- Sam -
Sam and Kyle were excited. They'd found out one of the downsides to the Two Bodies, One Mind technique. Although both of the boys had been at the peak of Chi Condensation for some time, Senior Hall had ordered them to wait before starting their Foundation Establishment training. If Sam started building his foundation too early, it would damage his body, and potentially kill him. If Kyle started the training before Sam, it could lead to a chi explosion in Sam. The Senior had told them they'd be ready when they both had hair under their arms, and this morning, Sam had found a small patch of blonde hairs in his armpits.
Now they could finally start the Foundation Establishment training, and continue on the path to becoming stronger. Senior Hall had assured the boys that at ten and twelve years old, they were still ahead of many other children their age. Since their cultivation technique allowed them to cultivate in their sleep, something that normally couldn't be done until Core Formation, it had allowed them to condense chi at a much faster rate than their peers. It had also allowed them to grow their spirit roots to middle grade.
Senior Hall kept reminding them that their advanced growth was temporary, and that several of the other children would catch up to them at some point. They didn't mind, though, since they were just reveling in their own growth.
The boys had gone to the library, and paid for a copy of the Two Minds, One Body foundation manual. It wasn't much different from most other Foundation Establishment techniques. Essentially they would need to take several spirit journeys over the course of a few years, at a minimum. They would need specialized medicines, and they would need to craft a personalized spirit tool, or have one crafted by a close mentor who shared any form of spiritual bond. The tool was typically a pipe, as the medicine could be smoked, and the long empty hole in the pipe represented the hollowness of mortality. Through that hollow pipe, the chi can flow into the cultivator from the spirit world, and fill them completely. There were other artifacts one could use, such as an incense burner, which had the drawback of being less effective, or a medicinal bath, which had the drawback of needing to be carried. They couldn't take storage rings on the spirit journey. The last thing they would need were four small formation flags, that would need to be red, white, black, and yellow.
They informed Senior Hall, and he allowed them to take the necessary time away from training. Once they'd gathered the necessary supplies, they set about crafting a pipe. The manual recommended sharing one, and taking turns in crafting it. They used a branch of spirit cherry, and carved it down to about twice an arm's length. They shouldn't be able to reach the medicine burning end while inhaling. The point was that the one who was not inhaling should be managing the flames. This was to demonstrate their cooperation to the spirits of the spirit world.
Once the pipe wood was down to an appropriate length, they followed the instructions to burrow out the hollow with a small flame, and they could use flaming sandstone to produce the fire. This part took a lot of time and patience. When it was finally done, they began carving the details into the outside. They carved images to represent the elements; fire, water, earth, and air. The images were made to interweave with each other in a way that symbolized the unity and brotherhood of the two boys. They polished the pipe with a cream that would repel chi, forcing the maximum amount to go into the hollow, and then into the body of the user.
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The boys fashioned a leather sling that could hold the pipe. Kyle would carry it, since he was taller, and Sam would carry the fire stones. They'd split the remaining materials by weight. They weren't allowed to wear anything else, besides a blanket for protection. They had to go out into the world naked, as they had come into it. Since this could create awkward diplomatic situations, the sect had apparently set up a dedicated gate for disciples to leave on spirit journeys.
They departed after breakfast one morning, and began their fast. The went out of the spirit journey gate and began their walk toward the mountain they'd chosen. They'd had help picking the location. Since most of the Senior cultivators had been through spirit journeys during their Foundation Establishment, and many continued to take them, unable to move on to Core Formation, there was a lot of wisdom about which mountains were ideal at which stage of Foundation Establishment.
The walk was not difficult, but the climb was. Not only were they barely covered by a blanket each, but they had to climb a cliff-face for a part of the ascent. Even circulating chi was barely helpful. Part of the journey was a test of strength, and dexterity. They were meant to be molding their bodies, after all, but it felt nearly impossible at times.
When they finally reached the top of the mountain, they placed the flags in a square, with each in a cardinal direction. They took out the medicinal herbs, and the pipe. Sam placed herbs in a specific order into the bowl of the pipe, then lit them while Kyle inhaled. They took turns doing this four times each, then began their prayer to the spirit world.
The prayer involved a lot of hand gestures, and requests for wisdom, humility, unity, and strength. They repeated the prayer in unison, four times, then took turns smoking the herbs from the pipe, four times each, before repeating the prayer again. They repeated this cycle four times total, then placed the pipe in front of them, where they were facing to the West. They were then meant to sit, and wait. They would not move, except to relieve themselves elsewhere, but as cultivators, they had already developed better control over their bodies than any mortal.
On the morning of the fourth day, just before the sun began to rise, at the time when the heavens were closest to the earth, and spirits could come from the spirit world, Kyle and Sam saw a red light in the distance. That light grew, and came closer, until it appeared in front of them as a ball of flame. The flame changed until it was in the shape of an eagle, who told them, "I was told there were two young boys here trying to become men. I see before me, now, two young men who were once boys. What is it that you wish for so badly, for you to have prayed to the spirits, and waited naked on this cold mountain for so long?"
"We came to ask for wisdom, humility, unity, and strength, Great Spirit," they said together, and then kowtowed before the flaming avatar of the heavens.
"It is wise to seek wisdom. It is humble to ask for what is lacking. Your unity I see in the interweaving of your chi. It took great strength to climb this mountain, while fasting for four days, only to wait so patiently. You already have what you seek, though it was through seeking it that you found it, therefore you must continue to seek so it does not become lost. In this, I can aid you. I will send you a medicineman. He brought fire to the first people, and chi to the first immortals. Now he will teach you."
When it seemed the eagle was done speaking, they said together, "We thank you Great Spirit." They sat back up, and watched the bird turn back into a ball of flame, before it disappeared to the horizon. The sun began to rise in the same place where the eagle had disappeared.
Since they had not received any further instructions, they continued to wait. A few hours later, they saw an old man approaching from the West side of their mountain. He was an old man with gray hair, and tattered clothes. He looked the same as he had four years ago, but this time he seemed sober. "Well howdy boys!" called the old man, "Brother Eagle told me you need a medicineman. You're in luck. I owed a favor to brother Eagle, and it just so happens, that I'm the best there is! Kekekekeke!" He laughed, and it sounded like a coyote's cackle.