By midday, Gabriel was still practicing, his sword rose and fell repeatedly. Each movement was becoming more precise. His breathing became synchronized with his attacks. His feet became unmoving as a mountain. His sword caused the air to scream with each swing.
Although he was only thirteen years old and had reached Qi Condensation Level Eight, Gabriel's sword foundation was already considerably stronger than that of many cultivators his age.
His determination truly impressed Seraphina.
Gabriel didn't practice because he wanted praise. He practiced because he remembered what it felt like to be powerless.
He never wanted to be helpless again.
As the sun climbed higher into the sky, Gabriel raised his wooden sword once more. His violet eyes reflected the blade.
"Stop."
Gabriel immediately halted and looked towards Seraphina.
Seraphina approached him.
"You are improving rapidly."
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
"But your sword technique still lacks experience."
Gabriel nodded.
Before Gabriel could respond, a cheerful voice came from behind them.
"Gabriel, big sis!"
Gabriel turned around.
A young woman with long dark-blue hair came running across the training field.
Her emerald-green eyes were filled with amusement.
She wore elegant blue robes decorated with flowing water patterns.
"Liora!"
Gabriel smiled.
Liora was his second senior sister.
She was 33 years old in the core formation realm. Liora has Long dark-blue hair, emerald-green eyes, and a graceful appearance. She wears blue robes decorated with flowing water patterns.
Unlike Seraphina's calm and serious personality, Liora had a playful and mischievous personality.
She walked up to Gabriel and held out a small jade bottle.
"Here."
Gabriel looked at it.
"What is it?"
"Recovery pills."
He stared suspiciously at her.
"Why are you giving them to me?"
"Because you've been practicing for hours."
Liora poked his forehead.
"And because you're terrible at remembering to rest."
Gabriel rubbed his forehead.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I am not."
"You definitely are."
Seraphina sighed.
"Enough both of you."
Liora laughed.
"See? Even Senior Sister agrees with me."
Gabriel shook his head.
"You two are impossible."
A loud voice suddenly came from across the training field.
"HEY! I thought you guys would be here!"
Everyone turned.
A beautiful girl with crimson-red hair tied into a high ponytail was walking toward them. She had amber eyes, lightly tanned skin, and wore red-and-black training robes. A massive crimson spear rested across her shoulder. This was Kaelira, Gabriel's third senior sister.
At 18 years old, she was only 5 years older than Gabriel. She was energetic, competitive, and always looking for an opportunity to test her strength.
Kaelira pointed toward Gabriel.
"So how's sword practice going little junior brother?"
"I almost got the basics perfected."
She grinned.
"Looks weak."
Gabriel's eyebrow twitched.
"Weak?"
Kaelira laughed.
"You heard me."
She planted her spear against the ground.
"Come on, little junior brother. Show me what you've learned."
Gabriel looked toward Seraphina.
"Senior Sister?"
Seraphina folded her arms.
"You can spar."
Gabriel's expression immediately changed.
"Really?"
Kaelira grinned.
"That's the spirit!"
Liora stepped aside.
"Try not to destroy the training field this time."
Kaelira looked offended.
"That happened once."
"Three times."
"Details."
Gabriel took his position.
Kaelira raised her spear.
"Don't hold back."
Gabriel nodded.
The spiritual energy within his body began circulating.
A faint aura surrounded him.
Kaelira's grin widened.
"Not bad."
She suddenly disappeared.
Her spear swept toward Gabriel.
Gabriel's eyes sharpened.
He raised his sword.
CLANG!
The weapons collided.
Gabriel's feet slid backward several steps.
Kaelira laughed.
"You're getting stronger!"
Gabriel immediately charged forward.
His sword moved like flowing water.
Slash!
Thrust!
Sweep!
Kaelira blocked each attack with her spear.
The training field filled with the sounds of weapons colliding.
Seraphina watched silently.
Liora watched with a smile.
After several exchanges, Kaelira suddenly swept her spear towards Gabriel's legs.
Gabriel used hid footwork technique to jump into the air to avoid the spear. While airborne, he maneuvered his body and brought down his sword with swift speed.
Kaelira blocked.
The force sent both of them backward.
Gabriel flipped through the air and landed with a heavy force cracking the training area ground.
Kaelira laughed.
"Not bad baby junior brother!"
Gabriel smiled.
Five years ago, he barely understood what cultivation meant. Now he could now fight confidently despite being only thirteen. And his cultivation journey was still only beginning.
That afternoon, the four disciples gathered beneath the ancient spiritual tree where Alana had first taught Gabriel how to sense spiritual energy.
Gabriel sat quietly while his three senior sisters talked. Seraphina was the eldest and strongest among them. She had reached the Nascent Soul Realm, specifically the Late Stage. Unlike the previous realms, Nascent Soul was divided into four stages: Early, Mid, Late, Peak.
Liora, the second senior sister, had reached the Core Formation Realm level 5. Core Formation itself was divided into nine levels.
Kaelira, the third senior sister, had reached Foundation Establishment Level 7. Foundation Establishment, like Qi Condensation, was divided into twelve levels.
Gabriel listened carefully as they discussed cultivation. And asked.
"Elder sister are there more realms after nascent soul?"
Seraphina nodded
" Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, And then Nascent Soul. Those are only just the beginning of the greater cultivation path."
Gabriel's eyes widened.
Kaelira laughed.
"Of course! Did you think becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator meant you'd reached the end?"
Gabriel shook his head.
"I guess not."
Seraphina looked toward the distant mountains.
"The cultivation path is incredibly long. The realms you've learned about so far are merely the foundation of the journey."
He remembered the boy he had been five years ago.
Gabriel looked down at his hands.
Then he looked out toward the magnificent Celestial Haven Sect.
He had a master.
He had his senior sisters.
Now he had a place he could call home.
And he had discovered a path that could take him farther than he had ever imagined.
A gentle breeze passed through the ancient tree.
Gabriel closed his eyes.
Inside his body, his spiritual qi flowed steadily through his meridians.
His qi aura released and was increasing at a fast rate.
As Gabriel opened his eyes the shined with a deep violet light.
Qi Condensation Level nine.
"My dao heart is unwavering."
Seraphina smiled.
"Good."
Liora smiled.
Kaelira grinned.
And high above them, hidden within the clouds. Alana smiled, as she watched her four disciples interacting with one another from a distant mountain peak.