You know, I think he should study formations and arrays, since the guy likes holing up there with his books. He could also try raising poisonous insects, or something like a demon ant farm.
Other wise, he could get some calligraphy, poems, or painting stuff as Xania world ladies like that stuff, and with his history with women he would probably like the chance to show off to a beauty
The day after the crisis last night, I noticed that half of the wolves waiting below were gone after checking the feeds from my laptop. This is a good thing. I think they realize that their alpha is dead and think this place is not worth the trouble?
I think that will give me some time to build up my strength. Now I have to think about what to do next.
I review the knowledge I got from Xie Wen's memories about cultivator facts. The basics of cultivation is sitting in a proper posture so they can absorb the qi more efficiently. The most proper posture for absorbing qi is sitting crosslegged. Doing this makes it easier for qi to enter the pathways within meridians as the majority of their body are exposed to the elements with this posture, and it relaxes their spiritual nerves, making it easier for qi to flow within their veins.
After the process of properly sitting on the ground is done, next is actually absorbing the qi. This is done by a special breathing technique which will stimulate their spiritual roots and letting it suck on the qi around them in tandem with their breathing. It's a kind of breathing that is done internally instead of externally. They call this method fetal breathing. Fetal breathing is possible even for mortals so long as they know how to do it.
The next process is something much harder that a mortal needs to have prior experience for it before they can do it. This is sensing the qi flowing within their meridians and urging it to move through the proper paths within their nerves. Only those who know the sensation of the qi within their meridians will be able to do it. People who are unaware of it will fumble their way, and there is a chance they damage their meridians with a wrong mindset and method.
The first time Xie Wen was accepted on this destroyed sect, it took him a year and a half of constant exposure to qi and absorbing it before he managed to properly flow it within his meridians. Average people with intermediate talent can do this within three months more or less.
A cultivator has to know where to move their qi before they commit to it. Mortals map out their meridians first by absorbing qi and carefully urging it in a certain direction with their will. Internal qi control is easier than external because it is within their body, though that doesn't mean they can just move it casually. Mortals can't really see their spiritual roots just like how you can't see your own nerves with your mind alone. It's only when they become a cultivator that they can become mentally aware of the existence of their roots, and have a smoother time flowing their qi within. This is why cultivators have an easier time controlling their internal qi than mortals because they acquire the capability to be aware of it after they step foot on the path of cultivation.
Now the final process, cycling. Before cycling occurs, a cultivator has to move their qi within their dantian. Dantian is the center point of our spiritual roots and meridians and it is where the absorbed qi gathers. Other terms for dantian are Profound Sea, Sea of Qi, Cultivation Core, and Spiritual Core/Center. This part is important because it is basically the power source of a cultivator. It doesn't really exist physically but if I have to give an estimate where it is located, it is somewhere between my lower chest and upper stomach area, and a few inches lower than that if I want to be more precise.
Simply gathering qi in their core won't really do anything. People who do that will simply waste their time as that accumulated qi will just find a way out of their body if they don't actively control it within them. This is where the Cycling part comes in.
Cycling is a process in which a cultivator spins the qi they gather within their dantian continuously. Doing this will purify the qi they gather and take the traits of the cultivator doing this. After sufficient time passes, the qi will acquire the traits of the cultivator and it will solidify into a point within their dantian. This signifies the completion of a single cycle.
The time it will take to complete a single cycle depends on a cultivator's affinity. If a cultivator has a fire affinity, then the qi they are cycling will gain the traits of fire qi before it fully assimilates within their core. This is why the rank of the affinity is as important as the quality and amount of their roots.
That is the basics of cultivation facts. Cultivators have to know this part if they want to cultivate, and know why things are the way it is. This fact only tells about the cultivators themselves. There are still outside factors like the environment, the cultivation method, their affinity, supplements, and many more.
What does this tell me then after reviewing this fact?
