57 New Technique

'Isn't that too fast? I've only known her for less than a week.'

Jim: "Well, let's pack up and head to the new place."

Jane: "I'm not going."

Jim: "Mom?"

Jane: "Son, you've grown a lot recently. I don't really understand everything thats going on, but you've just bought your own house and are ready to move out. Having your mother follow you everywhere you go is no good."

Jim: "Mom..."

Jane: "Just make sure to visit, okay?"

Jim: "Mm, alright."

Jane had been looking after him for most of his life. Even when others ridiculed him for not getting a job, she didn't complain. When people claimed his mental problems were faked, she didn't question him. With his eyes a little misty, Jim went to go grab what he didn't already have packed in his inventory.

Jim: "Bye, Mom."

Jane: "Take care, Son."

With Xia, Astrill, and Libta tagging along, Jim headed to the new house. Jim bought a Mask of Deception for Xia so people wouldn't be confused at seeing a woman with pink skin walking around.

Silky: "Master, you're here!"

Jim nodded and introduced the three, Astrill and Libta couldn't seem to see or hear her. 'Is it because they haven't increased their cultivation? Mana Sense should allow someone to see her too...'

Imparting Mana Sense, the two seemed to notice something.

Jim: "Can you see her now?"

Astrill: "I can see some kind of faint outline of something."

Raising Libta's Mana Sense to the highest he could, her eyes widened at the sight of a floating woman suddenly appearing. Having the girls choose their preferred rooms, Jim got to work.

The Sura Inheritance contained knowledge of formations, Jim wanted to study this topic in depth. Although the Flowing Cloud Sect's library had some material on formations, it was very limited. With only a few records of certain formations, it contained nothing on discernment, disarming, or theory.

Jim felt it was similar to receiving a stack of appliance manuals without having learned how to read. All of the books were just meaningless symbols. However, now that he had some foundational knowledge on the subject, he could begin digesting the knowledge.

To start, Jim tried setting up a very basic Qi Gathering Formation. The purpose was simple, upon setting up the formation an invisible vortex will suck in the surrounding Qi. More advanced versions would suck in more Qi from a larger area.

Using Create Stone, Jim carved a smooth plate from the chunk. Then, carving symbols into the stone plate, Jim set it down on the floor and used the activation technique. Sensing the Qi, it began flowing toward the plate and settled, creating a small pocket of dense Qi. Deactivating the plate, the Qi slowly dissipated back into the surroundings. 'Hm.'

[Formation Utilization Skill Obtained]

[Formation Carving Skill Obtained]

[Formation Discernment Skill Obtained]

Carving additional Qi Gathering Formations, Jim tested the effects of slightly altering the patterns. 'Seems to still work like this...Completely doesn't work now.' It was night when he decided to take a break.

Silky: "Um, Master...We don't have any food in the house."

Jim: "Mm? Ah, right, take me to the kitchen."

Silky: "Yes!"

Taking a pot out of his inventory, Jim put it under the faucet and turned the knob. Nothing happened.

Silky: "Master, we don't have water..."

Jim facepalmed, he hadn't contacted the utilities company to get water, electricity, or gas. 'Well, let's save on cost.' Jim bought a Waterworks Facility and Power Plant from the shop. As his subordinate, Silky had an inventory, so he felt the Storage Facility wasn't needed. 'Right, she needs a name, I can't keep calling her Silky."

Jim: "What do you think of the name Olivia?"

The Silky turned over from inspecting the boxes he had placed with surprise.

Silky: "I-is that my new name?"

Jim nodded, Olivia was ecstatic and began muttering the name to herself repeatedly. 'Seems she likes it.' After taking a moment to think, Jim bought a Hydroponics Facility too. 'I can have Olivia increase my magic ingredients stockpile.'

Unfortunately, the oven and stove require gas, so Jim introduced Olivia to the system functions and facility usage. His subordinates had the cooking assist functions, so they didn't really need the oven to function.

Olivia: "How is this possible?"

Repeatedly moving items in and out of the inventory, Olivia stared in wonder.

After having a bite to eat, Jim chose a room on the first floor for himself. Settling in, he used Serene Mind. 'Hm, my cultivation suddenly sped up before, but I can't seem to break through to the next realm.'

[Serene Mind Level Max]

Continuing, it just didn't seem to work. 'Maybe...this is the limit Serene Mind can bring someone to?' Thinking along those lines, Jim searched his memories for a new core cultivation technique.

'Flame Devil Sutra? No, feels like it would lock me into an element. Great Twin Core? Looks like this needs another person to work.'

Eventually, Jim settled on Eternal Heavenly Art. The name had a powerful feeling to it, and the manual said it would allow cultivation up to the 8th realm. He was at the peak of the 4th right now, it felt fitting to choose one that doubled his growth capacity.

Using Eternal Heavenly Art, an intense golden glow surrounded Jim. He could feel...something inside him. Like a fierce beast that just awakened, or calm winds suddenly becoming a hurricane. Something inside himself began moving, churning, slamming against his organs and bones.

Jim felt like someone was beating the crap out of him, but from the inside. His body was breaking, then reforming, then breaking again. He was being reforged.

Finally, it stopped, a breath of relief escaped from Jim's mouth. He was startled to find that two days had passed during his cultivation. He hadn't broken through, but felt he was close, another round was sure to do the trick. However, he was hungry, extremely so.

Using detection, he found Olivia was dusting the dining hall. The others were asleep. Heading over, he checked if there was any food ready.

Olivia: "Oh, Master! I tried to bring you some food, but you seemed to be in the middle of something."

Jim: "I'm starving, anything on the menu?"

Olivia: "Yes! This Inventory thing you gave me is great! The food I cook stays warm and fresh even after a day passes!"

Jim: "I'm glad you like it."

After eating, Jim continued researching formations and pill refining.