Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 47: Cultivation Growth

The result of the improved cultivation path of Qi was obvious. The Qi passed through his channels safely, and it reached the first vital point in his body, a point known as the "Baihui," located at the top of the head. The sensation was akin to a droplet of water falling into a still pond, creating ripples that spread outward.

The Qi swirled around this point, cleansing it of impurities and then nurturing it, as if coaxing a bud to bloom. With a shudder that shook him to his core, Wuyi felt the point open.

When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by an unpleasant sight. He was covered in a black, grimy substance—a physical manifestation of the impurities that had been expelled.

Despite the chill of the desert winter, Wuyi had to go out to cleanse himself. He snuck out into the cold night, bathing in the icy water before returning to his chamber. What surprised him was that the extreme cold, which should have made him shiver, did not feel that extreme anymore.

When he came back into the room, he had the opportunity to notice changes around him after opening the first vital point. He felt as though he had crossed some invisible threshold. The air seemed crisper, as if he could distinguish each individual molecule. The flickering torchlight appeared more vivid, each flame dancing as if putting on a performance just for him.

Sounds, too, had a new texture; the distant howl of desert hounds, the subtle rustle of wind against stone, each reached his ears with a clarity he had never experienced before. Even his skin felt different, as if it had become a more sensitive interface between him and the world around him.

It was a subtle yet profound transformation. Wuyi had not yet reached the level of a true cultivator, but he had certainly advanced to a new stage. He was now what could be termed a "Qi Initiate," a fledgling on the path of cultivation who had taken that all-important first step. Now came the second step.

Wuyi knew that if anyone found out he had reached the level of Qi Initiate so quickly, it would cause many problems—especially with Petty Gao, who might create trouble for him. He was not prepared to show off to a petty man like Gao.

Wuyi entered his chamber. All the statues were covered in a golden hue; they had absorbed plenty of energy in the last few months. Knowing the value of the statues, Wuyi rarely made them waste any energy and made sure they absorbed a large quantity of Qi energy every night.

Not that he had control over it, but during cultivation, the statues absorbed four to five times the amount of Qi energy that they generally would absorb.

There was one new thing Wuyi had understood about his statue after unlocking the Statue of Knowledge. The chants in the tomes were essentially Latin communication verses; when he chanted, he was communicating with the statue, telling them exactly what he wanted.

It took Wuyi a month, with the help of the Statue of Knowledge, to speak Latin fluently. Now, with this knowledge, he could chant spells that were not mentioned in the tomes. The tomes served as a beginner's guide to get him started; they were not the only way to activate the statues. Wuyi stood in front of the Statue of Shadows and spoke, "Abscondam gradum cultivationis meae."

Every statue was precious, but the Statue of Shadows was the one that assured his safety most. After Wuyi chanted, the statue spun, it released dark Qi, and Qi flowed from the chamber to his body, and the energy revolved around him for a while before disappearing into his body.

Now, no matter what anyone tried, they would not be able to figure out that he had become a Qi Initiate level one; he would appear as just another mortal. Wuyi felt satisfied. He planned to reach the level of Qi Adept as soon as possible; then no one in the fort would be able to harm him, except for Congming.

After so many days, Wuyi had finally achieved some growth. He was ecstatic; instead of sleeping, Wuyi decided to continue cultivating. This time, instead of absorbing Qi and opening a new point, he used the Qi from the statues to nurture the Baihui point that he had opened until the morning.

While at night he did real cultivation training, during the day, his training with Gao continued. After their ascetic training, Gao also began guiding him about training Qi. "A bamboo stick or a lash enveloped in Qi could easily outmatch the deadliest of swords." This was a lesson Gao emphasized repeatedly, often using his own lash as a painful example.

His teachings were a blend of wisdom and cruelty, a cocktail that left kids both enlightened and scarred.

For Wuyi, Chao and Boluo had warned him, but he had not fully grasped the gravity of the situation until he was deep within it. The months that followed were a mix of torment and manipulation for the poor kids.

Wuyi was more comfortable because what Gao demanded would be difficult for kids or people who had not begun cultivating, but since he was already a Qi initiate, none of Gao's demands were challenging for him.

Gao's influence over the disciples grew stronger each day, as did his cruelty. Some disciples vanished without a trace, like Xianmei, who disappeared after enduring four weeks of Gao's harsh regimen. Wuyi saw her only once afterward, skulking around Lujingbao Castle with a face marred by shame and sorrow.

She had been ostracized by CiXin and the other female disciples, not for failing a test, but as if she had committed an unforgivable sin. After a few days, her whereabouts remained a mystery; all Wuyi knew was that she had left the fort and never returned.

As for Gao's disdain for women, Wuyi discovered the root of his prejudice through the Statue of Harmony. It was what Chao had expected—petty, stemming from youthful rejections that had festered into a deep-seated hatred for the entire gender. But this did not help Wuyi because his animosity towards Wuyi was equally petty.

The relentless trials under Gao's tutelage began to separate the disciples, much like how the ocean sorts pebbles from sand. They all aspired to be his best disciple, not out of admiration but from a complex web of emotions that included a potent form of hatred for Gao; they wanted to prove him wrong.