The training grounds buzzed with activity as Elder Liam unveiled his new training regimen for Lux. They stood in a specialized dojo reserved for Direct Disciples, the air thick with spiritual energy.
"Your performance against William confirmed what I suspected," Liam began. "Conventional combat forms are inefficient for your unique qi. So we will develop the 'Gray Phoenix Combat Forms.'"
Lux listened intently, his engineering mind already analyzing the possibilities.
"The core principle Efficiency over Power, Precision over Force. You cannot overwhelm opponents with raw strength, so you must undermine their strengths instead."
Over the next days, three core techniques began taking shape
DIstortion Weave Lux learned to extend gray qi in delicate threads ahead of his attacks, subtly weakening the reality coefficient of his target areas before striking. A wall that should be solid would offer less resistance. Armor that should be impenetrable would become brittle at the molecular level.
Neutral Field Expanding on what he'd discovered naturally, Lux practiced creating zones where elemental interactions weakened. Starting with a one-meter radius around himself, he gradually learned to project these fields further, creating pockets where fire wouldn't burn and water wouldn't flow.
Distortion Punch The micro distortion he'd used against William were refined into a proper technique. By concentrating gray qi at the point of impact, he could make his strikes partially bypass conventional defenses.
During these sessions, the other Direct Disciples often joined, each offering their unique perspectives under Elder Liam's supervision.
Karion observed one of Lux's sparring sessions with William, his golden eyes missing nothing. "Your timing is off," he commented during a break. "You're creating openings but not exploiting them."
He demonstrated with a practice sword. "Watch. When you use that... gray field thing, his reactions slow for half a heartbeat. That's when you strike, not after."
Karion began teaching Lux basic sword principles. "The sword is about precision, which suits your approach. You don't need to cut through armor if you can make the armor irrelevant where your blade touches."
Silvia provided detailed analyses of various combat styles Lux might face. "Based on sect records, 68% of inner disciples specialize in elemental techniques your gray qi counters well. But the remaining 32% use physical or rare elemental combinations that could bypass your defenses."
She presented scrolls filled with data. "I've identified seventeen inner disciples at Qi Nurturing Realm Stage 3 or higher who could pose particular challenges. William represents the most common threat profile."
Erika monitored Lux's condition, providing specially formulated recovery elixirs. "Your gray qi causes unique spiritual strain," she noted, examining him after an intense session. "The recovery pills that work for others are only 40% effective for you."
She developed custom blends that helped stabilize his reality coefficient after training. "The detachment effect is concerning. If this continues, you might need specialized meditation techniques I've read about in the medical archives."
Yuan, ever the physical specialist, helped Lux improve his base capabilities. "Your techniques are clever, but if someone gets past them, you need to survive the hit." Their physical training sessions pushed Lux to his limits, with Yuan demonstrating how to maximize the defensive capabilities Lux had developed during Body Forging.
During these weeks, Lux became acutely aware of the growing gap between himself and the other Direct Disciples. Karion had reached the peak of Qi Nurturing Realm Stage 9, his golden qi so dense it seemed to warp light around him. Erika wasn't far behind, her healing capabilities now advanced enough to regenerate minor tissue damage in minutes.
Yuan, while not at the peak of Stage 9 yet, had developed physical power that rivaled early Foundation Establishment. Even Silvia, who had just broken through to Stage 9, demonstrated analytical capabilities that allowed her to predict opponent movements three steps ahead.
"At your current progression rate, you will require approximately 14.3 months to reach Qi Nurturing Realm Stage 9. Your unique qi provides combat advantages but slows conventional cultivation progress."
The revelation was sobering. Lux's unconventional path came with costs he was only beginning to understand.
One afternoon, during an intense sparring session with Karion, Lux experienced his first true combat breakthrough.
Karion was demonstrating an advanced sword technique, his practice blade moving too fast to see. "The Phoenix's Dive creates multiple afterimages, all potentially real depending on how I channel my qi. Conventional defense is impossible."
Lux focused, extending his senses through Mobius. Afterimage analysis: 87% are spiritual illusions, 13% contain physical substance. The real attacks have a consistent energy signature.
As Karion struck, Lux didn't try to block or dodge entirely. Instead, he extended a finger, concentrating gray qi to a needle point.
Precision Distortion activated. ΔCoR 0.0001 at target point.
Where Lux's finger touched Karion's blade, a hole appeared in the sword's spiritual defense. Not large enough to break the technique, but sufficient to disrupt its perfection. Karion's flawless strike faltered for an instant.
"Interesting!" Karion stepped back, examining his practice sword. "You didn't break my technique. You... punctured it."
The discovery led to days of experimentation. Precision Distortion allowed Lux to create microscopic weaknesses in otherwise impregnable defenses. Against elemental barriers, he could create openings just large enough for his gray qi to penetrate. Against physical armor, he could weaken specific points without damaging the whole structure.
But with this breakthrough came the clearer understanding of his limitations.
During a group training session, Erika demonstrated a wide-area healing technique that covered the entire dojo in revitalizing energy. Lux tried to create a similar large-scale Neutral Field but found his gray qi thinning to ineffectiveness when spread too wide.
"Area effect limitation confirmed," said mobius. "Maximum effective radius for Neutral Field: 3.7 meters. For Precision Distortion: 0.2 meters. Your abilities favor single-target precision over area control."
This revelation shaped Lux's developing combat style further. He would never be a battlefield controller like some cultivators. He was a duelist, an assassin of techniques, a specialist in dismantling rather than overwhelming.
The most significant development came during meditation one evening. As Lux practiced stabilizing his reality coefficient after a day of heavy training, he discovered something new.
