Having overcome 2 full days of studying and practicing, Tyler was starving. So obviously, the first thing he did after coming back up to his lodgings on the morning of the third day was to head down to the kitchen for some delicious food!
The servants had been warned beforehand that Tyler would come by and was hungry for some meat so they had diligently prepared a small feast for him. Piles of food were stacked on the table in front of him as the cook came by and made it known that if he wanted more all he had to do was come find him in the back.
Salivating at the smell of grilled meat, he dove right in. Though he was uncertain about the exact nature of these various meats, every bite was a delight to his taste buds and to his surprise, he detected a very slight amount of Qi within!
The meat had a distinct resemblance to beef, albeit tougher in texture. Alongside the meat, there was a delectable vegetable soup and freshly baked bread, complementing the meal perfectly.
In Tyler's famished state, the entire dining experience seemed nothing short of heavenly. With the added trace amounts of Qi he felt instantly refreshed!
He had almost eaten for an entire hour, wolfing down an impressive amount of meat. Once Tyler finished his meal, he gathered the dishes and made his way to the kitchen and gave the plates and silverware to a nearby servant who vehemently refused his help to clean the dishes.
Following the refusal, Tyler experienced a sense of unease. He noted that he wasn't contributing financially to the meals provided, and there was no interest in his assistance with chores, which was a stark difference from his previous life’s experiences. Having a team of servants and cleaning staff was a new concept for him.
Not to mention the fact that he had been simply allowed to give out 210,000 silver coins as if it meant nothing an hour ago!
His military background and single man’s lifestyle had accustomed him to self-reliance, where he took care of everything from cleaning to cooking to buying the groceries.
While he didn't necessarily object to others handling these tasks, he couldn't help but feel a vague sense of discomfort when it did not come from a roommate or a significant other.
It was as if he found it somewhat disrespectful, although he couldn't pinpoint why he harbored this sentiment. He recognized that everyone had their own profession and role to play, but the adjustment to this new dynamic might take some time.
Tyler made his way back to his room with his belly full. He was eager to delve deeper into the intricacies of his recently acquired knowledge, so he grabbed a pen and a few sheets of paper along the way.
He recognized the importance of documenting his thoughts properly, allowing him to capture the essence of his experience in written form. Prepared to embark on this reflective journey, Tyler settled down in his room, ready to put his thoughts into words.
Journal Entry #1
On cultivating the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method.
Embarking on the journey of cultivating the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method has been nothing short of an enigma.
Initially, its teachings appeared elusive and downright unclear, with passages reduced to the bare directive: "Focus your mind on gathering energies into your body and form a breeze of Qi through your meridians." A seemingly insufficient guide for practical application, I thought.
Yet, as I delved deeper into the method's content and began to experiment with its principles, a newfound appreciation for its contents arose within me. Unlike others who relied on the system's guidance, I faced the challenge of mastering these techniques without its aid and it became extremely clear that the system did A LOT of the heavy lifting here.
One perplexing aspect that intrigued me was the manipulation of Qi from the surrounding atmosphere, a topic untouched by the method’s explicit instructions.
Instead, it provided chants intended to cultivate the right mental state, presumably activating the system's assistance, along with a sequence of movements akin to karate kata. With no clearer starting point, I decided to engage in the recitation of these chants while performing the prescribed movements.
Initial attempts yielded little success; it seemed I wasn't absorbing more Qi than during my previous practice sessions or even while running.
Determined, I considered an alternative approach: rather than relying solely on chants, what if I physically compelled the Qi into my body through controlled, hyperventilated breaths? The results were noticeably improved, evoking the same refreshing sensation I had experienced while running.
Building on this progress, I combined the chants with increasingly forceful movements to induce a higher heart rate and laborious breathing.
The hours slipped away, during which the Qi flowed more seamlessly with each breath and movement, quintupling my absorption rate within seconds, but I could feel that there was no accumulation, only a greater amount of Qi flowed in and out of my body, making me sweat profusely.
However, further exploration of the method revealed little additional value beyond the initial chants and vague system descriptors to somehow form a sword out of the Qi to strike at one’s acupoints towards the later levels of Qi Gathering. Frustrated by the lack of concrete guidance, I opted to take a different approach.
