My meridians were finally opened. As I carefully got down from the tree, I felt a surge of power rushing through my body, filling every part of me. It was like being born again, but this time with a strength that felt even greater than anything I had known in my past life. The feeling was overwhelming, almost like a flood of energy that made me stop and take it all in.
The power inside me felt different, more intense than when I first opened my meridians before. It seemed like the energy was thicker and more abundant, and I started to wonder why. Maybe it was because of the natural energy in the air around me, or maybe this whole kingdom had something special about it. Either way, this new strength made me feel more alive than ever.
I spent some time testing my new power, trying to understand its limits. I threw punches at the air, feeling the force behind each one. I picked up a nearby branch and swung it around like a sword, noticing how my movements were quicker and more precise. Even running felt different, like my body was lighter and faster than before. As I tested my strength, I realized that I was already at the level of a middle-rank warrior from my past life, which in this world was called a knight.
Opening my meridians this time had been easier, thanks to the experience I had gained in my previous life. But now, I faced a new challenge: I needed to start cultivating my Qi. Cultivating Qi was a slow and careful process, and I knew it would take time to build up my strength further. This might be tricky, especially since the Qi in this world might work differently than what I was used to.
I also realized that I needed to learn the sword techniques of this world. My old techniques, the ones I had mastered in the Heavenly Demon Cult, were powerful but required a lot of Qi to use. Right now, I didn't have enough Qi to perform them without exhausting myself. Besides, I couldn't even remember the beginner techniques I had learned long ago. I would have to start from scratch, learning the basics all over again.
"This is going to be frustrating," I muttered, my face showing clear annoyance. In my past life, when those old hags tried to teach me techniques, I mostly just lazed around. I had more talent than others, so it wasn’t hard to catch up, even if I started two or more months later than everyone else. A part of me wanted to do the same thing in this life too. I was tempted by the thought of taking it easy and relying on my natural abilities. But then, I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. "No, I can't!" I scolded myself. I didn't want to make the same mistakes I made in my past world. This time, I wanted to try something new, to take a different path.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
I didn’t let the temptation take hold of me. Instead, I started thinking about what I should do next, what decisions and actions would shape my future. Suddenly, something came to mind: the teachings of those demon instructors from my previous life. They had drilled into us how to cultivate our Qi.
Qi is the same, no matter if you're in an orthodox, unorthodox, or demonic sect. It’s the vital energy that flows through all living things. The dantian, where Qi is stored, has three parts: the upper, middle, and lower dantian. Each part has a different role: storing Qi, connecting with spiritual energy, and linking to the mind. Because it holds the Qi, the dantian is also called the Qi center. The larger and stronger your dantian is, the more Qi you can store, and the more powerful you can become.
The first stage of my cultivation path is the Demonic Foundation Establishment. In this stage, I need to cultivate my Qi and strengthen both my dantian and body until I can absorb the energy and strength of living beings. This method is unique to the demonic sects and is the only demonic method of refining Qi at this stage.
As I walked back to the palace, my mind was busy thinking about when and how I should start strengthening my dantian. The teachings from my past life flashed through my mind. I considered using the exercises I had mastered back then, the same ones that had once made me a feared warrior in the Heavenly Demon Cult. The temptation to rely on the familiar was strong, but this was a new life, a new world, and part of me was curious to explore what this place had to offer. I knew that to truly grow stronger, I couldn’t simply fall back on old habits. I needed to embrace the unknown.
But how could I find out what this world had in store for me? The answer was obvious: I needed to speak with someone who could guide me. Dulham Castle was reserved for the Princes of the kingdom, and there was only one butler, Mr. Shuman. He was the only person who could arrange a martial arts instructor for me.
As I walked through the castle’s grand halls, each one more ornate than the last, I finally spotted him. Mr. Shuman was a middle-aged man with a fashionable mustache and white hair that fell neatly to his chin. He carried himself with the quiet dignity of someone who had served royalty for many years.
“Your Highness,” he said, bowing slightly as he noticed my approach.
He started to move past me, but I told him to wait. He stopped immediately, standing still as he turned to face me. With every step I took closer to him, I could see the respect in his eyes, a respect earned not just by my title, but by the potential he must have sensed in me.
“I need you to hire a martial arts instructor for me,” I said, in an arrogant tone.