Chapter 11 – Cultivation 101

  Jun De’s new home was an immortal cave carved into the side of the Upper Ridge, high above the Outer Sect. It was carved with precision and artistry, and to call it just a ‘cave’ was almost an insult to the beautiful dwelling.

  From its entrance, he could see the sprawling courtyards, training fields and dormitories below. The mist of spiritual energy that rolled through the valley curled softly around the mouth of the cave, giving it an otherworldly, peaceful air.

  The stone walls were smooth and cool to the touch, and were inscribed with a spirit-gathering formation designed to concentrate qi within. The air was noticeably richer, with a calm density that hummed with energy, but was easy to breathe.

  The interior was modest, but well designed. There was a cultivation chamber, with a stone bed and small alcoves on the walls for incense, talismans, and pill bottles. Jun De had placed a jade box of Fasting Pills provided by the Sect for disciples who were too absorbed in cultivation to eat in one of the alcoves, so that it was within easy reach.

  “Not bad, not bad at all. This is going to be the place where I start enjoying my life!” Jun De declared to the stone walls. He was already envisioning how he would relax in the sun while sitting in a reclining chair in the courtyard, or where he would drink the finest wines in the evenings.

  And where his harem of beauties would live, once he found them.

  “First things first. Elder Shen told me that I shouldn’t leave here until I reach the 1st Level of Qi Condensation. Once I do, I can go to the Treasure Pogoda and pick up a technique!” Jun De whispered as he pulled out the cultivation manual from the storage bag the Sect had given him, which he hung from his waist, over his new blue robes.

  While the Sect uniform wasn’t as nice as his old clothing, which he placed in the storage bag, they were still made of fine material and fit him perfectly.

  The bag contained a few other Sect uniforms, some more fasting pills and, most importantly, a cultivation manual.

  Jun De pulled out the small book and studied the cover carefully.

  “Tranquil Cultivation Method.”

  It was the standard technique taught to every Outer Sect disciple. It wasn’t flashy, nor incredibly fast, but it was stable. It was a cultivation path that prioritized balance and control over raw power. It was carefully designed to take a disciple to the peak of Qi Condensation, the 10th level, and leave their foundation adaptable.

  The main benefit, aside from its stability and reduced risk of Qi Deviation, was that any cultivator who reached Foundation Establishment with this method could freely transition to a more advanced or specialized technique without consequence.

  The downside was that it was only suitable for Qi Condensation cultivators, meaning Jun De would eventually have to find a new method.

  Jun De opened the manual and flipped through its neat brushwork and diagrams.

  “At least there are pictures.” Jun De muttered.

  The manual started with lofty descriptions of harmony between the body, spirit, and breath. It stated that a cultivator must still their thoughts until they become ‘as calm as a windless lake, reflecting the heavens.’

  The words were all beautifully written, but Jun De felt they were vague and overly poetic.

  “What the hell does it mean to ‘anchor your soul in the void of stillness?’” Jun De exclaimed with frustration.

  The esoteric language made it difficult for him to grasp the practical steps. Phrases like ‘guide your inner breath along the ‘Eightfold River Meridian’ or ‘return the scattered essence to the sea of Dantian’ only confused him more.

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  But the diagrams were helpful.

  The manual included dozens of illustrated poses, marking breathing rhythms and meridian pathways. There were clear diagrams on how to sit, where to place his hands, and how Qi was supposed to flow through the body.

  Even better, some of them glowed with spiritual ink, gently guiding his eyes along the correct route.

  One picture showed a figure sitting cross-legged, with flowing lines tracing a slow spiral from the naval, up the spine and into the head, then down to the arms. That made far more sense than ‘the cycle of heaven’s breath mirrored within the mortal shell.’

  “Just write what you mean!” Jun De muttered as he walked to the cultivation chamber and sat down on the mat at the center, placing the book on the floor in front of him.

  Jun De imitated the poses and followed the breathwork instructions. He visualized the Qi as ‘moving light,’ just like the images showed him. He didn’t understand the flowery words, but the basics from the pictures were enough to work with.