But first, I wanted to remember the moves as if they were second nature and thus I continued to refine my practice, tirelessly repeating the steps.
The mental effort required to maintain focus while doing all these tasks at once was taxing but I persevered.
Each sound melded seamlessly into the next, forming a symphony of auditory sensations that unexpectedly heightened my focus. With each recitation, I sought to grasp the intangible Qi from the surrounding air, striving to incorporate it within me but to no avail. The movements and chants were easily remembered but their effects seemed lacking.
Soon enough I thought back to a few days ago when I was meditating, staring out from outer space into my inner world. At that moment I had vividly felt the surrounding Qi weave itself through the otherwise impenetrable crystal surface of the globe which surrounded my little paradise.
Primed to try something else, I transitioned to a meditative state, adjusting my posture for both comfort and alertness. Closing my eyes, I allowed my mind to settle, picturing my familiar secluded island surrounded by serene seas. I immersed myself in this tranquil mental space, eventually looking outwards once more at the seemingly infinite Qi that surrounded the space of my inner world.
Then, I controlled what I assume is an Avatar of myself created by my mind within this special space and started to mimic the movement sets and chants of the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method.
As I finished the first set of maneuvers and chants, an extraordinary phenomenon unfolded. My senses, once confined to the limitations of my physical form, expanded like a blossoming flower in spring. It was as though a veil had been lifted, allowing me to perceive the world in ways I never imagined. It startled me out of meditation multiple times before I was able to hone down to the increase in stimuli.
I could see not only with my eyes but with an all-encompassing awareness that stretched beyond my body's confines, as if I was god staring from above. The world's energies danced before me, each movement and vibration a symphony of life. Every detail, from the subtlest shift of to the grandest vista, was vividly laid bare for a few centimeters around me.
Sounds that were once mere background noise became a rich tapestry of life's rhythms. My own heartbeat thundered like a drum, and the very air seemed to whisper secrets. It was an auditory symphony that resonated with the essence of existence.
Tastes and scents took on new dimensions. I could discern the faintest nuances of flavor and aroma, distinguishing between the finest ingredients and the subtlest fragrances of my own body. Even the air itself held a refreshing and invigorating taste, as if it carried the essence of vitality.
The tactile realm transcended the ordinary. I could feel the gentle caress of the air on my skin, the currents of energy flowing through me, and the very pulse of life that surrounded me. It was as if I had become one with the world, intimately connected to its very essence.
The expansion of my senses proved both exhilarating and overwhelming. It felt as though I had peeled back a hidden layer of reality, stepping into a realm of heightened perception.
This newfound awareness had a peculiar effect on my sense of time. As I delved deeper into this expanded awareness, eager to explore its boundless possibilities in my cultivation journey, I lost all sense of time passing.
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However, the reality was quite different. In mere seconds, a splitting headache shattered my euphoria. It felt as though I had been immersed in this state for hours, but that wasn't the case as the clock on the wall seemed to indicate.
This was the path forward, genuine progress. It closely mirrored the accounts I had encountered in various novels. Some called it Spirit Sense, others referred to it as Divine Sense, or even a Perception Pulse.
With the headache gradually subsiding, I persisted and eventually started to weave in the rhythmic chants, controlled breaths, and movements of the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method into my practice.
I envisioned their synchronization within my inner world while continuing to explore this heightened sensory state, all the while striving to maintain the cultivation technique's precise steps.
Slowly, I extended the duration from a mere couple of seconds to a dozen, then a full 30 seconds. The clock on the wall served as a stark reminder that my perception of time was indeed distorted within this ephemeral state.
Eventually, as I was able to hold on to this enhanced state longer and longer—the Qi surrounding the crystal ball rushed in, crashing into its surface and surprisingly, there was little to no resistance and the skies rumbled, rain clouds gathered, and a downpour began, feeding the ocean with seemingly infinite Qi.
The once-calm seas churned, their waves carrying Qi-laden rainwater that invigorated me. From the outside world, it simply felt like the Qi was being ravenously devoured by my body, only to settle within my heart before being forcefully circulated away into my organs.
