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Louis sat in lotus position over glowing runes of various colors. The Essence of the Five Elements slowly surged from beneath him, absorbing ambient energy to fuel itself. The Five Elemental Harmonization Array had been set up correctly; now the only task left was to test it. According to his father and the VPI workers, it was an exceptionally easy array to establish. They had even brought the formula back to recreate it, modify it, improve it, or perhaps adapt it for technological use.
While concentrating, Louis studied the scroll of the Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutras and uncovered its intricacies. As the merchant had explained:
"The sutras include diagrams and breathing techniques that map the Heavenly Channels, linked to celestial energy, and Earthly Channels, linked to terrestrial vitality. These channels form a dual circuit that, when activated, allows the practitioner to absorb ambient Essence from their surroundings."
Louis nodded, recalling the words as he examined the small illustrations showing the human body and the locations of the Heavenly and Earthly Channels.
The Heavenly Channels were associated with Heavenly Ki, the invisible celestial energy flowing from the cosmos. They embodied the Yang aspect of cultivation: expansive, active, outward-moving. To absorb it, one expanded Lifeforce and Consciousness toward the skies, like branches reaching as high as possible.
The Earthly Channels were tied to Earthly Ki, the grounded, physical energy of nature and the planet. They represented the Yin aspect: stabilizing, nourishing, inward-moving. To draw it in, one extended Lifeforce and Consciousness into the ground, like roots spreading indefinitely—the deeper, the better.
The key difference lay in their purposes. Heavenly Channels and Heavenly Ki related to constellations, the cosmos, spirituality, consciousness, mind, and soul. Heavenly Ki was essential for cultivating these aspects. If Louis intended to refine a Soul Gear, he would need Heavenly Ki and appropriate Soul Refining Methods.
That was why he had sought Soul Cultivation Methods—something Spiritias specialized in. Unfortunately, Zorba knew none, and Robert had failed to locate anyone selling them. Louis had to set that pursuit aside for now.
In contrast, Earthly Ki focused on physical body cultivation. It anchored the body's Essence to the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), strengthening resilience, vitality, and elemental affinity. It was commonly used in forging meridians, refining bones, and tempering muscles.
So far, Louis had relied on the purest Ki extracted from his living body—Lifeforce. By refining it with Heaven and Earth Essence and opening his Channels, he could further purify and strengthen his internal energy.
"Concentrate... Expand your Consciousness. Offer your Lifeforce to Heaven and Earth... This is a ritual, isn't it? Offering oneself to the heavens and the earth. My soul, my spirit, my body, my own sense of self."
Louis recited the mantra silently while steadily expanding his Ki Aura. The golden aura gradually shaped into a large tree, branches stretching into the skies and roots delving underground. These were merely the initial stages of cultivation; mastering this marked only the beginning of the path toward Immortality, a practice widespread in Zipangu. Yet Louis did not dream of Immortality at the moment. With the power of Regression, outliving his natural span no longer concerned him.
"Offering oneself, body, soul, mind, spirit, everything... Offering oneself, body, soul, mind, spirit, everything... Offering oneself, body, soul, mind, spirit, everything..."
He muttered the words in silence, eyes closed, fully immersed in the delicate, frustrating task of shaping his Aura into a tree. Four hours passed; it was already 9 PM, dinnertime. Louis had instructed his servants and allies not to disturb him while he practiced.
He clenched his teeth as the hours dragged on. Then, in what felt like the blink of an eye, morning arrived. His tree-shaped Aura finally began absorbing Heavenly and Earthly Ki.
"Ah, it's done, huh?"
Louis was surprised it had completed so soon. After more than twelve hours of practice, his Aura had taken proper form and was now drawing in energy as intended. This stage was called "Heaven-Earth Ash Tree."
"Now that I've finished this, what's next? Should I begin with one of the Five Elements or...?" Louis wondered quietly.
The Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutras described the Five Elements in detail. Each required a distinct ritual to awaken and then grow through constant use. One could technically start with any element, but Louis chose Earth first, the foundation of the body.
"Become one with the earth, with the dirt and soil beneath your feet. Dig yourself underground, hug the ground, hug the dirt, kiss the soil you step on. Appreciate life, connect with the world, see nature and life for what they are, forever tied to the earth below us. Earth is support, strength, endurance, vitality, perseverance... I'm not kissing the ground, but okay. I understand."
To unlock each element, one performed rituals that brought the practitioner closer to its essence. For Earth, Louis had asked Catrise to summon a Mage with Earth Magic. Anastasia, a Druid with Earth Spells learned from her parents, had volunteered.
"Your majesty, are you sure about this? Is it really okay for me to throw a pile of dirt over the prince?"
"It's fine! Just do it!"
