Chapter 6: Sword Peak, Skyler Dawn

It was already late in the afternoon when Serana finished absorbing all the remaining pill energy that her master gave her. Now her strength was at mid-stage, Soul Ignition. If the sect learned about this, they'd be in disbelief—how was this possible? Serana had just entered the sect yesterday!

Gabriel noticed her arrival, waking up from his cultivation. Strangely, Serana felt that her master seemed a little different from how he used to feel. "Master, I've successfully absorbed the pill and had a minor breakthrough," she reported.

Gabriel smiled and nodded, "Good. Let's start the lesson. Today's topic is about cultivation levels and what's unique about them. Sit, it'll only be quick." He motioned for Serana to sit.

"Listen carefully. In the world of cultivation, there are two known realms: the mortal realm and the immortal realm. What I'm about to teach you is about the mortal realm. As for the immortal realm, we have no information on the specifics, but it indeed exists."

"In the mortal realm, there are ten stages a cultivator must attain before ascending to the heavens. These are Essence Awakening, Vitality Infusion, Harmony Attainment, Soul Ignition, Elemental Fusion, Samsara Revelation, Ethereal Transcendence, Cosmic Resonance, Primordial Awakening, and lastly, Ascendant Revelation. These stages can be designated by rankings: Essence Awakening is Rank 1, and Ascendant Revelation is Rank 10," Gabriel slowly explained. He then pointed at her, "Right now, you're a Rank 4 cultivator at mid-stage."

"Meanwhile, I'm still at Rank 2 mid-stage," Gabriel said without concern because he knew this was only temporary. He didn't have to worry because he could feel Gabrielle's strength increasing every minute. It wouldn't take long for her to surpass the main body.

However, Serana felt differently because she didn't know what secrets Gabriel had. To her, her master would forever be weak and left behind. One didn't need to be a genius to see that someone like her would eventually go too far for her master to catch up. Look at their ranks now; she had just arrived yesterday, and now she had surpassed her master on day two.

"Master don't worry. I'll always protect you and be with you!" Serana promised sincerely, stunning Gabriel. Then he laughed, realizing her perspective. Shaking his head, he said, "Don't worry about me. Focus on your cultivation first. Your master will catch up soon."

Serana didn't believe it, but she still nodded in the end.

"Right, the sect master was rumored to be a little stronger than my dead master, others said both were at the same rank. When your grandmaster was alive, he should have been at Rank 5 at peak stage, but when he tried to break through to the 6th rank, he failed and died in the process," Gabriel sighed, thinking about it. But that's karma for you, bozo.

Serana was surprised to learn that she was close to her grandmaster's rank; it was only one above her. "Master, why does it seem easy to cultivate?" When he heard this, he couldn't help but purse his lips and lightly smack her head.

"What easy? Good luck trying to break through the 5th rank. You're a little lucky because I spent a lot of treasures that this sect doesn't have on you," Gabriel harrumphed. "With you speeding through from Rank 1 to 4, you have a lot of things to catch up on, and you're very unstable. There's a lot to attain before you can successfully break through the 5th rank."

"Listen well, Sera. In Rank 1, you have to master sensory perception, which clearly you don't have! That's your first task! When you master it, you should have increased intuition and be able to feel the nature around you," Gabriel explained. "At Rank 2, you should master physical sense and unlock your minor element affinity, but this part is already unlocked, so you have to train your elemental control and master it."

"Master the requirements first from these two ranks, then we'll continue later when you've finished mastering these. With your talent, it should be easy. Rank 3 and 4 requirements will not work without your first and second rank mastery."

Having been lectured by Gabriel, Serana felt her shoulders droop as she realized the amount of tasks she had to do. Master is right; it isn't easy! I shouldn't be too arrogant.

"Remember, you still don't have offensive or defensive skills. There's a lot more to learn," Gabriel reminded.

Serana nodded quietly as she understood.

"Now this class has been concluded. Master the tasks I gave you and inform me when you've finished. Don't be lazy, okay?" Gabriel smiled and patted her head.

Despite reaching over 3rd rank, her strong feelings for her master managed to surface as a faint blush appeared on her cold face.

"I'll do my best. Thank you, master."

As Serana left the main hall, Gabriel went inside his consciousness and checked on Gabrielle.

