Week Three - Breaking Limits
"Stage 9!" Celestia announced on Day 21. "I basically skipped through 6, 7 and 8 entirely! Runar, is that okay? Should I be worried?"
"Did you feel any pain or instability?" Runar asked, already knowing the answer. The Unity Method's perfect foundation prevented deviation.
"No, it felt really smooth actually. Like my body was ready and just... jumped."
"Then you're fine. The technique is working as designed."
What Runar didn't mention was that he'd increased the dosage of pills in her food. Her body was adapting to the Divine-grade resources, and he needed to maintain the acceleration.
He was also actively modifying her technique on the fly—watching her cultivate with his runic eyes, identifying inefficiencies, and suggesting "small adjustments" that were actually major optimizations.
"Try circulating your qi in this pattern," he'd say, and show her a sequence that was 50% more efficient than the standard method.
"When you compress your qi in the acupoints, imagine it forming these shapes," and he'd guide her through runic geometry that dramatically increased storage capacity.
Every session, Celestia's version of the Unity Method diverged further from the public version. It was still recognizably the same technique, but optimized, refined, and enhanced to extraordinary levels.
By the end of Week Three, other nearby cultivators in the city were beginning to notice something unusual was happening in the Cross family's backyard.
The ambient qi in the surrounding area was noticeably a little denser than outside. Plants grew faster. Spirit animals became more active. Other cultivators found their own practice easier when near the Cross residence.
Neighbors began making excuses to visit, hoping to benefit from whatever was causing the phenomenon.
Jake and Lirien had to politely turn them all away, citing "private family cultivation" and "children's training." But the attention was uncomfortable.
Week two - The Impossible Barrier
On Day 9, something extraordinary happened.
Celestia broke through to Stage 10 and 11 of Stardust Awakening in a single go.
The theoretical limit. The stage that normal cultivators considered the peak before advancing to Meteor Forging.
She sat in meditation, her ice-water qi swirling around her in beautiful patterns, when she felt it—a barrier. Solid. Immovable.
"Runar," she said, opening her eyes. "I can't go further. There's a wall."
"That's Stage 10," Runar explained. "It's the normal limit. Most cultivators stop here and consolidate before breaking through to the next realm."
"But you went past it," Celestia pointed out. "Way past it. You're at like, a hundred-something, right?"
Runar had been deliberately vague about his cultivation level, but he couldn't deny it entirely. "That's different. My situation is... unusual."
"Because of your physique?"
"Probably."
Celestia frowned, determination setting into her features. "I want to try breaking through the limit too."
"Celestia, that might not—"
"Please?" She looked at him with those bright violet eyes. "You did it. So maybe I can too. You said I was a genius, right? So let me try."
Runar hesitated. Breaking past Stage 10 required more than just talent. It required a foundation so solid it could support the impossible, resources beyond measure, and a cultivation technique specifically designed for it.
But Celestia had all of those things now, thanks to his intervention.
Could she actually do it?
"Alright," he said finally. "But we do it carefully. And if you feel any instability, you stop immediately. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Over the next few hours, Runar guided Celestia through the process. He'd broken through the Stardust limit by continuing to refine his foundation beyond theoretical maximum, creating additional "stages" that shouldn't exist.
The technique was complex. It required viewing cultivation stages not as discrete steps but as a continuous spectrum. Stage 10 was just an arbitrary label—if the foundation could support it, there was no reason the cultivation couldn't continue.
Celestia grasped the concept instantly.
"So I just... keep doing what I was doing? But ignore the barrier?"
"More or less. But you need to reinforce your foundation constantly while advancing. Otherwise it'll collapse."
Under Runar's guidance—and with the Divine-grade pills working in her system—Celestia pushed.
And the barrier... cracked.
Not broke. Not shattered. But developed tiny fractures, gaps where additional cultivation could squeeze through.
By sunset, Celestia had reached Stage 11.
Seraphina nearly fainted when she sensed it.
"That's impossible," she whispered, staring at her daughter who was radiating power that shouldn't exist at the Stardust Awakening realm. "No one breaks past Stage 10. No one. It's a fundamental limit."
"Runar did," Jake pointed out quietly.
"Runar has an unknown physique that caused him to age six years overnight! He's clearly a special case!" Seraphina turned to Lirien. "Is Celestia showing signs of physique awakening too?"
"I don't think so," Lirien said slowly. "She just seems to be... extremely talented. And the Unity Method is clearly more effective than standard techniques."
Over the next few days, Celestia continued advancing. Stage 12. Stage 13. Stage 14.
On Day 12—Celestia broke through to Stage 15.
Fifteen stages beyond what should be possible in the Stardust Awakening realm.
Her foundation was diamond, solid-hard, reinforced by Divine-grade resources and optimized by Runar's guidance. Her qi reserves were six times what a normal Stage 10 cultivator would have. Her combat capability had increased exponentially.
That evening, both families gathered in the Cross living room. The atmosphere was tense.
"Alright," Jake said, looking at both children seriously. "I think it's time we had an honest conversation about what's been happening."
Celestia and Runar sat on the couch, trying to look innocent.
"Celestia," Seraphina said gently, "you've advanced from Stage 3 to Stage 15 in one week. That's not just talent. That's... unprecedented. Can you explain how this happened?"
