Remembering the effects of Sun-Moon Meditation Arts, Luke was no longer surprised by the solar energy flowing through his body.
Practicing Sun-Moon Meditation Arts beneath sunlight allowed him to absorb solar essence, refine his body, and strengthen it. If he were injured, it would also accelerate his recovery.
This refinement was similar to tempering the body. A current of solar essence flowed through Luke's energy channels, carrying a gentle warmth that seemed to cleanse away impurities.
With his body bathed in sunlight, Luke also felt physically stronger than usual.
He had only meditated briefly. If he absorbed more sunlight, the effects might become even more noticeable.
Luke decided that when he had the opportunity, he would send Sun-Moon Meditation Arts back to Demacia.
Meanwhile, Ahri and Akali returned to their rooms and brought out two cushions. They sat cross-legged beneath the sunlight, preparing to practice Sun-Moon Meditation Arts.
Luke did not disturb them. He also sat cross-legged, reentered meditation, and began absorbing the sunlight.
Ahri and Akali were both exceptionally talented. With Luke meditating nearby and serving as a guide, they progressed much faster.
Akali was particularly quick. She already had experience practicing meditation techniques, so she soon grasped the basics and entered the proper state.
With her eyes closed, she felt as though she could perceive the sunlight more directly. It was incredibly warm, but not unpleasantly hot. Instead, it carried a soothing warmth that spread throughout her entire body.
That warmth gradually gathered into a thin thread and began circulating inside her.
She felt as though she were standing on an endless plain beneath a rising sun that was majestic, immense, beautiful, and dazzling.
Her entire body seemed to be continuously refined beneath its light, filling her with comfort and pleasure.
Ahri also entered the meditative state before long. Since this was her first time meditating, the experience was even more wonderful for her.
Bathed in the warm sunlight, she felt an extraordinary sense of peace and happiness.
She did not notice that the twin sunstone tokens she carried with her had begun to glow faintly.
Ahri seemed to see countless strands of spirit energy soaring freely through a fantastical world. She instinctively tried to control them, but they did not respond.
As time passed, however, an occasional strand of spirit energy drifted toward her and was absorbed into her body. Each time she absorbed some, she felt her mental power grow stronger.
Time slowly passed.
Akali was the first to leave meditation. When she opened her eyes, her body felt warm and extraordinarily relaxed, while her mental state was better than ever.
She soon noticed the subtle changes in her body. Shock appeared in her eyes, and she froze for a moment.
She had now taken her first step in mastering Sun-Moon Meditation Arts.
During meditation, she had unconsciously circulated the solar essence she absorbed through a complete cycle inside her body.
Now, she felt lighter, and her condition was completely different from before she began meditating.
The effects were this obvious?
It could even enhance the body?
That was what shocked her most.
Meditation techniques, in essence, were simply methods of training mental power.
Different meditation techniques produced different effects during practice.
For example, the Star-Gazing Meditation she had previously practiced was far more effective beneath the stars.
Another meditation technique might revolve around flowers, producing better results while contemplating one.
Those methods only improved the meditative state and left the practitioner mentally refreshed afterward. Akali had never heard of a meditation technique capable of directly strengthening the body.
Human beings could use willpower to manifest mental power more directly.
Meditation was one of the methods used to increase that mental power.
However, it was different from combat techniques, secret arts, or magic. It was not a means of attacking anyone, merely a method of training the mind.
Yet Sun-Moon Meditation Arts absorbed solar essence and strengthened the body as well?
It did far more than merely cultivate mental power?
Could this still be considered a meditation technique?
After experiencing it personally, Akali immediately understood that Star-Gazing Meditation and Sun-Moon Meditation Arts were not even on the same level.
She had previously intended to repay Luke by teaching him Star-Gazing Meditation, but now she would be embarrassed to offer it.
She had only barely grasped the basics of Sun-Moon Meditation Arts. If she developed a deeper understanding of it, the effects would clearly become even more powerful.
Akali looked at Luke, who was glowing beneath the sunlight, and once again realized that he was far from simple.
He had casually shared such an important meditation technique with them?
What did he hope to gain?
Akali grew even more confused. All she knew was that she now owed him another enormous favor.
