novelraw Chapter 46: Training Qi
Chapter 46: Training Qi
Those who showed signs of faltering were labeled weak. Throughout the day, Gao reminded them of their inadequacies, stating that he had agreed to instruct them solely at the Lord's request. He spoke often of past disciples who had successfully cultivated to Qi Initiates level six but never mentioned the female cultivators who had done the same.
Nor did he provide any insight into the essence of his teachings. They were left to grapple with the heat of the day, the discomfort of his drills, and the unpredictability of his disciplinary actions.
As the sun began its descent, Gao had one last lesson for his disciples. He allowed them to stand, open their eyes, and stretch momentarily. Then, he began his final discourse, warning them against those who might sabotage the collective progress through their own foolishness. He meandered through their ranks, and tension filled the air as he approached the section where the female disciples stood.
"Some believe they are exempt from the rules, deserving of special privileges," he admonished. "Such delusions must be eradicated before true learning can occur. It is a waste of my time to impart wisdom to those who are not ready to receive it. Yet, they are here, and I shall respect the Lord's wishes and attempt to enlighten them."
With that, he delivered two swift strikes of the whip to Mei. For CiXin, however, he pushed her to one knee and struck four times. The disciples stood there, silently hoping that she would not cry out and incur further punishment. After punishment CiXin rose, swayed momentarily, and then regained her composure, her gaze fixed firmly ahead.
Gao was not done; he came and whipped Wuyi because Wuyi was staring at him while he whipped the girls. Wuyi was flabbergasted by this. There was something malicious growing deep inside him that hated Gao from his very being.
Finally, Gao dismissed them. They descended to partake in another austere meal, similar to the one from the previous day. This time, silence enveloped them, both on the stairs and at the dining table.
After the meal, Wuyi retreated to his chamber, contemplating the day's events and the path that lay ahead. Gao's training was useful but not as useful as the manuals Chao gave him. Wuyi had realized this late, but just by manuals and his statue of knowledge, he could have cultivated himself to learn without suffering Gao's ascetic punishments.
He started reading manuals that went into details about Qi and cultivation. As the statue processed the information for him to find the best method for Wuyi to cultivate.
First, in traditional philosophy, "Qi" is the vital energy that flows through all living things, maintaining balance and harmony. It is the essence of life and everything that exists. For living beings in a balanced state, Qi nourishes both the body and the spirit, promoting health, vitality, and spiritual awareness. So, even mortals needed Qi.
Cultivation, in its essence, is a journey of self-discovery and transformation. It is the art of channeling Qi from the world around, directing it through meridians, and storing it in the Dantian, the energy center located within the body. This energy is as diverse as the world itself, emanating from elements, substances, and even the intangible.
The key to mastery lies in understanding one's affinity to specific types of Qi and harnessing them for various purposes, from purification of the body to combat.
Wuyi settled himself on the cold floor of his chamber, his legs crossed and his eyes closed. He took a deep breath, feeling the world around him as if it were an extension of his own body. The air seemed to hum with invisible energy, the very Qi that bound all things.
But unlike what Gao had said, there was not just one type of Qi that flowed towards him; there were a variety of Qi energies that flowed towards him.
As he focused, the statues in his sacred mental chamber began to revolve slowly. It was as if they had come to life, acting like a vortex that sucked in the Qi from the external world. Each statue attracted a different type of energy. The energy flowed toward him, irresistibly drawn into the spinning statues.
Hours had passed, and nothing had happened. Wuyi was disappointed; it felt as if his statues were becoming the hurdles in his cultivation. Whenever he tried to cultivate, all energies would be swallowed by the statue.
This continued for a month. Wuyi had started to feel hopeless. Every kid who was training with him had a challenge feeling the energy around them. Wuyi could feel every energy around, but when he tried to absorb it, the statues would swallow all the energy, leaving behind nothing.
But Wuyi did not complain; his statues were his cheats to survival in this madness of the world, so even if they got stronger, he was satisfied. He could visibly see and feel each of his statues was gaining strength. Then one night, something extraordinary happened.
When Wuyi sat and started absorbing energies around him, though the statues absorbed all the Qi, suddenly they released a tiny stream of pure, radiant Qi that flowed into the Statue of Harmony, after which the statue of harmony released a more purer form of Qi that was sent through Wuyi's Meridians.
It was as if a dam had burst within him, and such tiny energy coursed through his veins like a torrential river.
As mentioned in the cultivation manuals Chao had given him, Wuyi guided the pure Qi towards the channel that led to his first point. While guiding the Qi, the statue of knowledge revolved in Wuyi's mind. It was helping him correct some of the errors in the path the book had shown and was improving the cultivation method, ensuring Wuyi could channel Qi without any problems.
The value of the statue of knowledge in Wuyi's mind went up another notch; this statue could not only store knowledge but also refine cultivation methods. If he had any crude method or martial arts, the statue could help him refine that method, helping him achieve the best outcome.