Chapter 30: A New Path

After Ulquiorra showcased his newfound intent aura, he and Feng Zhong trained with each other using purely their intents and qi in order to hone their skills more. As a phantom, Feng Zhong had strength equal to a first stage Sea Refinement realm, but was a peak Nascent Soul during the time he was alive. Needless to say, he had battle experience and prowess exceeding his rank. Still, it baffled him that when competing with pure true intent, he found himself having difficulty battling Ulquiorra.

Feng Zhong sent out a diagonal sword strike imbued with true intent that wished to cut everything down. On the other hand, Ulquiorra retaliated with his own sword strike, but with true intent that symbolized nothingness. They both negated each other, but Feng Zhong believed that it was mainly due to the cultivation strength difference. Ulquiorra had made major progress after a few more days, and is now at the peak of Qi Condensation realm. Feng Zhong signalled Ulquiorra to stop.

"It's time for us to help you tackle the foundation realm." Feng Zhong said.

"I see. I have indeed noticed that my qi is very lacking in quantity." Ulquiorra replied.

Feng Zhong nodded.

"Your qi and intent are of the highest quality I've seen. Your qi is concentrated and high in purity which allows for extreme efficiency, and I can say the same for the quality of your intent.Still, you need to break through." Feng Zhong said.

"How does one break through the Foundation realm?" Ulquiorra asked.

Feng Zhong raised his eyebrow.

"Hmm? Does your cultivation technique not allow one to break through to the Foundation realm? It can't be though. What sort of sect are you in?" Feng Zhong said.

"I don't have a cultivation technique." Ulquiorra replied blankly.

Feng Zhong went silent for a few seconds.

"Can you repeat that for me? Turning into a ghost must have affected my hearing. I thought you said that you didn't have a cultivation technique. I-" Feng Zhong said as he waved his hand in front him as if dismissing the previous thoughts.

"You didn't hear wrong. I cultivated instinctively." Ulquiorra interrupted.

Hearing this, Feng Zhong closed his eyes for a moment before looking into the illusionary sky of the intent stone world.

"Pain. I feel pain." Feng Zhong muttered.

Ulquiorra stared at Feng Zhong not knowing why he would feel pain. Was he injured somewhere during their clashes. That or is cultivating instinctively so hard to accept? Everything hollows did to get stronger was done instinctively.

Feng Zhong sighed.

"In that case, let's get you a cultivation technique that suits you the most." Feng Zhong said before snapping his finger.

The next moment, Ulquiorra found that he was back within the library. Feng Zhong reappeared in front of him. Feng Zhong looked at the library with nostalgia.

"It's been awhile since I was last here. My master brought me here once when I was still alive. He allowed me to pick a technique of my choosing." Feng Zhong said.

Ulquiorra looked around once more at the library. He wondered which cultivation technique would fit his fancy. While he was pondering about where to begin, Tian Cai suddenly appeared.

"Master!" Feng Zhong bowed.

"Having trouble I see. This seat will gladly assist you." Tian Cai to Ulquiorra with a smile.

Ulquiorra stared at Tian Cai. He wondered once more about his preferred technique. Should he go for something that suited him? Maybe something that revolved around the concepts of emotionless or nothingness? Suddenly, he remembered the words of Wang Yang during their spar.

Why cultivate if you don't have the heart?

Ulquiorra looked at Tian Cai, and said blankly.

"I want a cultivation technique focused on the heart"

Hearing this, both Tian Cai and Feng Zhong furrowed their eyebrows before looking at each other. A cultivation technique that focused on the heart? While a cultivation technique like that is readily available within the library, the two of them thought that it might not be suitable for an emotionless cultivator like Ulquiorra.

"A technique focused on the heart? Care to elaborate?" Tian Cai asked.

Ulquiorra paused. He understood that asking for such a cultivation technique for someone like him would seem illogical. Had it been him in Tian Cai's position, he would also deem it like that. Still, he had a new lease in life, and he wished to figure more about the heart. If cultivation can help him achieve his goal, then he will put his utmost effort into it. Also, he learned that cultivation was meant to go against the odds.

"I am an individual which lacks the heart. I do not understand the emotions of human beings which drive them to go against adversity. So far, I've only understood a miniscule of what it could be, but it is sorely lacking." Ulquiorra said.

Hearing this, the master and disciple nodded.

"I see. In that case, I know of a cultivation technique that might be suited to you the most. Still, it's one of the most dangerous ones in this library. Are you willing to try?" Tian Cai said causing Feng Zhong to gasp and stare at his master.

Tian Cai nodded understanding the meaning of Feng Zhong's stare. There were a lot of cultivation techniques in this library. Some are less risky than the others while some are filled with dangers. Still, there are only few techniques that would make the Heavenly Dragon sect elders deem as extremely dangerous.

"I understand." Ulquiorra answered blankly.

Tian Cai nodded, and waved his hand. From the depths of the library, a formation lit up, and a shelf of tomes appeared. The number of tomes on the shelf was merely around twenty. Each of them was placed on a golden miniature stand that showcased their importance. Tian Cai waved his hand once more, and one of the tomes that was on the shelf flew towards him. Tian Cai caught the tome, and handed it to Ulquiorra.

"This tome contains the High Heaven grade Heart's Monolith Technique. This technique can lead one up to the peak of Void Crossing realm currently as its missing some parts. It was retrieved from an ancient ruin found in the Endless Dusk Grand Forest which is located in the central region of our continent." Tian Cai said.

"I see. Why do you say that this technique is one of the most dangerous?"Ulquiorra asked as he observed the ordinary looking tome in his hands.

"This is because the technique requires one to develop their dao heart in two conflicting yet balancing ways. One would develop their cold and heartless side while also trying to balance it out with the warm or kind side of their dao heart. Doing this puts the cultivator in danger of qi deviation if they experience something that causes their dao heart to lean towards one side extremely. As of right now, you seem to only have the cold and heartless side part down." Tian Cai said.

"In that case, wouldn't this technique be a death sentence to someone like me?" Ulquiorra answered after hearing Tian Cai.

"You seem to misunderstand the meaning of kindness and warmth of a dao heart. One can take baby steps for this, and does not require the immediate understanding of the kind side of things. You'll know more as you go on. Also, the side-effects of the technique starts during the Golden core stage, and the effects can be withstood by someone with a strong enough mental state and soul strength." Tian Cai explained.

Ulquiorra looked once more at the tome. This was unknown territory for him, but still, it was something he was willing to take the risk for. He looked at Tian Cai, and within those emotionless green eyes of Ulquiorra, nobody noticed that it held an extremely miniscule and unnoticeable amount of something that Ulquiorra never thought he would have.

It was determination.

(AN: Okay! Time to start Ulquiorra's long path of character development! Don't worry. His character wouldn't change that much. He won't end up smiling a damned fool. You'll see what I mean as we progress. Also added high heaven grade in the clarification chapter.)