Without question, Sun-Moon Meditation Arts was just as useful to her as Breathing Arts.
She sighed inwardly, unable to think of anything she could use to repay Luke.
Even if she emptied everything she owned, she might not find anything equal in value to Sun-Moon Meditation Arts.
Before long, Ahri also opened her eyes. She stretched comfortably, making her two furry ears twitch, and her eyes appeared even brighter than before.
She could naturally sense the changes meditation had produced. Her body felt warm and full of strength. At the same time, her mental power seemed more stable.
This meditation technique was indeed useful for helping her control her abilities.
Luke soon left meditation as well and opened his eyes.
As expected, he felt that his body had been enhanced by solar energy and had become slightly stronger. The sensation was more noticeable than before.
He exhaled and decided not to continue meditating.
Meditation was beneficial, but too much of anything could become harmful.
Excessive meditation could leave the mind feeling hollow, which would defeat the entire purpose.
Training through meditation had to be done in moderation. Setting aside a certain amount of time each day would be enough.
Luke noticed that Ahri and Akali were both staring at him.
"You two already finished?"
"Mm-hmm." Ahri nodded. "My whole body feels wonderful. Meditation techniques are amazing."
"That's good." Luke smiled.
"You..." Akali looked at Luke as though she wanted to say something, but she ultimately stopped herself. "This meditation technique is extremely valuable, and it's very useful to me. Thank you. I can teach you Star-Gazing Meditation right now, if you still want to learn it."
Luke smiled and shook his head. "That won't be necessary. I'm not very interested in other meditation techniques."
"All right." Akali nodded, feeling that there was no point in offering it anymore.
Meditation techniques did not impose restrictions such as preventing someone from learning another technique after practicing one. A person simply could not practice several different meditation techniques simultaneously.
Since Luke already possessed something on the level of Sun-Moon Meditation Arts, he naturally had no need for anything else.
Akali had originally wanted to ask who Luke really was, because he was becoming increasingly mysterious in her eyes.
He claimed to be a disciple of the Wind-Wielding Sword School, yet he possessed such a profound meditation technique and concealed an unfathomable level of strength.
After spending the past several days with him, she had realized that Luke was definitely no ordinary person. His claim of belonging to the Wind-Wielding Sword School might very well have been a lie.
Yet he was undeniably proficient in Wind-Wielding Swordsmanship.
Akali could not make sense of it, but after some consideration, she decided it was better not to ask too many questions.
As long as he was not a bad person, that was enough.
Luke opened his mouth in a wide yawn, lazily lay back in the chair, and went completely limp like a couch potato.
Akali fell silent for a second.
Even if someone like him was bad, how bad could he really be?
Luke still had rewards he had not finished processing.
Dual Focus was an excellent skill, and it gave him an idea. Did this mean he could wield a different weapon in each hand?
He could use separate techniques with both hands and catch his enemies completely off guard.
After thinking it over, Luke opened his status panel and looked at the Level 6 Peerless Swordsmanship in his skill list.
"System, use the upgrade cards and max out Peerless Swordsmanship."
He could certainly improve it through training, but there was no need to waste the effort.
The system immediately responded.
[Upgrade Cards successfully used.]
[Peerless Swordsmanship has been raised to Level 9.]
In an instant, countless profound insights into Peerless Swordsmanship surged into Luke's mind like a tidal wave.
He felt as though he were standing in an arena with a sword in hand, facing one opponent after another. He excelled at identifying their weaknesses, striking them with swordsmanship that was both deadly and elegant.
At the same time, the system's voice sounded again.
[Congratulations, host. You have comprehended perfected Peerless Sword Intent.]
A faint hum rang through the air.
A razor-sharp presence surged into the sky. It was as though an invisible blade had thrust upward and pierced the heavens.
The sword intent spread outward. Even the wind seemed to stop, while a line of ants crossing the ground froze in place as though frightened senseless.
An immense pressure enveloped the entire courtyard.
Ahri and Akali immediately sensed the exposed sharpness of the sword intent.
It struck them head-on. Simply standing there made them feel as though a pair of piercing eyes had precisely locked onto them, leaving nowhere to hide. The oppressive force even made their breathing feel heavier.
