'Body cultivation is the process of breaking down one's body before rebuilding it, enhancing all physical aspects of oneself. While the progression of Body Cultivation can be broken down through the standard ranking system, each rank is also associated with a phenom that occurs when one progresses.
Mortal Grade grants the strength of ten men, Warrior Grade grants the stamina of a bull, Earth Grade grants bones of iron, Sky Grade grants the hide of a dragon, and Hellish Grade grants the ability to lift a mountain.
There are no recordings of cultivators reaching the Heavenly and Void grade, so their exact strength is unknown. The way to walk the path of Body Cultivation is also shrouded in a great deal of mystery. Few survive the demanding trials, and those who do are hesitant to give up their hard-earned secrets.'
Thane closed the book after the author divulged into the history of Body Cultivation which was of no use to him.
Trying to think about what he had seen so far, Thane realized that he hadn't encountered any other Body Cultivators besides the guard captain. 'But both Lilith and that Sonya chick were able to use techniques, meaning they must have mana.'
Scratching his chin, Thane tried to guess if it was just a coincidence or a significant calculation he needed to consider.
Sighing, he looked over at Annabelle, who was still resting on the bed, 'Sorry for the mess I got us in. I promise I'll get us both out of this.'
A few minutes later, Sonya returned with a small vial filled with a red liquid, "Here, pour some on her wound and the rest in her mouth." Thane caught the vial she threw at him and followed her directions.
As Thane applied the potion, Sonya watched him with interest, 'He almost got the drop on me. I underestimated him. How did he reach the Mortal Grade of Body Cultivation, though? He couldn't have been here for more than a month.'
When Thane was done tending to Annabelle, he turned to Sonya, "Thank you for the potion, but fuck you at the same time."
"Wow, and here I was hoping to repair the bridge." Sonya leaned against the doorframe and smirked at Thane, "Well, your boss over there is forcing me to be one of her Shadows, so yeah fuck you."
Sonya turned around, giving Thane a good view of her long legs clad in tight leather pants, "See you in the morning, Ascender. Maybe we can have a rematch."
Thane glared at her back as she walked out of frame, closing the door behind her. Sitting back in his bed, he tried to sleep, hoping his life hadn't turned into a living hell.
---
Groaning, Annabelle woke up slowly, trying to remember what happened and where she was when it all came rushing back to her. Annabelle looked around wildly before she spotted Thane sleeping in the bed across the room.
Sighing in relief, Annabelle touched her forehead as she recalled what happened. When they entered the office, she took one look at Lilith, and she was frozen by her beauty.
Somehow Thane was able to break free and stepped forward to protect her yet again. She then remembered how her body moved against her will, forcing her to attack Thane until he disarmed her.
After that, it was all a blank thought. She faintly recalled Thane apologizing for pulling her into his mess. Looking at the door, Annabelle decided being by herself wouldn't be safe. Turning her attention to the books on the floor, she grabbed the one about mana cultivation.
'Inside every person, another set of vessels run through the body similar to veins and arteries. Instead of carrying blood, these passageways supply the body with mana. Mana Cultivation increases the size and the ability of Mana Pathways to absorb and purify raw mana.
Raw mana is a term given to mana outside the body that exists naturally within the realms. Once raw mana enters the body, it can be refined and take on attributes depending on how that mana is used.
The way mana is taken into the body differs from person to person and can even be taught through Cultivation Techniques. As with standard techniques, they are hard to come by and are treated as valuable commodities by clans and sects.
As the amount of mana in the body increases, so does the life span. It is said for every rank. One gains a lifetime. Mana is the essence of life in the Realms; those who can bend it to their will can bend the fabric of reality as well.'
Annabelle wanted to keep reading, but she was interrupted when Thane groaned before sitting up in his bed. He looked around while yawning before he made eye contact with Annabelle and gave her a sad smile.
"Good morning. How long have you been up?" Thane asked while stretching his back, sighing as his vertebra cracked.
"Not long. I've just been reading for a few minutes. But I wanted to talk about yesterday. I remember everything that happened until you knocked me out." Annabelle's sudden change in topic made Thane freeze for a split second before he shrunk slightly.
"I got cocky after Lilith took you hostage. I tried to fight her, but she was able to trap me. Because of me now, we both have to become one of her shadows." The anger was palpable in Thane's voice as his fingers tightened into fists.
Annabelle was silent for a moment as she looked at Thane, "Maybe you were a little bit cocky, but I don't blame you. Besides, this might be for the best if we have a place to stay and a gang backing us. We just have to make the best of it."
