Chapter 368 Stuck at the First Step
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In traditional Qi cultivation, every level needs a certain state of mind. By the end, you rarely have big problems and just go step by step. But moving from the Martial Way to the Immortal Path is different. It is closer to the cultivation systems of this world.
You have two choices. First, keep leveling up your strength until you reach God-tier (Immortal). Keep pushing forward and force your way through. Second, have a sudden enlightenment, perfect your state of mind, and rise up naturally. It is no wonder the Martial Way tradition disappeared. Since the paths are so similar, everyone picks the system that fits this world better—cultivation.
Aki had a premonition that if he completed his “worldly tempering,” he would not only achieve his second life-level transformation, but the Martial Way would also successfully step into the Immortal Path. Chisato Hasegawa had already completed a soul contract with him and naturally could not conceal anything regarding this matter, though Aki still took time to verify it with Shela and Sirzechs. He did this not for any other reason, but to see if there were any quicker or more convenient methods for breaching.
Although Shela’s strength was nothing to write home about, as the Queen of the Succubus clan who had survived since the Three-Way War, she possessed a vast amount of information. She could not provide an exact suggestion for breaching at the God-tier level, but with her leads, verification became much simpler.
As for Sirzechs, the situation remained unchanged; he could not even catch a glimpse of his brother-in-law, let alone know what he was tinkering with in the Demon King’s castle all day. The person responsible for communication remained the silver-haired, beautiful wife, Grayfia. Her blue-and-white maid uniform was as conservative as ever, but it could not hide that overly seductive figure, which made one’s blood boil just looking at her.
The answer Sirzechs provided was rather ambiguous, but Aki still detected something fishy. This red-haired Demon King brother-in-law had clearly completed his own breakthrough long ago. Beyond confirming the method suggested by Chisato Hasegawa, he also implicitly indicated he could assist Aki with a life-and-death battle. The general idea was to beat him to the brink of death while ensuring he did not actually perish, thereby maximizing the stimulation of his survival instinct and combat-oriented talent, ultimately aiming to irritate and sublimate his soul.
The feasibility and time required for this method were far lower than other concentrated approaches, but the suffering and pain he would have to endure were beyond words. Simply put, it meant after he was beaten half-to-death and recovered, he would still have to thank Sirzechs for the help… Moreover, if Sirzechs failed to control his power, an accident might occur.
Since it was a breakthrough through life-and-death, Aki had to truly feel the danger of death. God-tier was fundamentally a crushing force against the Demon King-class; unless Sirzechs’ strength was actually beyond the God-tier, he might not be able to hold back even if Aki brought out all his trump cards. If some immediate crisis were imminent and he had to breach right away, Aki would certainly accept it. But right now? He was no masochist; naturally, he would not choose this path.
On the other hand, Aki felt that without undergoing the worldly tempering of the heart1, he would truly have no hope of stepping into the Immortal Path. Although the Immortal Path was not necessarily stronger than the current transcendent path, the obsession and instinct deep within his soul made him unwilling to abandon it. If given the chance, he wanted to carry it forward.
After checking the information three times, Aki began his worldly training in the mid-October breeze. Worldly tempering meant living like a normal person. He should not use superhuman powers to solve problems or change the lives of people around him. Usually, this meant leaving familiar places, going somewhere no one knew him, and living a simple, everyday life.
Aki understood this logic, but he could not do it. No one knew how long the tempering would take; the girls could not constantly suppress the desires within their bodies and wait patiently. Moreover, the happy, nightly life of singing and drinking had long ago become a daily habit, as natural as eating or drinking water, and he probably could not adapt to empty, lonely nights overnight. In fact, while Aki might occasionally forget some daily habits, like eating or sleeping, he would never forget dual cultivation for even a day. Even if he forgot, others would remind him.
For instance, Maria and Lucia, those two succubi—whenever they had a chance, they would practically glue themselves to Aki. Even if it was not their turn for dual cultivation, just absorbing the spirit energy that leaked out provided them with immense pleasure and improvements in strength. Outside of being near Aki, they could not find anywhere else with such an intense, lewd environment. Aki was powerful and handsome to begin with, and the girls he dual-cultivated with were all top-tier in both appearance and talent, with nightlife every single day. This was simply the dreamland and the most ideal cultivation sanctuary for a succubus.
