“Thank you for the explanation.” Said Manstein as he finished hearing the explanation. He then continued, “So can I go somewhere quiet?”
Of course when he said that, Ye Canghai noticed what he meant by that.
‘He entered the initial stage of cultivation it seems. But I'm sure that his talent for absorbing energy is terrible.’ Until that point of thought, Ye Canghai knew he should not ask too much.
After that, Manstein went into his first seclusion after a long time.
-
Sitting on the ground where he could see the sky and felt the grass beneath him, Manstein finally sensed a blissful peace.
“Now that I have this kind of power, let's see what good advice and information the device have in store.”
As usual, Manstein felt the presence of that medallion that bound his device and his soul. He did not know anything about the medallion but since it was also attached to him upon picked up, he kept it just like that.
“It's evening now. I can feel the new kind of feeling inside my body.”
There was something that he had mastered long ago and that was to detect and feel the flow of energies around him. Thanks to Manstein constant training in using Nature Flow Sync, he could literally detect this.
‘Since the resources are scarce already, I have to come to the fact that I must use all the resources and the best way is to absorb different kinds of energy to create an energy source.’
It was true when he acquired the seal that imprinted on his soul, when he had to be restricted by the world itself. And his energy source was perfected by absorbing the special kind of energy.
“Every time, I can feel the intensity of energy in the environment changes regularly. This is amplified when I initiated Nature Flow Sync since the technique allowed the user to feel the flow of energy in nature itself and blend with it.” Manstein nodded as he felt pleased.
“Next, I have been waiting for this time. It's time to try the best method to cultivate my energy.” Manstein turned serious as he opened the file for himself from various great experts.
“I already read the first message. Now that I entered the very first stage of cultivation, I can open it, can I?” the last time he wanted to open it, his device told him the requirement was not met.
Now, however, he already gained the right to know the content!
“Open.” Then a file was opened and various explanation scattered all around his view.
The explanation started with something Manstein had known before. It was because what was written actually that story all along.
‘So they use the story as a reference.’
Along the way to the city, there was something that bothered Xian Ni and that was his own condition.
Usually when he had walked a certain distance, he would feel his muscle became heavier. But now he could feel the distance should have been passed a long time ago and yet he was fine.
He held a rope that connected to his domesticated animals which he considered as old and had taken them to the city.
While on his back, he carried a bag full of vegetables. Despite all of that he felt just fine.
“Is it because of that day? Perhaps, there is something more meaningful to this kind of strange but useful energy to be explored.”
But no matter what happened, he could not come with a solution to that. The question like what should he do with the strange energy inside his body and how the animals and plants utilized them kept haunting him .
Then he saw a figure below a tree. He came closer to see what that thing was.
To his surprise, he felt the entire energy attracted towards the figure and this baffled him.
“Excuse me, what are you doing now?”
Only when he came around three meters that he realized the figure was not what he had in mind.
“Is there something I can help?” the figure spoke.
At that instant, he knew that he spoke to a statue! A statue which heights was more than a head higher and two adults in width.
“Just now, what’s happening?” without restraining himself, Xian Ni asked in curiosity.
“I'm trying to refine this energy. Right, you also saw that moment where the sky tore up and poured down this energy to the world? That energy is the thing that let me talk to you.” The statue said.
Looking at the face of the statue, Xian Ni knew that there was no movement from the mouth area nor its eyes showed any changes.
“Refine? Is that even possible?” as far as he knew, the strange energy only resided in the world and a part of it was inside his body.
“I can feel that energy inside of you. But how can a sentient being have this energy? I think that only some living being with small to none intelligence were able to wield this energy.”
After that, they shared their opinions on the topic. By this exchange, they could see a better understanding of their own power as well as the potential it held.
“Compare notes and improving from each other?” Manstein wanted to share his opinion regarding this case but no one was able to do it for a moment.
“Just do it first, then. It is said that the first stage of cultivation is the introduction stage where one has to learn everything about qi. Looks like learning for college exam to me though.”
While speaking to himself like that, he slowly closed his eyes as his body relaxed and released all the tension he held back.
His breathing now formed a certain pattern and rhythm, inhaled the air deeply, accumulating the air inside his body before he slowly exhaled. The air contained trace of qi in it so some of them entered his body too.
