First Step of Cultivation

Life. Way. End. Death. Destruction. All were dictated by fate, and fate alone. And fate is not made of chance, evolution, or time. It was made by heavens. Everything that happens under the heavens is their own plan. Like computers calculating a process, or hackers creating codes, these heavenly/celestial beings are workers of humans' present and future. But sometimes, just one in a million chance, someone will defy his or her own fate. Hopefully, that'd be him/her.

Qiguai City is already destroyed. There's nothing here left except the bitter memories of the past. And now that justice is done by doom, although innocent lives are sacrificed, there is no more regret but to move forward and on to life.

Levi dig unto anything that can be dig. Anything that maybe of useful in survival. Most are scraps of metal left but they'll be useful. There is no food, clothing, weapons, etc. Thus she could only tie pieces of woods as a basket bag.

She stood by the city walls, overseeing the ruins now running with Undead instead of people. She closed her eyes and prayed for a moment. Then with a determined gaze, she turned and never looked back, dashing to the mountains to start a long journey.

The entire island ofHai is a land covering hundred kilometers, mostly comprising of the ruins or the deserted land while half are mountainous regions where three cities and a kingdom is built. Qiguai City is of the nearest to the graveyard ruins. The next is the Dracheruz City located just northeast of the former. There were old roads connecting the region but were already buried under landslides. Thus, Levi has no choice but to take the mountains as the only route.

Planting a wooden cane to the land as a support, she tried very muh to straighten herself as to take a deep breath. Levi has not been a stranger to hiking, and running. He can even walk for a whole day without tiring. His stamina is associated with his previous job. But since he is in the body of a female, it is different. Fate has never once went out of the brothel since two years ago. Thus her body is not that refined and stamina is not infinite. Levi is working hard to rebuild herself into his former physical condition. That atleast will be of great help in running away from wild beasts. Aside from the basket strapped on her back which she is filling with fruits, carrying the heavy saber is really a hassle. She can't strap it anywhere on her as it easily outbalance her.

"Agh! This blade is very very heavy. Are you sure you are a saber? You look thin and ordinary but why are you so heavy? Can't you shrunk a little? You are an extraordinary blade, weren't you? I know you can understand me. So help me, will you? Or else I will leave you behind."

There was no response though. It seems the spirit of the blade is in a deep slumber. It's understandable, considering it spent too much spiritual force to wake her up. She didn't say anymore and willingly carried the blade to her shoulder.

"Now thinking of it. I remember you said you'll give me a saber martial art. Now where is it?"

She thought really hard, probably the art is inside her memory and just didn't notice it. She remembered none. So she checked her pockets and herself. She blushed when she saw her femme features. After all, her mentality is that of a boy. Levi have never seen a woman's own before. But now that he has one, he can't help but admire it. The feeling is different. It's like going in a sunny beach after a cold season. The saber art was found nowhere. But when she concentrated very much, she could feel her heart thumping, not just of exhaustion, but of excitement. It's like its saying something to her but she couldn't comprehend it.

She sat down in a lotus position and began to meditate. She closed her eyes lightly and calmed herself. Slowly but surely, a new feeling enveloped her body like an army of ants are crawling into her skin. She could instantly feel the pumping of her blood in all parts -her wrist, her shoulder, her neck, her cheeks, her thighs, her legs, and even her fingers. Blood are rushing quickly.

Her body began growing hot. First are her palms. The heat is scorching and very uncomfortable. It spreads to her arms, to her head, to her abdomen, to her lower parts. Something is boiling inside her. If she didn't slightly open her eyes, she would think she was burning on flame. Levi practiced a breathing technique when he was young. It was to stabilize his uncontrolled heart and the blood pressure. Now, he was trying to exercise the breathing technique starting with a slow inhalation until her lungs are all full. Rest. Then exhale slow until the air is exhausted. She began inhaling again, then exhale, then continued the process as calmly as possible.

It helped a bit. The fire in her brain is slowly subsiding but the heat was still too much for her physique to handle. The heat intensified until she have a high fever. She can't handle it anymore. She rolled down on the grass and clutch anything that may absorb the heat. However, nothing is showing mercy on the poor lady.

