I now sit, eating at berries. It is early afternoon I have just completed all of my chores for the day, so I am currently just relaxing.
To my left the door creeks open. It is Orgis, within his hand is a book.
The title is labelled, basic introduction to cultivation.
My legs that were previously atop the table, come down.
"Hello, Orgis. What do you need of me?" I ask politely, I try to think of what he might need.
'Does he wish for me to read that book?' My eyes linger on the book, it's a plain looking book, but by its grooves I can tell it is old.
"Haha, do not worry. I do not need anything. Just here to pass you this book. Read it, it should help you understand more of the test I'll give you, in just a few hours."
He tells me, I make sure to remain steady and listen.
He passes me the book.
"Thank you!, should I come to you if I do not understand something?"
I give the book a closer look, there seems to be a faint imagine of a golden women with four arms, in her front arms she holds a lotus and a mirror. The back ones are clasped.
'Very well drawn.' I compliment the drawing even though most the detail is now not visible, the fading very permanent.
I look to Orgis, he is thinking.
"For practical stuff I can help, but for most of the things within the book, you must self interpret it,
Don't be scared to take breaks, understanding something you cannot yet see, will be very difficult."
He tells me calmly.
'Practical?, so some of this stuff is about understanding oneself?'
"So, practical meaning. Like crafting and forming something by hand?".
I ask, intrigued in what things I might be getting up too.
Orgis nods his head with a smile.
"Yes, that is exactly right, the other is something more spiritual and mental, I'll be on my way. Ask me questions once you have read practical stuff."
He tells me, I give a short bow while he leaves the room.
I sit back down, I move the bowl of berries to the side and place the book down.
I open it, thanks to its age it is already broken in, so it remained flat.
The first page I see is obviously a page that catogrises each chapter of the book.
[Chapter one:
The living form.]
Being the first thing I read and something I am somewhat versed to, I check it out.
It was descriptive in autonomy from the things I know, only anomaly is the mention of meridians and dantains.
There are three dantains and 12 merdians.
The page I am reading tells me of the central dantain.
It governs over the emotional wellbeing, and is used as the incubator for the golden core.
It is the first main goal of cultivators. To reach the central dantain.
The meridians are said to be for mortals, plagued with miasma and must be cleansed inbtween these are 108 marma points which also must be cleanced and awakened.
The moment you activate a meridian. You enter the beginning stage of Qi refinement.
'Interesting, so the moment you are able to acquire a meridian, you are established as a cultivator.'
I continue to read, understanding that not all the marma are connected to meridians, and that the ones that are, are only like a bridge to aid you in establishing a connection with the meridian and how they must be forged and connected to the central dantain.
It says the 108th marma is interlinked with the upper dantain, so once all marmas are cleansed and connected with the meridians your spiritual sense is enhanced.
So the formula for qi refinement is making rivers of qi and using the marmas as river beds to guide qi into the main goal of cleansing your meridians.
I continue, I am now on a section called; Constuition, they are formed into grades.
Commoner- none constution, unable to cultivate at all.
Chosen- granted natural cultivation, but needs to awaken the marma and meridians.
Lucky star- fully established marma, with only having to connect and cleanse the meridians.
Earthly deity- full constuition with zero impurity and miasma, cleanly says the talent to rule worlds.
'How strange, I guess this book is not just about modern biology..but still this is quite unrealistic even compared to marmas and meridians. How the fuck does that work.
Like even if we treat qi and marma, meridians dantains as real things. Which in This world they are,
How in the hell, would something be entirely pure, so pure you are not needed to cleanse your body. That is cheating.'
I think in astonishment.
Confused on how an earthly deity constuition works.
I look to my arms and legs.
"I am pretty sure I have a lucky star body."
I say to myself in confidence, it wasn't empty talk. My body felt powerful, something that ordinary muscles could not replicate and I also had a weird calming effect on my mind.
'So, my marmas are entirely cleansed. Are they?'. I think to myself, I am yet to feel them or even sense qi. But by just how my body feels, I am sure my marmas are awake.
'I do not know just yet, I should continue reading the book.'
Ignoring the thoughts that are irrelevant for me now I begin reading again.
I come upon another section for constuitions, on how to detect one, and know its title.
2 edible mushrooms, boiled water, spirit herbs, and any fruit that can be plucked from a tree.
After combining and stirring the mixture, place your fresh blood within it.
A colour will form in the mixture once your blood enters.
If the blood does not mix, and remains a drop of red blood, you have no constuition,
else if it turns green, you are elidgable and have a constuition.
To check your constitution someone of well versed in medical practice must induce Qi into your body, this stimulate should activate the hidden conditions of your constitution allowing you to know its title.
"I'm guessing I might be tested, right. There's obviously a reason he gave me this book, so they are going to test my constitution."
I say aloud, I think if this might be the actual reason but from all the thinking my conclusion is that he's making sure I understand what is going to happen.
'They are going to test my constitution. So the person that's coming is going to help me activate it, if I have one.'
A smile comes to my face.
'If I am able to become strong I should be able to return to my companions!' A swelling of confidence surges, a hope has formed.
"Wait, wait. I should not get ahead of myself. Let's breath, I might not have a constitution."
I breath in and out and feel the stimulation in my brain once more.
I grab the bookmark that was dusting on a shelf near me and place it in the book, saving the page I am on.
I place the book on the same shelf and think on the information of marmas meridians and dantains. Trying to understand there existence.
Instead of thinking upon that my mind lingers elsewhere.
'The more I think on it, with the book in mind. Wouldn't medical books, definitely within the medieval era be really expensive..
meaning poor people who haven't got anyone to teach them cultivation can actually never become one.
In my honest thoughts, I feel like it's common to see cultivators, since the vice-minister I met who governs the village I am in was a cultivator.
But I hadn't realised the servants were all mortal. Because of the shock and true realisation of this being another world.'
I sigh, realizing I have been lucky. Wether I like to say it or not, I am lucky that I encountered Orgis and Malle.
'Why am I having such thoughts?' I shake my head knowing there's no need to prior into it and focus on the new information I have acquired.
Time passed as I focused my thoughts,
I made sure to write notes of my thoughts with the ink and quil that was atop the highest point of the shelf.
Once again Orgis knocks, he enters.
"Time to get you ready with some physical prowess, I'll test your physical power and show you the power of runes.
Just so your not shocked later on". He says with a gentle laugh, his joyful voice made it hard for me to take him serious, even with his powerful demeanour.
"Okay!, let me go toilet first, please." I tell him a scratching my face, I walk closer to him.
Orgis lets out a loud laugh.
"Haha, of course, don't want you pissing everywhere".
He says slapping my back, which hurt very much.
"Meet me at the garden". He tells me walking off, I nod then quickly run to the toilet not wanting to waste the limited time.