Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 470: Ridiculous Breakthroughs

Astra energy coiled around him like a daughter hugging her father as he sat still, unmoving. Unlike fantasy novels where one merely had to sit down and allow mana or other forms of energy from the air to naturally flow into their core, the world of Crymora functioned very differently. Cultivation was not a passive process. One had to consciously draw Astra energy from the surrounding environment, and using that Astra energy, refine their Astra veins, strengthening them again and again until a breakthrough was finally achieved.

At this very moment, that was exactly what Asher was doing as he sat in a lotus position. Astra energy rushed toward him at a frightening speed, surging like a violent tide, yet he controlled each and every mote with absolute ease. Rather than allowing it to rampage through his body, he guided it carefully, using it to reinforce and strengthen his Astra veins.

Time seemed to blink.

Ten minutes passed in an instant, and suddenly Asher felt a change ripple through him. His Astra veins had reached a particular limit, and with that, he broke through. He had stepped into the Flare sub-Life Rank. His body strengthened, his physical frame reinforced ever so slightly yet distinctly, the change gentle but undeniable. Asher didn’t open his eyes. He simply sat there, basking in the sensation and savoring it. Though it was only a sub-Life Rank breakthrough, it still came with tangible benefits.

After about a minute, Asher finally opened his eyes, a flash of shock running through them. In just ten minutes, he had broken through. He blinked, stunned by the sheer ridiculousness of it all. Even back at the Wargrave Ducal Estate, where he had broken through on the very first day after awakening, it had still taken him a few hours to advance.

Asher’s thoughts churned rapidly. Now he could truly understand why only instructors trained here. The assistance provided by this place was immense, overwhelming even, and he had felt its effects within ten minutes of entering. However, Asher also knew the reason he was advancing so quickly, it was because he was still at a lower rank. Although his cultivation speed was absurd right now, it would inevitably slow down at higher stages. Even so, it didn’t matter. Any cultivation speed achieved here would always surpass what the outside world could ever provide.

’I wonder if a training chamber like this exists within our family estate,’ he thought to himself.

The next moment, he nodded slightly, agreeing with his own thoughts. It probably did. After all, if Cindralis could possess a chamber like this, why wouldn’t the Emperor or the Dukes? Especially considering that both the Emperor and the great Dukes possessed powerhouses who required absurd facilities just to cultivate properly.

With that thought, Asher closed his eyes once more and returned to his cultivation. His mind slipped into deep concentration as he continued refining his Astra veins, veins he had already refined once before. Thirty minutes passed in silence, and another change rippled through his body as his Astra veins were once again pushed to their limits.

He climbed into the Pulse sub-Life Rank with ease.

Asher exhaled slowly as his body adjusted to the sudden increase in strength. He clenched his fist, staring down at his hand as if seeing it for the first time. In a total of forty minutes, he had climbed two sub-Life Ranks, something utterly unprecedented. A smile slowly formed on his face. He understood that the only reasons this was possible were his absurd talent and his Perfect Astra Control ability.

If anyone possessed these two things, or even just the Perfect Astra Control ability, they would enjoy exactly what Asher was experiencing now. Unfortunately, nobody else was born with such a ridiculous ability. If they were, they would probably reach the peak of the world within just a few years after awakening... provided they slept inside an advanced training chamber, of course.

Asher didn’t linger in jubilation. He barely had over an hour left. His goal now was clear, to reach the peak of the Blazestar Life Rank, or perhaps even step into the Swiftstar Life Rank. He knew very well that crossing sub-Life Ranks and crossing a major Life Rank were entirely different matters, but that didn’t concern him. He still had over an hour to try.

With renewed focus, he closed his eyes once again. Astra energy roared toward him, pouring through his skin pores and flooding into his Astra veins. This time, an entire hour passed before another breakthrough finally occurred. Asher climbed into the Radiant sub-Life Rank, the change immediate as a powerful sensation surged through his body.

After the breakthrough, Asher remained seated, a calm smile resting on his face. He had barely ten minutes remaining now. He knew it wasn’t enough to step into the Swiftstar Life Rank, that was simply impossible. Still, he wasn’t bothered. He knew he didn’t need the advanced training chamber to achieve that. With the personal training chamber provided in his room, something every student possessed, he should be able to make the breakthrough in about two days.

He had soared from the Spark sub-Life Rank all the way to the Radiant sub-Life Rank. That was a leap of four sub-Life Ranks, all within the span of two hours.

’Certainly nobody in Crymora has a record like this, right?’ he mused.

Rising to his feet, Asher tested the changes brought about by the consecutive breakthroughs. He raised a hand and punched the air. The wind shattered from the sheer force, exploding outward violently. Yet despite the power behind the strike, the chamber didn’t tremble, crack, or even respond. It remained exactly as it was, as though it hadn’t even registered his punch.

Asher jumped into the air several times, then sprinted forward. His body flickered from one position to another as he tested his newfound speed and strength, his movements smooth and effortless.

’I’m lucky I picked the advanced training chamber,’ Asher thought to himself.

Initially, he had only chosen it because he wanted to hear the price. When he realized it was cheaper than elemental training, he had simply decided to give it a try. Now, looking at the results, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of quiet satisfaction.

He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of ridiculous changes and progress an advanced training chamber for his elements would bring. But he knew he couldn’t go there, not now. He couldn’t afford it. A chamber for Space or Gravity training probably cost seventy thousand points, a sum he knew he wouldn’t be able to gather anytime soon.

Even if someone gifted him a hundred thousand points for free, Asher knew he still wouldn’t dare step into such a place. He certainly wouldn’t survive standing there for even a minute. After all, the cultivation chamber alone was already this ridiculous.