The days between sparring sessions became a blur of focused improvement. Each morning began with Mental Fortification meditation, where Lux and Mobius would run through countless combat scenarios.
Adding environmental variables to simulation wind factor 47%, precipitation probability 32%, Lux visualized different opponents and conditions.
His equipment training evolved as he grew more comfortable with the practice sword. Karion's teachings began to bear fruit as Lux learned to integrate his distortion abilities with blade work.
"Watch," Karion demonstrated one afternoon. "A normal sword strike must overcome the target's defense." He sliced through a training dummy, the blade cleaving through spiritual-reinforced wood with difficulty. "Now, with your ability..."
Karion had Lux apply Gray Weave to the dummy's surface before striking. This time, the blade passed through with minimal resistance.
"The key is timing," Karion explained. "The attack must be fresh when your strike lands. Too early, and it dissipates; too late, and you've wasted the opening."
Lux practiced relentlessly, first on stationary targets, then against Karion's relentless attacks. The golden-haired prodigy was merciless in his training, constantly pushing Lux to improve his timing and precision.
"Again!" Karion would shout as Lux failed for the twentieth time to properly time a Reality Weave with a sword strike. "Your opponent won't stand still waiting for you to set up your techniques!"
By the end of the week, Lux could consistently integrate distortion effects with basic sword techniques, though the energy cost remained high.
Integration efficiency improved from 34% to 58%. Energy consumption reduced by 22%.
SPARRING SESSION 2 MEI LIN
Mei Lin moved with the fluid grace of her element. Where Li Feng had been all explosive power, she was subtlety and adaptation. At Stage 4 of Qi Nurturing Realm, she also held a cultivation advantage.
"The problem with water techniques," Elder Liam had warned beforehand, "is that they're as much physical as elemental. Your Neutral Field will be less effective."
This proved true from the opening moments. When Mei Lin formed whips of condensed water, Lux's Neutral Field slowed them but didn't stop them completely. The water retained enough physical mass to strike with stinging force.
"Flow Like River, Strike Like Tide!" Mei Lin called out, her movements becoming increasingly unpredictable. The water whips multiplied, coming at Lux from all angles.
Pattern analysis attacks follow fluid dynamics principles. Disruption requires turbulence introduction, Mobius suggested.
An idea formed in Lux's mind. If he couldn't stop the water techniques completely, perhaps he could disrupt their flow. He began experimenting with rapid, sequential distortions in the air around the water whips.
The effect was immediate but crude at first. The water wavered and splashed randomly. But with practice, Lux refined the technique into what he called "Reality Ripple" a wave of sequential distortions that traveled through space, disrupting the cohesion of fluid-based attacks.
Mei Lin adapted quickly. "Clever, but insufficient! Thousand Rain Needles!"
The water in the air condensed into thousands of sharp projectiles that rained down on Lux. This was an area attack that his Precision Distortion couldn't handle effectively.
Remembering Karion's teachings about environmental usage, Lux looked around desperately. The arena had drainage channels for exactly this kind of water-based technique. If I can't stop the needles, I can redirect them!
He used Reality Ripple not on the needles themselves, but on the stone floor, creating a subtle gradient that guided the water toward the drains. The thousands of deadly needles became harmless runoff.
But the effort cost him. While he was focused on defense, Mei Lin had closed the distance. "Ocean's Embrace!" she called out, and a sphere of pressurized water enveloped Lux completely.
Trapped and unable to breathe, Lux struggled as the water pressure increased. His gray qi could create small pockets of air, but Mei Lin constantly adjusted her technique to compensate.
After forty-five minutes of relentless pressure, Lux's energy finally gave out. "I yield," he gasped through the water.
Mei Lin released the technique, catching him as he collapsed. "You lasted longer than most Stage 4 disciples would have against that technique," she said with respect. "Your adaptability is impressive."
As Lux caught his breath, he analyzed the match. Water techniques required different approaches than fire. He needed more area-effect capabilities or better mobility options.
The week following his defeat by Mei Lin saw Lux pushing his limits further. Yuan took over his physical training, pushing his body to its absolute limits.
"You rely too much on your special qi," the muscular disciple criticized during a brutal training session. "What happens when you face someone who can neutralize it? Or when your energy runs out?"
Yuan's training focused on making Lux's base capabilities stronger. Through grueling physical exercises and sparring sessions where Lux was forbidden from using his gray qi, he developed better fundamental skills.
Meanwhile, Silvia provided detailed analysis of his performance against Mei Lin. "Your water disruption technique shows promise but lacks refinement," she said, showing him energy flow diagrams. "If you sequence the disruption at harmonic intervals rather than evenly spaced, you could increase efficiency by at least 40%."
