*Whoosh*
*Swish*
After swinging around and trying my new and improved spear on rocks, trees and any other thing I could get my hands on, I finally settled down.
Now that I've succeeded on the first try and have progressed with my flash step, I've completed all my tasks for the day.
I looked up to check the time.
"Around 3, huh. Well then… since I have nothing to do for the rest of the day, I'll just meditate."
I sat cross legged with my hands clasped near the river banks.
Inhale… exhale…
I focused on my heartbeat and breath as usual.
Not a moment longer I began to feel the faint presence of nature chi around me—the air, the ground and the calming wind.
Nature chi—as its name implies, the primal energy of the world.
It flows through mountains, rivers, forests, and skies, carrying the essence of life itself.
A cultivator who senses it can draw it in, refining it into personal chi to strengthen the body and increase the chi reserves.
Each element of nature leaves a subtle imprint on the chi, adding traits like resilience from stone, fluidity from water, or speed from wind.
To touch it is to feel the heartbeat of the world itself.
To increase one's personal chi reserve, there are two ways.
One, the individual can train the body or engage in combat regularly.
The stronger, healthier, and more refined the vessel, the more chi it can store and circulate.
Think of it like a battery: a weak battery can hold only a little energy, while a reinforced, high-capacity battery stores far more.
Two, absorbing nature chi expands a cultivator's chi reserve because the body is a vessel and chi is the energy it holds.
Personal chi is limited by one's innate life force, but nature chi is everywhere.
When drawn in, it merges with personal chi, filling and expanding the dantian and meridians.
The process strengthens the body, refines energy channels, and increases the total capacity for chi.
The purer and denser the body, the more chi it can safely hold, creating a self-reinforcing cycle: stronger body → larger chi reserve → easier absorption → even stronger body.
Nature itself becomes a teacher, guiding the vessel to grow beyond its original limits.
Tsk. The absorption rate still leaves much to be desired.
I'll need to hurry and move to the next stage before I can gain a higher benefit from nature chi.
Tsk. The absorption rate still leaves much to be desired.
I'll need to hurry and move to the next stage before I can gain a higher benefit from nature chi.
For beginner cultivators, the rate at which they can absorb nature chi is slow—as their chi and soul quality is of a lower quality than nature chi.
The soul acts as a filter and guide, harmonizing chaotic energy, while chi channels it efficiently.
Together, soul and personal chi determine how much nature chi can be drawn in, how smoothly it flows, and how fully it merges with the cultivator, making both the vessel and its energy stronger.
So the stronger both the quality of both chi and soul determines how fast nature chi can be absorbed.
And currently both mine are in the beginner stage, sigh.
Although you can make the argument that a higher quantity of low level chi can even the playing field with higher quality, that can only work if the high quality chi is in lower quantity.
That simply isn't applicable in this situation.
That's why it's necessary for me to wear as little clothing as possible to gain as much chi as I can.
My choice of clothing is usually a stylized outfit that seems inspired by ancient Middle Eastern or North African attire. It consists of:
A sleeveless, cropped top with a dark-colored base and a gold or tan band across the midriff.
Loose, flowing harem-style pants in a black color. They drape loosely from the waist and puddle around the ankles.
Which usually gives females something to drool at.
So overall, in the first stages, training the body brings the most benefits but it's simply not an option to not absorb nature chi at this stage.
When absorbing nature chi into person chi, it usually leaves small traits such as 'elements' that a cultivator in the next stage could fully utilize.
As the higher quality chi in this situation is nature chi, after it has been absorbed and purified, it usually leaves behind small traces such as elements.
Elements.
These are fundamental forces that make up nature chi.
Each element represents a distinct force or principle.
The Earth element represents stability and resistance, Water element, fluidity and adaptability, The Fire element, energy and transformation, Wind element, speed and freedom, Lightning, precision and sudden release, Life, vitality and growth. And lastly Death, decay and entropy.
But make no mistake, not all elements of nature chi are equally accessible.
The basic four—earth, water, fire, and wind—can be drawn from almost anywhere, though they grow stronger in their natural domains: mountains for earth, rivers for water, deserts for fire, and open skies for wind.
Life and death chi, however, are much rarer.
They are bound to places of profound vitality or decay — ancient forests, sacred springs, graveyards, or battlefields — where the forces of creation or entropy are concentrated.
Only in such locations can a cultivator safely draw and refine these potent energies.
Lightning chi is a special case. It cannot be absorbed at will;
It requires precise timing, such as during storms or moments of high atmospheric energy, when the natural surge aligns with the cultivator's own resonance.
To reach these higher forms of chi, a cultivator must seek out the source, harmonize with it, and be prepared to let it merge fully with their personal chi.
The risk is high, but the rewards are worth every effort.
And currently beside a river where an abundance of water element resides makes nearly fifty percent of the chi absorbed, water chi.
***
"Haaah!" Along exhale, expelling all the impurities from the chi absorbed.
After god knows how long, I stopped meditating.
I looked around and saw the place was dark. Only the small faint sound of running water could be heard.
"Looks like I've been at it for a while."
I gazed at the moon hung high in the sky. "Probably past midnight. Seems I can meditate longer now. I call that progress."
I should probably get back soon. I'm sure someone misses.
I couldn't help but smile, picturing five faces full of smiles.
Traveling back to the butterfly mansion was incredibly quick.
I slid the door open as quietly as I could. "…I'm home," I whispered into the dark hall.
Everyone must be asleep by now so to not wake up anyone, I quietly closed the door behind me and headed to the three girl's room to check…
There they are… three adorable girls sleeping peacefully.
As they were always together and could be considered sisters, they shared a room together.
I closed the doors and headed to Aoi's room and like the other three, she is sleeping soundly.
I saw no indication of shinobu that shinobu is here so it's unlikely she might be here and on patrol.
Hmm… while walking to my room, I sensed a presence within the dining hall and went to check it out. I already know who it's who.
"Lucien!"
A soft voice called out and before I fully opened the dining hall doors, the person wrapped their arms around my torso.
"No need to rush, you know. I'm not going anywhere." I said have them a hug of my own.
"How have you been these past few days? Have you eaten well? How was the final selection? Any trouble? When did you get back?"
I fired a barrage of questions.
This was the girl who had gone to participate in the final, Kanao tsuyuri.
"Wait, let's sit first, Lucien. There is dinner on the table Aoi left for you."
"Ok sure."
I led her over to the table that she was apparently waiting for before coming to me.
We sat down with her sitting beside me.
I posed a question to start off while I dig in. "Aoi told me you were gonna be back some time last night… how come I didn't see you when I got up this morning?"
"I uh… I ran into some demons while I was on my way back. I reach the manor at midday. I had to report the incident to the demon slayer corp." She said.
"Ah. I see. So you're fine, then?"
"Yes I am, Lucien."
"That's good to hear." I flashed a serene smile.
Kanao held her head down and I could see faint blushes on her cheek.
"So tell me, how did the test go?"
Chapter 3 end