Apparently, there's nothing left of the little girl I left with Xie Wen because a parasite ate her after Xie Wen buried her outside in respect. There are a few holes in that story, like how could a parasite possibly enter the barrier when it's still standing even now but I let that be because I hoped that Xie Wen's explanation as to how that happened would give me more information about the gigantic worms.

Xie Wen said nothing about it and the little information that I did get from her told me that she was inside the hut cultivating when everything happened.

I really, really wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt about it. I really do, I wanted to be a better person than the mass murderer that threw out a snowstorm on a whim. Sure, I didn't feel guilty about it and I feel like the people who died were just numbers that I don't even know the exact count of but that's more reason to be a better person during these times- And listening to Xie Wen while trusting her words is a good way to do it. Besides, every story has two sides and I like to think it's the same for her.

"Everything is fuzzy Yu Song..." The fire in front of us glowed a bright orange, heating up the inside of the hut and keeping us both warm. Xie Wen and I used a large piece of the bathroom walls to start it and even more of it is getting taken to fuel the fire as we speak. "I don't really remember anything. At all."

Those words got repeated by her over and over again this past hour whenever I asked her what happened to... well, everything while I was out.

Xie Wen traced her fingers on the blade of the sword I had given her before I left to attack the Ninjas. It still looked pristine and new even when it's been exposed to a damp and wet environment for who knows how long. Swinging it around myself gave me the sense that the metal the sword is made out of is still strong too, "I remember one thing... I don't really know if I wanted to use this sword or not, but when I saw those bandits attacking the barrier you set up, I thought that maybe I can fight them in the same manner you did against Gang Gong but the barrier..."

"You couldn't get out of the barrier?" I asked confused, didn't the little girl pass with me?

Xie Wen shook her head, "Uhn. Not at all, the barrier held strong but it was also very cold so I couldn't pass."

"Then that means the Bandits got held off." It makes sense, doesn't it? Why would Xie Wen even bother with worrying about fighting the bandits then? Why complain about it? Did she just want to brag? "I don't see why you'd say something like that because you're clearly safe in the end right?

Xie Wen reluctantly nodded, "Yes... but-" she gestured at her malnourished self and I understood why she'd want to get out. I nodded with a stiff smile, "-you know?"

"I guess you can go hungry even when cultivating huh?" Does that happen all the time? I feel fine even after everything.

The last part of my thought got quickly answered, "Of course," Xie Wen said as if that was obvious, "Only people who have created their Spirit Sea can live off of their Qi. After all, if you're spirit is no longer hungry, then your body will follow." She added sagely.

"I see." And when does the Spirit Sea form? On Foundation Establishment. I'm pretty sure a cultivator can't get a spirit sea when they're still in Body Refinement.

I held onto that tidbit of information and started to silently think, 'Okay, so, I have a spirit sea now. That's not unusual at all.' If I could genuinely laugh while thinking, I would have done it right then. So, what does it mean for someone to get a Spirit Sea before Foundation Establishment? 'And what the hell does requiring 20k Qi for raising a Stage on this Realm mean?'

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

Is refining my muscles gonna make me stronger now that I need more Qi per stage? Can I refine my muscles while collecting 20 thousand Qi and if so, can I use that much Qi for refining my body? What the hell are Stages anyway?

'Useless fucking boundaries with barely defined requirements. That's what.' Seriously, what's up with that? Why do I have a requirement of a 20 thousand Qi requirement when most people definitely don't? I had no real answer to that question so like usual, I asked Xie Wen about it and she had this to say-

"That's what determines talent I think?" she said with a hint of confusion. She leaned closer to the fire and dropped in a stick into it, causing it to burn brighter. "There are people out there who need staggering amounts of Qi to breakthrough but when they do, they become pretty strong. Usually, for people like that, they are either lucky enough to be born in a prestigious Sect with resources and areas with rich Qi that can properly fuel them or if they aren't, then they need to get lucky to find a natural spot that has plenty of Qi where they can cultivate."

'Thank you, System.' After hearing Xie Wen's explanation, I honestly didn't know what I'd do without it. As I thought about kissing my System, Xie Wen continued, "There are cases out there that because a Heavenly Talent is unlucky, they couldn't reach their true potential and thus have died at an early and unfortunate age."

"Damn." What a waste? I guess? I wonder just how many people like that are out there. "I guess Heaven didn't bless them enough- Ow!"

I rubbed the spot Xie Wen pinched me under her venomous glare, "Did you forget what happened to you when you first came here?"

I frowned, "Come on, it wouldn't care about it would it?" Now that's just petty.

"The Heavenly Dao doesn't care about most things. Unless, that is-" Xie Wen's eyes lost their focus, "-unless you doubt its machinations and intentions." Machinations and intentions, Rightttttt.

"Sounds complex," despite my thoughts, I decided to compliment the Heavenly Dao. I heard a faint rumble of contentment in the distance and frowned, "Did you hear that?"

"Of course, it seems that the Heavenly Dao liked your attitude," the unspoken 'You better be thankful!' went unsaid.

"Huh, Thank you." Another rumble of contentment rang out. "So, back to the whole Qi thing," I put the topic back on track because quite frankly, learning about some eldritch all seeing thing with a penchant for killing those who badmouth it watching us at all times isn't comforting, so back to familiar territory it is.

"What is it?" Xie Wen asked.

"The amount Qi someone needs to collect determines their talent right?" Xie Wen nodded with a hum, "Then what about how much Qi someone absorbs while cultivating? Does that... you know-" I tried to find the right word for it, "-differentiate?"

"It... That depends I do believe," Xie Wen answered after a brief pause, "As I set off as an example earlier, powerful Sects have resources and places rich with Qi, making them much more suitable for raising young talents however... I think you are asking about the natural amount someone takes correct?"

I nodded, "That." Does it actually change? Can someone out there just be so naturally gifted that they can get 100 Qi (whatever that means when translated from System into actual Cultivation) every second instead of just, I don't know, 10 per second?

"I do believe it varies from person to person yes," Xie Wen answered as if she'd read my mind, "I, for example, cannot possibly beat you in that factor even when we both cultivate in the same place," I held back a wince. Is she trying to fish information out of me? "For example, you have grown faster than me back when we cultivated with that spirit stone together, even going as far as awakening your Spirit Root."

"Right." So it's not just my System then? Guess the whole Spirit Root thing is also responsible for a lot of things. Getting answers just game more questions and asking them is always the first thing I did, "Xie Wen, do you know much about Spirit Roots?"

She shook her head, "Sadly, no."

That's disappointing but not unexpected. Thinking that the conversation will stall for some time, I checked on my status screen-

User: Yu Song

Qi: 3763/20,000

Realm: 10th Stage (Body Refinement)

Techniques:

- Punch

- Run

- Throw

- Palm Strike

*First to Sixth form

- Fist of Danger

* First to Second form

Quests:

*Reach Foundation Establishment Realm - (10/15)

*Find out what's wrong with the Dogs and the source of the Parasites - (7%)

*Find out more about the Ninjas.

*Kill the invading Poison Bandits - (3/???)