"What you first need to know is that qi is divided into two groups—unattributed and attributed qi. Unattributed qi is the energy we use to advance from one level to another. When one reaches the Advanced stage, they form an energy center right here." Konrad said as he pointed at a spot a bit higher than his stomach.
He then continued, "Attributed qi, on the other hand, is produced through the manipulation of unattributed qi to take new form through different circulation patterns."
"Back to unattributed qi, when one cultivates, their qi increases in both quantity and quality. As qi continues to increase in both quantity and quality, it eventually reaches a point where it evolves into a higher level of qi. This change occurs when one advances from the Empyrean stage to the Lord stage, crossing into the second phase of cultivation."
As Konrad listened to Konrad, he couldn't help but ask inwardly, 'System, is the stage after the Empyrean stage the Lord stage?'
[Yes, it is host...]
But before the system could finish, Jarek asked another question.
'Then why am I not qualified to know about the Lord stage when a Master stage of the lowest talent does? And I am supposed to know about it when I reach the peak of the Empyrean stage cultivation?'
[Not in cultivation, but in combat prowess. And there is good reason for that. It will affect your cultivation.]
'How?'
[For you to understand this, you would first need to know about karma. Unlike in your old world, where most people thought of it as just a concept, it can be manipulated here, since it is one of the laws that govern the world.]
[Every choice has its consequences. You can think of it like this. Let's say someone at the same cultivation level as you finds a rare treasure of a higher grade. But after a while, someone at a higher cultivation than them discovers it while passing by and takes it from them, and also ends their life just to hide it from others.]
[What do you think was the cause of that person's death?]
As the system posed this question, Jarek thought for quite some time before repeating what he had thought of yesterday, "That person wasn't qualified to possess that treasure."
[Yes. Cause and effect are at play here. The cause of death was possessing such a great treasure, and the effect was death. This also applies to cultivation as well. There are some things you are not qualified to know unless you are strong enough or can shield yourself from karma's effects, which everyone in this room naturally has, except you.]
Jarek frowned at that and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
[Let's go back to the earlier example. What do you think would have happened if that person were stronger than the enemy or someone of high status?]
"Unless the other person is insane, they would not want to offend this person."
[Yes, his strength and status serve as a shield, in almost the same way your classmates' status is. Since they have karmic cultivators in their families, they are naturally shielded from the effects of this burden.]
[This change is almost unnoticeable until you start to cultivate, and only then will you see the effect.]
Jarek asked worriedly, "So how did it affect me?"
[It decreased your cultivation efficiency by around three-fifths of what it used to be. But it will soon fade away as you keep advancing until it vanishes completely when you reach the peak of the Empyrean stage.]
But after a minute of thinking, he also realized something, "Doesn't that mean Konrad would also have a karmic burden as well? Or are they also shielded by their status as instructors of this academy?"
[Yes, they also enjoy this protection as well.]
As Jarek heard this, he was suddenly hit by a wave of realization.
'The fact that he openly spoke about the Lord stage can only mean two things. One, Konrad intentionally did this to spite me. He has some ill will against me.'
But Jarek soon denied this line of thought. 'Or maybe not? He didn't look as if he knew the consequences of such an action, as he was quite casual about revealing it. So, it could also be possible he is clueless about this as well, treating this as just common information, and so do the others.'
And yes, this is true to some extent, as his classmates already knew about the Lord stage. And why wouldn't they, when their parents are at or above the second phase of cultivation?
So they wouldn't be surprised after hearing about it from Konrad.
And this was what set alarm bells inside Jarek's head.
'Wouldn't this just affect me, a commoner? Surely the academy would take measures to prevent this, but they haven't.' Jarek's mind was working at breakneck speeds, all while pretending to listen to Konrad's lesson.
'Unless the academy is doing this intentionally. They have a karmic cultivator but aren't taking steps to protect those without any karmic defenses. But why do they want to suppress a talented commoner's cultivation? Suppression... Control?' Jarek has now begun to think from a different point of view.
'What would a normal commoner do if they were in my case? They wouldn't notice the suppression and would find their cultivation falling behind their peers. At that point, what would they do to catch up?' He soon found the answer to this question.
'They would want more resources, since they would attribute their slow progression to the lack of cultivation resources, something the others don't lack in the slightest.'
And that made sense, since without resources it is impossible to progress.
It then clicked inside his head as he remembered that the academy also offered loans for its students.
The academy has a spirit mine that produces a lot of spirit stones. It was like an infinite money glitch.
But since most of the students are from high-status families, they don't need these loans. Only commoners would.
'Could it be that the academy is inducing circumstances to force common students to take loans that they wouldn't be able to pay?' Jarek reasoned as such, likening it to his past life, where there were predatory lenders who always liked to profit and take advantage of those who were in desperate need of money.
But the academy is even more despicable than that, as they are the ones who create these problems, which force commoners to take loans.
'What are the terms for these loans, and how do they pay them? Labor?' Jarek thought as he thought of the instructors he saw, but soon shook his head, thinking that those were the lowest of talents possible and the academy wouldn't want to be that wasteful.
Because it would be a waste to use them in jobs that could be done by Low Grade talents.
'Let's get to the root of the problem, the suppression issue. If they even want to use these students, they must first remove that suppression. And given the fact that they don't work at this academy... Could it be that the academy is part of some higher force or group?' Jarek thought so, and finally, things started to make sense to him.
'No one would be able to see through this scheme if even the person affected by it couldn't. And that person would even be grateful since the academy was willing to 'support' them. In this way, the academy earns a very loyal pawn.' Jarek inwardly sighed, appreciating and terrified of how cunning the academy was.
At the same time, he couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if he hadn't had the system with him.
'Karma is terrifying.' He thought so in his heart, realizing his lack of strength or status would have been taken advantage of.
Soon, the lesson ended, and Jarek got up to leave. He had a lot to think about.
As he moved to exit the room, he soon felt a gaze directed towards him, prompting him to look for its source, only to find the Dragon princess looking at him.
Astrid had a startled expression when her eyes met Jarek's, which puzzled Jarek.
But he didn't dwell on it too much and just left. He had more important things to do for the day.
"What's wrong with you today?" Brynhild asked her friend with a smile.
"That guy is not normal. I felt as if he was suppressing me." Astrid had a serious expression as she said those words.
Brynhild's smile faded as she heard that and adopted a thoughtful expression.
Dragons are creatures with great instinct, and their senses are the most suitable for battle.
If Astrid, a dragon princess, said this, then there may be something strange about Jarek.
"Either he has a superior physique compared to yours, or he is stronger than you. I am more inclined to believe the first possibility." Brynhild laid out her opinions as she further added, "And if that is the case, then it must be a reinforcement type or soul-based physique."
Brynhild didn't know how right and wrong she was at the same time.
Right, because the cause of this suppression was indeed partially caused by Jarek's soul and everything about him, including his body and mind, were that unfathomable, and wrong, because it was also because Jarek was overwhelmingly stronger than Astrid that she felt she was being suppressed.
The reason why Brynhild concluded that Jarek had either of the two types of physiques was because dragons tend to have only these two types of physiques.
So, it was reasonable for her to think that the suppression came from Jarek possessing a superior physique.
Jarek, on the other hand, had already reached his dorm room, ready to push his plans a bit forward if possible.