Chapter 5 - Cultivation

Tian Shen engrossed himself in the information regarding the Cultivation in the world he was in. The beginning of becoming martial art is the [Body tempering] stage where the individual trained their physical body utmost limits this is the reason only few are capable of being Cultivator.

Of course, there are methods in which it make thing easier via elixir but this only applied for the nobles who has access in abundant of richest. Therefore commoner are unable to become cultivator without joining the army within the Azure Dragon city.

[Body tempering] is divided from Martial bone, Martial blood, Martial organ, Martial flesh and Martial vein. Those that reach martial bone are able to lift one ton without breaking a sweat and ran nonstop for days. They are capable of bending steels and stone that easily crumble in their hands.

In reaching martial blood are capable of surviving from fatal wounds within a span of few weeks. Everything continuously increased until reach Martial Veins where it's more complicated than the other stages. It is reach just continuously training their body rather had its own sub division of eight veins.

They are called the Eight Inner gates which are gates of limiter that block the flow of Qi through the body. Only by unlocking every gate where the Cultivator are able to condense the Qi essence in the surrounding towards theirs Dantian throughout their body.

This Eight inner gates each are called Gate of Healing, Limit, Wonder, Pain, Opening, View, Life and Death. The process of unlocking each gate would be excruciating as mortal are not meant to opened them and if their body isn't strong enough would likely kill them.

Theirs also [Body cultivation] that deviates from the norms but this methods are not widely spread only select few have special cultivation methods. After the normal [Body tempering] stage, they would began to absorb Qi essence in the surrounding and spread it throughout their body that exponentially increasing their strength by several folds.

This Qi essence cannot leave their body only by using artifact that a cultivator able to use the Qi Essence outwards. The [Warrior] stage are cultivator who are thousands more powerful than [Qi condensation] stage due to having form a martial Core storing enormous amount of Qi essence that continue to purify till reaching the [King] stage that only increase their strength by a hundred thousand times than the [Warrior] stage.

Only by becoming a [Emperor] are the cultivator are able to manifest their Qi essence outside their body and create devastating martial art skills that could easily flatten a mountain.

The above mention [Body cultivation] methods is one of the two known cultivation with one being the [Qi essence cultivation] methods where it only use by [Qi condensation] stage. There only recommended to use one [Qi essence cultivation] due to having multiple and continuously changing would lead to unstable foundation. Therefore cultivator, stick with what method they are using and rarely change their cultivation.

There also Tier that showcase the quality of cultivation methods, materials, weapons, etc. They are divided from Mortal, Earth and Heaven tier that sub divided into Low, Mid and Upper. In the whole Azure Dragon City there is only one Mid heaven tier possessed by the Long family. It was powerful weapon used by the city lord that had helped repel the danger of the outside at bay.

Tian Shen finished reading and able to understand how complicated becoming a cultivator but it did not discourage him and only made his blood boil in excitement. He closed the book surprised it was already sundown and decided to go home, afraid of getting scolded by Sister Feng.

'This only he beginning of my journey and already troublesome. I wonder what the ancient booklet Senior Yin given is.'

He took the crumbling booklet from under his clothes and felt the foreign materials that was obviously not in their era. The cover had eccentrics design of lotus on the front that was fading due to age but the image was profound that Tian Shen felt as though the flower came to life. His noise sniff the strange aroma akin to old wood yet strangely appealing from the Mysterious booklet.

Tian Shen flipped the cover opening the booklet to reveal ancient writing that he couldn't comprehend yet did not let his focus be broken being drawn at how the strokes from the brush in fluid motion akin to a profound dance. His unblinking eye hadn't left the pages of the book which each flipped everything to disappear where only him and the book exist.

An unknown amount of time had passed where he arrived at the final page showing an images of an old man at lotus flower that remained undisturbed by the world where his right hand held what appears to be sands falling from his hands. Tian Shen felt overwhelmed just staring at the image of the old man who unshaken by the world and had grasped everything.

