Dawn's Epiphany, Passing Nights

Dim starlight radiated across the lands, clouds covered the sky in streaks of grey.

Chilling winds blew through leaves, howling mixed with the rustling of trees, washing away the silence of the night.

Night's sky was dark, like a deep, inky expanse drowning the stars in hopeless black, whose embrace stretched far beyond the horizons.

Worms tunnel through the soil. A single leaf falls from a branch. The silvery pool, unexplainably, ebbs gently, like a rippling mirror of the sky.

Subtly, it begins to rain. The gentle pitapat on stone and grass, droplets bounce off leaves and race down the stems of flowers. 

The winds kick up a cool, faint mist that shrouds the lands. Some mist fell upon the spring of silvery water.

Dawn sits in the centre of the Spirit Spring, a pale golden light flickering off her body like a flame caught in the wind.

Currently, Dawn was cultivating, trying to attain the Third Foundation of cultivation--Interpretation.

It required her to develop a deep connection to the world itself, an understanding of every minute detail around her.

She immersed herself in the world, the winds and gentle rain caressed her ears, the cold of Late Hour and pale starlight soft on her skin.

The golden light, a protective aura that prevented her from being overwhelmed by this experience.

As the flame-like aura waned, Dawn opened her eyes and relaxed, a myriad sensations dissipated from her mind and body.

She sighed.

'Four hours is my limit... Anymore and I might lose myself in these overwhelming sensations.

The amount of time required for one to attain the Third Foundation is at least twenty-four hours, but that is only the lowest level of Clarity.

If Dawn wants to progress past the Third Foundation, passing the Second Breakthrough and reach the First State, she would need to remained deeply connected to the world indefinitely.

She was still twenty hours from achieving the bottom line of the Third Foundation.

However, her concern was not towards the length of time she is required to maintain such a connection, but with what she has to connect with.

The white speckled sky strewn across ink.

No amount of starlight could warm the cold of night, no amount of hope could rid the Hopelessness of Night.

'Night...'

Hung over the world since time immemorial, only withheld by the scant light of the Star Sea, otherwise the world would be plunged into darkness.

Dawn has heard little information about Night itself, but she couldn't help but ponder over its immensity and mystery.

It is commonly said that the Heavens are beyond Night's sky, that the source of starlight is the very heavens itself shedding onto the world below.

Darkness pervaded the world before the first star was born from the Golden Youth, and countless stars were born thereafter, piercing through the veil of darkness.

Recalling the story that Star Gazing Settlement was founded on, the story of the Star Sea's creation: things like salvation, dreams, will, the 'Passage of Time' and 'Sense of Direction' didn't exist.

The Golden Youth brought change to the world, bringing the Passage of Time and a Sense of Direction. Most significantly, the Golden Youth brought the idea of 'Way'.

To walk. To Swim. To fly.

It simply meant a 'way' to live. 

'Cultivation is closely tied to Night. Many Second Foundation Cultivators have lost themselves to feelings of hopelessness after deeply connecting to Night, trying to reach the Third Foundation. It is like a void which rids any form of consolation.

'In another sense, Night's reach is beyond the sky. If it is considered a sort of idea, that which is a symbol of hopelessness or hardship, then Night is present everywhere.

'Connecting to the world means experiencing the whole world, which means connecting to Night as well. We experience the world around us constantly, are we not always experiencing Night?'

'That is to say, as light can not be without dark, life is full of hardships and hopelessness; it is natural.'

'To connect with the world is to embrace the world, as you will embrace Night, that is natural.'

'To live is to experience Night, that is natural...'

'But to avoid the overwhelming sensation of Night, of hopelessness, of the dark, you have your 'Way'...'

Dawn gazed at the sky, she could see the Star Sea through the faint veil of mist. 

The Third Foundation required one to connect with the world while defending oneself with your Way. However, is daily life not constantly full of hardships?

One encounters hardships every day, some not so notable, others may be significant. Yet, people still struggle to overcome their hardships.

Mortals. Cultivators. Immortals.

Night has always existed, yet light still invaded that impenetrable darkness.

People continued to live in the absence of hope.

Even when Demons invaded her home Settlement, and mist and hopelessness invaded her mind, Dawn continued to survive.

'Defiance... That was your final gift to me, Father.'