  “Start with the breath and forget the void, seas and the other nonsense. Just breathe, one step at a time.” Jun De told himself.

  The manual didn’t say how long it would take to reach the 1st Level of Qi Condensation, and Elder Shen had been vague when asked by one of the new recruits. It was different for everyone, with some reaching it fairly quickly, while others would be stuck for years.

  “Maybe my ‘Cheat Mode’ will activate.” Jun De muttered as he got to work.

  Outside, in the Outer Sect, Mei Lian and Ren Qiu were also beginning their cultivation journeys. Unlike Jun De, the language of the cultivation manual was easy for them to understand, and they were soon cycling the spiritual energy through their bodies and depositing it into their Dantian.

  Qi Condensation Cultivators, as the name implies, would develop a ‘mist-like’ amount of Qi inside their bodies, with tiny droplets accumulating as they progressed through the levels.

  While not clearly defined, it was generally agreed that each level of Qi Condensation was an exponential increase in strength and power, and it would be very hard, as an example, for a 2nd Level Qi Condensation Cultivator to defeat a 3rd Level.

  Each step would require extreme combat potential, mastery of techniques and spiritual artifacts to overcome the gap between ranks.

  As for the difference between a Qi Condensation Cultivator and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? It would be easier for a mortal to reach their hand up and touch the moon than to overcome the power difference of realms.

  Time passed quickly, until finally, Ren Qiu was the first to break through and officially become a cultivator. He watched in satisfaction as faint wisps of spiritual Qi drifted through his Dantian like a white cloud in a black void.

  Mei Lian was second, and she let out a shout of excitement as she felt a warmth spread through her body and the white mist of Spiritual Qi remained inside her Dantian.

  With a sudden pulse, the gathered energy coalesced and snapped into place with the force of a lock clicking shut. Her eyes flew open as she felt the ‘purge’ described in the manual occur.

  A dark, oily filth oozed from her pores, coating her skin in a foul-smelling sheen. It was the impurities and accumulated toxins that every mortal developed since their birth. Her stomach churned at the sight of it, but she didn’t try to prevent it from happening.

  This was the first physical sign that she had reached the 1st level of Qi Condensation.

  As the pressure in her chest subsided and the flow of Qi steadied, she rose slowly from her mat and walked over to a basin at the side of the chamber and washed away the grime. The water turned an inky black, and it wasn’t until she had scrubbed her skin and changed her clothing that she felt clean.

  When she finally looked into the mirror on the wall, she blinked in surprise.

  Her skin, which had been tanned from the sun, was now soft and paler. The few blemishes she’d had were gone, and even her hair was more silky and lustrous.

  When she finally looked into the polished copper mirror on the wall, she blinked in surprise.

  “So, this is what it means to become an immortal cultivator.” She whispered as she touched her cheek in awe.

  She felt the urge to continue her cultivation, but she recalled the warning the manual had given her. Cultivating too soon after a breakthrough was extremely harmful and could result in building a poor foundation, or even Qi-deviation.

  Mei Lian would have to wait until the new Qi in her body completely settled before she could cultivate again.

  But for now, her goal was clear. She needed to visit the Treasure Pogoda and find a suitable technique or martial skill. Elder Shen had recommended a few as he brought them to the Outer Sect, including offensive and defensive techniques, movement skills and even a few spells!

  Filled with excitement, Mei Lian stepped outside of her new home into the crisp, mountain air and up the stone path that led to the Treasure Pagoda. Other disciples were coming and going, but they mostly ignored each other as they went about their business.

  But, as she walked, she happened to glance up at the Upper Ridge where Mei Lian knew Jun De resided. She was curious about whether he had also reached the 1st Level of Qi Condensation, or even beyond it, when she noticed a faint, golden haze shimmering in the air above one of the immortal caves.

  Mei Lian’s heart skipped a beat.

  “Jun De.” She whispered. She was confident that he was the cause of the disturbance. She stared for a long time, her fingers tightening at her side.

  He had just entered the Sect, and already he was leaving everyone far behind.