"Okay..."
The rabbit-eared ice elf sighed. She waved her hand, manifesting a large magic circle above Louis. A massive pile of soil poured down, covering him completely.
RUMBLE!
Louis was buried from head to toe. Wearing only shorts and no shirt, he was nearly nude. Fortunately, only his servants were present, and he no longer cared if they saw him. He had already earned the title "Mad Prince"—he no longer gave a damn.
He was prepared to do anything for power.
"..."
Louis coughed dirt as he briefly dug his face free to breathe, then plunged back into the pile for minutes, then an hour, then two, then three...
Inside, he was far from idle. He constantly spread his Consciousness and Aura, letting the scent of soil fill his nostrils, absorbing its very essence. He was trying to become dirt.
And somehow, it was working. The lower one placed themselves before the world, the easier it became to merge with earth.
Throughout his life, Louis had struggled to meet everyone's expectations. It was not unreasonable to say he viewed himself as worthless, lower than garbage.
Like dirt itself.
Though he was improving, those feelings and memories still lingered, enabling him to draw closer to the element.
To grow near the Element of Earth, one had to be humble—one could not believe oneself above the soil stepped on every day.
Thus, in just three hours, he began meditating inside the pile of dirt...
FLASH!
A brilliant golden-brown aura erupted from Louis' body. The dirt around him lifted momentarily, transforming into large rocks that fell gently to the ground, forming a circle around him.
"Prince Louis, you did it!" Catrise cheered.
"He really did it..." Anastasia murmured, genuinely surprised.
"Hmmm..." Louis examined his Aura, checking for changes.
Though faint, something had indeed shifted. The Element of Earth now flowed through him weakly, not Earthly Ki, but the raw Elemental Power of dirt, stone, soil, rocks, mountains, mud, and more.
It felt firm, reliable, strong. Strangely, it soothed him beyond physical benefits, stabilizing his mind, calming his thoughts, granting clearer focus.
"Huh... this is incredible."
And it was only one of the five elements.
"Should I start the second right away? I want to master them all quickly, but perhaps it's unrealistic given my time... I also have to guide Mirai and Zorba..."
For a moment, Louis struggled to decide. He needed to balance training with Mirai and Zorba, ensure they learned cooperation, and attend Holy Lance Style lessons with Robert after breakfast.
"Hmm, well, I think I can combine a few things. Let's maximize my time as much as possible."
♢♢♢♢
1 PM, Knights Training Ground.
To the dismay of everyone present, the Mad Prince Louis was once again doing something utterly outrageous, something no one could have anticipated.
He was burning. His body was literally engulfed in flames. His hair blazed, his eyes scorched, his skin reddened and charred black.
He was dying—killing himself by fire.
And he did it with a wide grin while clashing against Robert with the new spear he had received as a gift from the Zipangu merchant the previous day. He was testing its unexpected new powers—perfect for cultivating the Fire Element of the Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutras.
Robert's face showed clear shock. Even he, known as the Mad Lance of the Holy Dragon Mother Church, was not this insane.
"Prince Louis, are you okay in the head? Why are you like this?"
"Silence! Show me your moves, Robert. Teach me how the Holy Lance Style is done."
"But you're burning...!"
"It's fine. This is the fastest, most efficient way to attune my body to the Heaven-Earth Harmonization Fire Sutra! And fighting you might accelerate it. I won't waste even a second."
"Doesn't it hurt?"
"Yes, it hurts so much I want to die!"
Louis swung his crimson spear, the Red Salamander Spear forged in Yamato's mountains. Its fiery aura surged around him, intensifying the flames.
"But!"
"This!"
"Is!"
"What I!"
"Must do!"
Each word was a strike. Robert felt genuine fear. He retreated, dodging blows while staring into Louis' burning eyes. The old man regretted his earlier words and wanted to flee.
"Face me!!!"
Louis roared. His Aura of flames exploded outward. The spear absorbed the fire and grew stronger. Louis channeled all his rage, his fiery spirit, his motivation, his fighting will.
This was Fire. The Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutras taught that one attained the element by experiencing emotions closest to flame while remaining near the element itself.
The scroll contained a forbidden method: setting oneself ablaze. It was considered suicidal and strongly discouraged. Meditation surrounded by bonfires was far safer.
But Louis had no time for safe methods.
"Damn it! Okay! The Holy Lance Style is all about the Good Virtues taught in your mother's church!" Robert shouted while evading blazing strikes. "Kindness, Humility, Sincerity, Charity, Justice, and so on! For beginners! Do Kindness! Show me...! Show me your kindness!"
"My Kindness?! I've got all the kindness in the world right here! TAKE IT, ROBERT!"
"Wha...?!"