He looked intently at the man then gradually saw the old man moving his lips that Tian Shen didn't even notice the strange occurrence and read the lips of the old man. Tian Shen knew the old man was speaking in strange manner but felt daze till something stopped his concentration.

"Tian Shen it's already late and best you get home before Sister Feng get worried."

He saw the guard from the entrances then baffled seeing the library was empty and had already night time. Tian Shen confused when he turn to see the image of the old man to disappear and the content within the mysterious booklet.

'This thing is truly mysterious and probably a treasure….it would be a waste to throw away the booklet.'

It was fortunate that Tian Shen had photographic memory and able to recall everything from the mysterious booklet from the tiniest details. He would try reciting the profound words that came from the man that sat on the lotus.

"Ah sorry I was too engrossed from reading and didn't notice the time."

"No need to worry just get home safely. Tian Shen let me handle the book and go home before Sister Feng begin scolding you."

Tian Shen nodded quickly left the Library to returned home while deeply stared at the booklet who's contain vanished without trace and only the crumbling booklet remain. Normally, he would have thrown it to the trash but felt it would be useful in the future.

He hid the booklet once again then looked up at the sky where the enormous moon that shimmer brilliantly like a goddess shining her divine light. Tian Shen smiled that cause him to wonder how his family in the previous worlds and how his death had impact their lives.

Tian Shen could only image how his mother would grieve upon his death being the same time his younger sibling had been born. He rarely regret things but now thought about unable to get the change of say goodbye. It would have been reassuring if he had said his farewell even how painful it may have been.

He shifted his gaze away from the moon and resumed his way to the orphanage where even a distance away was able to see Feng Xue waiting for him who quickly went up close.

"Tian Shen thank goodness you return safely. I was growing worried since it's rare for you to be this late."

"Forgive me, Sister feng, I didn't expect to get invested into reading in the library."

"No, It's alright I'm actually happy to see you change and beginning to think more about yourself than others. Anyway, get inside as the other children already miss you."

Tian Shen smiled how in this life had given him younger sibling even if they were unrelated that cause him to wonder about his blood related sibling dream earth. He prayed for his younger sibling to grow strong and free from sickness that Tian Shen experienced. Inside the orphan children towards him and tackled him to the ground.

"Big Brother Shen where have you been? Xiao Xiao had been waiting for brother."

He patted the little girl that hugged him tightly named Xiao Xiao that had been the closes to him after finding her sleeping face on the forest when Tian Shen was gathering wood. Tian Shen was fourteen and the little girl was four which mean it had happened four years ago.

"Ah sorry Xiao Xiao big brother just did few things and you were asleep decided to not wake you up."

"Xiao Xiao Forgive Brother if he bring me more moon cake."

"Moon cake? Alright I promise to bring next time."

Xiao Xiao smiled along with the other children as they dragged him while Feng Xue followed giggling as they arrived at the dinner table where made Tian Shen hesitate due to his terrifying appetite even though the urges was long gone still traumatize him. He took deep breath and intently stared at the porridge made by Feng Xue. It took few second till he ate the food, tasting the bland flavor due to lack of seasoning.

'I need to improve for the children or maybe buy compound once I get more money.'

The orphanage had grown smaller due to the populations of the children keep increasing and the food being far to unhealthy for mortal children to consume and Tian Shen decided to improve their lives once gaining baring in the city. Once dinner was over everyone began to tuck themselves to sleep by Feng Xue who saw Tian Shen kept staring at his window beside him.

"Tian Shen what are you looking at?"

"The moon seem oddly beautiful today and enjoying its sight before sleeping. Of course, Feng Xue is much more beautiful."

"Fufufy I'm flattered to hear that, Tian Shen."

Feng Xue enjoyed his compliment as she finished helping the children to sleep leaving Tian Shen who began to drift into his dream.