It is that I need a high ranking affinity if I want to cycle my cultivation quicker. I am an anomaly with this fact because I still have a low rank Earth affinity. Its upgrades elevate my speed a thousand times more than usual when it comes to cycling the qi, but it will be slow compared to other average cultivators if not for my speed multiplier. With the cultivation speed multiplier from my cheat ability, my speed surpasses even geniuses of my sect.
If affinity is so important, shouldn't I buy another affinity then?
That is a bad idea. Affinity is the core concept of the soul. Every person has their own affinity because it represents their soul. One affinity is common for almost every living being though sometimes, there are the special ones who have more than one affinity. They call these people multi-affinity cultivators and they covet these people due to their great potential.
That doesn't mean it will be easier for them to cultivate. No, it will be much harder as a cultivator with two affinity will have to cycle twice as much as a cultivator with a single affinity. As far as Xie Wen knows, only disciples from a Holy Land have these types of personage and, if the rumors from Xie Wen's fellow disciples can be believed, then most of the time these cultivators with multiple affinities focus on one of their affinity while neglecting their other so they can keep up with their peers.
If they want to keep up while not compromising their foundation, then they will need a lot of precious resources. These resources cost quite a fortune that they can buy a whole nation if it's converted to pure cash.
A single affinity is much better than adding a new one.
Then what else can I do then?
Right, there is the option of using supplements to aid in my cultivation. Pills are one of the most basic supplements for a cultivator. They can boost the cultivation speed of a cultivator.
There is only one problem. Consuming pills at a lower level is harmful. They give an extreme boost that will be impossible for low level cultivators. The Qi Gathering Pill, the most basic pill in every part of this world, requires the person to be at the 5th Stage Foundation Establishment Realm at the minimum if they want to safely ingest it. Those below that will simply destroy their meridians and forever crippling them from the path to immortality.
There is also a cool down period for each consumption of a pill. It depends on what type of pill it is but I know that the Qi Gathering Pill needs at least a month before a person can safely consume another.
So I need to be at the fifth stage before I can think of using a pill.
What else can I do then?
Cycling is dependent on my affinity rank so I need to improve my affinity to increase the speed of my affinity. I can instantly do a hundred cycles in a second. It is why I can reach the 2nd Stage instantly after expelling my Qi. The amount of cycles I need just increases a lot more as I make minor breakthroughs from my current realm. This is normal. Breaking through a minor realm is supposed to take months or years, and a cultivator usually goes outside to look for opportunities so they can shorten that time. I am only staying in this mountain and barely any opportunities are coming at me. I'm just relying on my cheat ability to get to this point.
Is there any way I can further increase my cycling speed?
Hmm... wait, now that I think about it, there is another way right?
Xie Wen's knowledge comes down to what the sect teaches him. Even the process of cultivating lal boils down to a single method that the sect gives him. It's a standard cultivation method that they give every outer sect disciple.
I didn't question it at the time. I think it really doesn't matter and I can just use it while relying on my multipliers to raise me up to the top. Though I really should have done it for a long time now right?
I need a new cultivation method!
That's it. Xie Wen's memories tell me that, unlike outer sect disciples, inner disciples are given superior cultivation methods and techniques by the Elders. That means there are better ways out there than what I simply know!
I should have thought of that! Dammit! This is what happens when I keep procrastinating and being complacent with my perceived safety!
Ugh... I'm so pathetic...
It's a start, but this new avenue gives me another option to increase the speed of my cultivation. I have to stop focusing on my useless hobbies and actually start taking my life seriously.
Dammit, I'm an adult in my past life. I should be better than this! "... Holy crap... that is amazing..."
My soul sings upon recently purchasing my new cultivation method. My knowledge expands as I instinctively realize that the new cultivation method that enters my mind is a thousand times better than Xie Wen's original one.
The Prestige Shop calls this method the Unnamed Earth-based Cultivation Method 1 and it feels so uninspiring that I decide to call it Genbu's Method. Surprisingly, the shop recognizes it and renames this cultivation method from its list into the one I prefer.
