Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 42: Cultivation

"You're probably pondering the benefits of the approval she's secured for you," Chao continued, his voice tinged with suppressed excitement. "She persisted until Lord Congming relented. It's the path of cultivation, my boy. Maybe your talents will be like your father's; in that case, you have the chance to extend your lifespan and amass formidable strength."

"Cultivation," Wuyi murmured. He had read enough books and heard enough in his last life to know what it meant. He knew about Cultivation, maybe more than what Chao did, but that was not the point. He knew it existed in this world from stories, and with his cheat, he was certain to cultivate sooner or later.

He wanted to learn it properly, to become powerful. But the problem was here at Lujingbao near the desert; he doubted anyone really knew the path of cultivation properly.

So far, he had not met anyone like he had heard in stories. What would they teach him? There was not a single person who rode a spirit beast or had flying swords like he had read or heard in stories. Except for the strange woman who recently arrived, he felt they were all mortals here in the fort. Even that lady did not look powerful enough as the cultivators he had read about in his last life.

And besides, he was certain that the lady was not going to teach him; someone from Lujingbao was going to. It was like learning to sing from the mute.

"Yes," Chao affirmed.

"I've heard tales of cultivators and martial warriors in the teahouses. They speak of them as if they were immortal beings," Wuyi said, trying to act curious.

Chao leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "You seem hesitant. What's troubling you?"

"I don't know," Wuyi replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "It's just overwhelming."

"You've been swayed by the exaggerated stories of demonics fighting cultivators, haven't you?" Chao surmised, although he was far from the mark.

"Listen, cultivation is a blessing, especially for talented seedlings with good bloodlines. I attempted it too late in life and without proper guidance, which led me to harness Qi the wrong way and ultimately ruin my own body. You'll have a mentor, albeit a reluctant one. His name is Gao."

Wuyi voiced his doubts, "In the stories, they say cultivators have flying swords and can slash mountains and burn rivers. Does Gao have any of those powers? I have seen him; he seemed like a scholar but mortal. I feel everyone in Lujingbao are mortals. How will they teach me to cultivate?"

Chao chuckled, "Boy, you have grand aspirations, don't you?"

Wuyi gave a smile. Chao spoke, "It is true that you cannot become like those immortals that you hear in stories here in Lujingbao. The highest level here is Congming, who is at the Qi adept level. But you can begin your journey here; if you are talented, you can later join those immortal beings, but it is much more difficult than you expect, boy.

Without resources, it is very rare for someone even to reach above Qi adept. It took Congming forty years to reach Qi adept from Qi initiate. I myself am stuck at Qi initiate third level forever."

Wuyi looked confused, "What's Qi adept and initiate? Don't cultivators cultivate starting by cleansing? Starting from cleansing body levels and meridians and then forging body levels, then cultivate higher levels?"

Chao was shocked for a while, then spoke, "Where did you hear that? Only proper sects use those terms."

"I heard it in town from some experienced sailors."

Chao shook his head, "Those proper cultivation terms are only used in high sects. But yes, it starts from body cleansing; in the outside world, we call them Qi initiate warriors. After that comes body forging, which we refer to as Qi adepts. Following that is Qi condensation, known as the Qi master level outer world. For someone like us, reaching the Qi master level is a grand achievement.

In remote areas such as our desert, being a Qi initiate is already good enough. Given enough time, anyone can cultivate to the first level of Qi initiate. Congming spent a lot of resources to reach the Qi adept level which no one here in Lujingbao has achieved so far. Outside of the desert, in the normal world, you will find more Qi adepts; they are not as rare as they are here.

Any normal clan will have a few Qi adepts and initiates. But up to the level of Qi master, you're not considered a cultivator in the true sense, but more like a warrior."

"You can join sects after you go beyond the Qi master level, but they will still test you and consider your age. If you go beyond the Qi adept level, you can set up your own noble clan anywhere in the empire. You will earn respect among nobles in many kingdoms," Chao continued.

Wuyi spoke, "What comes after Qi master?"

Chao replied, "It's Qi lord. In sects, they call it foundation establishment. If you reach the Qi lord level, you can rule a prefecture like this one, which would actually be a good prefecture, not just a remote desert fort. You can start your own noble clan.

Even in a clan such as Yuanjing, I doubt anyone would be above Qi master; you will gain rights to become an elder if you reach the Qi master level."

Wuyi sighed, "So Yuanjing is only worth this much? I expected at least immortals."

Chao seemed to read his mind, "I don't have much knowledge about your clan, so I could be wrong. You would be an outer elder, not an inner or core elder. For that, you need higher cultivation, the level of which I don't know. Even if it's just an outer elder position, it's not bad for gaining some power in a clan like Yuanjing, which commands respect for hundreds of thousands of miles.

The Yuanjing bloodline is said to be very potent. Still, don't think reaching the Qi master level is simple; for Qi lord, it takes hundreds of years to build a foundation and become a Qi lord. That's why those old Qi master cultivators are given the status of elders unless you are a talent like your father."

Wuyi asked, "What was the cultivation level of my father?"

Chao shook his head, "I don't know, but your father's cultivation was higher than Congming's, so he was at least a Qi adept or above. Imagine, at the age of 20."

Wuyi sighed, "So, Qi condensation, basically."

Chao straightened up, his expression turning serious, "I never said that; I just said his cultivation was higher. I wasn't qualified enough to determine his cultivation level. Anyways, Lord Congming has coerced Gao into this role of being your teacher. He agreed, but with conditions. No one is to interfere with his disciples during their training.

I wish it were different, but we must respect his terms. Be cautious around him. You've heard of him, haven't you?"