Living in this environment, even if Aki did not use a shred of transcendent power, he could not experience a mortal’s life, and naturally, he could not temper his state of mind. Having finally found a direction forward, he never expected to be stuck at the first step.
To solve this problem, Aki summoned all the girls bound by the soul contract, including Chisato Hasegawa, who had joined last but was the strongest. Through the effect of the soul network, Aki connected everyone together. The current predicament was laid out clearly, avoiding any misunderstandings caused by linguistic interpretation.
”How do you all suggest we resolve this?” Aki asked.
The room was silent for a moment, and Rias spoke first. “Little Aki, there is no need to rush the breakthrough so much. Just take it slowly.”
”Buchou, by the time the danger arrives, it will be too late to think about a breakthrough.”
Taking precautions is always good, and the longer he remains stuck, the more cultivation resources Aki wastes, potentially affecting the advancement of the other girls. The primary and secondary roles in the soul contract were not obvious, but they did exist. If Aki could not complete his second life-level transformation, Rias and the others would likely remain stuck at the Demon King-class, unable to advance further. The evidence was that even with Chisato Hasegawa, a God-tier, dual-cultivating with Aki, there was not the slightest sign of improvement in his strength. The threshold of God-tier was the difference between immortals and mortals; even a dual cultivation ability could not help an immortal lift their strength, not even by a fraction, if the other party was merely a mortal.
”Why don’t you send yourself to live in another place for a while? Maybe a month for now, how does that sound?” Himejima Akeno said, shaking her proud chest.
”A month wouldn’t be useful at all, right?” Mittelt and Koneko were sitting in Aki’s lap, looking up. “And Sister Akeno, can you really endure a month?”
”Ara, ara…” Himejima Akeno’s pretty face turned red, and she had to cover her face with one hand, using her catchphrase to avoid the question.
Aside from the succubus sisters, Maria and Lucia, the one with the strongest desires in the entire mansion was Himejima Akeno. With her fierce, massive breasts, her precious “Flower Valley,” her long legs, and long black hair reaching her calves, Aki was very fond of her as well. Perhaps not one-on-one, but he basically dual-cultivated with Himejima Akeno every two days. Watching the black-bellied, sadistic upperclassman tremble beneath him was truly a sight he never tired of.
”Why not just have Aki accept special training from Lord Sirzechs!” Kiba Yuhime offered.
Aki gave Kiba a harsh glare; if he wanted that kind of training, why would he have summoned everyone to discuss it?
”That…” Amano Yuuma (Raynare) tapped her chin with her index finger, hesitating. “Is it possible—I am saying, maybe—that Aki’s soul is actually strong enough, just not pure enough?”
Aki’s eyes lit up; this was the first time he had heard this hypothesis. He pulled the pure, pitiful, black-haired, big-breasted schoolgirl to his side. “Hm? Yuuma, tell me more.”
”Aki, aren’t you still haunted by the—” Amano Yuuma (Raynare) did not quite understand Aki’s concept of a “bitter parent template,” paused, and simply said, “Aren’t you naturally attractive to women, but easily provoke disgust in men? This might be why your soul isn’t pure enough.”
”Looking at your talent for dual cultivation, it is expected that you possess a talent that naturally attracts women; these two are a set. The excessive provocation of hostility from your own gender can be viewed as a side effect—that is, the impurity within your soul.”
”You mean, remove the dross and keep the essence, and I can complete the soul transformation?”
”Yes.”
Aki was lost in thought; he felt that what Amano Yuuma (Raynare) said made some sense, but ultimately, it depended on what Chisato Hasegawa had to say. After explaining the bitter parent template and his dual cultivation talent in detail, he looked at the beautiful, sexy school doctor wearing glasses.
”Sister Chisato, do you think this is possible?”
”The possibility is very high.”
—
Summary:
Aki grapples with a cultivation bottleneck while attempting to transition to the Immortal Path. Despite seeking advice from powerful figures and his companions, he remains trapped by his own comfortable environment. The chapter concludes with a pivotal hypothesis from Yuuma, suggesting that his soul may require purification rather than sheer strength.
—
Trivia:
Aki is unable to reach the Immortal Path because he is stuck in a comfort trap created by his harem lifestyle.
The concept of worldly tempering requires an ordinary life devoid of supernatural power interference.
Sirzechs, though elusive, implicitly hints at a painful, high-stakes training method involving near-death experiences.