The Genbu's Method is a strong cultivation method that cost me 2,000 points. It's a technique that seems to be built on my core concept instead of just my affinity. I am extremely suitable for this method, and when I try to cultivate manually using this method, the result shows itself in an explosive manner.
"I reached the 4th Stage that fast...?"
I think it didn't take me a minute before I felt that sense of expansion within my mind. My passive cultivation can instantly reach the 3rd Stage and even if I don't manually cultivate, it will only take a minute or two before I reach the 4th Stage.
And I can feel it. As I try to manually cultivate it, I can easily cycle humongous amounts of traitless qi and turn them into millions of my own traits, consolidating them so fast that I think I might be dreaming.
It is no dream though because after two hours, I feel the familiar strength from when I wake up from this world returning to me.
This is so amazing!
I can't believe that my speed will improve this much by just changing my cultivation method. I think I even manage to absorb a lot of qi than what the array can reasonably gather in this room. My cycling is so fast that I am sucking the qi around my surroundings like a vacuum cleaner.
I look at my hand, and clench my fist. I feel that I am a lot stronger than the original Xie Wen. It might be because of the improvements from my roots and my affinity. I have more qi reserves within my core than when I wake up in this world. If I have to compare the two with my rough estimate, I might have a hundred times more qi reserves than the original Xie Wen.
Now that I am at the 5th Stage Foundation Establishment Realm, I have to try boosting that more.
A Qi Gathering Pill only costs a single point so I bought one. It appears on top of my palm and I quickly take it before popping it within my mouth. The circular golden orb quickly melts from my tongue, and it gives me a lingering taste of sweet candy.
After doing that, I can feel a surge of qi forming within my stomach. In a panic I quickly take a proper meditative position and then process the rampaging amount of qi into my dantian. Cycling them as fast as I can and consolidating them within my core. The speed in which I can cycle them increases tremendously, and the only thing I can see within my mind's eye is the process of the abundant qi swirling like a hurricane within my core.
Then an explosion occurs, and another as my profound sea expands at a quick pace.
6th Stage!
7th Stage!
8th Stage!
9th Stage!
Then it stops just at the tip before I can reach the next major realm. I open my eyes, and quickly notice the incredibly rotten odour that fills up the entire room. My shiba inu is nowhere to be seen, so it likely left me alone. I can't help but gawk at the strong smell, and then grimace when I look down and see the thick black gunk soaking my clothes and body from head to toe.
Impurities? Why now?
Maybe it's because I am simply going back to my former strength so I am not releasing any impurities to my body?
Regardless, because I am close to breaking through anyway, I go all the way and cultivate all the way. I just ignore the smell of rotten egg and flesh hitting my noise as I continue with my cultivation.
Even though I am close to the tipping point, it took me until evening before I felt a great change within my profound sea.
The gaseous-like substance of my consolidated qi turned into some sort of pure crystal liquid. This is the first time I have seen something like this so I don't have anything to compare it to. Along with that, my senses expand greatly along with an exponential increase of power welling up in my body.
I open my eyes, and just know within my heart that I made a major breakthrough to my realm.
"... This is... Qi Condensation then..."
The black gunk that sticks to my clothes slips past my skin as if an invisible barrier is protecting me from its touch. As the disgusting impurities slide away from my movement, I see my palm has become smoother and perfect. The slight tanning on my skin is gone and even some of the imperfections on my body can't be seen anymore.
In just a single day, I reached the Qi Condensation Realm with a change of cultivation technique and a basic pill. How many points will I get if I reset right now?
There is a sense of hesitation within my heart, but I ignore it. What I need is more multipliers and points so I can become a lot stronger than holding onto this strength.
So, I began the process of expelling my qi out of my dantian. There is something different than when I do it as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. When I expel my qi normally, the gaseous substance bearing the traits of my qi leaves my pores like a semi-transparent smoky fog.
This time, crystal clear liquid falls from the pores of my skin and falls on the ground. Even when it drops on the black gunk beneath my feet, strangely this crystal-like dew doesn't mix up with them. Just like how water reacts to oil.
