Chapter 327 - Struggle and overcome!

"Hmm, it needs more soy sauce."

Caelum commented busily cooking while at the dinner table were the Nakano sisters and Miko who were completely silent. They were a bit awkward seeing another girl had got closer to Caelum. 

Everyone in the room had been relatively close to Caelum and was slightly jealous that he kept having women left and right. 

Though, all of them besides Miko knew that he had relationships with multiple women, occasionally mentioning their names.

Caelum was open about it and proudly told them regarding his lovers. Every time he would be at a loss telling stories about his lovers and how loving his voice was.

"What's your relationship with Masa-kun, Miko-san?"

Ichika leaned slightly, seemingly confronting Miko who felt anxious under her gaze. 

"His...an acquaintance who is helping me with a personal issue." 

"You don't need to be stiff, I'm just teasing you. Though, can you tell us about yourself?"

After a while, they grew comfortable with each other chatting about different things and getting to know each other. On the other hand, Caelum is almost finished with his dishes placing the plate in front of them before adding prices.

The young girls inside noticed the aroma that tickles their senses and made them hungry. It was completely different from any dishes they had ever smelled before.

"Caelum-san, what are you cooking if I may ask?"

"It's the national dish of my homeland, hope you like it."

Caelum untied his apron before placing the chicken that had dark coloration from the Soy sauce and the aroma indicated a sourness from the vinegar.

He gave them each a piece of chicken and a drizzle of the sauces that made Itsuka drool.

"What do you call this dish, Caelum-san?"

"It's called Chicken Adobo that cooks with bay leaf, garlic, black pepper, soy sauce, and vinegar. Now then, itadakimasu!"

He clasped his hand in prayer before thanking the food and devouring it to nourish his body. The Nakano sisters and Miko dug in and upon putting the food into their mouths instantly exploded with flavors. 

It made their body instantly feel revitalized from the first bite. The reason is Caelum Culinary Qi is applied to the food magnifying its taste and flavor along with its nutrients. They couldn't stop eating, savoring the flavor that was foreign to them.

"It tastes really great. I'm slowly becoming itsuka" (Miku)

"Hey! What are you implying, miku! But I can't deny it tastes amazing."

"This is delicious, Caelum! I can't stop getting over the taste of the chicken."(Nino)

"Another one, please!" (Yotsuba)

"Now I know why you have so many women chasing you, Masa-kun. What do you think, Miko-san?" (Ichika)

Miko, who had been quietly eating, was taken aback by Ichika's question. She had not realized it but her heart was slowly falling for him. 

Turning to take quick glances at Caelum who gave a teasing smile that made her blush.

'He's really like those harem protagonists!' 

"Ichika stop teasing her and thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it."

"Can you teach me how to cook this?"

"Sure, Nino. I'll give you a recipe. Now let's finish up."

Later, Miko went home after a few minutes while Nakano's sister went back to their apartment leaving Caelum to continue training.

Another week passed by, Caelum had grown closer to the Nakano sister while training Miko to control her ability subsequently made her learn things much faster than normal humans. 

In those times he had bonded with Saki as well, letting her visit his home and even her own home. He found that her father had been bed-ridden recently and made Saki worried. 

It was unfortunate that she was not aware of the intention of that bastard to ever change her looks and hairstyle.

Doctors won't even be able to save him and only time would pass by until his soul returns to Caelum. 

He had taken the time to plant a seed of temptation to Saki's mother that slowly made her fall for him. She was mentally deranged and was taken advantage of by her soon-to-be ex-husband.

Caelum fixed that distinction by giving her some tea and applying some Qi to cleanse her mind and the abnormalities. 

Besides his relationship with them growing every day, Caelum's ability slowly grew and tempered to the point it was harder than twenty meters thick iron wall. 

He was unable to break through his pseudo-Great Grandmaster who had yet to perfect his Martial art.

Nevertheless, the Essences slowly manifest and condense that Caelum is unable to know the result once it reaches the highest density.

Caelum had been researching what is an Essence as they were Essence in the bloodline and Martial art but what is it truly. He scoured through his vast knowledge and only came up with one answer. 

'Essence is part of an Embodiment.' 

He muttered under his breath hanging on the railings of his balcony with only the gripped stretch of his foot.

Caelum kept trying to find a way to turn the essence into an Embodiment but came to a dead end. 

'The only way to find the answer is by regaining my power. That would take a while and the best to do is just refine the essence."

He thought while yawning as it was already night and a few days from now was a festival in the town. Caelum had been thinking of making each of the women that he had met some gift.

'Hmm!?'

A loud thump could be heard that Caelum almost fell from the building quickly leaping inside his apartment while looking in the direction of the sound that grew louder by the second. 

Caelum quivers in excitement and fear continuously cutting in numerous places from the thought of lighting this being. He knew that this person had reached an enlightenment state while wielding a blade.

Every time he manifests him into his mind it always slices him even how much he tried. it was as if he had become the living embodiment of the blade itself only limited by his mortal status. 

'How unfortunate that it isn't the right time but I'll make sure to fight him once I've reached the Great Grandmaster.'

Caelum thought before meditating to try finally open the gates of his Jade Pagoda that had been far too long. 

He deeply concentrated, thickening the line between his Consciousness and Subconsciousness that was taking on a top of his mental state.  

Shrouding himself in think Qi then converting it into a mental energy to help cope with the stress. Caelum may have an incredible body but his current mental state was far too weak. 

Time passes, Caelum gritting his teeth from the unbearable pain but keeps getting closer. 

"Now!"

He took a needle then pierced his forehead that caused a vortex of energy to circulate in single locations that caused a massive explosion of energy that only those having Qi would sense. 

It showered Caelum in immense tranquility fusing the essence of his Martial art directly into his being. This caused him to be on the verge of becoming a true Great Grandmaster lacking a few more steps. 

Moments later, Caelum found himself floating in the vast ocean of knowledge and before him was the World Dao tree that had its leaves outstretched to the endless darkness covering everything with it's now golden leaf.

At the top was the Jade Pagoda that had shimmer more lustrous acquiring ancient sanskrit.  

He had only spent a few weeks within the world yet the sensation felt like an eternity. Caelum tried using the Jade Pagoda as medium to siphon energy from his sealed Dantian but to no avail. 

"Hey, it's worth the shot. Now then let's see if there are any changes."

Caelum flew towards the first floor and opened the large door perplexing him from the pressure it produced. He currently has peak human strength and the weight already made him ten times heavier. 

It was the perfect place to temper himself and refined the essence. The place was now 1/100,000 years dilution and everything around the space contained nourishing plants that he had planted beforehand.  

He stepped foot into the subspace, fell into his knees barely standing back up and instead of frown opted a grinned accepting the challenge and struggled. 

"Now then, it's time for some training!"

Caelum stood up, yelled out struggling yet standing unbound by his own weakness. Only by struggling and overcoming that struggle one would truly call themselves powerful.