บท 25: Nascent Spirit Realm

"Ascend? Did you mean breakthrough, Kisa-san?" Mike came out of his nervousness instantly. He did not immediately accept the box.

"Ye, that's a term we usually use. The sects are the ones who use that term. However, the meaning is the same. Here, take this before I change my mind and ask you to pay me something~" Kisa hummed and pushed the box to Mike.

"Oh, all right. Ascend, is it? Anyway, thank you very much, Kisa-san. But, is that okay? What if my inner strength flared up and damaged your room?" Mike looked around. He felt that it would be a pity if the furniture and furnishings there would be damaged.

"Hm, sect disciples use such a quiet empty room to try to ascend to the next rank. Umm, also for closed door cultivation, right? But, it's okay because I'm here. If you break something, then you need to take responsibility for it, hehe. So, please be careful and don't be rash." Kisa had another meaning in her words.

Broadly speaking, she just wanted Mike to consider the after-effects of whatever he was trying to do.

As if understanding Kisa's point, Mike nodded in agreement and sat cross-legged on the floor near the door. "Then, excuse me."

"I will sit here and make no sound or noise. You can start at any time." Kisa sat on her bed and watched Mike with curious eyes. She wondered what technique Mike would use. Was it meditation, cultivation, formation, or something else?

Mike opened the palm-sized box. There were five reddish spirit stones and one slightly larger green one.

They were materials of the highest quality with the highest level of purity in their class!? Mike exclaimed in surprise in his mind while looking at the spirit stones, then at Kisa. It would be a pity if it was only used to try to ascend to the Nascent Spirit Realm.

"Why do you look both surprised and disappointed, Mike-san? Are the spirit stones not up to your expectations? I don't have any other spirit stones besides the red and green ones." Kisa misinterpreted Mike's expression and was a little confused.

"Ah, to be honest, I'm fine with low or medium quality. It would be a pity if I used these spirit stones to try to ascend to the next realm." Mike shook his head.

"Oh, turned out to be just that. Since you've joined the Kisaragi Clan, you don't have to worry about trivial matters like that, Mike-san. We wish you the best, and we won't be stingy about anything.

Please use those spirit stones without hesitation, as I still have a few others. Mm, I remember we will also be restocking our supply of resources and materials." Kisa chuckled and suggested casually.

"If you say that..." Mike was still a little hesitant, but he made up his mind a second later. He put aside his frugal thinking. "All right, then please watch over me for the next few minutes."

Kisa just nodded silently. Seeing that, Mike placed the five red spirit stones around himself like a Star Formation. After that, he gripped the green spirit stone and put both hands near his middle dantian.

Mike closed his eyes a moment after. He sensed every energy in his body and guided every flow of spirit power from the spirit stones to react to his inner strength.

Kisa could see Mike emitting a white aura. The flow of energy was so calm and serene, like a tranquil river.

Then, she put her hand to her chin. 'Star Formation, huh? Everything went smoothly without any hiccups. Maybe, he will ascend easily in just five minutes. It's good to be someone with exceptional gifted talent.'

At that very moment, Mike's aura slowly turned to light gray and stopped there.

'Hm, I didn't expect things to go so smoothly. Is it all thanks to my body constitution? Now, my spirit energy flow is already gray, but why hasn't the lady system announced the completion of the side quest yet. Have I not fully ascended, err, broken through to the Nascent Spirit Realm?' Mike wondered in his mind.

He could see that all the energy flows in his body were already gray, which confused him. Therefore, he decided to try to push his rank to the next stage.

After five minutes of careful effort, Mike could see the flow of spirit energy within his body had turned a slightly dark gray. Sure enough, the lady system announced the results of his success.

*Ding*

[Side Quest Completed!]

[Miss Fortune System leveled up. You have successfully unclocked Curse Transfer skill.]

'Ah, yatta, finally my lady system has come to tell me the good news!' Mike cheered happily, but he regained his composure and was again confused about his new skill. 'But, Curse Transfer? What kind of skill is this? I can send a curse like an evil witch? I didn't get any more information? Hello, the most beautiful and kind lady system. Please enlighten the ignorant me.'

Unfortunately, the lady system wasn't there to tell even though Mike asked for it several times.

'Silent treatment again, huh? I really need to learn how to talk to a girl. That's if the lady system is a real entity that might live in my mind.' Mike gave up asking. He was really considering the idea.

Mike opened his eyes and focused his gaze on the lower right corner. A black screen popped out in front of his eyes because of it.

<| Miss Fortune System (Lv. 2) |>

<| Host: Mikelle Fortuna (Nascent Spirit Realm: Intermediate Stage) |>

<| Skill: Dark Curse (Lv. 1) Curse Transfer (Lv. 1) Elemental Sight (Lv. 1) Nameless Escape Technique (Lv. 2) |>

'Wow, I really need to know the effect of this skill. I might be fine, thanks to Yuna-san. But with this skill, perhaps, I can throw my misfortune and bad luck to others?' Mike's eyes sparkled with excitement just to imagine the future.

He was unaware that the formation and its energy flow had not been completely stopped. An unexpected energy turmoil occurred. Yet, his body automatically dispelled the turbulent energy.

*Rip*

Mike's shirt was also destroyed along with the disappearance of the energy turmoil.

"Eh?"

"Uh?"

Kisa and Mike looked at each other, then Mike looked down only to see that his shirt had no shape anymore to cover his upper body. It was already torn to pieces!

"Oh, ha, haha, you have quite an athletic build. Do you want to show that off to me? Anyway, congratulations, you've successfully ascended to Rank 2, or Nascent Spirit Realm, as you mentioned." Kisa glanced at Mike's face then at his naked upper body repeatedly. She stuttered a little.

"Ah-oh, that wasn't in the plan. A surge of energy has ripped the shirt you gave me, please forgive me." Mike was a little embarrassed to be stared at by a beautiful girl. However, he steeled himself not to look like a shy boy as he still managed to restrain his shame.

"Everything is fine. I have prepared some clothes in the wardrobe in your room. Well then, I need to get back to my work, and you please come to your room." Kisa waved her hand in front of her face. She then stood up from the bed.

Mike also stood up after picking up the pieces of his shirt and the spirit stones. They then went out of the room together.

"Wha- wha- what were you doing with Kisa-san in her room just now!?" A girl's bashful exclamation sounded from the side.