Celestia looked at Runar, unsure if she should reveal their secret training methods.
Runar sighed internally. Might as well come partially clean.
"I've been helping her optimize the technique," he admitted. "The public Unity Method is really good, but there are ways to make it more efficient. I've been teaching Celestia those optimizations."
"What kind of optimizations?" Jake asked carefully.
"Qi circulation patterns that reduce waste. Geometric reinforcement structures for meridians. Better compression methods for acupoints. That kind of thing."
The adults stared at him.
"Runar," Lirien said slowly, "those are master-level cultivation insights. How do you know them?"
Runar shrugged, playing up the 'confused but talented child' angle. "I just... see patterns? Like, when I look at qi flow, I can tell which paths are more efficient. And I read a lot on the database. There's tons of free information if you look for it."
Which was all technically true. He just left out the parts about being a reincarnated programmer with a system, transcendent comprehension, and forty mastered Intents.
"And your cultivation level?" Jake pressed. "You keep saying you're 'not sure' about your stage. Can you be more specific?"
Runar genuinely didn't want to reveal he'd broken through to Meteor Forging—that would be too shocking. "Um, I think I'm around 150? Maybe more? I honestly don't keep track very well. The stages kind of blur together after a while."
Dead silence.
"One hundred and fifty," Seraphina repeated faintly. "One hundred and fifty stages. In Stardust Awakening."
"Maybe?" Runar offered weakly. "I'm really not sure. Could be more, could be less."
More silence. Jake's eye was twitching slightly.
Finally, Celestia broke the tension. "I'm going to catch up to him!" she announced determinedly, jumping to her feet. "If Runar can reach hundreds of stages, so can I! That's my new goal! I'll be stronger than Runar!"
Despite the absurdity of the situation, Runar smiled. "Good luck with that."
"I don't need luck! I have hard work and determination!" She struck a dramatic pose. "And I have the best training partner ever! Right, Runar?"
"Right."
Seraphina looked at Lirien helplessly. Lirien looked back with the same expression.
Their children were monsters.
Absolutely terrifying, adorable little cultivation monsters.
And there was nothing they could do but support them and hope they didn't accidentally blow something up.
"Alright," Jake said finally, rubbing his temples. "New rules. First, you both will take one day off per week from training. No exceptions. Growing bodies need rest, even if your cultivation is... whatever it is."
"Okay," both children agreed.
"Second, if you break through to a new realm, you tell us immediately. We need to know what's happening with your cultivation."
"Okay."
"Third, no showing off your cultivation levels to other people. At all. Ever. The academy entrance is in three weeks—you'll both attend, you'll both pretend to be normal talented children, and you'll both keep your real capabilities hidden."
"But—" Celestia started.
"Hidden," Seraphina reinforced. "Do you understand how dangerous it would be if people knew what you could really do? Sects would try to recruit you by force. Corporations would make you 'offers you can't refuse.' Criminal organizations would try to kidnap you."
Both children sobered at that.
"We understand," Runar said quietly. And he did, better than they realized. This was exactly why he'd created the public technique under an anonymous identity.
"Good." Jake stood. "Now, dinner. And then early bed for both of you. Tomorrow we start preparing for the academy entrance examination."
As the families moved toward the dining room, Celestia whispered to Runar: "We're still doing secret training, right?"
"Absolutely," Runar whispered back.
"And you'll keep teaching me the cool stuff?"
"As long as you keep improving."
Celestia grinned. "Then I'm going to be the strongest cultivator ever. Just watch."
Runar smiled. With his help—and if she continued showing this much talent and dedication—she actually might become one of the strongest.
I can work with this, he thought. A powerful ally who trusts me, who I can help grow stronger without drawing attention to myself.
Perfect.
That Night - Runar's Room
Alone in his room, Runar reviewed the past week's progress.
Celestia's Advancement:
Stardust Awakening: Stage 3 → Stage 15 (in 7 days) Foundation quality: Excellent (approaching flawless with continued guidance) Combat capability: Could probably fight early Meteor Forging cultivators Loyalty: Absolute (she genuinely considered him family)
Resources Invested:
Divine-grade pills: ~50 (barely made a dent in his inventory) Time spent teaching: Significant, but enjoyable Technique optimizations: Custom modifications that would be worth fortunes
Returns:
Powerful ally with genuine friendship Cover for his own abilities ("we're both just talented") Increased family security (Tier 6 status from his technique submission, still pending) Practice in teaching/guiding without revealing too much Genuine companionship (surprisingly valuable)
Worth it, Runar concluded. Absolutely worth it.
He pulled up his status:
[CULTIVATION: Meteor Forging Realm - Stage 9/9]
[UNABLE TO ADVANCE - AWAITING STIMULUS]
Twenty-four days until the academy entrance examination.
Twenty-four days to continue training, to help Celestia grow stronger, to prepare for whatever challenges awaited.
And then the academy—where he'd finally face real danger, real competition, real stimulus to push past his current limits.
The academy, Runar thought, staring out at the four moons. That's where everything changes.
That's where I'll find the challenges I need.
That's where the real journey begins.
Outside, Celestia was probably already asleep, dreaming of surpassing him.
And Runar found himself genuinely looking forward to seeing her try.
After all, what good was ultimate power if you couldn't share at least some of it with people who mattered?