Aki’s dual cultivation ability is intrinsically linked to his appeal to women and the corresponding hostility he draws from men.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Chisato Hasegawa – Hasegawa Chisato is the new Kuoh Academy school nurse, secretly the goddess Freya of the Ten Core Gods living under a power seal. Possessing a mature, elegant appearance and magnificent figure, she wears a green knit dress, black miniskirt, and red semi-rimless glasses. She acts as a mentor to Aki while learning to navigate intimacy and maintaining her cover as a human school doctor.
• Hasegawa – Hasegawa Chisato is the new school nurse at Kuoh Academy. She is secretly the goddess Freya, one of the Ten Core Gods, currently living among humans under a power seal. Known for her dignity and magnificent figure, she is often seen in a green knit dress, black miniskirt, and red semi-rimless glasses. She maintains her human cover while serving as the school’s nurse and doctor.
• Sirzechs – Sirzechs Gremory, the red-haired Great Demon King Lucifer and Rias’s brother, is an enigmatic, regal leader of immense power. Constrained by political and divine boundaries within the Divine Realm, this elusive strategist acts as a peace negotiator and guardian. Though restricted from intervening in internal matters, he is willing to aid his ally Aki’s breakthrough via life-and-death combat.
• Chisato – Chisato Hasegawa, a busty, black-haired school doctor at Kuoh Academy, wears a green knit dress, black miniskirt, and red glasses. Secretly the goddess Freya (Afreya), a God-tier individual of the Ten Core Gods with God-faction bloodline, she hides under a power seal. She is Raphaelene’s lover, monitors candidates, and shares a soul contract with Aki, who questions his memories upon her arrival.
• Shela – A petite, cunning Succubus Queen with white hair, ram horns, and violet eyes. A Three-Way War survivor of moderate strength held by Zolgear, this intuitive cultivation teacher blends matronly grace with strategy. As the protective mother of Naruse Mio, Lucia, and Maria (and potential partner of Aki), she provides information, guards Gremory secrets, and plans for her daughters’ survival.
• Aki – A tall, handsome transmigrator and King-status devil with a powerful presence and sealed strength. This assertive strategist pursues God-tier power, transitioning to the Immortal Path via the Red Dragon Emperor gauntlet. Residing in a spacious mansion with his supernatural peerage, he dominantly manages a growing harem through dual cultivation, including a fast-paced romance with Hana.
• Queen – A devil serving Riser Phenex.
• Grayfia – The silver-haired, beautiful wife of Sirzechs is the Underworld Queen and primary contact. Serving as a dignified Gremory head maid in a conservative blue-and-white uniform, she pairs a seductive figure with iron willpower. Composed yet authoritative, this Demon King-class Devil acts as a medical examiner, barrier expert, referee, and diplomat from the Three Factions Talk.
• Lucia – A tall, elegant, white-haired succubus maid with an icy demeanor, she defies her nature through abstinence. Shela’s daughter and Maria’s sister, she was imprisoned by Zolgear after being teleported. Despite her guarded exterior and a hidden vulnerable side deeply concerned for her family, she seeks to stay close to Aki—grappling with romantic feelings while absorbing his spirit energy to grow.
• Maria – A shapeshifting succubus and headstrong royal subordinate, this clever companion is deeply attached to Aki. Seeking his affection, she finds great pleasure and strength through dual cultivation. Her sensitive bloodline lets her shift between a petite, cute form with amethyst eyes and a heart-tipped tail and a tall, voluptuous one. She uses her formidable skills to protect allies like Naruse Mio.
• Rias – A beautiful, crimson-haired High-Class Devil who reached her status at seventeen via powerful Mana, she commands the Gremory household and Occult Research Club. Famous for her signature bust and sharp mind, she protects her peerage (Xenovia, Mio, Maria). Living in a large mansion with Aki and other female companions, she is an acquaintance privy to his transmigration, serves as a key advisor guiding his cultivation, and engages in Dual Cultivation with him.
• Buchou – A club president mentioned as having peeked at Aki.
• Himejima Akeno – A high-ranking member of the Gremory peerage and household, this buxom female student with black hair in a ponytail assists Rias with magical tasks. Known as the Lightning Flash, her previously reserved demeanor has shifted into a sultry, energetic, and passionate personality during cultivation, maintaining close ties as a supportive ally to her companions.
