My Apocalypse System Arrives 10 Years Early

Chapter 433: Chapter 286: Riotous Spring Sakura

Cherry blossoms fluttered down at the foot of Mount Fuji as Li Xiang, draped in a Matsutake Patterned Yukata, stepped into the courtyard.

A Bronze Wind Chime on the corner of the eaves swayed gently in the twilight, brushing the last few late-blooming cherry blossoms toward the twins squatting beside a Stone Lantern.

Asatsuyu was using her Fire Spiritual Power to roast a cherry blossom in her palm, while Yukigiri blew on an Ice Crystal. The tips of the sisters’ hair flickered with faint glimmers of crimson gold and ice blue, respectively.

”Godfather—” Overjoyed to see Li Xiang, the twins ran barefoot across the gravel path blanketed in fallen cherry blossoms, the wisteria tassels tucked in their hair swaying as they lunged toward him.

Li Xiang opened his arms to catch the two little ones, letting them snuggle into his embrace on either side.

Yukigiri was cool to the touch, and Asatsuyu was warm and toasty.

”Your breathing should flow like the Earth Veins—”

Li Xiang gave each of them a kiss, guiding them in their Cultivation and answering the questions they had about their daily practice.

The Twin Gouyu were naturally intelligent and exceptionally talented. With guidance from Li Xiang, the number one master on Earth, his profound yet simple explanations brought them sudden enlightenment. In no time, the two girls felt their Cultivation had improved significantly.

Magma-like patterns glowed through the collar of Asatsuyu’s yukata, and a crimson Gouyu was faintly visible beneath her collarbone.

The hem of Yukigiri’s under-robe fluttered without a breeze as Ice Crystals crept from the tips of her toes onto the cobblestones.

Asatsuyu giggled, and the flickering flame in her palm suddenly took the shape of Mount Fuji’s silhouette.

Meanwhile, the Ice Crystals on Yukigiri’s fingertips spontaneously arranged themselves into the shape of a Gouyu, the cold air freezing the fallen cherry blossoms within a three-meter radius like amber.

’Master is so amazing.’ Chiba Yuki, who had seen this from the corner of the corridor while holding a cypress tea tray, was filled with admiration. She also diligently guided her two daughters, but the results were never this pronounced.

Chiba Yuki knelt on the terrace, shaded by a weeping cherry tree. Her fair hands gently whisked the tea as the fresh aroma of matcha mingled with the sulfurous scent of the hot springs. ”Master, please try Yuki’s freshly prepared ’First Snow Jade Dew’.”

Li Xiang put the twins down and let them go play, then went over to a wicker chair to taste Chiba Yuki’s fragrant tea.

The tea had a unique flavor. A light sniff brought a savory, seaweed-like fragrance mixed with the delicate sweetness of cherry blossom honey to his nostrils. Upon sipping, his tongue first tasted the slight astringency of rock minerals, which then transformed into a long, lingering sweet aftertaste.

”It’s quite good,” Li Xiang praised.

Chiba Yuki couldn’t hide her delight. Her face flushed like a spring sunrise, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

「Late that night.」

Chiba Yuki, dressed in a light, silky, cherry-blossom-patterned nightgown, burst into Li Xiang’s bedroom carrying her daughters. She knelt on the tatami mat. ”Master, please help Asatsuyu and Yukigiri!”

If her Shikigami, Aoi Monshou, had been present, she might have been able to handle it herself. But with only Red Wisdom, she was not strong enough.

”Out of balance again?” Li Xiang frowned. He immediately touched his fingertips to the twins’ foreheads, and a ceaseless stream of Spiritual Power flowed from his body into theirs.

Asatsuyu suddenly murmured, ”Godfather’s hand is so hot!”

At the same time, Yukigiri shivered. Their shared senses made both of their necks flush red.

Their three streams of Spiritual Power converged, forming a temporary Spiritual Power Vortex inside Li Xiang. His stable Earth Attribute body served as a Yin-Yang Medium between the two girls, helping them regulate their turbulent Spiritual Power.

The Ice and Fire Spiritual Power within the two girls circulated and merged through Li Xiang’s meridians, gradually stabilizing and calming.

Chiba Yuki pursed her red lips and also released her own Spiritual Power, merging it into the Spiritual Power Vortex. ’If nourished by Master’s Spiritual Power,’ she thought, ’perhaps Aoi Monshou can recover faster.’

Yukigiri trembled slightly. ”Mommy’s here too.”