[Reset detected, calculating... successful!]
[Spiritual Roots increased by 10!]
[Cultivation Speed multiplier increased by 0.55!]
[You gain a total of 55 Prestige Points!]
... Wait, what?
No seriously, resetting from Qi Condensation Realm only gives me that much!?
"What the fuck!?"
I think the chapter is getting too long, so even if not much happens in this chapter, I think I will be ending it here. This chapter is specifically just expanding what is already known about cultivation and its technicalities in this setting.
It's inspired by many xianxia systems in different xianxia stories, and I mostly simplify it so I won't have to think so much while writing the story. I hope you have fun with the slight expansion of the technicalities of this world.
As for the latter part of this chapter, I have already written what points he will get each time he resets on a particular stage, so that is final. Don't worry, I think it is balanced mostly when I think just how many points he can get when he can quickly reach specific realms with passive cultivation alone in a single day. Even if he has a daily limit from his reset due to feelings of nausea, I think it is still incredibly broken, moreso when he finds out what else he can improve from his repertoire.
And he will continuously improve as the story goes, but I don't want to turn it that in the first ten chapters he is immediately a god. I will have to end the story as soon as possible if that happens...
I'm sorry if this still disappoints you and it breaks your immersion into this story....
Thank you for reading and I hope I see you in the next chapter!~
P.S. If you feel like contributing to my life or my hobbies for writing, consider dropping by on my Ko-fi account and donating any amount you want. Thank you in advance and I appreciate it!~
So, his new standard is going to be release at level 5 a few times a day
Also, I wanted to ask, is a lot of stories, the first level started at Qi Condensation or Body tempering of some kind, Foundation Establishment is usually the level after Qi condensation, I'm curious why you went the way you did.
say, could he simply buy a better natural qi environment to cultivate in? Like improve Qi density? or he should at least buy a better array. the array shouldn't be too expensive
Also, I wanted to ask, is a lot of stories, the first level started at Qi Condensation or Body tempering of some kind, Foundation Establishment is usually the level after Qi condensation, I'm curious why you went the way you did.
The first five chapters while I'm writing this, I already wrote the two in reverse and have already written the rough draft of the power system in that order. You can think of this as just an early thing weirdness because I thought putting Qi Condensation sounds like a good second level thing xD
A few days have passed since the death of their alpha. The howl of the black guardian had broken their wills and on the following days, the wolves who waited around that peak stepped down one-by-one until their new alpha had decided to migrate.
Throughout their year-long stay in this mountain, they had scavenged almost anything in these ruins. The decomposed and burnt bones of the deceased disciples and elders of this sect had been chewed and swallowed by these dire wolves. There was nothing else in this mountain other than that. The only meals available in this mountain were critters or the occasional small animals like squirrels and rabbits that found themselves in this ruin. Their numbers had grown since their stay here so the wolves couldn't sustain themselves with such small prey.
So they would migrate. The mountain had nothing else in it. The qi within it were mostly yin in nature and was quite gloomy. Only those who played with the dead could find this place as a paradise. This wasn't it for the size of their pack. They needed an environment that could sustain their numbers.
With the loss of their alpha, some of their members with ego had separated from them along with their small followers, further fracturing their once large pack. This migration was inevitable because there wasn't anything for them in this mountain.
So within the next two weeks, the sight of dire wolves from the mountains were reported ascending in groups, separated and hostile and unfriendly with each other. Other demonic beast factions within this forest took note of it, and took advantage of this.
This part of the Green Wind Forest was populated by 1st Grade and 2nd Grade Demonic Beasts. 2nd Grade Demonic Beasts were considered the king of this particular part of the forest. Going beyond the forest would be suicide as 3rd Grade and 4th Grade beasts lurked within it. At the heart of this uncivilized region was a place where 5th and 6th Grade ruled amongst everyone with the ancient beast from the 7th Grade slumbering within.
This nameless mountain was located at the shallower parts of the northern side of this forest. Even if it was the shallower part, this entire area alone covered thousands of miles. It was large enough for a diverse ecosystem to develop.