Reality Anchor formation detected. Your gray qi is creating self-stabilization fields.
Lux focused on the phenomenon, directing the gray qi to form a stable matrix within his own body. The subtle feeling of detachment that always followed intense training began to recede.
Reality coefficient stabilizing at 0.99988. Anchor effect reduces detachment risk by approximately 34%.
This changed everything. With Reality Anchor, Lux could train longer and use his abilities more frequently without permanent consequences. It wasn't a complete solution, but it significantly improved his sustainability.
Lux stood in the training grounds at dawn, practicing the basic forms of what would become the Gray Phoenix Combat Style. William arrived for their regular sparring session, having become a trusted training partner.
"Ready to lose again, kid?" William called out, lightning already crackling around his fists.
Lux smiled, gray qi swirling around him in intricate patterns. "You've been saying that for two weeks. When will you learn?"
Their friendly banter continued as they took fighting stances. Lux looked around at the training grounds, at William waiting to spar, at the distant figures of Karion and Silvia already training, at Elder Liam observing from his usual spot.
He had a long way to go to catch up with the other Direct Disciples. His path was unconventional, fraught with unique dangers and limitations. But for the first time, he felt he wasn't just adapting to cultivation he was contributing something new to it.
The air in the private training ground hummed with restrained energy as Lux moved through the basic sword forms Karion had taught him. A week had passed since his last sparring session with William, and today marked the beginning of a new phase in his training weekly sparring sessions against carefully selected inner disciples, each chosen to test different aspects of his growing capabilities.
Coefficient of Reality 0.99989 Spiritual stability within optimal parameters, lux measurement as Lux completed his meditation. The Reality Anchor technique he'd developed was proving increasingly effective at countering the detachment effects of his gray qi.
Elder Liam approached, holding a practice sword that shimmered with energy restricting formations. "Your first opponent today specializes in fire techniques. Remember what we discussed about elemental overload versus precision."
Lux accepted the weapon, testing its weight. The sword felt foreign in his hands, elder liam teachings were beginning to make sense. "Efficiency over power," he murmured, recalling the core principle of the Gray Phoenix Combat Forms.
"Precisely." Liam gestured toward the sparring arena where a young man with crimson-tipped hair was warming up with fire techniques that made the air shimmer with heat. "Li Feng reached Stage 3 six months ago. He represents the most common type of cultivator you'll face raw elemental power."
As Liam walked away to observe from the elevated platform, Karion approached for last minute advice. "Fire users are predictable in their unpredictability," the golden haired prodigy said, his eyes analyzing Li Feng's movements. "They always go for overwhelming force. Use that against him."
Lux nodded, running through scenarios with Mobius. Simulation complete, Optimal strategy 73% probability of success using Neutral Field containment followed by precision strikes.
The moment the match began, Li Feng proved Karion right. "Crimson Phoenix Dive!" he shouted, launching himself into the air surrounded by swirling flames that coalesced into the shape of a massive bird of fire.
The heat intensified until the air itself seemed to boil. Lux stood his ground, gray qi already flowing through his meridians. Neutral Field maximum coverage!
A sphere of gray energy expanded around Lux, and as the fire phoenix entered this space, its brilliant crimson dulled to a muted orange. The overwhelming heat diminished to merely uncomfortable warmth.
Li Feng landed, surprise evident on his face. "How did you? Never mind! Blazing Sun Palm!"
His hands glowed with concentrated solar energy as he charged. Lux analyzed the attack through Mobius. Fire armor detected. CoR 0.99993, Precision Distortion required.
As Li Feng struck, Lux didn't retreat. Instead, he extended two fingers, gray qi concentrated to needle points, and tapped specific locations on Li Feng's blazing palms.
The effect was immediate. The brilliant fire armor flickered and failed at the points of contact, and Lux flowed past the compromised defense, his practice sword coming to rest against Li Feng's throat.
But the fire disciple wasn't finished. "You think that's all?" he growled, jumping back and forming a complex series of hand seals. "Inferno Domain!"
The entire arena began filling with fire. This wasn't a targeted attack but an area-of-effect technique that would be impossible to avoid completely.
"Worm... the reality Anchor required for sustained defense," Mobius warned.
Lux planted his feet, gray qi swirling around him in a stabilizing pattern. The Reality Anchor formed just as the inferno engulfed him. For the next twenty minutes, Lux maintained his defense while using Precision Distortion to create openings in Li Feng's attacks.
The battle became a war of attrition. Li Feng's powerful but inefficient techniques drained his qi rapidly, while Lux's precise applications conserved energy but required intense concentration.
Finally, seeing an opening in Li Feng's defense as the inner disciple paused to catch his breath, Lux used a combination he'd been developing. Reality Weave to weaken the ground beneath him, followed by Distortion Palm to disrupt his balance.
The stone beneath Li Feng's feet momentarily lost its solidity, causing him to stumble. In that instant, Lux was upon him, gray qi-enhanced sword striking three vital points in quick succession.
Li Feng collapsed, his qi exhausted. "I yield," he gasped.
Lux stood panting, his own energy reserves nearly depleted. The match had lasted thirty minutes, but it felt like hours. Energy reserves 12%. Reality coefficient destabilized to 0.99982. Recovery recommended.
Elder Liam approached, making notes. "Well done, Lux. You demonstrated the effectiveness of precision against overwhelming force." He turned to Li Feng. "And you learned the limitations of relying solely on power."
As Li Feng bowed and left the arena, Lux reflected on the match. His gray qi was exceptionally effective against elemental specialists, but the energy cost remained concerning.