Louis attacked with greater ferocity. The spear absorbed the flames consuming him and grew even more powerful. His strikes sharpened, accelerated, releasing searing explosions of all-consuming fire that constantly forced the veteran back.
"Hahah! I must say, your majesty, your sincerity is truly endearing! However!"
Robert manifested his Aura through his Orichalcum Spear and thrust forward. The weapon struck one of Louis' shoulder pads, shattering it as a beam of radiant light erupted.
"Nnnggh...! Hahaha...! Show me what you've got, Mad Lance!"
Louis laughed through the pain as he burned. His body was never fully incinerated, the spear absorbed part of the flames while Handy healed him gradually, maintaining a state of constant burning, deterioration, but never too far.
Their weapons clashed: flames against blinding holy light. Searing explosions and light beams shot skyward as the Mad Prince and the Mad Lance traded blows with unrelenting fury.
Louis channeled his most wrathful side—the complete opposite of Earth—and unleashed all his fury into his body. The flames intensified until, at some point, they became part of him.
"I'm almost there! I'll show you my sincerity now, Robert! Is it like this, right?!"
"...!"
Robert stared in astonishment as Louis laughed, gripping his spear tightly. He began loading it with a precise fluctuation of Ki and Mana, a combination of flow, breathing, and mindset that triggered the technique. The trace of the Holy Dragon Mother fused with it all at once.
"Holy Lance Style."
"First Form!"
"Heart-Piercing Sincerity!!!"
"...?!"
FLAAASH!
For the first time, Louis manifested light—a pale, gray light that could never be truly holy, yet it was his own. Twisted light born from his Despair, a reflection of Ashen Frost shaped into an attack through his spear. A crude, imperfect imitation of the true Holy Lance Style.
But it carried tremendous power.
BOOOM!
"Kuaaaagh?!"
Robert vomited blood as the strike hit his stomach with terrifying speed. Yet the old butler refused to be sent flying. Planting his foot firmly, clenching his teeth, he seized Louis' lance with burning hands and roared, swinging his own spear at Louis' torso.
"UUAAAH!"
CLAAASH!
"Gaaaah?!"
Louis groaned, face contorted in pain as he nearly fell. But like Robert, his pride would not allow surrender. His madness reached its peak. The flames ceased burning him entirely and slowly transformed into a fiery essence that became his own lifeforce.
This was the Element of Fire—Fire Ki in its weakest form.
"How about this, old man? Can you take it?!"
Louis roared, channeling immense power into his crimson spear. A dragon's roar echoed behind his Aura. The watching knights, butlers, and maids stood in awe at the mad prince's ever-growing might.
Mirai had just woken, drawn by the commotion. She stared dumbfounded, still with bed hair. "W-Why is Louis going so far again... Doesn't he know when to rest?"
Zorba scoffed, arms crossed, eyes gleaming with respect and admiration. "Hmph! This is why you are not fit to be by his side, Mirai. You still see Master Louis as a human, but he is no man. He is nothing less than a god. Have you ever seen a man willingly burn himself and fight to the death just to grasp a sliver of power?!"
"I-I wouldn't say he's a god, but he's formidable..." Mirai nodded. "Ah, what is he doing now?!"
"Incredible! Master Louis has already copied Robert's technique! His growth speed is immeasurable!" Zorba laughed.
As his companions watched, Robert stepped back. He sensed an overwhelming surge of power gathering in Louis' spear. The last attack had drained most of his energy, and Louis was already preparing a finishing, lethal strike.
"T-That killing intent! Is he going to kill me?!" Robert gasped, heart pounding. Yet he smiled. Despite his age and lack of a Mana Core, he still possessed vast reserves. He channeled everything into one final, potent attack against Louis' all-out killer move.
The crimson spear and golden lance collided. The ground trembled and cracked. Flames and pale light erupted through the fissures, shaking the entire training arena.
BOOOM!
Smoke cleared to reveal two figures standing side by side. Louis and Robert refused to yield. As the haze dissipated, their wounded, bleeding forms emerged, still burning with the will to fight on.
"Heh... You've learned the first form really well," Robert smiled. "I didn't even need to teach you the proper way. I guess this is how you learn, huh?"
"Unless it's completely necessary, I tend not to dwell on technicalities and let my body move on its own," Louis explained. "If I want to use a technique, I force my body to adjust. I observe my opponent and copy every move. Eventually, even something like the Holy Lance Style can be taken. I want to learn the other forms as well, Robert..."
"I am well aware of that, but your majesty, shouldn't you rest?" Robert sighed. "Look at you..."
"Ah, right..." Louis glanced at his charred body, then collapsed unconscious. As Catrise and Handy healed him, they noticed a satisfied smile on his face.
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