This also meant that many factions of demonic beasts have formed, even a collection of 1st Stage Demonic Beasts were grouped up so they could survive better in this diverse area. It was normal in this world. Many uninhabited places were filled with nature, and with nature came with raw and abundant qi that animals could evolve into, further bolstering the numbers of demonic beasts that roamed it. This was also why rogue cultivators came here to acquire opportunities. Most insights and fortuitous encounters occurred during life and death scenarios. There were many beasts that cultivators could choose in this place.
The current status of the fractured dire wolf pack was noticed by these many factions along with some rogue cultivators who hunted here. While some chose this time to hunt these fragmented packs, there were a few who saw this as an opportunity.
One of those was an alliance of 1st Stage Demonic Beasts. This alliance was composed of pig and boar demons. They had a grudge against these dire wolves. They were always bullied by their pack along with their strong alpha. Now that they have lost their pillar and their unity is broken, these beasts are confident with their chances.
At the same time as these alliances of boar and pig demons made their moves towards the mountain, a few rogue cultivators had seen the changes in their behaviour. One person named Du Ming looked at the marching demon boars at a distance, and felt it was disturbing enough to turn around and report it.
Just beyond this forest is a city called Windy City. Many rogue cultivators and other outer disciples from nearby sects gather here to benefit from this dangerous forest and their beasts. With this particular area being crowded with 1st Stage and 2nd Stage beasts, it's a great training spot for outer disciples and lone cultivators who have no backing.
Humans and demon beasts alike were shaken just by this simple change alone, and different factions tried to cover this gap with their own agendas. The loner at the top of the nameless mountain was unaware of it, his concentration was entirely on his own cultivation. A few weeks have passed since that surprise attack, things have calmed down a lot. There are still the occasional monstrous birds coming at us but we are dealing with them easily and they are generally non-threatening anymore.
I didn't slack off after getting my new cultivation method. Whenever I am done with my daily five resets, I keep reviewing Xie Wen's memories and thinking of ways to improve my cultivation speed. One of the ways I manage to implement is to change the effect of the array in my room and the effects of my environment in general.
This idea comes to me after recalling about some special cultivation areas for people with special affinities, and using these special cultivation areas for a boost on their cultivation speed and gaining insights. That gives me an idea.
What if I make this area specifically produce Earth Qi?
Due to me generally owning the entire area of this peak, I can buy and install stuff in this place with my Prestige Points. My cheat ability automatically makes the changes if I am buying cosmetics for the environment or other special stuff like formations or arrays.
Surprisingly, turning this area into a space that can produce Earth Qi is cheap. It only cost me 100 points to implement that on the entirety of this peak excluding the pond area. I didn't touch the pond area because I don't really have any plans from there.
Now there is a formation around my place that converts pure qi into earth qi, and then it synergizes with the improvements I make with the array installed inside my room. Now instead of being a simple Qi Gathering Array, that room has become an Earth-Affinity Qi Gathering Array. The synergy is that, with the effects of the array, the earth qi that now naturally forms with the formation around me becomes purer and whenever I absorb it, I barely have to do any cycling before I consolidate it in my core.
My cultivation speed increases tremendously because of these additions. Now instead of me managing to reach the 5th Stage Foundation Establishment within two hours, it has now become easier for me to reach 7th Stage within that same timescale.
But that's not all!
My cheat ability considers this entire area as my possession so I can improve anything in this place. This includes the formation I install in this peak and the array inside my room. Both of these upgrades costs 1,000 points each but that cost isn't a concern anymore due to the speed of my cultivation. I can gather that amount within a week from my prior boost.
Resetting from the 7th Stage gives me 28 points and because I can reset five times maximum before feeling nauseous enough to stop, I can get a total of 140 points in a single day!
Adding the points I have before all of these boosts gives me more than enough points to upgrade the formation and the array after two weeks. My cultivation speed has undergone another terrific boost. A week after the improvements from my cultivation spot, I can easily reach 9th Stage Foundation Establishment within 3 hours of passive cultivation!