With each buffet of wind, I felt a renewed sense of vitality, solidifying the connection between my mind, body and soul. The centimeter aura of divine sense slowly expanded to two, three and then four. It was as if nature itself had joined my cultivation journey, offering a unique contribution.
Redirecting my focus to the technique's original goal—to circulate Qi as Thundering Winds and Strike acupoints with a Sword made of Clouds—I visualized my intent with unwavering determination.
But maintaining this state of focus was extremely taxing as blood was flowing out of my nose.
In my meditative realm, my thoughts took tangible form, shaping massive hands that sculpted the Qi-laden rain clouds into a crude-looking simple sword suspended within the clouds.
Time seemed to lose all meaning during this profound experience, spanning an unfathomable two days that felt like 30 as I constantly battled against my own body to push myself forward, experiencing an endless torture of splitting headaches and wooziness from the blood loss.
As winds threatened to shatter my metaphysical eardrums, an unassuming sword finally took shape. This sword bore an unpretentious simplicity with a shimmering, translucent blade. Its hilt, wrapped in mist-like wisps, concealed the formidable power it held, waiting for a worthy master to unlock its boundless potential—a paradox of subtlety and might in a humble guise.
Once I reached this juncture, I found myself faced with a conundrum. The cultivation technique provided no explicit guidance on where or how to unlock these elusive acupoints and mentioned that it should only be done towards the end of the Qi Gathering levels. But I saw no other options as I didn’t seem to be absorbing any Qi into my meridians as indicated.
Drawing from my rudimentary knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, I recollected that these acupoints were intricately situated along the paths of the twelve meridians. This realization prompted me to attune myself to the flow of Qi coursing through my body.
As I continued to maintain the ethereal form of the Cloud Sword and concentrated on the Qi's circulation within me, a subtle transformation took place. Instead of expanding my senses outward, my awareness shifted inward, delving into the labyrinthine network of meridians that intersected my being. In this heightened state of sensitivity, I could discern the presence of some of the acupoints—imperceptible nodes of energy akin to miniature whirlpools along the meridian currents.
Each acupoint resonated uniquely, akin to distinct notes in a cosmic symphony. Some exuded tranquility, while others pulsated with vibrant energy, and a select few emanated a warm embrace, akin to a gentle caress. These acupoints, almost as if sentient, unveiled themselves within the intricate web of my existence as Qi coursed through them before surging forward with enhanced momentum.
This newfound comprehension led me to select the nearest acupoint on my heart meridian as my target. With utmost precision offered to me by my enhanced senses, I directed the Cloud Sword's translucent blade toward my ethereal form, seated in a lotus position, and struck. Hard. The sword pierced right through me and disappeared within.
With the precision of a master swordsman, I felt the acupoint give way, akin to a door flung open with force. The once-contained Qi now flowed freely, surging through the meridians with renewed vigor. At the same time, a cloud far away exploded into mist, showering the ocean below with the Qi contained within.
It marked a pivotal juncture, the culmination of days of unwavering dedication and profound attunement. However, the overwhelming mental and physical exertion exacted its price, and I lost consciousness.
Upon regaining awareness, I could sense profound transformations coursing through my body, the tangible fruits of my endeavors with the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method.
The absorbed Qi seemed to whirl within my heart, its previously chaotic vortex becoming an integral part of me. Expanding my awareness inwards, I sensed that the Cloud Sword had integrated itself within me, settling into the first acupoint, which had transformed from a gentle vortex into a swirling cloud sword.
This natural force resembled a maelstrom of raging winds, shaping the Qi in its image.
The weirdest thing was the effect on my previously serene inner world. The opening of my acupoint had birthed a colossal vortex in the form of a cloud, ceaselessly drawing in Qi from the crystalline wall’s exterior before expelling it in cascading waves at the ocean's surface, causing extreme unrest onto the sea.
The swirling maelstrom circulated Qi vigorously throughout my body and mind, imbuing me with relentless vitality, akin to the rush of adrenaline. Although my body yearned for sustenance, one lingering curiosity compelled me to explore further. With closed eyes, I sought to feel my expanded senses again.
In an instant, my awareness expanded once more. Where once I could only discern a few centimeters around myself, I now possessed a clear view of a full meter.
