Sharp searing pain came over his mind as the world around him distorted. The fiery scene around him rapidly changed to different locations scattered inside his memories. The girl before him revealed a small gentle smile as she slowly approached Riku and squirmed her hands over his neck.

Sensing the imminent danger. Riku's Core Formation shook as it shot off a blue red thread of light which seeped towards Riku's mind, jolting his mind awake. The Lightning orb inside his dantian also sent a pale blue crackling of light towards his body shaking him to consciousness.

However, Riku really was left unguarded for this time. As the feeling of unconsciousness started to took over his mind. Riku fiercely bit his tongue as a sharp pain resurfaced, keeping his mind awake. With a flash of coldness appearing within his eyes. Riku circulated his pale blue Mana Force as a shockwave erupted. Directly blowing the squirming Su Qing backwards.

"W-why must you do this? Riku?" Su Qing pleaded in a soft gentle voice that could make any man feel moved. But the Riku now wasn't as naive as he was for the last two thousand years. With a furious howl and a whistling sound. Riku cleaved the air before him with the fork as he shouted.

"How dare you try to deceive me!!!"

Like a dispersed mist. The illusionary image of Su Qing disappeared to thin air. Riku on the other hand fell on his butt as he calmed his tense nerves and meditated. Riku also moved his consciousness towards his dantian as he followed the instructions within the 'Thunderlord's Purging Art' book and calmed the Lightning orb.

~Chiii chiii~

A sound akin to a molten iron being drenched in water rang. The Lightning orb within his dantian became as docile as a kitten as it floated. Witnessing that sight. Riku sighed in relief. Without further ado, Riku slowly stopped his meditation and stood up.

The pitch black cave surrounded Riku like a caged animal. Riku frowned his eyebrows. Since his Radiant Weapon was confiscated. He wouldn't be able to cast any spell that would not blow his cover that he cultivated using an ancient cultivation method. Since in this peculiar world. The methods inside the book that Riku had was considered an archaic one.

And cultivating it was akin to breaking the laws in this new world. Riku wouldn't like that to happen. He was still too weak to stand with his own feet inside this new world. And due to the strangeness of this unique world. Riku would surely be captured and be used for experiments.

After reading the book of [Inventions; How Technology Changed the World]. Riku somewhat understood the transition from the ancient cultivation method to the modern ones.

The ancient cultivation methods wield extreme danger for the cultivator. Since if one cultivated using this method. One would need to endure occasional heavenly tribulations to be able to step to the next stages.

Using the modern cultivation techniques. One wouldn't need to cultivate using their own inner dantian. They would only need to use internal Radiant Weapons. These Radiant Weapons would be the proxy to communicate with the heaven and earth. Thus, eliminating any possibilities for heavenly tribulations.

The downside of this modern cultivation technique was if one Radiant Weapon was destroyed. Their whole cultivation would also be destroyed! All the efforts that the cultivator placed in cultivating would be wasted!

Of course, the Radiant Weapons that were handed to the lower cultivation stages such as Flesh Improving Stage towards the Soul Sage Warrior was an external one!

An internal Radiant Weapon would only be useful if one had already entered the doors of the Foundation Establishment Stage! Since it was impossible to create a firm foundation outside the cultivators body, internal Radiant Weapon were used.

Truth be told. The stages beneath the Foundation Establishment Stage weren't really a cultivation stage. Those stages were just there for the body and soul to improve! Once one had laid out the foundation of their cultivation. That was the only time when one would be called a true cultivator!

The first step to true cultivation was the Foundation Establishment Stage! Beneath it was only for the soul and body!

After traversing for about ten breaths. A diiing sound resounded as a white light engulfed the pitch black cave. Riku hurriedly placed his arms before him to protect his eye from the sudden light.

The intense white light dimmed. What appeared in front of Riku was a small round stage. He was standing on the stage. Before him was a visage of a human-like shadow.

Riku's eyebrows frowned. As concentration took over his mind. He found out that the man before him had the same appearance, aura and cultivation base as him! And looking closely on his right hand was a shadow of a stainless fork!

Darting his gaze around him. Riku found out that it was pretty impossible for him to try and escape this stage. There was a translucent violet barrier surrounding them.

Riku's eyes flashed with coldness as he prepared a battle stance. Wielding his right hand with the fork in an offensive stance while the left hand assumed a defensive one.

The shadow, emotionless. Exploded with a bang as a black light shot off towards Riku!

Riku understood that the shadow broke the silence before them and started to channel his Mana Force towards the fork!

