Chapter Eighteen: The First Cultivation

Night was falling. Homeless and adrift, Lu Mingfei simply checked into a hotel. Once inside, he glanced at the balance on his phone’s banking app, feeling a sense of unreality. Just two years ago, he’d scrimped and saved every penny for a PlayStation 2, finally scraping together six hundred yuan. Now, all of a sudden, he had enough money to buy who knew how many PS2s.

He owed this windfall to the little devil. Without the demon’s special abilities, he would have been tripped up by the usual banking restrictions—truly a devil’s work, to even manipulate something so mundane as a wire transfer.

Incredible...

After a brief moment of marvel, Lu Mingfei sat down on the hotel bed. Staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling, he suddenly smiled and asked inwardly, “Fufu, how do the strong cultivate in your world? Are there any special techniques or methods?”

Though he could call on the little devil’s incantations for instant, overwhelming power, relying on strength that wasn’t his own always left him uneasy. He couldn’t help but suspect that there might be hidden costs to such power—no matter how free the demon insisted it was, who could say what the truth really was?

Improving himself was crucial. More importantly, it made for a topic he could always bring up in conversation.

“Ah, well, that’s…” Furenna seemed a little hesitant, but soon regained her usual composure. “Actually, it’s quite simple. Wait a moment, I still have some official business to finish—just give me a bit. Just a bit!”

“Hm?” Lu Mingfei suddenly realized something. Could it be that not only was Furenna’s title as the Water Goddess a sham, but she didn’t even possess any extraordinary powers at all?

How in the world had she survived these five hundred years, then?

How did she live through five centuries?

He didn’t have to wait long before Furenna’s voice returned. She spoke in a clear, confident tone: “The path to power is a gradual one. To strengthen yourself, you simply need to persist in comprehending your own existence, attuning yourself to your authority—then, power will naturally radiate from within…”

But as she spoke, her voice grew fainter, as if her confidence was ebbing away.

She gazed at Neuvillette before her, and from his earnest expression alone, she could tell he hadn’t lied to her. But…

Neuvillette was the Dragon Sovereign of Water, a being fundamentally different from ordinary people. This method of cultivation meant nothing to most; only beings similar to him could benefit. For Lu Mingfei, this kind of explanation was probably…

“Why did you stop talking?” Lu Mingfei asked, puzzled.

“I… I was describing the Water Goddess’s method of cultivation! Ordinary people can’t emulate that. By the way, do you have any authority? Do you feel the presence of authority within you?”

“Yes, I do.”

“If you don’t, then—wait, what?” Furenna was stunned, her voice incredulous. “Hold on, hold on! You said you have authority? If you possess authority, how could your life be so wretched? From what you’ve described, you’re worse off than most ordinary people. Is your world really that terrifying?”

“I just awakened it.”

“Oh…”

…

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?” Neuvillette looked at Furenna, puzzled.

Today, Furenna had unexpectedly asked him how he usually cultivated. It was odd—she’d never cared for cultivation before, never shown the slightest interest, yet now she suddenly wanted to know. He found it surprising.

Still, surprise aside, he answered her sincerely, telling her everything he truly felt and experienced in his own practice.

“Ah, it’s nothing, nothing. Please continue—I think you make a lot of sense!” Furenna quickly replied, forcing a smile.

“Hm…” Though confused, Neuvillette chalked it up to his inability to grasp human emotions. After all, he had always been thus—perpetually unable to understand, which was only natural.

With a heart as clear and limpid as water, he observed all living beings. Even when faced with the occasional turbulence, he had never thought of giving up. He was the Magistrate of Fontaine: powerful, insightful, sensitive—a man of great authority and delicate thoughts.

He gathered his thoughts and went on: “In my view, cultivation is a unique form of self-discipline—a journey to understand oneself…”

…

And so, while Furenna listened to Neuvillette and repeated his words inwardly, Lu Mingfei absorbed the knowledge with full attention. To a novice like him, the advice from another world was pure gold.

“…That’s about it. Whew.” Furenna finished repeating Neuvillette’s explanation and let out a long sigh of relief. The tension finally eased inside her, though she still felt the anxious anticipation of a student awaiting her teacher’s grading. Timidly, she asked, “So… what do you think?”

“It was a very valuable explanation. I’m already beginning to understand what I should do next.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

Furenna’s heart leapt with joy, and she flashed Neuvillette a genuine smile in the real world. “Thank you, Neuvillette~”

“Mm.” Neuvillette nodded slightly. He sensed that Furenna seemed truly happy, delighted with his explanation, though only moments before she had worn such a strange expression… Was she really happy, or just being considerate of his feelings?

He didn’t understand. Still, judging by her relaxed, relieved smile, Furenna’s mood must be quite good at this moment. Her smile was so sincere, so unpretentious—he found himself very fond of such a clear, water-like expression.

…

“I understand now!”

“?”

Lu Mingze watched as Lu Mingfei suddenly burst out laughing, his face alight with comprehension, and felt utterly baffled. Inwardly, he thought: Is my brother about to have another episode? Each time he’s had one, he’s undergone some sort of mutation—mostly positive so far. I suppose this one will be an improvement too…

But there’s no enemy right now.

Why is he having an episode again?

I don’t get it.

While the little devil looked on in confusion, Lu Mingfei sat cross-legged on the bed, focusing on introspection—just as Neuvillette had described—seeking a deep understanding of the power and authority within, and a profound awareness of his own existence.

Beyond the cultivation process itself, Neuvillette had also explained certain details and techniques: how to observe oneself closely, how to push one’s power to its limits, how to better realize one’s own value, and how to bring authority to its full potential.

All of this was invaluable to Lu Mingfei—his body was a treasure trove waiting to be unearthed, if only he knew how.

And now…

With Neuvillette’s guidance, he was rapidly advancing in unlocking his own potential. Both his strength and spirit were steadily rising.

“Damn… is this the path to godhood?” the little devil murmured in astonishment.