The optimism in Annabelle's voice made Thane smile, and some of the guilt plaguing him vanished, "I don't know what lies in store for us, but we will make it out alive."
Annabelle opened her mouth to respond, but a knock at the door interrupted her, "Are you two finished? The sun's about to rise. You're already late enough as it is."
A vein popped up on Thane's forehead as Sonya's muffled voice came through the door. Throwing off his covers, Thane stormed over to the door and threw it open, "We'll be out in a minute. Just be quiet, so I don't have to hear your voice."
Sonya smirked at Thane, "Sorry did I interrupt your private time together?" He slammed the door in her face, "God, I can't stand her." Annabelle looked at Thane blankly, 'I've never seen him this emotional before. What the hell happened in the short time I was out between those two?'
Thane turned around to Annabelle, "We shouldn't keep them waiting here. Let me put those books away. And we can get going." She nodded, and Thane stored the books away in his ring.
After smoothing out her clothes, Annabelle followed Thane out into the hallway where an assassin with bright red hair waited for them, "Good, now come on, I need to see if you're up to stuff."
Thane glared at her, "Wasn't me almost beating you in the office enough?" For the first time, he saw something other than a smug look, but it was only there for a second, "It was enough to impress, but you'll need skills other than combat to make it as a Shadow."
Thane didn't say anything else as Sonya led them further down the hall until it opened into a giant training room.
Thane let out an impressed whistle, "I might not be so hesitant to join if this is the type of equipment you're able to offer." Sonya threw out her arms and walked into the middle of the grounds, "This is where I'll test your abilities. If you pass, you'll get your uniform. If you don't, you'll receive further training."
Sonya held out her hand, "The first part is a test of your overall combat abilities. And though it hurts to admit it. You have already passed." Sonya pointed at Thane, then turned to Annabelle, "I hope you can live up to the expectation."
Annabelle stiffened, "B-but, I've never gotten into a fight before. I don't know the first thing about fighting!" Sonya looked at Annabelle as if she was lying, but when she couldn't find any signs of deceit, "You're serious, aren't you?"
Sonya sagged, "We'll then you can go back to the room. I'll have someone come get you to start your training. However, the body cultivator and I have a date to go on."
---
Thane frowned as he left the library arm in arm with Soya. Both of them were wearing street clothes to blend in with the public.
"Why are we doing this again?" Thane asked while trying to get his arms free, only to have Sonya wrench it back, "Because combat will only get you so far in this job. You need to be precise, thoughtful and make a plan."
Thane rolled his eyes, "Just tell me what I need to do so I can get it over with." Sonya sighed, thinking he was overestimating himself, "Fine, I want you to lift someone's purse. You think you can do that, know it all?"
"Child's play," Thane scoffed before pulling Sonya along, "Come on, I want to go shopping first." Sonya couldn't do anything to stop him as Thane entered a store called the 'Alchemists Choice.'
His nose twitched as the smell of herbs attempted to overwhelm him. Before he could get too far, a woman wearing a false smile popped up in front of him, "Hello there, Sir and Madam, can I help you with anything today?"
"I want at least ten poisons of varying strengths. I can assume you can do that?" Thane's commanding tone caused several heads to pop up from shelves around the store, all looking to see who had broken the calm atmosphere.
The attendant looked like she had been struck, "S-sir y-you can't speak to me like that." Thane narrowed his eyes, "I am in no mood to debate. I am, however, willing to pay extra if I leave with my items in less than three minutes."
Thane raised his coin pouch and shook it in front of the woman drawing her eyes. The attendant gritted her teeth but bowed, "I'll have your items arranged right away, Sir."
Thane huffed and put away his pouch, "Good, I can't stand this place anyway. The smell is repulsive." Sonya watched in amazement as Thane completely transformed himself in a matter of a few seconds.
'He is good. This can't be his first time.' Once the attendant left them alone, Thane kept on the mask of displeasure, but she could see the slight twitch from his cheek as he held back a smile.
The attendant returned a few minutes later with a wrapped bundle, "Here you are, Sir, I must warn you, however, that all the poisons are lethal." Thane scoffed, "I know that here this should cover it. Keep the extra to buy yourself something nice."
Thane dropped a gold coin into the attendant's hand, making her eyes and everyone else's in the store go wide, including Sonya's.
The attendant froze for a second before she bowed low, "Thank you so much, Sir!" Thane let his mask slip as a kinder tone came through, "You're welcome."
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