Chiba Yuki’s second Shikigami, Red Wisdom, was also Fire Attribute. After she joined in, the pressure on Yukigiri increased, but so did the benefits.

Because the Twin Gouyu’s Cultivation was synchronized, a portion of the benefits was also transferred to Asatsuyu.

With the four of them together, their Cultivation progressed much faster.

In fact, this also helped Li Xiang’s Spiritual Power, meridians, and Spirit Body. Tempered by the Ice and Fire Spiritual Power, his Spirit Body showed faint signs of improvement.

For one thing, the Cold Ice Sword Qi Rune became more active, its operation smoother and more agile.

A thought crossed Li Xiang’s mind, and he decided to go ahead and upgrade the Rune. He spent one hundred thousand Achievement Points, advancing the Rune through two successive forms: from Sword Qi, it became a Sword Array, and then it transformed into a Sword Map.

Cold Ice Sword Qi was essentially a sharp energy infused with Ice Cold Power. Now that it had transformed into a Sword Map, it could manifest tens of thousands of frost blades. Both its power and quantity had undergone a world-shaking transformation.

「An hour later.」

Li Xiang ended the Cultivation session. Chiba Yuki, Asatsuyu, and Yukigiri all seemed to wish it could have continued.

Li Xiang instructed, ”In the future, your Cultivation must be gradual. You must not rush it.”

The mother and her two daughters nodded repeatedly.

Li Xiang thought for a moment and decided to craft Crystal Vein Spirit Armor for the three of them right then and there.

Chiba Yuki and the Twin Gouyu couldn’t help but feel excited and full of anticipation.

After Li Xiang’s ”Earth Pivot World Record” had been upgraded to its third form, his ”Crystal Vein Armor” Superpower had improved accordingly. His speed and success rate in crafting Spirit Armor and Spiritual Soldiers were both higher.

In just half an hour, he had produced an excellent piece of Extraordinary Spirit Armor, which he handed to Chiba Yuki.

”This is for you,” Li Xiang said.

”Thank you, Master.” Chiba Yuki bowed deeply, accepting it with both hands. She then stood up, and the Spirit Armor enveloped her body.

”Mommy is so beautiful!” The Twin Gouyu’s eyes lit up as they cried out in unison.

Li Xiang raised an eyebrow. ’As expected of a stunner.’

Chiba Yuki was inwardly excited. ’This isn’t Battle Armor Master gave me, it’s clearly an evening gown! And it perfectly suits my aesthetic.’

As it was a Tier Nine Spirit Armor, its Defense was naturally exceptional. It also had two Extraordinary Attributes: ”Swift” and ”Endurance.”

”Swift” increased speed and agility, while ”Endurance” increased one’s Fighting Power, allowing for greater durability and stamina in battle.

Her delight was written all over her face. Chiba Yuki asked charmingly, ”Thank you for the armor, Master. I wonder, does this Spirit Armor have a name?”

Li Xiang pondered for a moment and said, ”Let’s call it the ’Sakura Snow Spirit Pattern Armor’.”

Li Xiang had crafted this ”Sakura Snow Spirit Pattern Armor” from a rare alloy found alongside the subterranean lava layers of Mount Fuji. He had condensed cherry blossom patterns onto its surface and tempered it with his Crystal Vein Armor ability until it was translucent. It was as light as a cicada’s wing yet harder than refined steel.

The armor plates were crafted using the ”Ukiyo-e Engraving” technique, with each plate engraved with a different snowy scene of Mount Fuji. The sash was inlaid with rubies using the ”Lin School Painting” style. Furthermore, it blended elements of both Japanese Armor and Tang-style Ming Guang Armor. The upper half was an off-the-shoulder, half-sleeve design, paired with a skirt of flowing, cloud-shaped metal plates.

As for the color, it was a ”Xue Dai Zhu” gradient: pure white like fresh snow at the shoulders, gradually fading down into cherry blossom pink, and finally deepening into the dark red of Mount Fuji’s lava at the skirt armor.

”The Spirit Armor is beautiful, and its name is even more so.” Chiba Yuki caressed the Battle Armor, unable to take her hands off it. With this protective Spirit Armor, her strength would naturally increase significantly.

For the twins, Li Xiang crafted the ”Red Kite Gouyu” and the ”Profound Frost Gouyu.” Both sets of Spirit Armor were Tier Six and forged using his Crystal Vein Armor ability.

Because they were derived from different ores, the colors of the Battle Armor were different: ”Crimson Kite Red” and ”Profound Ice Blue,” respectively. The complementary color schemes perfectly matched each girl’s Spiritual Power Attribute.