• Himejima – Akeno Himejima is a tall, curvaceous Kuoh Academy senior, high-ranking Devil retainer in Rias Gremory’s peerage, and a powerful Occult Research Club member known for her strength in combat. Bound by a Soul Contract to Aki, she possesses long black hair and a queen-like demeanor. Combining sadistic charm with maternal authority, she wields golden lightning and is deeply loyal to Rias and Aki.
• Akeno – Himejima is a tall, voluptuous Orc-devil shrine maiden with red eyes, dark wings, and calf-length raven hair. The sadistic, black-bellied “Priestess of Thunder” serves as Rias Gremory’s loyal S+ rank Queen and administrator. As Akira’s soul-bound, dedicated partner, she maintains a deep bond, frequently participating in dual cultivation while constantly longing for his attention.
• Mittelt – A petite, twin-tailed blonde ex-Fallen Angel turned Devil in Rias’s peerage, this maid-uniformed, S-Rank fighter sports jet-black wings and light powers. Transferred to Aki’s training group via Soul Contract, the sharp-tongued girl teases younger members and helps negotiate with new students. Craving Aki’s affection, she sits in his lap and questions the feasibility of him living apart for a month.
• Koneko – A petite, doll-like, white-haired Nekoshou, this stoic girl is Rias Gremory’s Rook and Aki’s Soul Contract partner. A formidable close-quarters fighter with an intimidating aura, her usual impassive restraint hides a deeply affectionate, jealous side toward Aki. She sits in Aki’s lap alongside Mittelt, voicing concerns about the duration of his training.
• Kiba Yuhime – A tall, mature beauty with white-gold hair, indigo eyes, and a large bust, Kiba Yuhime (formerly Kiba) is Aki’s devoted partner. Recently elevated to SS-Rank through dual cultivation, she pairs a confident demeanor with a highly proficient, submissive dedication to Aki, actively taking initiative in their encounters and possessing greater experience than Asia.
• Yuhime – A tall, mature beauty with white-gold hair, indigo eyes, and a large bust, Kiba Yuhime is an Occult Research Club member who recently returned to her female form. As Aki’s devoted partner, she formed a Soul Contract with him, reached SS-Rank via dual cultivation, and has greater experience than Asia. Confident yet submissive, she takes initiative but also annoys Aki by suggesting he train under Lord Sirzechs.
• Kiba – Yuuto (Yuto) Kiba is a handsome, 1.7m blond Devil, Occult Research Club member, and polite knight in Rias Gremory’s peerage. A master swordsman and Holy Sword Project survivor, he recently transformed by reconciling with his past trauma and mastering his Balance Breaker form. Despite a refined campus prince demeanor, he holds deep hatred for the Church, Fallen Angels, and priests from his past.
• Amano Yuuma – Yuuma Amano is the alias of Raynare, a Fallen Angel disguised as a school uniform-wearing student with an innocent face, slender figure, long black hair, and black wings. Serving in Rias’s Peerage, the ORC, and a barrier maintenance team, she assists with grooming at the villa. Possessive and assertive, she proactively trains her partner Aki, with whom she desires intimacy.
• Raynare – Lady Raynare, an identity associated with Amano Yuuma, is a voluptuous, dark-haired former Fallen Angel shifting between a schoolgirl guise and her true nature. Training under Rias in the Occult Research Club, she struggles to integrate into the peerage. Contracted to her mentee Aki, her high aptitude boosts combat to S-Rank, while providing critical insights regarding soul mechanics.
• Amano – Raynare Yuuma, a fallen angel masquerading as a Kuoh schoolgirl, is a striking woman with long hair and a commanding presence. Secretly a Devil bound by a Soul Contract to Aki, this former Occult Research Club member possesses black-belly powers and instant-change abilities. She conceals her true faction and fears, remaining a disciplined, protective figure deeply concerned for Aki’s well-being.
• Yuuma – Amano Yuuma (Raynare) is a striking, large-busted schoolgirl with long black hair and violet eyes. Formerly a fallen angel, she is now a high-class devil, light magic master, and devoted Pawn in Aki’s peerage via a soul contract. Bound by an obsessive, absolute allegiance to Aki, she playfully teases him while hypothesizing that his soul, though incredibly strong, is pure and pitifully lacking.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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