jinxed misfortune

In the following hours, Ji Li couldn't get himself to calm down, but still remained a small human ball that barely moved on the outside. Sure, he had already learned how to move, and he even talked. But did he need to show them all that? He saw how babies just slightly older than him were 'forced' to go around on their own, while those his age were still carried!

Considering his character, no one could really expect him to move around and show off, right? Well, his character stayed true to him even in such desperate times! 

...

[Y'all maybe alr read how I used hours and days n stuff, not gonna change that. It's totally nonsense for a world to follow the same circle of Earth, which in itself doesn't have 24hours but around 23 and some minutes, but I will still use them. Also, not gonna create special names for the months - like month of harvest, month of moonlight and stuff - it makes zero sense and will just be confusing. So, like before, I will be using the 24h system of am/pm (although I personally dislike it and go by 00-24), January to December and a standard of 30days a month, cuz who rememberes that february has only 28 days, but on every 4. year it has 29days (imagine if they did football world cup {soccer for our american friends} on that year too, the rythm would be amazing) and those other special months having 31 days, like, no to you. Lastly, I wanna remark that I posted a review (which I will actively update in comments) with some clarifications, could be helpful (: Have an enjoyable read!]

The next day, like little Ji regrettably expected, came a special day for the very last batch of the generation coming after Hua. Becoming one year old signifies a special age, an age where toddlers would begin to walk and say their first words. In a magical cultivation world such as this, there is of course some more significance to it.

With one year as the starting point, one could begin their cultivation. Now that seemed very early in the eyes of many, and it was definitely not a necessary thing to begin so young. Of course, that is for normal cultivators. The young age is so sensible and clear of purities, making it a perfect age to begin cultivation and stop the accumulation of impurities which would grow upon one, just by breathing air, touching the ground, eating and drinking. Surely those impurities aren't bad, not totally contrary to it, it builds the foundation of mortals. It gives their body more mass and strengthens their muscles. As long as it's not an overdose, a person with an average amount of impurities would be stronger in comparison to someone who didn't have any at all.

Of course, that is relying on the fact that you wouldn't channel the Essence of the World through your body, making it important to have a clear body for faster and smoother flow of said Essence. Starting young, one could block their body to all influences and absorb the essence to strengthen their body, mind and soul.

As a one-year-old baby who barely could be considered a toddler, how could they cultivate, one might ask. Simple as that, it's a permanent heightened exposure to Essence, a clear and simple repeating schedule for a steady mind and an intellectual challenge on a daily basis to stabilise the newborn soul in the young body.

For special cultivation methods, beginning as early as possible was necessary. Like the cultivation method of the Eunuchs, the [Yin-Yang Harmony Longevity Art], which, like the name said, stands for a harmonious relationship between Yin and Yang, a method of supporting the body by stabilising the amount of Yin and Yang energy in their body and with that giving their body a stronger longevity, as long as the harmony is kept. It calms the mind and makes it more stable for every situation, regardless of outside influence, as their inner self is always steady. Lastly it creates a capable and strong foundation for the soul in the body, connecting all three aspects of body, mind and soul, it is truly a formidable cultivation art.

Of course, it also has disadvantages, such as the lacking offensive or defensive measures. It only acts as a strong supporting pillar and binding chain, linking the three aspects which together form a strong bound to persist in every situation and operate steadily. This method was chosen in the Emerald Brilliance Empire, because they have the Nature's Gift, the fruit of the Emerald Tree, giving and connecting the Nature's Attribute and Attribute's Talent. These, together with the [Yin-Yang Harmony Longevity Art] as the foundation, give their specific taste to the soup and can produce excellent cultivations in the five fields of Attack, Defence, Support, Heal and Control. 

The requirement for the [Yin-Yang Harmony Longevity Art] is very special, which is why besides Eunuchs, it would barely be practiced anyways, if someone dared to steal the cultivation art in the first place from Eunuchs who mostly stay in the Imperial City or have several guards in every situation outside.

There are two requirements which are interlinked.

The first one being: Losing the root of yin or yang, nicely said. The second requirement being rather unofficially officially recognised. The root of yin or yang would be the functions with which the human body reproduces. As the root of yang is more accessible and less painful with less consequences, while also the root of yang being the more passionate one, it became normal to only have male Eunuchs.

The reason being simple: The human body produces purely and finely the same amount of yin and yang, excluding the reproductive organs which respectively cause a major shift of yin and yang. Removing these would create a short shift of yang and it being slightly short in comparison to the yin. That situation would reshuffle over time till the harmony is produced once again, in case there are no outside influences. Removing the yang root when the human body is young and didn't develop, yet already separated from the excretion tool of urine, would make the human body most perfectly accustomed prior to starting the cultivation method.

One of the consequences of removing said root would result in the body not taking on any specific appearance, just making them more neutral in regard to yin and yang, making them, as one would jokingly say in Ji Li's previous world, "Organic Life Form in Human shape ".

...

'T-Today... I think it's gonna happen, I am not sure, but they are up so early and checked upon us so many times. I know it clearly, but I can't help trying to deny it. Please tell me that it's gonna be sanitary and I don't end with an infection, alright? I'm not so unwilling, you, see? Just, really just, GIVE ME SOMETHING TO TRUST! Really, is that asking too much? I am losing my dear brothers, meant to never have children... well I wasn't that hyped on having some... could they at least make it so that I survive the operation and don't just die a sudden death because someone was reckless enough to make it open air as a weird little show?' Really confused and scared, Ji Li wiggled in his bed until he was picked up by Hua Jing, who carefully patted him and hugged him while shaking his body to calm him down.

"Shh, why are you so nervous? Was it those juniors who are running around hastily preparing stuff I told them to prepare since weeks?" Hua Jing talked calmly, but the murderous intent in his eyes while looking at his surroundings couldn't be hidden.

Hearing this, Ji Li really calmed down. Over the year he came to like how Ji Li was unconventionally mean and strict yet also very caring and smart to him. Which made it slightly awkward, as the favouritism was very obvious, even though Hua Jing clearly had not only one protege but three, Ji Li, the little fatty and monkey. Besides those three, he was also supposed to care for the other babies and toddlers of the whole trainee's yard. Those with the same age as Ji Li clearly numbered 13. At least three were cared for... as for the other ten... they can only be called unlucky. Even being in such a generous generation, they would probably not enjoy the possible advantages, as the Exams for becoming an Intermediate Eunuch, something Hua Jing would probably soon take, are very hard. Especially so if one was on his own without a mentor or others to learn in the trainees building, besides the basic knowledge for becoming a junior eunuch.

It is truly hard to include 8 years' worth of knowledge and experience in in one year worth of time, if one didn't start while in training.

The 8 years' worth of knowledge was of course only considering fast learners, even those in the first years of a generation would struggle while having a whole 16 years to learn, while working of course. In a case, one could say that no matter what year on is born in the 16 years for every generation, there are several advantages and disadvantages.

(Protege is how you call a student of a mentor, sounds better than student as students is more like those learning from a teacher, while a mentor is a kind of guardian which guides you throughout something - from a certain class, school, profession or generally life. Here it is a mentor guiding his protege's along the path of being a Eunuch)