With a sense of satisfaction, I concluded my inaugural cultivation session, an overwhelming sensation of newfound strength coursing through my veins.
End of Journal Entry #1
As Tyler wrote, his understanding deepened, and he revisited the pivotal moments of his experience, meticulously recounting them to unveil the interconnectedness that underpinned his journey.
Although his everyday speech didn't usually employ such intricate language, Tyler maintained a commitment to exactitude in his daily journal. After all, precision and deeper understanding demanded precise words.
This introspective exploration revealed the profound interplay between mind, body, and nature, unraveling the intricate puzzle of cultivation. While he wasn’t exactly an expert in anything yet, from the little he had experienced and read about the subject so far, he was for sure stepping way above and beyond what the system required most cultivators to achieve in order to achieve their levels.
As Tyler looked out and witnessed the sun's ascent, he felt for the Qi that rested within his heart and the sword within his inner-world. With his previous hobbies unavailable, such as computer gaming and reading fantasy novels, he contemplated his options.
In the absence of other activities, he chose to embark on another run, hoping that the physical exertion would allow him to use up that excess energy from cultivating and channel his focus towards the rigors of training.
This was the first step on his own cultivation journey that all his friends and family most likely did 10,000 years ago.
Seeing as the token that was given to him by Lin Jian was quite useful, he decided to keep it with him and attached it to his waist as he stepped outside for a run.
This time, he wouldn’t stop at the plaza in between Edge City and Permanence City, and he’d return as soon as he reached it, completing the trip in a single uninterrupted run.
Then, if he felt like it, he'd seek the Sword King through Theressa or even visit the Radian Fist Dojo, as indicated by Lo Shen a few days ago.
As Tyler started to run, he quickly noticed a significant shift in his experience. With every breath he took, he felt a heightened clarity and purity in his connection to the surrounding Qi energy.
Initially, when he had begun pondering the refreshing energy coursing through his body, it had felt elusive and intangible. However, now it seemed to flow effortlessly, as if the barriers that once obstructed his perception had been dissolved.
This newfound clarity allowed Tyler to perceive the Qi with greater precision and sensitivity.
Each inhalation seemed to draw in the vital energy of the environment, while each exhalation released any stagnant or negative Qi within. The rhythm of his running further amplified this connection, harmonizing his physical exertion with the energetic flow.
As he continued his run, Tyler marveled at the transformation within himself. The faster his heart beat, the faster his breath, the faster the vortex spun and the faster the Qi was being fed into every part of his system.
This was real Qi accumulation as he could feel that a portion of it always remained within his acupoint.
In the midst of his exhilarating run, Tyler swiftly arrived at the plaza between layers, fueled by the intense feeling coursing through him.
Surprisingly, he had shaved off nearly 20 minutes from his previous time, a feat that seemed unbelievable to him. Yet, this achievement only spurred him on, urging him to accelerate even faster on his way down.
***
As Tyler ran down towards Edge City, Lin Jian, the Sword King, keenly observed his every move. Recognizing the signs of Tyler's slight recovery and cultivation, Lin Jian's seriousness deepened.
It became evident to him that this wounded ancestor was gradually regaining his ability to gather small amounts of Qi within his body once more and it was evident that this ancestor’s talent wasn’t low at all.
Him reaching the small-completion of his heart meridian happened extremely quickly after spending only a few days looking at the Thundering Winds and Sword Clouds Method.
The most terrifying part of Tyler’s progress was that the Sword King had clearly felt the sharpness of his aura increase in real time as he was cultivating.
He was fairly certain that he had already manifested a Cloud Sword!
To be clear, it had taken him until the late stages of the Qi Transformation stage at around level 18 to reach this point even if the method hinted at doing it as soon as level 8. Yet this ancestor had done it before even fully stepping into the first level.
What the Sword King did not understand though was how this seemingly young man had gotten to this state. How did a powerful ancestor with a soul strong enough to cause all the old timers on the mountain to back off in fright have no cultivation to speak of?
Luckily, it wouldn’t be long before he got his answer as he got notified that Tyler would like to talk to him if he had the time. Without wasting a single second, the Sword King got up, waved away his attendants and disappeared from the Eternal Palace.