‘Although the progress is slower and accumulative but this is the stable method to increase one's cultivation. And I didn’t use Nature Flow Sync when I'm trying to cultivate.’
Because of the fact that the first stage of cultivation, which was Qi Condensation stage, trained cultivators to cultivate properly as well as the way to accumulate the energy, there were breathing technique for cultivation.
‘Naturally, Qi is the part of nature in this world. So if I use a breathing technique and Natural Flo Sync at the same time, what effect can it bring?’
The breathing technique Manstein used was the most standard for all of the cultivator. If one had to ask why, it was because of his own energy source and his qi characteristic.
As for Natural Flow-Sync, it was a way for someone to feel the flow in nature, slowly perceive the flow of the wind, the flow of water, the flow of heat, there had to be movement in nature no matter how small that was!
‘Let’s try it. When I try the breathing technique, the total amount of energy my body can absorb is limited due to my spiritual root. And here I come with the hypothesis that Natural Flow-Sync can help me absorb qi better.’
‘Yeah, better to test something by yourself before trying to compare it with other.’
Indeed, the absorption rate increased exponentially, letting more qi flowed and circulated through his body. Breath by breath, he started to familiarize himself with the breathing technique despite it was the most common technique available.
At that time, even Manstein himself could not feel the coldness of winter at all. The qi in his body flowed throughout his spiritual veins located near his blood vein so he could faintly perceive it.
‘Warm, just like in the sauna.’ His entire body felt the warmth. And following the sensation of warm came the tingling and itch from his entire skin.
Unconsciously, there was something that got out from the outermost layer of skin. At first, this thing was not even visible but after some time had passed they appeared like a locust.
Sadly, Manstein realized fully that he could not control the energy as he wished. The first problem for someone like him was to feel something rather intangible.
‘Like catching water, you can feel it in your hands and some of the water even follow your will but most of them escaped your control.’
Slowly but steady, the snow that fell from the sky started to accumulate as well. It piled up around his body without letting a place unoccupied.
While Manstein tried to learn how to gain control over his own energy, there was something happened inside him. He could not know this because he focused entirely on one thing at a time.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
There was a medallion floating in the middle of a white and vast place. It kept itself floating while at the same time a faint of Soulforce could be detected from it.
“It’s unexpectedly this kind of energy he told me to consume.”
A young woman who sat near the medallion slowly opened her eyes. Her blond, wavy hair radiating a certain kind of unique aura which made one want to see it as long as their eyes can.
When her gaze landed upon the medallion in front of her, she sighed with relief and worry. A certain barrier covered her entire body to protect her.
“Now that I recover, should I look the condition outside?” she could see the thinnest mist which enveloped her surroundings, as if the mist wanted to blend with the entire surrounding but that could not escape from her eyes.
“To prevent something like our soul force accidentally blend, I have to do this. If only there was no severe side effect to it...”
The soul force was something hard to touch and there were some cases that their soul force blend together. That was what happened to Manstein when he came to another world the first time.
“He already formed his first energy point? As expected from my senior.” The woman smiled sweetly when she learned from her sense that Manstein finally reached the first step towards home. And the woman was Alice.
“Add to the fact that he can make his energy source to produce Cosmic Qi. The only thing I suspect about the success is that he previously absorbed every kind of energy to his body.” When she remembered what Manstein had said to her, she finally understood the reason.
‘But he is such an idiot! What if he failed when he absorbed the energy essence of Cosmic? Fool! Stupid! I can't believe that he can become a good scientist.’ That was her thought when Manstein told her about his idea.
‘You once said that there is a universal kind of energy which can absorb any kind of energy on a planet. Considering your power of cultivation, I have to get the detail as much as possible.’
Yes, the first step to increase his power rapidly was to be able to absorb any kind of qi that exist under heaven. With scarce resources due to the previous war, he had to do this in order to lessen the burden both on himself and his friends and allies.
And so Manstein had to test his idea...on himself. He absorbed the essence of Cosmic and his body slowly being peeled from outside to inside, which made even Alice stared in amazement.
She got the information after she checked the data inside the device. Although Manstein himself was the creator of Intelligent Assistance Device, he did not have much control over its distribution of information, much less its method of gathering it.
And when Alice reached the point where Manstein showed his ‘unique’ treat, she began to worry.