'To live is to defy. Even through hardships and confusion, as long as we can live, we will overcome.'

'To die is to succumb, that is what you said. You found meaning in death, but forbade me from doing so too.'

Dawn's gaze was solemn, a warm feeling flourished in her mind, heart, and stomach. She came to the realization of the true meaning of defiance.

'I will continue to live, for as long as I live, how could I lose myself?'

'I will embrace this world and embrace Night, but I will also embrace myself dearly.'

'I will not forget what you have taught me... Father.'

The mist was sheer, it was unable to obstruct the visage of a myriad dots shining from the dark expanse above.

It was Late Hour, the stars were at their dimmest, yet they seemed brighter than ever. 

Blinking away the tears, Dawn paused and steadied her breathing, feeling more resolute to continue her cultivation.

However, instead of resuming her cultivation to the Third Foundation, Dawn went to the cabin to rest. She was in no rush to exhaust herself.

...

Their first night had passed.

Dawn, Sun, and Selene readied themselves at Rising Hour.

There was still a few nights before Immortal Adamant's visit and discussion with Selene, the three of them spent their early hours in each others company.

Sun continued practicing his offensive Dao Art--Golden Arc and Ribbon. Whenever he finished a session, he would recover his Qi using the silver pool, and looked into body modifying Dao Arts.

He traced a Dao Art onto his stomach, shoulders, and waist. Instilling Qi into the art caused the Dao Art images to emanate heat, warmth to pervade his muscles and joints.

It eased the pain the relentless stretching caused him, allowing him to recover quicker.

It felt comforting, the effect would maintain itself as long as he instilled Qi into the Dao Arts, of course, the Dao Art images would fade if not maintain.

Not only that, if Sun used this Dao Art in tandem with the Golden Arc and Ribbon Dao Art, the resulting Qi consumption would be immense; it would not be ideal with his current prospects, but it would allow him to utilise Golden Arc and Ribbon more efficiently.

As Sun dismissed the Dao Arts from his body, Selene approached him with her own books in hand.

Naturally, Selene was also practising her own Dao Arts, trying to make steady progress to the Second Foundation.

They conversed with each other. Selene was interested in Sun's use of body modification Dao Arts, considering she also wanted to boost her frail physique.

Sun only suggested one to increase physical endurance, which was also one that he was looking to practice.

Considering Selene's lack of experience with Dao Arts, Sun also showed Selene how to draw Dao Arts.

Surprisingly, she was quite efficient at drawing Dao Art images.

Sun and Selene both reviewed other Dao Art books, specifically defensive Dao Arts for Selene.

...

Their second night has passed.

Dawn has spent most of her time cultivating and immersing herself in the world.

Her limit increased from four hours to eight hours. It seemed that after her epiphany about the meaning of Night and defiance, her Way had grown stronger and more resilient.

She was not so easily overwhelmed by the world, but progress would take time, it's like a process of tempering oneself.

However, it would do her no good to solely cultivate to the Third Foundation.

There were other areas which she could focus on.

Dawn decided to wield a mundane weapon, a silver spear from their cabin's storage room. She stood opposite of Sun, wielding his silver halberd.

She offered to spar against Sun, who gladly agreed.

These dozen or so nights had been lackluster, Dawn had not wielded a weapon against an opponent since fleeing Star Gazing Settlement, Sun had also not wielded a weapon against an opponent since he was a warrior.

They were merely going to spar, but it was a good chance to 'refresh' their skills.

There were to be no Dao Arts, relying only on the mundane application of Qi to augment their physical strength.

They cleaved and stabbed the air; clashing metal resounded through the cave. 

Selene had been sitting nearby to spectate, using this moment to understand the choreography of a battle.

When she developed to a point, she would also be able to wield a weapon like this.

...

Their third night had passed.

Dawn, Sun, and Selene continued focusing on their respective areas.

Selene had yet to find a suitable primary Dao Art, let alone an offensive Dao Art, but had decided on a defensive Dao Art and a supportive Dao Art.

Sun continued to develop his proficiency in drawing the image of the Hundred Pill Healing Dao Art, he sparred with Dawn when she was free.

Dawn's progress towards the Third Foundation was steady, she estimated that she'd reach the Third Foundation by the second week from now, assuming she cultivated that long at her current pace.

...

Fourth night...

Fifth night...

Sixth night...

...