, ten Million lethal curses, and a freshly born Ju-On from the darkness.
Every single one of these "gifts" sounded certain death or a fate worse than death if actually accepted.
Thank abyss Lordi had the foresight and even paranoia to install those physical interrupt mechanisms at the training ground entrance!
Without those crude but effective safeguards, the AwfulOS had already dragged him outside to commit whatever atrocities the Cosmic Path Foundation Establishment Technique required, the consequences would have been absolutely catastrophic and almost certainly fatal.
"Fist punches... palm chops... leg kicks... sword slashes... spear stabs..." Lordi mentally reviewed the extensive catalog of martial techniques he'd now mastered through his systematic absorption of the Hanz Clan's accumulated knowledge, organizing them carefully by category and weapon type in his thoughts.
There were various extensive collections covering fist fighting arts from multiple different schools—internal force methods that emphasized qi circulation and explosive power generation, external techniques that focused on conditioning the body to withstand and deliver devastating impacts, specialized styles designed for specific body types or combat situations.
Open-palm striking techniques occupied another significant section of the memory, with how to generate cutting force through proper hand positioning, how to target vital points with precision strikes, how to defend against armed opponents using nothing but bare hands through superior timing and positioning.
Kick-based martial methods. Low sweeps designed to unbalance opponents, high strikes targeting the head and upper body, spinning techniques that generated tremendous momentum, defensive kicks meant to create distance and control engagement range.
The weapons sections were equally comprehensive within their respective categories. Sword path manuals and Cultivation Insights seemed particularly well-represented, which made sense given that the sword was considered the gentleman's weapon throughout this cultivation world and most clans of any standing made sure to maintain solid sword traditions even if individual members specialized in other weapons.
Lordi had absorbed nearly hundred of different sword moves ranging from straightforward military sword techniques designed for mortal battlefield efficiency to elaborate ceremonial forms that doubled as moving meditation practices to aggressive dueling methods optimized for single combat between skilled opponents.
Spear combat systems occupied another major segment of the collection, reflecting that weapon's historical importance as the king of the mortal battlefield—everything from basic thrust-and-withdraw patterns that peasant conscripts could learn in a few days to sophisticated techniques that integrated footwork, body positioning, and spiritual energy manipulation into seamless offensive and defensive flows.
There were even specialized manuals covering more exotic variations like double-spears, chain-spears, and formation techniques designed for coordinated spear walls that could hold off cavalry charges or monster beast stampedes.
However, despite this impressive breadth of coverage across most conventional fighting styles and weapon categories for mortal battlefield, Blade techniques were almost completely absent from the archive.
Lordi retrieved that lone blade technique manual from his storage pouch. Flipped through the pages slowly, comparing its approach and techniques against his existing knowledge of blade cultivation. The comparison, unfortunately, was not remotely flattering to the Hanz Clan's collection or to whoever had written this particular manual generations ago with what Lordi could only assume had been good intentions but limited understanding of what actually made blade techniques effective.
"This sole blade technique is vastly inferior to my Blood Fiend Blade Art in virtually every measurable dimension..." Lordi muttered to himself as he continued reading, his disappointment growing with each page as the gulf between the two methods became increasingly apparent and undeniable.
The quality difference wasn't even close enough to constitute a reasonable comparison between techniques operating in the same general category—it was more like comparing a mortal child's wooden practice sword to a masterwork spiritual blade forged by legendary craftsmen.
Where the Blood Fiend Blade Art was elegant and efficient, this Hanz manual was clumsy and wasteful. Where his demonic technique created flowing combinations that transitioned seamlessly from attack to defense and back, this mortal method relied on rigid, disconnected movements that left obvious gaps an experienced opponent could exploit. The fundamental principles underlying the two approaches existed on completely different levels of sophistication and understanding.
This blade technique manual was, frankly speaking and without any exaggeration or unfair criticism, complete garbage—a mortal-use martial skill that some well-meaning but ultimately mediocre practitioner had cobbled together generations ago, probably based on fragmentary knowledge and limited personal experience, then preserved by descendants who didn't know enough about blade cultivation to recognize how inadequate their inheritance actually was.
Coming to a pragmatic conclusion about his training priorities, Lordi decisively eliminated an entire category from his preparation agenda.
"Forget weapon training beyond what I already know. I've been wielding the Blade of Life Hater for months now and have thoroughly acclimated to its weight, balance, and spiritual characteristics. My muscle memory is built around that specific weapon's requirements. There's no point wasting valuable preparation time trying to learn mediocre blade techniques from inferior manuals when I already possess a superior method and a weapon I'm comfortable with. Better to focus my remaining preparation time on areas where I actually need improvement."
However, one particular technique from the collection had genuinely captured his professional interest and seemed worthy of deeper study and refinement. "Well, that Ghost Controlling Technique, definitely worth some studies and practice. Might be useful..."
PS:
So good to be back at my writing desk this weekend! Cracks knuckles, then immediately regrets it. Just wanted to send a little note before I vanish again for a couple days next week (real-life adventures call, and the cancer was relentless lately).
Updates might take a tiny detour, but never fear—the plot bunnies are still hopping around in my head, especially the hmm... R18 ones. 😉 I really, truly love writing this wild world for all of you, and your support means everything. Thank you for sticking around!
Have an amazing start to your weekend