Time passed as Tao trained.
It was during this time that a wonderful thing occurred during one of his training sessions.
As Tao continued refining his control over Immortal Qi, he instinctively began to integrate it into his sword techniques. At first, it was subtle—his strikes carried greater sharpness and speed, slicing through air and the earth with unprecedented ease.
But soon, something far more profound emerged.
During one of his training sessions, he was wielding his sword and focusing on channeling his Qi into his strikes. He became lost in his mind and in the sword. The usage of his strike started getting faster and sharper, and quicker.
And in his next slash, a deep black, extremely sharp light erupted from his blade, cutting across the training courtyard like a crescent of pure void.
Tao stopped. He realized that this was not just Immortal Qi infused into his blade.
It was something else entirely.
A new type of energy surged forth—one that resonated with his very soul. It was Sword Qi—the natural evolution of swordsmanship when one's understanding of the blade reached an extreme level.
And Tao's was unlike any other.
Most sword cultivators who awakened Sword Qi would see theirs take on a sharp, radiant glow, often golden, silver, or blue, reflecting the purity of their intent.
But Tao's Sword Qi was pitch black, deeper than the abyss itself.
When he swung his blade, his Sword Qi did not simply cut—it devoured.
Butler An, who had been observing, narrowed his eyes.
"You have awakened Sword Qi… at such a young age. And it's unlike any I've seen before."
Tao gazed at his blade, fascinated yet wary.
.....
After witnessing Tao's awakening of Sword Qi, Butler An made a decisive call.
"That's enough for today. Take a break, Tao."
Tao, though eager to continue, nodded. He could feel the strain on his body after pushing himself to wield Immortal Qi and Sword Qi simultaneously. Even with his remarkable growth, he knew the importance of pacing himself.
As he sat down, Butler An stood before him, hands clasped behind his back, and began speaking.
"You've now taken your first steps into the mastery of Immortal Qi. But you must understand—Immortal Qi is merely the beginning. It is the foundation from which many different types of Qi are born."
Tao listened intently.
"Every fundamental force in existence possesses its own unique Qi. The natural elements—fire, water, wind, earth, ice, lightning, and metal—each have their corresponding Qi. These types of Qi are the most common, even in the lower realms. With enough understanding, even a mortal cultivator could wield them."
Tao nodded. This much, he already knew.
"But there are higher forms of Qi—rarer, more profound, and infinitely more difficult to attain.
Butler An's golden eyes gleamed as he continued.
"Death Qi. Life Qi. Space Qi. Time Qi. Light Qi. Darkness Qi. These are the forces that shape existence itself. They are not something you can simply cultivate like fire or water."
Tao frowned slightly as he asked, "Then how does one acquire them?"
Butler An smirked.
"Genius. A true genius in Dao comprehension may come into contact with these Qi types before ascending mortality. But for most cultivators, these forms of Qi remain beyond reach until they step into the ranks of true immortality."
He paused, then added, "These types of Qi require not just strength, but enlightenment. You must understand the very nature of these forces, what they represent, and how they interact with the world. Only then will they reveal themselves to you."
Tao absorbed these words carefully. He thought about his black Sword Qi, how it had manifested in such an unnatural way. Was it a sign that he was walking toward something beyond the conventional path of the sword?
Butler An continued, his voice carrying the weight of years of experience.
"For now, your focus should be on mastering Immortal Qi itself. Learn how to use it without waste, how to refine and sharpen your control over it. The rest will come in time."
Tao nodded, determination flashing in his white eyes. He would master Immortal Qi, and when the time came, he would surpass even the limitations set by fate.
A couple of weeks later, Tao stood in his training courtyard, his expression one of deep concentration. Before him lay a row of large stones, each heavier than the last.
His goal?
It was to master the Attraction and Repulsion Hand, a technique derived from his body cultivation method—one that required him to be at the second step of his body cultivation technique.
This technique revolved around manipulating one's center of gravity, forming a thin veil of gravitational force around the body. At lower levels, it functioned as an invisible armor, reinforcing the user's defenses.
At higher mastery, it allowed the user to pull objects toward them or repel them away with just the force of their hands.
Ultimately, at the peak of understanding, this technique led to comprehension of the Dao of Gravity, enabling a cultivator to manipulate natural gravitational forces rather than relying on their own.
Tao stood still, his long white hair swaying slightly in the breeze. He exhaled slowly, stretching out his hand toward the first stone.
A subtle hum filled the air.
A thin layer of invisible force wrapped around his right hand. The pressure was very strong, so strong in fact that Tao's right hand began to swell just a bit.
But soon his hand turned red from the strain on his blood vessels.
But after doing this for so long, this pain no longer bothered him. And right now, Tao was making progress. He could feel the stone before him, its weight, its resistance against the pull of his gravitational field.
"Attract."
The rock trembled. It shuddered in place before slowly rising off the ground, as if caught in an unseen grip. Tao gritted his teeth, his fingers twitching as he maintained control.
This required more focus than he expected—manipulating weight itself was far different from wielding sword intent or channeling Immortal Qi.
He then reversed the force.
"Repel!"
The stone suddenly lurched backward, tumbling away from him in a controlled motion.
Tao's white eyes flashed with understanding.
This technique wasn't just about force—it was about precision.
The less movement he made, the stronger his control would become. Right now, he was still using small hand gestures, but eventually, he would be able to control the force with mere intent alone.
Tao moved on to the next rock—larger, heavier.
It resisted more, forcing him to adjust his control, refine his movements.
Sweat began to form on his brow as he continued his relentless practice, repeating the cycle of Attraction and Repulsion, strengthening his control over gravity itself.
The days slowly went by as he trained this technique. And on the eighth day of practice, when the sun had begun setting. Tao's persistence bore fruit.
After days of rigorous training, he finally achieved small success in the Attraction and Repulsion Hand.
Though he was far from mastering it, he had gained enough control to pull objects like swords and arrows toward his hand or repel them away from his body.
His current range was limited to twelve meters, but that was more than enough for now. With further refinement, he knew this technique would become one of his strongest trump cards in battle.
This was a difficult technique, but he welcomed the challenge.
After all, power was nothing without mastery.
With his training session over, his body felt tense, but his spirit felt satisfied. His muscles were aching from the strain of his training.
It was time to relax. And he knew just what he needed.