‘It’s a fortune that he managed to hold it down. I can't let the event in the past to be repeated once more.’
And now, she could calmly watch as Manstein drew the energy around him without much difficulty. Able to attract the energy and to be able to absorb it was two different matter.
She would not dare to interrupt and instead, she kept waiting and waiting. As for the person himself, he had the idea to attempt his advancement to the next level.
‘Do you want to do it this soon?’ Alice could not help but speak before she continued, ‘I think it's better if you familiarize yourself with your current condition.’
‘You awake already?’ Manstein had to stop his current meditative stance and greeted her in return.
He felt excited due to the fact that in this strange and foreign world, only Alice came from the same world as him so he could relax more when speaking with her.
And apparently due to the circumstance she was like some sort of spiritual teacher for Manstein.
‘What kind of good luck is this? But well, I should be grateful and use this to the fullest.’ That thought sometimes come in his mind.
‘Of course. I'm only half step into the feasible realm for entering the Universe Gate, you know. So my recovery speed is fast enough.’ Alice smiled and she appeared in front of Manstein in her ethereal form.
In Manstein's eyes, she was like a ghost in the television so he felt no fear at all. But he truly wanted to study this phenomenon though, with his own hands.
“So how far I am now to reach your power?” Manstein asked in a serious tone. He already knew the stage of cultivation up to Nirvana stage but other than that, he only had the records of it.
“That is not your matter for now. And I have something to tell you.” Alice knew that Manstein wanted to secure his own path and made it a smooth sailing but she knew that was not possible.
Instead, she had a better way to help him grow and understand things for himself. That was why she said that.
“Can you..can you teach me your previous technique? You called it ‘Natural Flow Sync', right?” this time Alice asked cheerfully.
“Why? This is just a simple technique in front of you so what makes your interest piqued?” Manstein clearly understood that for someone with power and abilities like Alice, she could instantly understand his technique quite easy.
“The principle is down to the basic and the execution of its technique is not ordinary in my eyes. You know what that means. In exchange, I will give you one set of art in return.”
The offer Alice said was tempting to Manstein but he hesitated a little. Although he already gained a lot just having his device, he did not know which one was suitable for him.
Therefore, he could only ask for advice from an expert. And didn't he have one in front of him?
“Strange, why is my body feeling cold?” as Manstein asked that, he opened his eyes. What he could see with his own eyes was white.
“Your body is covered by snow. Aren't you feeling it just now!?” Alice retorted.
As soon she said that Manstein shook his entire body. Lots of snow fell off from his body as his breath formed a little white mist. Even Manstein did not expect that he could ignore such condition.
“Looks like your concentration is strong already.” Alice praised this as an advantage. Then she remembered her offer and still asked about it.
“So what about it? Do you accept this offer?” Alice said that while smiling.
“Yeah, as expected of you. I can teach you and you can teach me, this is what an exchange is about.” Manstein indirectly accepted the offer.
“Then please look at
Manstein raised his brows and his mouth twitched. ‘She planned this. I forgot that she became the Planning Staff for one of my projects, isn't she?’
But he did not feel any malice intent in the slightest every time he talked with Alice so he could safely assume that this would be beneficial to him. Other than that, Manstein also felt a slightly strange atmosphere around her.
“
Only when he read the description of the technique that he frowned upon seeing it.
[Violet Haze Art
The art which allows the practitioner to gain permanent strength in their combat prowess.
Most effective with someone with strong killing intent and often experience slaughter.]
“Are you serious about this? Don't tell me that you know something else about me that I don't even aware of.”
That was the most suitable art for Manstein when he entered ‘that’ state but he did not want to do it unless he was cornered.
“I just picked the most suitable art for you and yet you instantly denied it. What a shame really.” Alice sneered when she realized Manstein refused it even though she had known the reason already.
Due to the annoying choice, disturbing feeling, uneasiness as well as inability to return home soon, Manstein suddenly dropped his entire body on the fields full of snow.
“Oh please don't play hide and seek.” Said Manstein as his eyes letting out a blinking light.
“I mean it, Uncle, Aunt. Can we just finish this play?” Manstein said again in a soft tone. He just wanted to let them know he was not kidding but still respected them.
“How did you can find us?” two silhouettes appeared and stood near him.
‘It's great that you can detect them, Senior.” Said Alice as she nodded, praising Manstein.