"What is this?"
Akali's eyes widened. She had been stunned yet again.
Ahri looked toward the sharp presence surging around Luke in confusion. "What's happening?"
"Sword intent..." Akali's breathing quickened. As she sensed the sword intent transforming around Luke, an uncomfortable tightness appeared in her chest. "Some exceptionally talented people comprehend sword intent while training. With sword intent enhancing their attacks, their offense becomes sharper and deadlier than that of someone without it. Only a very small number of people can comprehend such a thing.
"Sword intent is divided into four different levels. The more talented someone is, the stronger the sword intent they can comprehend. He is currently comprehending perfected sword intent, the strongest level."
Ahri nodded in understanding. "So this means he's doing something incredible?"
"More or less!"
Akali answered irritably.
"I've never seen anyone comprehend perfected sword intent like this before."
"Oh."
Ahri stared at Luke with sparkling eyes, completely fascinated.
Akali sighed miserably and began questioning everything she knew.
Why had this guy comprehended sword intent while doing absolutely nothing but lying there?
Had he ever even practiced with a sword?
Just once would have been enough.
During all the days they had spent together, Akali had never even seen him draw his sword.
Furthermore, the perfected sword intent Luke had just awakened did not seem related to Wind-Wielding Swordsmanship.
It felt more like the sword intent of an entirely different style.
Did that mean he had also mastered another form of swordsmanship?
This was becoming absurd. A sour feeling rose in Akali's heart.
She trained so diligently. Since childhood, she had never allowed herself to become complacent, driving herself to grow stronger day after day.
Yet this guy could simply lie there, do absolutely nothing, and automatically comprehend perfected sword intent.
Was the universe blind?
Akali roared inwardly before silently resolving to turn her frustration into motivation and work even harder.
The sword intent he had gained while lying around had to be unstable. It had no foundation, no future, and no real value.
But it was perfected sword intent.
Damn it.
Akali withdrew into herself.
The sword intent filling the courtyard slowly dispersed. Luke gradually absorbed all the insights from his breakthrough, then opened his eyes in an excellent mood.
Peerless Swordsmanship was naturally far from weak. Now that it had reached Level 9, Wind-Wielding Swordsmanship would no longer be the only sword art he could rely on.
Remembering his idea of wielding two swords, Luke thought he might need to find another weapon.
There was no hurry, though. Finding a weapon he truly liked would not be easy in a short amount of time.
With that, Luke finished processing all the system rewards.
His gains this time had been substantial. A birthday check-in truly offered excellent rewards.
Better yet, he had received all of it for free. Thinking about that made it even sweeter.
Luke had no idea that his effortless gains had already dealt severe emotional damage to an innocent young woman.
Akali was crouching nearby in a state of despair, repeatedly stabbing the dirt with her kunai while muttering to herself.
"It's fake. All of it is fake. None of it is impressive..."
Seeing this, Luke looked at Ahri. "What's wrong with her?"
"I think something upset her." Ahri shook her head, equally confused.
Akali had been acting like that ever since Luke's breakthrough.
"Then we should probably leave her alone for a while and let her recover," Luke said.
"Mm-hmm." Ahri nodded. "We've basically finished unpacking. What are we doing next?"
Luke thought for a moment. "How about taking a walk around town? It's almost noon, and we can buy some ingredients while we're there."
"Okay." Ahri nodded again. She looked toward Akali and hesitated before asking, "Akali, are you coming into town with us?"
"I'm coming!"
Akali immediately stood up. She recovered remarkably quickly and seemed to have accepted what had happened.
Her pride had merely taken a small blow.
Having grown up within the Kinkou Order, her talent had always far exceeded that of others her age. Even now, her strength was already comparable to that of some of her elders.
Experiences like that had naturally made Akali somewhat proud.
Today, however, Luke's existence had thoroughly shattered that pride.
He had forced her to realize that there was always someone stronger and more talented.
She finally understood that her natural talent was not an advantage she could always rely upon. There were undoubtedly people in the world who possessed even greater talent.
The man standing before her was one example.
If a setback like this could easily crush her, then she would not be Akali.
Her state of mind had actually become much steadier, and her desire to become stronger burned more intensely than before.
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