Light spilled softly through the windows of the Sanctum, illuminating the quiet space where Seris lay. Her face was peaceful, but beneath that calm exterior, her body was fragile—her meridians cracked, her energy line fractured. The injury was severe enough to weaken her from the peak of her cultivation realm—the formidable Foundation Realm, at its pinnacle stage.
Seris was proud. In her prime, she stood among the top cultivators—rivaling imperial generals, even reaching the strength of an imperial duke at the peak of the Foundation Realm. Her cultivation realm was a symbol of her power and status. But now, her body was weak, her energy broken, and her pride challenged by her helplessness.
Felix Mavis watched her with a mixture of concern and admiration. Despite her injury, her aura was still imposing—yet her energy was leaking out, faint and unstable. He had seen many wounded cultivators, but Seris was different. Her pride, her strength, her dignity—they all shone through even in her weakened state.
He stepped closer, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Seris," he said, "your meridians are badly damaged, but I believe it's time to help you."
She opened her eyes slowly, gazing at him with piercing clarity. Her voice was calm but carried an undeniable edge of pride. "You've already helped me once, Felix. I owe you my life. I am grateful, but I am not one to be easily healed by mere words or simple methods."
Felix nodded in confidence. "I understand. But I've developed a cultivation method that can fix you. It's still new, but I believe it can restore your meridians, your energy, and perhaps, your cultivation realm."
Seris's gaze sharpened. "You believe you can do that?"
He looked into her eyes, his voice steady. "Yes. I've used it on myself, and it's helped me refine my body and mind. It's also improved my ability to manipulate spiritual energy, which allows me to compress and control spiritual energy more precisely. If I can get your meridians reconnecting, I believe I can restore your strength."
She hesitated, then nodded. "You have my trust, Felix. But know this—I am not someone who accepts charity easily. If you truly wish to help me, I must offer something in return."
Felix looked surprised. "What do you mean?"
Her gaze grew firm. "Let me swear loyalty to you. I ask for your guidance and protection—but I will not take it without giving something back. If you help restore my strength, I will serve you, by choice, not by force." She made an oath that once she broke it, the karma would destroy her cultivation realm and die.
Felix blinked. That was a bold offer from a proud woman who had once wielded great power. He understood her position. Her pride was not empty—it was tied to her sense of worth, her honor. To serve willingly was her way of preserving that dignity, not discarding it.
After a moment, he nodded, voice gentle but resolute. "Very well. If that is your choice, I will accept your loyalty—and in return, I will do everything I can to help you regain what was lost."
Seris's eyes flickered with a mixture of relief and determination. "Good. Then let us begin."
Felix moved to gather his materials—herbs, spiritual talismans, and a small vial of elixir he had acquired from Alchemist Lina. His mind was focused. His cultivation method, Breath of the Mystic Vessel, was born from a moment of epiphany during his breakthrough attempt to reach the mid-stage of the Awakening Realm. It was simple but powerful, refining both his body and mind, and granting him the Essence Condenser—a technique that allowed him to compress spiritual energy and manipulate it with extraordinary precision.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His body relaxed as he activated the method—drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy, refining it into a pure, flowing current. His mind became clear and sharp, his perception heightened.
He looked at Seris. Her pride and strength were palpable even in her weakened state. She was a true warrior—someone who had fought and won battles others could only dream of. Her cultivation at the peak stage of the Foundation Realm was no small matter. To heal her would require all his skill and concentration.
"Seris," Felix said softly, "I will try to reconnect your meridians. It's delicate work. Stay still, and focus on your breathing."
She nodded, her gaze unwavering and hopeful. "Do what you must, Felix."
He closed his eyes again, visualizing her meridians—thin, glowing lines of spiritual energy. The broken parts looked like jagged scars—dark and fractured. Using his Essence Condenser, he compressed his spiritual energy into a fine thread—like a silken strand—and reached out with his mind to the fractured meridian.
Felix's breathing synchronized with his energy flow. He visualized the spiritual thread weaving through her meridian, gently sealing the cracks from within. It was a slow, precise process—each movement deliberate.
He could feel her body tense slightly, but he kept his focus. "Almost there," he muttered inwardly.
The dark scar within her meridian began to glow faintly, the jagged edges softening. Felix's spiritual thread worked its way into the fracture, reconnecting the broken parts with care. As he continued, he could feel the energy flowing more smoothly—her meridian was healing.
He activated and drew in more spiritual energy from the environment. His cultivation refined this energy, making it pure and potent. He sent it into her meridians, using his Essence Condenser to compress and control the flow.
The glow in her meridian brightened. The fractured scar became less jagged, smoother. Her breathing grew steadier even when in pain. Felix kept channeling his energy, guiding it with calm precision.
Minutes passed. Felix's body moved with grace, his mind and body in perfect harmony. His cultivation method allowed him to control the spiritual energy like never before. He made his energy dense and stable, ideal for healing.
Finally, he eased his flow. Her meridian was now intact—more stable, stronger. The dark scar was barely visible, replaced by a faint, glowing line.
Seris opened her eyes slowly with pain, her expression one of awe and respect. "You did it," she said softly. "My energy… It's flowing again, I can cultivate again." Tears drop in her eyes.
Felix smiled gently. "It's a good start. But your body needs time to recover fully."
She looked at him with a mixture of respect and gratitude. "You have my loyalty. You've saved me from despair, Felix, no, Young Lord. I swear to serve and protect you."
He thought about her—proud, powerful, and now vulnerable. She had sworn loyalty, but Felix knew she was also a woman of integrity. Her pride was her strength, and he admired her for it.
"Seris," he said, "your strength has returned. I believe you will become even more formidable than before."