“Whose person is senior here? It's obvious that you detect them already but do not tell me.” Manstein rolled his eyes before his sight shifted to the two that appeared on his right and left side.
“For someone who just entered the initial stage of cultivation, you are tougher than your looks.” When Ye Canghai was looking for him, he saw the man sat down and kept that position until snow buried his body.
For someone who just entered Qi Condensation stage, their body was no different than ordinary people's body unless they were also cultivating their body.
That was why Ye Canghai admired this point. To be able to withstand the coldness in the winter while buried beneath the snow, that was already good.
“There are some dirt and...your clothes are dirty too it seems.” Reminded Yu Feng as she took a closer look.
“Wha...this..where did they come from? I know that cultivating will let the harmful substances out of the body but to produce this much....” looking around his body, Manstein found some of that ‘harmful’ substance around his body, including his clothes.
And when he glanced at his own body, a faint thin layer of qi started to grow thicker but the progress was so small it was negligible.
Manstein saw the sky above and found out that he cultivated for around four hours because it was evening already. And a large, reddish moon was hanged on that very sky, giving Manstein a strange feeling of fear.
“I guess I will go to bath.” Manstein stood up as he turned his body around.
“Then you can use one of the baths in the residence. Don't be shy.” Said Ye Canghai.
“Really? Usually I'm bathing with only dew and leaves then using some medicinal herb to clean myself.” Manstein felt happy because he was allowed to do it.
But even if he did not ask for permission, they would let him take a bath in the residence all the same. Manstein only did that due to respect.
-
“What do you think about this?” in a room on a public clinic, Yi Xiaodie watched the jar with her personal maid.
“Young Miss had heard what Doctor Han said about it, right? This is Immortal Honey which can cure almost all the disease under heaven.” The maid Kexin nodded her head as she spoke about the phony inside that jar.
Yi Xiaodie's beautiful face was illuminated by the red moonlight, giving an impression of a sickly beauty. That sickly beauty was lying on a bed, almost motionless.
“I wonder if I can spar with him again. The last time I fight with him, he barely hit me despite the difference in power. But the most astonishing fact is that the man himself is carefree but seriously pursue the path he had trodden.”
Due to her sickness, her power in cultivation declined as well. Black Plague was a disease which caused a cultivator to fell into a dilemma as their body and cultivation weakened over time.
The once Culture Core cultivator only had the strength of Late stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and her body lose strength gradually which caused her to be escorted and guarded.
But today someone had given her the cure, if not the important ingredients for her cure that is. Initially, she only came to Xuan City just because of her family condition.
Then she found out that the existence of Ye family was still available in the city. And even Han Lang got his family treasure from them.
‘That treasure is originally from Han clan but then they had to entrust the treasure to Ye family. I know that in the past, this family is the most trustworthy in the world.’ That was what Yi Xiaodie's thought when she saw Han Lang happy face when he visited her.
And tonight, Han Lang would once again come to her room to properly cure her.
“Are you alright, Young Miss?” Kexin who had positioned herself lower beside Yi Xiaodie had a worried expression on her face.
“Just thinking about a thing or two. But I'm afraid that Zhi Zhi may come to harm because you also know about the recent news too, right?” Yi Xiaodie tilted her head to see her maid with her own eyes.
“The central region suffered the first from that abrupt movement. But no matter what, this servant will always by Young Miss' side.” Kexin solemnly said but determination in her eyes showed her intention.
“No! Despite your position as my personal maid, but to me you are my friend since childhood. There’s no way I will let you sacrifice yourself for me, not a chance!” perhaps due to her seriousness and resolution as well as her noble aura, Yi Xiaodie's tone sounded forceful and could not be refuted anymore.
The Yi Xiaodie extended her hands as she held the jar in her hands. Kexin reacted almost instantly as she came and grabbed the jar. After that Kexin heard a knock on the door.
“Shall I open it?” of course Kexin had to ask her master's opinion first.
Yi Xiaodie sensed with her extended energy as an additional sense and found out that Han Lang had been waiting on another side.
“Let him in.”
Then Kexin opened the door and saw a middle-aged man was standing. He carried some medicinal herbs with him with his own hands.
“Miss Yi, let's quickly heal your disease. You often said that you wanted to recover as fast as possible, no?” Han Lang came in a spirited step.