"Ready to begin?" asked the old man, to which Cade nodded.
"Okay, to start, you need to sit in the position that is most comfortable for you and close your eyes," the old man instructed.
Cade sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
"Try to sense the world around you. Feel the wind on your skin, listen to the sound of the leaves rustling in the breeze, feel the energy of the world flowing through you, becoming part of you. Now, draw that energy towards your core and compress it as much as you can," the old man continued.
One Hour Later (cue SpongeBob time skip)
'This kid's a monster! I knew he was talented based on the strength of his soul, but not to this extent. It took me weeks just to begin sensing Spiritual Energy, let alone control it, and he did it in an hour.' The old man watched incredulously as Cade absorbed specks of white light from the atmosphere, gathering them at his core. 'At this rate, he'll break through by the end of the day,' he thought.
Meanwhile, Cade was too focused on the new sensation coursing through him to notice the old man's shock. He felt powerful. The energy flowing through him filled him with vigor and an unexpected sense of comfort—like a mother embracing her child. It was strange yet soothing.
However, Cade didn't forget the old man's instructions. He continued to gather the energy towards his core, and after some time, he began to feel strain on his mind, as if he were approaching a limit. He faintly heard the old man's voice encouraging him to continue, and so he did. Suddenly, a deep warmth surged through him, enveloping him in an overwhelming sense of comfort. His eyes shot open.
"Congratulations on breaking through to Spirit Apprentice, first rank," the old man said with a kind smile.
Cade looked around, realizing he could see and hear more clearly than ever before. Noticing his reaction, the old man explained, "Every breakthrough in cultivation enhances your physical abilities significantly. While a first-rank Spirit Apprentice is only slightly stronger than an exceptionally athletic human, the improvements will become more noticeable as you progress. But for now, it's getting dark, and we should celebrate your accomplishment."
"Accomplishment?" Cade asked, noting that the sky was indeed darkening.
"Yes. You may not realize it, but most people take weeks just to sense Spiritual Energy. Yet, you managed to do so in an hour and even broke through to the first rank of Spirit Apprentice in a single day. You should be proud of yourself," the old man answered with a smile. "Now enough about that. Come along—let's celebrate."
Together, they walked toward the palace and entered a room that resembled a mix between a living room and a library. A plush velvet couch and several chairs sat in the center, surrounding a coffee table. As they settled in, the old man suddenly made a porcelain bottle appear, along with two glasses.
"This wine was given to me by my master when I first began cultivating," the old man said, his expression warm with nostalgia. "It was one of the first gifts he ever gave me. I've been waiting for the right moment to share it with my own disciple, and now, that moment has come."
As he poured the wine, an intoxicating aroma filled the air.
"I've been meaning to ask, Master—what is your real name?" Cade asked curiously. Until now, the old man had only introduced himself as the Void Sword Immortal, and frankly, that was a bit of a mouthful.
The old man chuckled. "My name is Eldrin Void, though not many know me by that name," he said, his eyes growing distant with a reminiscence that hinted at old wounds.
"But enough about me—let's drink," Eldrin said, shaking off the memories. He lifted his cup and took a deep gulp of the wine. Cade followed suit, first taking a tentative sip. Almost immediately, a pleasant heat spread through his body, his face flushing from the strength of the drink.
Cade had tasted his fair share of fine wines and liquor while entertaining clients, but none had ever compared to the rich, complex flavor of this wine—or its strength. Cade immediately started gulping down the wine before resting his head back. As the night went on, Eldrin asked a question.
"Although I've looked through your memories of your past life, I've been wondering—what truly drove you to become a lawyer?"
Cade thought for a moment before answering. "Honestly, it's a mix of two things. I wanted to help people, and at the time, that was the only way I could think of. And..." Cade suddenly grinned. "It was damn fun watching those stuck-up bastards actually face consequences for their actions."
He was referring to the many politicians, billionaires, and other powerful figures he had helped bring to justice.
Eldrin smiled at this. It seemed he had chosen an interesting disciple.
"I have to say, I agree. It's always fun watching people like that fall," Eldrin said with a chuckle.
They continued drinking for another hour before retiring for the night.
The next day, they followed the same routine. After breakfast, Eldrin led Cade to the same spot before handing him a purple book with the title Void Sword Sutra written in big, bold letters on the front.
"This is the cultivation technique that I follow. It was given to me by my master, and since I have already memorized it, I'm giving it to you. Cultivation techniques allow the user to comprehend specific Daos more easily while also providing the additional benefit of speeding up cultivation. In fact, in battles between cultivators at the same level, a higher-ranked cultivation technique can make all the difference."
Eldrin paused to make sure Cade was still following along before continuing. "This specific cultivation technique grants insights into both sword intent and void intent. Most techniques only provide insight into one, which is what makes this an Ancient-rank cultivation technique."
"Is there a ranking system for cultivation techniques?" Cade asked curiously.
"Yes, all techniques are ranked. The ranking, from lowest to highest, goes as follows: Earth, Heaven, Spirit, Mythic, Ancient, Eternal, Supreme, and Divine. There are other ranks beyond these, but you don't need to worry about them just yet," Eldrin answered.
"This technique is divided into ten levels, each harder to attain than the last. I, for instance, have only reached the eighth level," Eldrin admitted. "Now then, let's begin."
Cade opened the book and mentally prepared for another day of training.