Chapter 14: Cultivation Method

'Anyways, that isn't why I'm here talking to you. From listening the teacher, looking at your memories and my own, I may have a cultivation method perfect for you.'

'Wait, you actually have one?!' Xiu Ye widened his eyes in shock. He had first thought of it as a joke from the crazy coot. A cultivation method in any chinese cultivation world is important and something not so easily created!

'It wasn't easy but sensing the, soul power, in the air around us made me think about my previous master's world's energy, are they similar? Is what I thought. And after a dozens of hours of observing and experimenting, they kinda are, eerily so. But reiryoku, spiritual power, which is the soul power of this world and not the other one, can be more manipulated to do certain abilities like sensing other people's reiryoku/soul power to pinpoint their location. And there is something more to reiryoku, which it's reiatsu(spiritual pressure) but we'll get to that later on.'

'So soul power is similar to reiryoku, I'm not calling it spiritual power cause it's confusing, how does that make sense in how you created a cultivation method for me?' Xiu Ye thoughtfully replied.

'You either forgot or you didn't know about this. Shinigamis, like my previous master, don't communicate with us Zanpakutō spirits this easily unless we communicate via mediation called: Jinzen(Sword Zen). This method is the only way to carry on a proper conversation with one's Zanpakutō. One places their sword over their lap, takes a meditative pose, and forces their mind to become one with the Zanpakutō.

In this form, one can call out the true form of the powers of their Zanpakutō. It has been refined over thousands of years, since the beginning of Soul Society, to allow one to commune with their Zanpakutō. This advanced form of training is far different from attaining abilities by force. In this form, one enters a state of calm to enter the inner world of the Zanpakutō and engage them there. In this state, a wielder will have to fight their Zanpakutō spirit in order to attain access to new abilities. Unwilling to teach its owner these abilities, the Zanpakutō spirit engages its wielder in a battle, the likes of which has never taken place before.

In this meditative state, one is so deeply entranced, even sustained wounds are ignored. Any form of injury sustained in the inner world while in this meditative state is reflected in the real world.'

Xiu Ye gulped in nervousness, after all, he had fought Ryūjin Jakka before, which was a one-sided slaughter: that ended with a single strike but with multiple slashes on his body.

Remembering that moment made him almost release a pained whimper. Even though he had experienced death before, having your limbs separated and heart torn isn't really a pleasant feeling. Heck, if he wasn't currently in a populated room, he would slump down on the ground and be on a fetal position. Having only a day of recovery from that fight, add with his tiring blacksmithing, it was a miracle he didn't went insane from that terrifying experience.

His mind is as strong as steel.

Xiu Ye blinked his eyes, as a certain thought entered.

Wait a minute, was that world he fought Ryūjin Jakka at was his inner world or his spiritual sea? God, it's so confusing when you crossover in another world with a different power system.

Wait a minute...

If Ryūjin Jakka was in front of Xiu Ye, the latter would have seen a small smile form on the old man.

'Yes. Either it's because of you're own power or how this world works differently compared to mine, but your injuries wasn't reflected on you physically, only spiritually, which is really strange. Human souls are not supposed to take damage, for the damages they take are permanent and would have severe consequences on the human body. The ones exempted are Quinces and Shinigamis. However, your senses are shared between your spiritual body and physical body. What I want to say, is that this either applies to all soul masters or it's because you're special.'

Xiu Ye scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

'Anyways. I used the Jinzen as the core in the cultivation method, it works as the original, but as you enter your inner world: your physical body would automatically start absorbing soul power in the air around you.'

'...Uh, how in the fuck does that happen?' Absorbing the soul power around me automatically while I sleep? This is some grade A bullshit. It sounds like something from a overpowered main character storyline.

'By via medium, me. As I said, this cultivation method's core is that of Jinzen, you have to put me in your lap while you meditate. When you arrive in your inner world I would then control and gather the soul power in the air, along with the help of your spirit soul, to redirect it to your body.' Xiu Ye's eyes sparkled in amazement. Doesn't this mean he'll just sleep and he'll just reached the next rank?

'...Then you and I battle in your inner world.'

(●__●)

'What? Excuse me?!'

'Didn't you pay any attention? This cultivation method core is Jinzen, meaning you have to fight me. Just like why I attacked you when you entered your inner world.'

'But why?! I have Genryūsai Yamamoto's memories. I can just slowly integrate them to my own so I'll know how to fight and have combat experience and have his, also yours, abilities.'

'Yes, but there are problems to that. One, it's too slow. It'll take you years to integrate a two thousand years of memories, with the risks of either going insane or having identity disorder. Then two, even with all my former user's memories, your body won't be able to successfully perform most of his more powerful techniques, yet.

By fighting me in your inner world, I can help you safely integrate my former master's memories, help increase your soul power, spiritual power, and increase your physical body.'

'I can understand the former three but, the latter I cannot. My physical body cannot be affected when I'm in my inner world, remember?'

'Yes, you are correct, but I can redirect some of the soul power into your body: raising your physical strength slightly as most of the soul power goes to your cultivation. This also includes battle instincts as your physical body shares the same senses as your spiritual body. So, do you accept this cultivation method?'

Xiu Ye is dumbfounded.

Old men in cultivation novels, are so OP!

'...How are you so good in multitasking?'

'Being alive for two thousand years, as a captain commander, makes it so that having a multitasking skill is really needed to manage the idiots running around your society.'

Xiu Ye nodded in understanding, though not really, and began thinking.

In this world of Douluo Dalu, getting a cultivation method isn't easy. There's a lot of reasons for that, one, the main reason, is that not many soul masters, even ones that are Titled Douluos, can create a cultivation method. Even if they do, it doesn't mean they'll hand it over like their candy. You have to either be his/her disciple or a part of their organization. Two, even if you get a cultivation method, it doesn't mean it'll suit you and probably may do the opposite and cause irresistible damage to one's body and cultivation.

Thankfully, however, he has a very intelligent old monster sword spirit.

Gritting his teeth, Xiu Ye commuted telepathically to his martial soul.

'Alright, I want it. What's the name of this cultivation method you created?' His eyes burning in determination and resolve of the upcoming hell training he'll get. For the sake of being strong, to not feel that weak and helpless, I'll even walk the path to hell! No pain, no gain!

Unknown to Xiu Ye, the world of steel and fire within him, specifically the weapons, trembled in incomprehensible emotions akin to anticipation.

'I call it Soul God Cultivation Method.' Ryūjin Jakka smiled, sitting serenely crosslegged on the lower part of the only hill of swords in the world.

Xiu Ye quirked an eyebrow at the domineering name. But, shinigami translates to death god right? This technique is mostly derived from a shinigami's but the energy needed is soul power, so, Soul God Cultivation Method.

Simple, yet very arrogant sounding.

'No doubt, this guy is Genryūsai Yamamoto's Zanpakutō spirit. Alright, let's try this cultivation method out later–'

"Uuuuhhhh..." Xiu Ye's thoughts were broken by an unfamiliar yet also familiar voice near him.

Glancing to the side, his eyes widened to see a drooling Tang Wulin standing behind him.

What the heck is wrong with his luck?!