Erika continued monitoring his recovery, developing new elixirs to address the unique strain his abilities caused. While mobius give suggestion, "Worm... the Reality Anchor technique is helping, but you're still accumulating minor reality detachment with each session," mobius warned after one particularly intense day. "You need to incorporate more traditional meditation to maintain balance."
Lux took all this advice to heart, constantly refining his approach. By the time his next sparring session approached, he had made significant improvements to his Reality Ripple technique and increased his physical endurance considerably.
SPARRING SESSION 3: ZHANG WEI
Zhang Wei stood like a mountain, his earth affinity evident in the way he seemed rooted to the ground. Unlike Lux's previous opponents, he made no flashy opening moves, simply waiting in a solid defensive stance.
"Earth cultivators are the ultimate test of your precision," Elder Liam had said. "You cannot overwhelm them, so you must find the one weakness in their defense."
When the match began, Zhang Wei immediately activated his signature technique. "Mountain Root Armor!" Layers of condensed earth energy formed around him until he resembled a stone golem. "Try your best, Direct Disciple."
Lux began with testing strikes, but his sword bounced harmlessly off the incredibly dense armor. Even Precision Distortion only created tiny cracks that immediately repaired themselves.
Conventional attacks ineffective, Armor CoR 0.99996. Maximum distortion capability ΔCoR 0.0001. Insufficient for penetration, Measurement result.
For ten minutes, Lux circled while Zhang Wei stood immobile, occasionally launching slow but powerful earth spikes that Lux had to carefully avoid.
"Your tricks won't work against proper defense!" Zhang Wei boomed, his voice echoing within his earthen shell.
Lux closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses through Mobius. Initiating deep scan. Searching for structural weaknesses.
As the scan progressed, something remarkable happened. Mobius measurement detected minute vibrations throughout the earth armor a resonance frequency that maintained its structural integrity.
Resonance frequency detected. Phase cancellation at this frequency could disrupt armor cohesion.
Lux's engineering mind seized on the information. If everything has a resonant frequency, then finding and countering that frequency could cause catastrophic failure.
He began experimenting, sending out pulses of gray qi at different frequencies. At first, nothing happened. Then, as he approached the frequency Mobius had identified, the earth armor began to visibly vibrate.
Zhang Wei noticed immediately. "What are you doing?"
Lux didn't answer, focusing all his concentration on maintaining the precise frequency while simultaneously gathering gray qi for one powerful strike. This would take everything he had.
The vibrations intensified until small pieces of the earth armor began flaking off. Cracks appeared and spread rapidly.
"Now!" Lux shouted, launching himself forward. He combined Precision Distortion with his full physical power, the practice sword aimed at the most compromised point in the armor.
The effect was spectacular. The Mountain Root Armor didn't just break it shattered, exploding outward in a shower of earth and spiritual energy.
Zhang Wei stood revealed, completely defenseless, with Lux's practice sword hovering an inch from his throat.
"I... yield," the earth disciple said, shock evident in his voice.
The match had lasted only fifteen minutes the quickest victory Lux had achieved against an inner disciple.
The reaction to Lux's victory over Zhang Wei was immediate and far-reaching. From his observation platform, Sect Master Klahan nodded in approval. "He's exceeded all expectations," he said to Elder Liam who stood beside him. "Not only has he adapted to his unique constitution, he's developing entirely new combat paradigms."
The following days saw significant changes in Lux's position within the sect. Resource allocation shifted in his favor he received access to special training grounds with customizable reality parameters and a increased supply of spiritual recovery pills.
Politically, the progressive faction led by Klahan and Lina gained considerable momentum. Grand Elder Bram, while still cautious, could no longer dismiss Lux as a risky experiment. The demonstration of his capabilities against three different affinity specialists proved his practical value.
"His formation breaking capability alone makes him a strategic asset," Bram admitted during a Grand Elder meeting. "But we must remain vigilant about the long-term effects of his cultivation method."
Grand Elder Kalman, ever the pragmatist, suggested increased but controlled investment. "The boy has proven his combat effectiveness. I propose we provide him with the resources to reach Qi Nurturing Stage 4, then reassess."
Most importantly, Lux's personal growth became evident to all. Where he had once been uncertain about his unique path, he now carried himself with quiet confidence. The engineering mindset from his past life had fully integrated with his current existence as a cultivator.
Standing on his private balcony one evening, looking out over the sect, Lux felt a sense of belonging he hadn't experienced since arriving in this world. The Gray Phoenix Combat Forms were still in their infancy, but they represented something truly his own a synthesis of scientific thinking and spiritual cultivation.
Long-term projection with current resource allocation, estimated time to reach Qi Nurturing Stage 4 3.2 months.
Lux smiled, gray qi swirling gently around his fingers. The path ahead was still long and fraught with challenges, but for the first time, he felt ready to face them.