Chapter 5

“In our world, cultivation starts with the Qi Refinement stage, the first in a long, arduous journey. A human is a weak creature, belonging to the mundane world. They are unable to tap into the wonders of the natural world in all its glory. Naturally, a human could not cultivate - not in its truest form.

Qi Refinement thus acts as the bridge between the mundane and the magical. The process itself is also the most straightforward. There are two main ways to progress.

First, one could just draw in Qi from their environment, imbuing their veins and flesh with the natural gifts of the Way. This takes time, diligence, and most important of all, patience.

Some consider this the true, heaven-mandated method, as they see it as ‘pure’ and ‘untainted’. However, it is exactly due to these traits that the path favours the fortunate. The intake of the elements depends on two main things: the environment itself, and “natural talent”. Even though you are children, I do not think I need to explain the role of luck here.

Some claim that this path is favoured by those with a deficit of liquid courage - that or a surplus of misplaced compassion. They use this to explain why most normal humans are stuck here. All the diligence in the world could not save those without conviction or a strong will, especially when they are placed in environments with less than stellar natural Qi.

The second method was popularized by our Great Ancestor, long may he roar. This involves extracting Qi from others, primarily magical beasts but also human cultivators. Some consider this impure, as the Qi extracted here has changed from its original form. In this case, much effort is needed in order to tame this rabid Qi before it can be used.

However, do not be mistaken. The first method still requires wild Qi to be refined – hence the name. The main difference is that the Qi taken by the second method comes from sentient beings. That means there the Qi is personalized and altered, the reason you need to ‘tame’ it after devouring it.

The quality of refinement is dependent on the skill of the cultivator and the cultivation techniques used. The latter is no issue – you have in possession the premier methods of the world, based on the golden words of our masterful ancestors.

As for skill, a steady mind and pure cultivation talent are what matters. The former is more important than the latter, in my humble opinion.

Either path is viable, especially for all of you here, blessed with a great birth. Usually, people do a combination of both, with a preference for one over the other.

The closer one advances, the harder natural cultivation becomes, and the more appealing ‘devouring’ becomes. That is accompanied by other risks, which I will go into some other time.

Before you little brats go and ask for the corpses or essences of monsters, I must remind you of two things. First, it needs to be done in suitable increments. Too much and you’ll explode. It’s a bit like popping a bubble – it’s not gruesome, one just disappears with an innocuous ‘pop’. One second you are there, the other you’re gone.

Second, devouring is best done when the cultivator is personally killing the target of extraction. There’s an element of freshness, where the energy gets diluted and dissipated as time pass. Even the best preservation efforts cannot circumvent this.

More importantly, one gets more feedback and progress from being actively involved in the slaughter of a soul. Only by being responsible for the death of a target can a cultivator extract the full value. Adding to this is the experience of wrangling with the living Qi that remains after death, which is of immense value for future advancement.

Our world contains a fixed number of resources and Qi – unchanging and immutable across the ages. Whether the Qi is in your surroundings or in your enemy’s body, it probably originated from elsewhere, most likely some other living being. The world’s gifts can be seen as a malicious yet delectable pie, with cultivators vying for every bite.

It is the source of our deep capacity for both beauty and cruelty.

Another thing to mention is that you need not over-worry about impure elements and a shaky base. Certain people are too preoccupied with getting a ‘perfect’ foundation… it really does not matter much in the long run.

The thing is, and please, if there was one takeaway from my ramblings, it is this: your beginnings do not define your whole life. I myself was a late bloomer, taking a long time to get through the selection process. An even longer time passed before I became a cultivator worthy of respect.

I am not telling you to ignore any early opportunities or be lazy, but just keep in mind that there is no need to rush. Do that, and you’ll find yourself falling headfirst into death’s gaping maw.

With an old man’s rant out of the way, let’s continue with the actual topic of discussion. As one progresses through the stages of Refinement, a human slowly changes his very essence, turning from an unrefined piece of rock to a semi-polished stone. Not a gem yet, there’s still a far journey ahead. But from here, a human is no longer human. Instead, he has transcended the mundane, shedding his shell of dirt and grime.

From here on, the world has welcomed another cultivator into its majestic halls.

That said, Qi Refinement is simply a process of accumulating energy. There is no higher meaning, no greater truth. Nothing.

The true journey to reach the heavens begins with choosing a worthy value, one that forms the basis of a cultivator’s existence. This was the case for every soul, from the welp who had just broken the shackles of poverty, to the heavenly son of a divine beast. Even magical beings, who skip through Qi Refinement, must also build a firm foundation like everyone else.

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This process is aptly named “Foundation Establishment”.

It is only here that the journey of cultivation begins in earnest.

Some go as far as to claim that Foundation Establishment was the true beginning, with Qi Refinement being nothing more than the crawling of a toddler.

The unworthy, living in squalor in the mundane world, would call such thinking preposterous. That was only natural. After all, they separated the realms of Qi Refinement with great zealotry, believing that each of these minor steps was worth a single dime. They dare call these Qi Refiners “Masters”, “Grandmasters”, or “Lords”. Of those that went beyond, they were the “Ascended” and great “Immortals”.

As if a mere beginner could be a master of anything; as if Foundation Establishment could be at all equal to any realm that comes after. Such unbridled arrogance stems from ignorance. And such ignorance required a harsh remedy. One I have personally doled out, so much so that I have long lost count.”