When he entered, he was surprised to feel the cool breeze inside even though his body in this world is just a soul without a body. "This technique is really fearsome; even spirits can be frozen," he sighed as he looked over at Gabrielle.

Gabriel checked her cultivation and was surprised to see that she's almost breaking through to the 2nd rank. But it's not shocking because he had already broken through that stage and was able to master the requirements to advance. For him, what's surprising is how fast she's cultivating despite being of average talent. The walkthrough really helps a lot.

Now, seeing the fast results, Gabriel decided to earn more GMP so that he could use the 100% walkthrough on his body refinement technique. He still hadn't started refining his body with it. Gabriel was traumatized and developed some doubts about his understanding due to his failure that damaged his talent when he was doing everything by himself. He'll cultivate properly if he knows 100% of what he's doing.

He doesn't want to damage his already damaged potential.

Gabriel looked at Gabrielle for a second before deciding to leave the mind space and let her continue to cultivate. After waking up in the real world, he decided to go to the First Sword Peak, which is the 4th mountain peak where Elder Skyler is the peak master.

Gabriel left his peak and walked his way to the 4th mountain peak. He decided to go there because he needed sword arts that suited his disciple, and while he was there, he might as well look for his offensive technique. Gabriel hasn't awakened his elemental affinity yet, so he still hasn't decided what to choose.

In Grey Mountain Sect, there are two sword mountain peaks: the 4th and 5th mountain peaks. Gabriel chose the 4th peak because the 5th peak seems a bit too hostile to him. Meanwhile, Skyler doesn't seem to care that much that he has become an elder, though Gabriel doubts that she doesn't have anything negative to say about him. After all, his news of becoming an elder at Rank 2 is such a joke even for a low-tier sect.

His entire existence is dirty to these elders. But Skyler shouldn't be too mad, as these two haven't had much interaction, and when they first met during his inaugural, she treated him as air.

…

Because the 7th peak is at the back end of the mountain ranges, it took Gabriel a lot of effort to arrive at the 4th peak, as his peak and hers are on completely different sides of the sect. Sweating a lot, Gabriel sighed as he entered the 4th mountain peak.

Sword cultivators are the most common cultivators in the world, which is why there are two sword peaks in the sect. A single elder can't handle almost a thousand disciples.

Unlike the 7th peak, which is barren of disciples, this peak is full of disciples with varying strengths. However, because these are core disciples of Skyler, their strength is a bit too strong for Gabriel to manage.

It didn't take long for some disciples to notice him, as this peak is full of women. This is where female sword cultivators cultivate, while men cultivate at the 5th peak. Seeing a man in this area is as rare as a unicorn, so he easily got attention.

These disciples quickly realized that this man is the infamous elder in the sect, making the bustling area turn into a quiet, gossipy area, as whispers filled Gabriel's ears.

"Isn't this Gabriel? The 7th peak master?"

"He's too young, no?"

"He's indeed young, as old as you!"

"Ehhh? Really, he's already a peak master at such a young age!"

"Shh! Don't you know that he's the weakest elder in the sect?"

"Whaaat? Really, how strong is he?"

"Only at Vitality Infusion… so about rank 2."

"Pfft! Wtf, are you serious, sis? I'm stronger than him!"

"Anyone is stronger than him. He's such a joke to the sect that it's so insulting."

"True, being an elder with that much strength… it's indeed insulting. I should be an elder if that's the case!"

"Shh! Rumors say that the sect master is behind him, so no one can really touch him in the sect."

"Fuck me! Such a coward!"

Hearing this gossip made Gabriel's heart bleed. He felt so ashamed. Even though the cultivating Gabrielle stopped because both of them have the same senses, she had her eyes closed while a streak of tears flowed from her eyes.

As the whispers got louder and louder, some of the disciples couldn't take it any longer and approached Gabriel.

Usually, when a disciple meets an elder, they greet them with respect and salute. However, the disciple that approached him didn't even bother greeting him and went directly to questioning him, "State the purpose of your visit?"

Gabriel is still young, so he didn't mind the disrespectful attitude this disciple had towards him. "I'm looking for your peak master. I have something to request."

Hearing this, her face made a frown, then she looked into his eyes. "Master is busy cultivating. Go back and try again later." She dismissed him. When she was about to turn around, Gabriel spoke once more, "Then, it seems you're one of her main disciples. Can you take me to your sword art pavilion?" he calmly requested.