The pupils of the shadow revealed a murderous light as it outstretched its right hand. Preparing to attack Riku with a downward slash using the fork as a weapon!

Riku didn't flinch nor shudder as pale blue light enshrouded the fork on his right hand. 70% of his Mana Force was transferred towards the fork as an offensive proxy while the 20% was on his body, protecting him, and the other parts were for his internal organs.

Without further ado, Riku evaded the fork with a sudden crouch and swoop down using his left foot all the way while slashing diagonally with the reinforced fork!

A pale blue light flashed by as the shadow tumbled as a result of it suddenly being kicked while in mid-air. After losing its momentum. It tumbled backwards while trying to gain balance, but Riku's fork attack already reached a certain boundary as a pale blue light flickered.

With a deep growl. The shadow hurriedly retreated backwards. On its left arm was a seven inches cut made from the reinforced fork.

Anger surfaced in the shadow's eyes as it activated several hand seals in the air. Afterwards, a pale blue vortex of Mana Force materialized in the air before it. With a cold expression. The shadow flicked its wrist. Sending the pale blue vortex towards Riku.

Witnessing the pale blue vortex that materialized. Riku's visage turned ashen as he cursed. "Damn it! It even knows Mana Burst!!" Riku hurriedly retreated as he calculated the possible outcomes if he'll block that head on.

Mana Burst was a savage corroding energy created by creating a vortex of mana in a clockwise position. And then adding another vortex of mana spinning in a counter clockwise position. If these were merged together. Equilibrium would fall apart and the Mana Force would try to forcefully separate from each other.

Which means that this spell was akin to an imminent exploding volcano!

As the Mana Force neared. Riku clenched his jaws as his lightning flashed in his eyes. Simultaneously activating 'Azure Soul Takeover'. Riku noticed a small speck of white light floating in an inconspicuous manner. At first, Riku didn't mind it but after he witnessed it using the realm of 'Azure Soul Takeover'. Its movements became increasingly fluid!

The speck of white light was like a fire in a pitch black room! To Riku who can perceive almost any minute movements inside the realm of 'Azure Soul Takeover'. These obscure graceful movements was extremely clear! The white speck of light was evading the savage corroding energy from the Mana Burst!

'Tssk, those bastards!' Riku clicked his tongue as he realized the current situation he was in. Every candidates inside the caves were being spied on! If Riku hadn't noticed this earlier, he might have blown his cover without him knowing how!

And so, with concealed swift movements. Riku sent a small thread of lightning homing towards the white speck of light. As expected, when the lightning crashed towards the white speck of light. Riku felt a small resistance. But then, his lips curved to a smile as the white speck exploded! Sending Mana Undulations to the surroundings!

Due to the sudden interruption of the foreign Mana Force. The concentration of the shadow flickered, showing a clear gap in its movements!

Without any hesitation. Riku's right hand became enshrouded by a pale blue light as cracklings of light appeared all over his body. Like a lightning god, Riku exploded with the full power of his legs as he maintained the 'Azure Soul Takeover'.

The shadow's emotionless figure flickered, as it tried to redirect the Mana Burst towards Riku's new trajectory, but it was too late! Riku's hand was already in the air as he performed a straight thrust with the reinforced stainless fork!

~BOOM!!

A fierce sound resonated as blobs of black liquid like substance splattered all over the ground. The fork that Riku held became a mighty lightning dragon as it outwardly bombed the shadow's body causing it to lose its chest!

On its chest, a huge hole was there. But still, the shadow's visage was emotionless as it tried to counterattack using the Mana Burst!

Whistling sounds rang beside the air around Riku. In response, Riku revealed a cold smile as he clutched the head of the shadow. And crushed it with his right hand!

With that, the shadow was eradicated. The Mana Burst disappeared like a dispersed mist and returned to nothingness. The atmosphere around Riku returned to its previous calm. As if nothing happened.

Riku's breath came in ragged pants as he calmed down and seated cross-legged, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth as he circulated it and nourished his body and mind.

After about two minutes. Riku's eyes snapped open as a diing sound resonated before him. A transparent screen flickered as Riku revealed a satisfied smile.

Riku Lightshield: Outer DiscipleSuccessfully completed the Inner Disciple Test!Please wait at the waiting shed!

The scene before him distorted as a white room appeared before his eyes.

Thanks for reading and enjoy!

PS: If you happen to have enough time, Please check this second fiction of mine, If you liked Code Geass, you might like this one :)