An assistant made signs with his hands. The elder said, “No need to remind me to get back on track, I’ll do it right away. Advancing through Foundation Establishment should not be too hard for most of you. Like Qi Refinement, most of the focus remains on accumulating energy, and this is the main bottleneck.

However, Foundation Establishment also requires the cultivator to act accordingly to his chosen value. For example, if you chose to uphold honour – and please don’t choose that “virtue” – then the moment your actions contradict it your cultivation will begin breaking down.

In any case, the definitions are fairly vague at the beginning, which allows some leeway. One may even be tempted to cheat.

However, let me tell you this; etch it into your feeble minds. While the values at this stage are crude, basic, and raw… they are also very honest. One may lie to others - one can even lie to themselves - but one cannot lie to all-knowing heavens. This applies to every level after Qi Refinement, with increasing scrutiny and punishments.

For me personally, that has always been the most beautiful part of cultivation, where integrity is rewarded and dishonesty is a sin.

Not that it stops certain people from trying anyway.

Core Formation is next, and it is defined by the formation of a resplendent core within one’s body. While Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment focuses on drawing in energy from the larger world to supplement one’s inborn deficiencies, Core Formation requires one to create energy from within.

It is also here that one can exert greater control over the elements. A cultivator at Core Formation can attack with pure Qi, rather than merely imbuing his weapons or body with liquid energy.

At Core Formation, chosen values begin taking a more solid shape. There are more details, more specifics, all the things that individualize a person’s way of life and cultivation.

One can finally begin embarking on one of the many Paths that lead to the one Way.

It is also here that cultivation demons or cultivation collapses begin their siege. The naming varies widely, referring to specific ailments or simply cultural preferences. Convention groups them all into the term “cultivation demons”.

It is dangerous and has resulted in the deaths or regression of many talented individuals. And it will only continue to become more serious and fatal the further one progresses.

However, I doubt any of you here will have to deal with that any time soon, so I’ll stop things here. Well, apart from that one overgrown student,” a chortle of childish laughter followed, “but we aren’t gathered here for him, are we? Any questions, my dear boys and girls?”

Among the gaggle of overdressed nine-year-old children, a few hands shot up. Long Yonglin began choosing a boy, who spoke with remarkable clarity for a kid his age. “Elder, you mentioned being patient with cultivation and the method of natural accumulation. However, I don’t think we’ll have much time to even attempt that method, let alone use it on its own.”

“You would be correct, had there been a time limit. As I said, no need to rush, children. Indeed, rushing recklessly will only lead to an early demise.

I personally took my sweet time during the selection process; decades of hiding and running away, of seeking out the most Qi-abundant areas, draining them and then taking off yet again.

Maybe that does not appeal to you, and nor do most people do this. However, all I’m trying to say is that don’t feel like you must devour others, even if the blood of the Great Devourer courses through your veins. And, I’d like to add, I am here alive and full of life, while my contemporaries have all returned to Heaven’s embrace.

Alright, any more questions? I see a few more hands, great. However, ask those questions at somebody else, since time had already run out.”

There were a few groans, but those were drowned out by the sound of children clamouring to get out. Such noise died out the moment Long Yonglin spoke, “Before you go, I want to wish you all good luck in the selection. I have high hopes for you, and fully trust that some of you will become fine, respectable young men and women in the near future. It will all be over in a blink of an eye, trust me, and once that happens, you know where to find me. I always have time for ambitious and hot-blooded cultivators.”

With that, a few older caretakers began ushering out the children.

As Long Yonglin walked out of the room, he said, “Seems like you have escaped my little gift. Was it alone or did you get some help? There’s nothing to be embarrassed about if it was the latter – one’s friends are also the source of one’s strength.”

“I got help.” Long Yonglin gave him a look. The boy, Li Zhixing, hastily said, “I got help, respected elder.”

“Mm… So, did you enjoy my lecture? Seemed like I managed to capture your full attention.”

“That is true. However, I must say that you seem a bit… zealous in your speech. Do you reckon that’s the correct word?”

“That’s a fair description. Though, if you think my words are impassioned and overly zealous, then you’ve seen nothing. I am moderate in all things, including my beliefs. Not to mention, I have to instil in the kids some level of passion and emotion; you cannot have good cultivators otherwise.”

“Makes sense. Elder.”

“You surprised me a bit. Being of common birth, you should have been exposed to the sinful zealotry, baseless superstition, and, most damningly, the sheer stupidity of the commoners when it came to cultivation and magic. And just about any other matter, realistically speaking. Were you not born in one of the many lower realms under Long management?”

A pregnant pause followed. Was it because he did not like to speak about the issue? Or was it because the boy had suppressed the memories and could barely remember the happenings of his early years?

“Yes,” Li Zhixing said, “to the last question. But I was not exactly brought up in a normal community with elders who cared enough to bother with indoctrination. I don’t feel a need to tell you all this, elder. You probably know everything already.”

“You think too much. I’m the concerned, caring elder you actively sought out. Nor do I know anything about your background, because frankly, such matters are beneath me.”

He just nodded.

“Enough with the small talk, you aren’t interested. You came here because of your loss of cultivation, correct? And don’t be so shocked, your current realm is clear for anyone with a sliver of ability. The smell of failure and despondence is too hard to ignore, after all,” he said with a laugh. “Come with me, and I’ll give you the answers you so desire. As always, I am a generous, loving, and caring master.”