The World Tree

"Qi?" both Alex and Hao Ya spoke at the same time.

"What do you mean by that, master? Qi is depleting?" Hao Ya asked.

"We're running out of Qi?" Alex asked.

The man looked troubled. "Yes, we are," he said. "Qi is not something that's infinite. There is a finite amount and day by day, we are running low on it," he said.

Alex stood there with wide eyes, unable to comprehend the statement. "How… how can that be?" he asked.

"Why can it not?" the man asked. "Qi is a resource too. And like every other resource, it runs out as well."

"Then… aren't we doomed?" Alex asked. If the world, no, all worlds were running out of Qi then… how was he to cultivate endlessly?

"It's not as bad as it sounds," the man said. "You have no reason to worry just yet."

"Can you elaborate, senior?" he asked.