Chapter 006

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‘ ‘ for thoughts.

“ “ for speech.

<> for non-verbal communication like telepathy

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After having a hearty breakfast, attending to his ablutions and sleeping till dusk… Fang Hao had another meal. His behavior seemed like that he was a good for nothing fatty, only eating and sleeping during daylight. Actually though, he wanted to be at his peak before he attempted cultivating the Sublime Qi Manual. Even though he wanted to start his glorious journey to immortality quickly, he realized that being hasty wasn’t the way to proceed.

After returning to his cottage, Fang Hao went into the seclusion room, closed and locked the door before sitting cross-legged on the floor-mat. He joined his thumbs together and placed them on his navel, with the joined forefingers pointing upwards and curled the remaining three fingers and joined them at the knuckle, forming the hand-seal mentioned in the Sublime Qi manual.

He then stuck his tongue to the roof of his mouth and started breathing in through the nose and chanted the mnemonics in his mind, trying to gather a wisp of Qi. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t feel anything other than his breath. Of course, cultivating was not easy. Without being disheartened, he continued the breathing exercises mentioned in the Sublime Qi scripture. Even though he was unable to feel a strand of Qi, he fell into a partial trance and continued the breathing exercises.

When it was almost dawn, he felt a thin strand of energy travelling from the back of his throat down his neck. At this new unexpected feeling, he was excited which caused him to lose the rhythm he had built and exit his trance. He tried to get into the state of mind he was before for a few times, but gave up as he failed. But he wasn’t disheartened, as this was the beginning of his journey. He felt hunger, and made his way to the dining hall to eat.

‘Perhaps, that hair-thin strand of energy was Qi. If I manage to make that strand complete a full circulation and store it into a dantian, I would have successfully completed one cycle. According to the manual, after I complete 108 cycles I would have broken through to the 1st stage of the Qi gathering Realm.’ He was thinking about cultivation as he made his way to the dining hall, sat in his regular place with the group of fatties who had joined with him.

His plate was piled with more food than usual, because he planned to skip the meal at dusk and attempt to cultivate after a quick nap of couple of hours. He was chatting with the fatties who were discussing their attempts at cultivating the Sublime Qi Manual. Nearby outer disciples glanced at the five meatballs with heaped plates of food with disdain. But the fatties were more interested in their discussion and their food.

“Fatty Hao, I tried the Sublime Qi Manual for the whole day yesterday…but felt like a fool sitting in a strange posture and just breathing without feeling anything. I don’t think my aptitude for cultivation is great. I barely qualified as a bronze grade talent and just became an outer disciple due to my family’s tribute.” said a dejected looking fatty while picking at his food with chopsticks.

Fang Hao was a bit irritated at being called a fatty and listening to the depressed whining of a fellow fatty. But he knew the value of building good relationships and networking, from the mistakes he made in his previous life. He was resolved to make the best out of his present opportunity and build bridges with his social interactions instead of burning them unnecessarily. It wasn’t like he would get any benefits by being rude to his fellow fatty. On the contrary, since they had no past grudges, a good helpful impression created now may reap unexpected benefits later.

So, masked his irritation and encouraged his fellow disciple, “Brother Lin, don’t give up confidence before truly trying. If cultivation were so easy, then everyone would be a cultivator! I remember Senior Fatty Chen told me that with hard work it was possible to become an inner disciple in five years. 5 years is a long time, and it has only been a few days now. Now all of us brothers have officially entered the Jade Pagoda sect and are beginning on our path to heaven defying power and eternal life!” Fang Hao noticed the unconvinced expression on his fellow fatty Lin and decided to encourage him some more. He didn’t particularly like an EMO atmosphere while he was eating.

“Fellow fatty Lin, from young I was regarded as a wastrel. A thief who stole from his family and spent it on food and whores, and rightly so! Meanwhile my brothers earned a lot for our clan and my sisters were charming lasses who were accomplished in the four arts (Zither, Go, Calligraphy, Painting). My brother’s financial prowess charmed noble daughters and sisters charmed young masters, while I was the gluttonous and lustful black sheep of the family. Now look at them, trapped in the mortal world! My brothers are struggling to please the local lords for concessions in their business, while one of my sisters became a concubine for the clan’s profit. And look at me now; I have an opportunity to exceed the limits of mere mortals. Brother Lin even though I was ranked as a silver grade talent, I too didn’t feel any Qi! But I firmly believe that to become cultivators, we must first and foremost cultivate our self-confidence!”

His long rant seemed to have impressed his fellow fatties and they made various exclamations in support of him.

“Well said fatty Hao!”

“Cultivate self-confidence! Such profound words.”

“Good going, brother Hao!”

The previously depressed Fatty Lin had become noticeably less depressed and thanked him, “Thank you for your kind words, fatty Hao! I will not give up and work hard to cultivate!” Seeing this change of attitude, Fang Hao nodded appreciatively. He didn’t want his clique to be fat as well as depressed. The rest of the meal was uneventful as he took a nap lasting a couple of hours before he started cultivating the 1st layer of the Sublime Qi manual in his seclusion room.