Investing in My Crippled Wife: Every Return Makes Me Stronger

Chapter 118: Breakthrough! [2]

Something about that man’s entire demeanor during their brief encounter left a lingering, unsettling taste in Soren’s mouth. The more he reflected on that interaction, the more a quiet suspicion began to take root in his mind.

Although he had looked like a regretful, loving parent on the surface, it was highly probable that the entire display was nothing more than an act.

Her father was definitely keeping secrets.

’I’m sure of it.’

Ethea broke the silence, her gaze softening slightly as she looked at him.

"Mmm. I believe you. And... thank you... for telling me all of this," she said softly.

Soren let out a small, relieved breath and nodded, glad to move past the topic. "So, back to my question. Since I do practice it... got any advice?"

Ethea paused for a moment, her usual indifferent, analytical expression returning as she took a deep breath to focus on the technicalities of the cultivation technique.

"As you might have already noticed, the Glacial Emperor Scripture is fundamentally different from standard cultivation techniques," she explained, her voice naturally adopting a calm, instructive tone.

"For conventional cultivators, reaching the Third Circle requires opening all the hidden pathways in the body to let mana circulate freely to the surface. This allows them to manifest a thin, protective layer of mana around their skin that can be toggled on and off at will once mastered. In our world, that surface layer itself is commonly considered the third layer, marking someone as a true Third Circle cultivator."

Soren listened intently, his focus sharpening. "Right. From what I’ve researched, conventional methods rely on a highly controlled, synchronized resonance. They accelerate the two layers of the core to a specific frequency, creating an internal pressure that expands the pathways outward until the mana naturally bleeds through to the skin’s surface."

He shifted slightly, looking directly at her.

"But the scripture explicitly warns against that expansion. If I try to force the cold outward, it will just freeze the unawakened pathways solid and fracture my internal network. The scripture says I need to lock both existing layers into absolute stillness instead, but it’s incredibly vague on the actual transition. Since you’ve mastered this exact progression, what’s the trick to making it work?"

Ethea observed him for a quiet moment, a faint glimmer of approval passing through her eyes before her expression smoothed out.

"The trick is understanding that your reward is twice what a conventional cultivator achieves," Ethea said softly. "They only gain the surface layer. But because you drive your core into absolute stillness, the resulting internal implosion will violently snap open every single pathway at once, flooding your skin. But it doesn’t stop there."

Soren nodded, indicating he was focusing.

"The sheer volume of mana pulled back from that sudden expansion will condense right at the center of your chest. It will forge a third internal layer around your core. While ordinary cultivators only have a fragile skin film, you will have a dual boundary. A permanent armor on your skin, and an impenetrable shield guarding your core inside."

Soren’s eyebrows raised slightly. "A dual boundary. That sounds incredibly powerful, but holding that much pressure must be a nightmare."

"It is," Ethea agreed completely. "And that is where the danger lies. When the stillness peaks and the pathways snap open, the mana will want to scatter chaotically between your skin and your chest. To stabilize it, you must not panic when your body goes completely numb. You have to use your intent to anchor the mana to both your heartbeat and your skin simultaneously. If you lose focus for even a second during that dual synchronization, the backflow will destroy your pathways permanently."

Soren nodded slowly, gulping inwardly at the sheer seriousness of the process.

Cultivation always promised incredible power, but the risks paired with it were equally terrifying. One wrong move, one moment of panicked hesitation, and he would permanently ruin his future before it even truly began.

Ethea seemed to read the tension in his shoulders. Her eyes softened slightly, and she spoke in a reassuring tone.

"You do not have to worry too much, Soren. Your affinity is exceptionally high, and your control and talent have already proven themselves during your previous breakthrough. As long as you remain calm and avoid major mistakes, you are more than capable of handling it."

Hearing her objective assessment did wonders to ease the heavy weight in his chest. "Thanks for the help, Ethea. I really appreciate it."

"Don’t mention it." The corners of her lips curved upward into a rare smile. "This is the least I can do as your wife."

A subtle warmth bloomed in Soren’s chest at her words.

’My wife, huh...’

A comfortable sweetness settled into the room, making him forget about the dangers of the breakthrough for a brief moment.

Just then, a sudden, powerful wave of mana rippled through the entire house, enveloping them both in a gentle, warm pressure. The ambient energy vibrated with a rhythmic, steady pulse that signaled a perfect stabilization of power from the adjacent room.

The two of them exchanged a knowing look and smiled at each other simultaneously.

’Auntie had broken through successfully.’

Even their thoughts seemed to align perfectly in that quiet moment of shared relief.

Soren let out a quiet chuckle, the sudden burst of celebratory energy perfectly cutting through the lingering seriousness in the atmosphere. He shifted his attention back to the table, picking up the bowl of broth that had cooled slightly during their conversation.

"Well, let’s finish this before she comes out to celebrate," Soren said, offering the spoon back to Ethea.

Ethea did not refuse. For the next few minutes, a peaceful silence returned to the room, broken only by the soft clink of the spoon. Soren carefully fed her the remaining warm broth, occasionally taking a sip from his own bowl until both were completely empty.

Just as Soren was setting the bowls down, the door to the adjacent room clicked open.

Clara stepped out into the hallway, a vibrant, visible glow surrounding her. The physical toll of her previous fatigue seemed completely erased. Her skin possessed a flawless, radiant clarity, and the faint lines of stress around her eyes had completely vanished, replaced by an unmistakable vitality.

"Whoa!" Soren’s eyes widened slightly as he took in her appearance. "You look a lot younger, Auntie! Congratulations on your breakthrough."

Ethea looked toward the doorway as well, a gentle warmth reflecting in her gaze. "Congratulations, Aunt Clara."