Was this young man pranking me? Or was he stupid?
Regardless, the customer is King!
I asked back: “What might you be curious about, dear customer?”
He seemed pleased at my answer as he nodded while smiling and asked back: “What does the second Qi level means?”
Is he messing with me?
Is he?!
I calmed down quickly. Customers are Kings!
“It is my cultivation level, dear customer”
“And what is it?”
What is what?!
Are you messing with this old man?!
You can forget about your percentage! Full price for you!
His girlfriend then intervened and spoke: “Senior, cultivation levels relates to a measurement of a cultivators ability to handle Qi and relates directly to their power”
- * -
I nodded at Rongxia.
So, Qi level measures the strength of people here and they refer to themselves as cultivators.
Interesting.
We are wizards and measure our abilities depending on the number of mana rings surroundings our hearts but they use a different measurement here.
I was curious. And I was learning.
How delightful.
I asked: “What levels are there?”
Rongxia and Master Liang explained things to me and, in the end, it could be summed up as such:
The cultivation levels in this world are as follows:
1. Novice (1st to 3rd Level): Beginners who have just started to harness and refine their Qi. Their control is basic, focusing on strengthening their internal energy. They can create the most basic of formations.
2. Practitioner (4th to 6th Level): Cultivators who have achieved a moderate level of control over Qi. They can perform simple formations and enhance their physical and spiritual abilities.
3. Adept (7th to 9th Level): Skilled practitioners with advanced control. They can create more complex formations, manipulate Qi more precisely, and start to influence the environment around them.
4. Master (10th to 12th Level): Highly proficient cultivators who have deep understanding and command over Qi. They can use intricate formations and significantly affect their surroundings.
5. Grandmaster (13th to 15th Level): Esteemed cultivators with profound mastery. Their formations are powerful, and their Qi manipulation is exceptionally refined.
6. Sage (16th to 18th Level): Cultivators who have reached near-mastery of Qi. They possess exceptional skills in both combat and formation, with the ability to influence larger areas.
7. Transcendent (19th to 20th Level): Cultivators at the pinnacle of their art. They command immense power and can reshape the fabric of reality with their Qi and formations.
To put it simply, right now, the two with me were novices. Basically the bottom of it all.
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Still, it was good information to know.
However, it felt particularly weird since I could not feel any energy from their hearts. So, how could they know their levels precisely? Or rather, why could I not even distinguish their energy levels precisely?
I asked Rongxia who explained it to me.
After a while, I could synthetise it like this:
* Cultivator’s Energy Core:
* Location: The dantian, which is an internal reservoir of Qi.
* Function: It stores and refines Qi, allowing the cultivator to harness and manipulate it for various techniques and formations. The energy core is central to a cultivator’s growth and power, with its capacity and refinement level reflecting their cultivation stage.
* Development: As a cultivator advances, their energy core grows stronger and more refined, enabling them to channel more Qi and perform more advanced techniques.
And it differed from my own ways as:
* Mage’s Mana Integration:
* Location: Mana is integrated through rings or circuits surrounding the heart.
* Function: These rings serve as channels and reservoirs for mana, allowing mages to direct and shape it using runes. The rings help in stabilizing and focusing mana, enhancing spellcasting efficiency.
* Development: Mages often enhance their rings or add more to increase their mana capacity and control. The focus is on precise mana manipulation and rune crafting.
As such, a bold idea came to my mind: why not create an energy core as well?
I asked Rongxia: “What should I do to create an energy core and cultivate?”
She answered me: “You should use your cultivation technique, Senior. As you know, cultivation techniques are crucial for refining Qi because they provide structured methods for directing and harnessing it effectively. They guide how Qi flows through the body, helping to avoid stagnation and ensuring efficient use. Techniques also teach how to absorb and refine Qi from the surroundings and control it within the dantian, which is vital for performing advanced abilities and formations.”
I did not know previously nor do I have any cultivation technique.
I asked her: “Can you give me a cultivation technique?”
She frowned as she explained: “I am afraid that I would be unable to, Senior. My cultivation technique is a closely guarded treasure of my clan. It’s not just about the technique itself but also the principles and values it embodies. Sharing it would compromise not only my personal growth but also the traditions of my lineage. If you wish to understand more about Qi cultivation, I can guide you in other ways, but the technique itself must remain a secret, I would ratehr die than share it and betray my clan.”
I nodded.
Keeping your cultivation technique a secret seemed fair. After all, if someone asked me to give them my mana ring techniques or my 42-Runes Grand System of eternal youth, I would kill them first and talk later.
I turned my attention back to Master Liang: “What about you, Master Liang?”
He smiled at me as he said: “I have a few cultivation techniques for sale if you wish, dear customer”
A few?!
Not just one but a few?!
How unexpected of a windfall!
I quickly got excited and stated: “I'll take them all!”
He seemed very eager as he went to fetch five tight parchments and introduced them:
“Here is Breath of the Willow: A technique designed for beginners to cultivate Qi gently. It focuses on aligning breathing with Qi flow to enhance basic energy absorption and flow within the dantian. This one is called Gentle River Stream: This technique helps in refining Qi with a slow, steady approach. It emphasizes smooth and continuous Qi movement, ideal for those at the early stages of cultivation. This one is Silent Lotus Meditation: A meditative technique that aids in quieting the mind and deepening Qi absorption. It’s useful for improving concentration and internal energy stability. That one is Sunrise Resonance: This technique involves harnessing the energy of natural sunlight to enhance Qi cultivation. Practitioners use this technique to synchronize their Qi with the rhythm of the day. And this one is Twilight Harmony: A technique that teaches the balance of Qi during dusk and dawn. It focuses on adapting Qi flow to different times of the day, helping cultivators maintain consistent energy levels.”