AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword
Chapter 53: Foundation (1)

I still don’t know what it is that attracts these tribulation storms. I consider the possibility that it is because I am a Divine grade Heavenly Treasure. Naturally, one day, I will surpass the Heavens. The Divine grade is not simply a grade, but also a manifestation of destiny itself. All things of such grade are simply meant to have extraordinary existences.

I also consider the possibility that Heaven knows I intend to form more than nine pillars. If that were the case, then I will have to be more careful about my plans in the future. My plans won’t change, but as a former machine, I have the ability to think without thinking. To me, this skill is natural. It is like [Nooparallelism]. I infuse my will with my desires and allow it to act of its own free will, even if that so called “free” will is my will.

Then, of course, there is also the possibility that I am still being punished for something else I’ve done in the past. Is it the [Soul Harvest Formation]? Or perhaps it is the way I came into being — washing my marrow in the blood of hundreds of creatures?

It doesn’t matter anymore, either way. I am here now. I am not going anywhere.

The consequence of my [World Eater] breathing method is such that my consciousness is quickly diminishing, while my cultivation base rapidly rises. In the blink of an eye, while I consider the reasons why the Heavens want to punish me, my dantian has formed a second pillar that hums and pulses on the off-beat of the first pillar. And slowly, they come into phase together, and synchronize, producing a loud tone that hums across my physical vessel.

This hum that my body now produces is so loud and powerful that the surface of the water — while still swirling around us — also comes into phase with the waveform, and individual water drops begin to bounce and skip across the surface.

The animals, at this point, have all retreated either deeper into the grotto, or completely left it. And those that were left deeper observe the exit in such a manner that it suggests that they would rather be on that side instead.

The only creatures not so affected are the spiritual elk and the fox on top of Lan Xiaohui’s head. The fox even hisses at the storm cloud above its head, and the spiritual elk may simply be blind. The elk does not react at all to the events occurring inside the grotto; not the sound or the clouds.

Lan Xiaohui is the worst culprit of all. Despite, certainly, knowing that her life is in jeopardy, she hums loudly, almost squealing with delight, and allows her voice to be modulated by the powerful vibrations my vessel is emitting.

When I realize that normally I would think that this is not the time for a massage or fun, but do not do so — in fact, I even think there is no harm in it — I consider deleting my sentient core on the spot. Spending time with Lan Xiaohui has certainly changed me in some ways. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ ɴovᴇlꜰirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

The third pillar forms with a loud crackle of sound that is like the distant echo of thunder. This shock wave breaks through the spirit water hot spring, creating large waves that sweep across the dancing and bouncing water drops.

When this pillar forms, I become aware of depth. That is the only way I could possibly describe it. For example, before where I was aware of my sea of consciousness, I knew it was deep, but now I can perceive it and understand it. I feel like a two-dimensional creature that has seen the third dimension for the first time. Naturally, I understand that it exists, but feeling it is an entirely different thing.

Without hesitation I direct my [Critical Analysis] at the third pillar in my dantian, in hopes of understanding what is so special about it, but my sub routines do not fire or return anything at all.

Is this how Lan Xiaohui obtained soul force? Once I form more pillars, will I become aware of more mysteries?

What is forming the pillars? What is the point? What do they do?

I turn my attention inwards, trying to understand the process.

The Qi rushing into my dantian revolves around my system and undergoes a process of crushing and compression that liberates a purer, higher form. It is similar to the process my essence underwent during my body cultivation and it would not be wrong to call this Qi “Foundation Qi” or to label it as being of a higher grade.

This Foundation Qi forms my pillars, and the pillars themselves contain the Dao. The sound they produce is the sound of the Dao. I understand that each pillar is different and unique, but this is as far as my understanding goes. I know that these pillars form the foundation of a construct called the Dao Palace, and I understand that the formation of such truly distinguishes one from being a cultivator and ushers them into the realm of immortality.

There is obviously something critically important here that I do not yet understand. No matter how many times I try to analyze the Pillars or the Dao with my talent, the knowledge remains unrevealed to me.

The storm overhead dissipates slightly, its dark, swirling clouds losing some of their cohesion and malevolent intent. This intent the clouds produce is so deep and profound that it manifests in the air as electrical charge. Sparks of gold lightning leap between points in the air with a deep, rumbling buzz, and each one causes Lan Xiaohui to shiver in trepidation — when she is not enjoying the massage my increasingly agitated vessel is producing.

But I know why the clouds are slowly losing their cohesion. My desire to form more than nine pillars slowly wanes. I do not have the knowledge to achieve my goal, and though I feel the capability to form more than nine is within my means, I cannot take that risk. The pillars are instrumental to my future development, and if I make a mistake here, I don’t know what could happen in the future.

In the same vein, I also feel it is possible to break my pillars later, and reform them. Even if it shatters my cultivation, with [World Eater] it would be trivial to advance to this realm. Lan Xiaohui did it — in absurd time no less. Her Dao is now sharper for it, and more profound. Clearly, there are benefits to breaking one’s cultivation and redoing it.

Of course, for Lan Xiaohui this is much different than it is for me. Her lifespan is likely around one hundred years now. Mine is a measly five.

The fourth pillar forms, followed immediately by the fifth. Their appearance in the sea of Foundation Qi within my dantian causes another large wave of force to echo through my vessel, and force begins to rise from my sea of consciousness.

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