An hour and a half passed and the lady woke up in a worse state. The fever has not subsided even a little. Her skin is already red, worse than a sunburn. Especially her palms, they were radiating with too much heat energy. Touching a leaf will no doubt dry it quickly. Furthermore, the feeling of uneasiness intensifies. She very much wants to grow insane and commit suicide. But she willed her mind and commanded her body to walk and find water. She crawled to the ground, dragging the blade with her and tries to reach the other side of a mountain for a hope of finding a pond.

"I'm... so... hot. I... can't... go... any.. further." It was noon. About four o'clock. The sun is still blazing its rays from the west. The heat made her more sick and she just let herself collapse on the dryness of the sand.

Her mind wanders again to the empty cosmos where he came from. She saw nothing but darkness that stretched to the end of the deep. She heard a voice though. It was the voice Levi heard earlier that guided him to wake up from his soul. The voice was cold and soothing as ever. It was hypnotizing her and she relaxed subconciously.

"The mind is strong, but the body is weak. Sorry for that. But it was just the way it is. Levi, I know it is hard for you. But you can't just give up and accept death if you are pained, overcame by suffering. You are still alive, kiddo. And that's the important thing. That's what defines a human. You are lucky I helped you defy your own fate. That is because I know you are strong. I know you can do more than any other being could do. So stand up. Don't let hardship beat you down."

"But how can I survive? What is really happening inside me? I need to understand more about myself."

"You will, kiddo. In the future. You will understand who or what you are. What is your reason for existing in this world. And most of all, why I helped you live again. It's your own foot that will let you climb up towers of experience first. But I'll tell you a bit of my knowledge. You Levi, is officially a cultivator. I have already modified your body into a state perfect for cultivating. However, the process of cultivation still needs to be done by you. I will teach you the proper breathing and meditation technique. Through these, your inner perception will improve and you will gain the ability to control your qi. That is the first and most basic step of cultivating. If you mastered how to channel your qi to your meridians and spin them to a vortex space called dantian, then your qi will do the work on their own. They will further improve your physique and inner systems. The bones will harden, the organ systems will function faster, your senses will sharpen, your skin will glow, and your mental abilities will ameliorate. Kiddo, I never have thought that cultivation in your world was already restrained since long ago. Do you know that these process can be done by a five-year-old mortal? Sigh... I still haven't figured out why the heavens sealed the entrance and erased all heaven energy sucking arrays."

"Sorry senior but I really don't understand you."

"True Cultivation is all about harnessing the power of heaven and earth energy to use as your own. Heaven and earth... energy. They compliment each other. Without heaven energy, earth energy is withering. The opposite is not true but cultivators really need to absorb both heaven and earth energy in balance. If not, the chances of qi deviation is highly lethal. So if you're a cultivator, you will need a constant supply of heaven energy. Sadly, it is nonexistent in these area.

You have to remember that heaven energy is rival with 'hell energy', also known as evil energy or dark energy. Since wilderness is lacking with heaven energy, there is a big probability that hell energy will take the place. The result is... unstable. Somehow, it made wild animals able to cultivate and form monster cores.

So, I advice you not to absorb any energies in this place. And stay out of any wild animals, whether they look small and innocent, they are far more dangerous than humans."

"So where would I go to cultivate?"

"I noticed that the sect of your city used a summoning ritual to call for the Nirvana flames, which is a type of heaven energy. It is highly beneficial for cultivation. If your small city can do such feat, surely, other major cities could do the same. Go to a highly populated urban place where sects are powerful. I am sure they have source of heaven energies. If possible, try to steal their sources."

"But... won't that be dangerous? What if they found out?"

"Kiddo, the world is always full of danger. You never know when trouble is coming. I have to tell you. Once you are a cultivator, death is like a shadow following you wherever you go. So stop being a chicken and accept death!"

"But you said not to accept death easily?"

"You know what? I'm gonna smack that pitiul head of yours. You are a man... or a woman. Not a kid! What I meant was if you are alive, then do everything you can to stay alive. But since death is following you anywhere, be ready to die anytime. Gets?"

"Yes, master. Thank you."

"Good. Now wake up and find a water source. And don't ever forget the blade on your arms. It will be the greatest treasure you will ever have."