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"Ah, you must be the new disciple—Master Maria’s sister, right? It’s an honor to et you," he said, bowing deeply. "I am Wu Lieng, my father’s eldest son."
"A-Ah, yeah, nice to et you..." Laura’s face showed clear confusion. "I’m Laura."
"I look older than my father because he ascended into a divine being at a much younger age," Wu Lieng explained, noticing her bewildernt. "I did ascend, but only when I was already much older."
"O-Oh..." Laura nodded slowly. "I see... so when you ascend, you keep the appearance of your age?"
"He could actually beco younger if he wanted at this point," the Heavenly Demon sighed. "But he refuses. He says this appearance brings him pride—it proves how much he has persevered... and I can’t argue with that. He’s not wrong."
"Hm, I guess that’s fair," Laura said. "Ahh, um... so when do we start?"
"Right away!" The Heavenly Demon smiled warmly. "Co, let’s go!"
Laura’s training with the Heavenly Demon began that very day.
On the first day, she learned to channel her Ki correctly. On the second, she had to unleash it from her hands. On the third, she hunted beasts using Ki alone.
On the fourth day, she received a book and studied the techniques, cultivation thods, and their philosophy. She didn’t fully grasp them at first, but her constitution allowed her to absorb and imprint everything deeply into her body, soul, and mind through constant practice.
Maria’s quest system accelerated her learning even further—sothing the Heavenly Demon quietly relied on as well.
The Heavenly Demon proved an attentive and ticulous teacher, guiding her carefully while always checking how she felt.
For Laura, it beca nearly impossible not to fall for him.
That growing affection fueled her determination. She pushed herself harder and harder, desperate to impress him, to earn his smile, to hear his praise.
Through the power of her Heavenly Divine Blank Slate Body Constitution...
The legacy of the Heavenly Demon imprinted itself into her body, soul, and mind with every passing day.
Through countless rituals, sparring sessions, hunting expeditions, elixirs, cultivation manuals, and lectures from the Heavenly Demon...
Laura began to awaken to her true talent and her true calling.
The blessings of Olympus, which had restricted her for so long, now—once removed—beca the source of her newfound freedom.
After two weeks of relentless training, nutritious als, dicinal baths, and necessary rest, Laura underwent a complete tamorphosis.
FLUOSH!
Sitting cross-legged on a floating platform, she concentrated fiercely, gathering her Mana, Ki, and Spirit Energy in her chest.
Slowly, in the space between her Body and Soul, a Golden Core took shape.
Thunder rumbled overhead. Crimson and black lightning shaped like dragons roared, trembling before her rising might.
Her Aura expanded trendously. Black and dark red energies converged majestically into sothing far greater.
"You can do this, Laura."
Her master’s voice echoed from behind. He guided her energies gently, helping her advance safely.
Yet deep down, she knew she could never truly grow while depending on him.
Slowly, his hand withdrew.
Laura didn’t notice, but she was now doing it entirely on her own.
"Master, keep going! I’m almost there!"
"I’m infusing all I can—do it!"
"Yes!"
FLAAASH!
Laura’s Golden Core ford completely. Her aura exploded with overwhelming power.
A faint phantom erged—her Martial Soul beginning to manifest.
"We did it...! We did it! Hahaha! Master, we did it!"
Laura laughed joyfully as she stood and raised her arms. The Heavenly Demon nodded gently, arms crossed.
"We? You did it, Laura."
"Huh?"
"I removed my hand from your shoulder half an hour ago."
"...What?!"
"I only kept telling you I was there to give you courage. But I never helped you ascend... this was all your doing."
"..."
Laura gazed at the vast, colorful heavens and floating islands.
Her fists clenched tightly.
"Thank you, Master..."
"Heh, there’s nothing to thank for. Shall we take it easy now? Your Golden Core needs a day to settle, or it could cripple you."
"Okay, let’s drink tea together at the small cabin!"
"Fine."
The Heavenly Demon spent considerable ti with her. Even though Maria and her family visited daily, they still found plenty of quiet monts alone.
He was a lonely man, even with Wu Lieng nearby. He enjoyed Laura’s company more than he had ever expected.
"Uh, Master, what is this tea? It’s making my energies settle faster."
"It’s Heavenly Leaf Tea, cultivated by the Heavenly Palace. When we destroyed that place, we took the plants and spread them across Murim and your sister’s Soul Realm."
"Oh wow."
"Yeah, great, right? With this tea, your cultivation speed will increase even more. Make sure to drink it all."
"Thanks..."
Laura smiled. Through that smile, the Heavenly Demon glimpsed sothing deeper.
Within her seemingly ordinary soul, body, and mind...
A powerful Martial Soul was steadily taking form.
"Hmm... the combination of the Heavenly Divine Blank Slate Body Constitution with my teachings... it could create soone who might one day surpass in my own martial arts, hahah."
After learning what lay within her, his motivation to teach her only grew stronger.
After a day of rest, training resud steadily. Laura learned to manipulate her Golden Core’s power and to refine and deposit Martial Artifacts within it.
These powerful artifacts could grow alongside their owner and greatly accelerate developnt.
"I have brought you a selection of weapons, magic items, and other objects. Choose one as your first Natal Martial Artifact. Once you ascend into an Immortal, it will evolve alongside you into an Immortal Artifact."
"Hm..."
Laura considered them carefully but ultimately rejected every weapon offered.
"I don’t know, Master... none of them resonate with . I don’t really use weapons that much."
"Heh, that’s right. You’re a girl who fights with fists and lightning—wild like the wind. For soone like you, weapon artifacts or even magic items might not suit. You need sothing... more important to you, more personal. An ordinary item can beco a Martial Artifact if assimilated into the Golden Core—sothing you hold truly precious."
"Sothing I’ve held precious for all these years..."
Laura flew back to her room, now fused with Maria’s pagoda, and rummaged through her belongings while the Heavenly Demon watched from afar with quiet curiosity.
"I found it... it’s this."
She stepped out and showed him her choice.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised.
"A portrait of your family?"
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