It made me understand how much I am wasting the potential of my power. I should have done this a long time ago!
It makes sense too. A proper cultivation area for my own affinity will naturally boost my cultivation speed. With the right cultivation method and environment, it will complement each other and give a qualitative boost to my progress. It is so obvious in hindsight but I haven't seen it because of my complacency and stupidity!
Really, I can only shake my head discovering it this late!
Anyway, other than that, I can't think of anything else that will help me with the speed of my cultivation. Those are the only ideas I can get through Xie Wen's memories, so there is nothing else I can do. If I find another way to further boost my cultivation speed, then I will take it so long as it won't put me in a life or death situation.
[Reset detected, calculating... successful!]
[Spiritual Roots increased by 9!]
[Cultivation Speed multiplier increased by 0.45!]
[You gain a total of 45 Prestige Points!]
That's the final reset for today. I stand up and stretch my arms, loosening up my muscles. I always do this since the day I start my daily manual cultivation that always last six hours. I move my legs, stretch my arms, and roll them around for a bit to give them life. These action might not really do anything. Xie Wen's memories says we won't feel any numbness even if we sit for a long time due to the boost our cultivation gives us. Though I don't care. I think its a good trait to always loosen up the muscles so I won't feel any cramps if I ever have to suddenly do any strenous activity for some reason.
I look at my status after I am done loosening up my muscles.
[STATUS]
Cultivation Stage: 8th Stage Foundation Establishment Realm
In just ten seconds, my passive cultivation let me reach the 8th Stage. It just shows how much I gain by just staying in my room. If I leave my room, I will only be able to reach 6th Stage in an instant. Staying here gives me the most boost.
It tells me that the environment matters as much as my own affinity and root quality. This also strengthens my resolve to not leave this place and silently cultivate to my heart's content.
While thinking like that, I can feel a sense of disturbance in the hearts of my pets. I feel curious so I look at the laptop first to look at the feeds of my security cameras.
Since the day those wolves left the area below this place, I managed to descend and install more security cameras so I will know whether someone is coming closer to my side or not. These wireless security cameras have a long reception range and the laptop I have can easily connect to them even if they are more than a hundred feet away from it.
There are a lot of cameras so I bought a large flat screen monitor to accommodate the additional security cameras I added around this peak.
"Huh...?"
In one of the screens that shows the furthest point from my location, on a spot where it is hidden amongst the trees overlooking the broken stone stairs leading to this peak, I can see a group of demonic beasts marching leisurely towards this direction.
It seems like Kuro notices them with its sharp nose and perception. They are still far but it is weird that another group of demonic beasts are coming here a few weeks after those wolves leave us alone.
Why are they coming here? Should I be concerned?
I prepare myself. Taking my gun and wearing my tactical belt so I can react quickly when these demon beasts somehow manage to climb up to this spot.
Short chapter for now... I'm sorry, I am feeling tired.
I think this is the last time I will be posting two chapters a day. Starting tomorrow, I will be posting one chapter daily so I can take more rest...
Sorry again everyone...
Comments gives me motivation, so feel free to leave your thoughts or comment what you like. Thanks for reading everyone!~
P.S. If you feel like contributing to my life or my hobbies for writing, consider dropping by on my Ko-fi account and donating any amount you want. Thank you in advance and I appreciate it!~
So I was right about the environment and array upgrades, or did you get an idea from me?
As for future suggestions, our guy will probably have issues with killing humans as he is from the modern world, even with xania memories. So maybe a combat puppet/robot ties into the security array to fight off intruders or something, but only after the next wave of animals show up. He will be thinking of protect for when he sleeps. I got this idea from the animals not liking the yin mountain. Though I thought of dead humans used as puppets originally.
Xie should also learn a new earth based technique, can be anything from Earth armor to making bullets from his Qi. The guy ends up in Xania land, he need to try out cool magic. Oh and a flying sword, everyone wants one of those