"You…" Annoyed, she was about to dismiss him again when a sharp, yet gentle voice rang out, startling her.

"Jessica, stand down." Both she and the disciples around the area quickly saluted and faced the person who had just spoken.

"Greetings, Master!"

Gabriel looked at the source and saw the familiar figure of the 4th peak master, Skyler Dawn, a 5th rank at peak stages. Skyler wore a heavy yet tight robe that still showed her amazing figure. Her body proportions were still impressive if Gabriel were to describe them; her chest was big but not too big, and the same for her butt. She was 5'9", a little shorter than him but tall for a woman.

If Gabriel were to describe her face, it would be stunning, sharp, and brave. Her black hair was fixed in a low ponytail with a long sword sheathed at her waist.

Skyler walked slowly, and behind her, four disciples with strong auras followed. These disciples were her main disciples, and their ranks were at 5th rank early stages. It seemed that Jessica was the youngest main disciple of Skyler, with her rank being only at the 3rd rank.

"Master…" Jessica gave her master a salute with her head down, trying not to look into her eyes as she knew she had made a mistake just now by lying on behalf of her master.

"Greetings, Brother Gabriel. Why are you here?" Skyler glanced at Jessica before looking at Gabriel calmly.

Her carefree attitude made Gabriel feel only a little glad because the aura Skyler radiated was sharp! It felt like he was about to be sliced into multiple pieces if he did something to anger her.

Gabriel gave her a salute and with a smile on his face, "Greetings, Sister Skyler. I'm here to ask for your permission to look inside your sword art pavilion. However, I thought Sister Skyler was cultivating and was about to ask your disciple here to guide me there." After saying that, he gave Jessica a glance that made her flinch as cold sweat began spreading on her back, 'Damn you!'

"Hmm, is that so." Skyler glanced again at Jessica, and Jessica felt she was about to die!

"My disciple is joking; please pardon her rudeness." Although she was asking for forgiveness, her attitude didn't show it.

Gabriel didn't care about it; she could be arrogant anytime.

"Since you're already one of the sect elders, naturally, you have the right to look at my sword arts pavilion. However, I'd like to ask, why do you need it?" she asked.

"As Sister Skyler knows, I have a disciple. What I'm doing is all for my poor disciple." Gabriel gave a 'pained yet faint smile' on his face, thinking of his poor disciple back on his peak.

When Skyler saw his expression, she was shocked, 'This guy… So, he's here for his disciple?'

Thinking of the girl he had taken back to his peak, she recalled that girl was as talented as grass at the bottom of the mountain (outer disciples). A pitiful master and a pitiful disciple, the 7th peak had declined so much.

Skyler had been in the sect for almost twenty years now. Back then, the 7th peak was one of the strongest peaks, known for their all-rounder specialization in the sect. They had 20 disciples whose talents were high. However, the grandmaster of Gabriel's master left the sect along with his students, leaving only Gabriel's master in the sect, whose talent surpassed everyone's except the sect master's.

Unfortunately, such a character died with a neglected disciple that the sect master forced upon him, leaving the 7th peak in its current state.

The 7th peak had many pavilions because of their all-rounder specialization. However, Gabriel's grandmaster took everything, leaving only what was necessary for Gabriel's master's cultivation.

Looking at Gabriel, Skyler thought, 'It seems he's putting a lot of effort into his disciple to at least try to preserve the 7th peak's name.'

Skyler's aura dropped and soon vanished, making everyone sigh in relief, especially Jessica. Gabriel looked at Skyler, whose eyes suddenly relaxed, making him confused about what she was thinking.

"Follow me," Skyler turned around and walked up the mountain.

"Disciples, stay here. I'll have a private conversation with Brother Gabriel," Skyler informed her disciples, making them confused as they looked at each other but still followed her orders.

Stats:

[User: Gabriel Smith]

[Age: 18]

[Disciples: 1. Serana Stark]

[Rank: Vitality Infusion Mid stage]

MP: 20 GMP: 30

[Clone Stats:]

[Gabrielle: Yin] [Absolute Zero: Ice Emperor Technique] [Essence Awakening Late stage]

[Serana Stats:]

[Age: 15] [Talent: Unlimited]

[Absolute Zero: Ice Emperor Technique (0.6% learning progress)]

[Rank: Elemental Infusion (5th)]