Chapter Five

After getting dressed and leaving the temple, Li Feng follows Lam Bai into a rickshaw. Before returning to the estate, Lam Bai needs to purchase a Heavenly Mirror Stone, which will allow Li Feng to check the amount of cultivation he now has. Li Feng could cultivate without the knowledge of how much cultivation he has, but training can be specialized when the exact numerical amount of cultivation is known.

For instance, Li Shen had a cultivation of 57-Mortal after he completed the Boiling Cauldron of Nine Transformations ritual, and Li Yuen, Li Feng’s fifth brother, had a cultivation of 44-Mortal. The Heavenly Mirror Stone shows a person’s cultivation by changing color and covering its surface with stars. In Li Shen’s case, the Heavenly Mirror Stone turn white and grew fifty seven stars.

Cultivation has five stages, and each of those stages has 99 levels of cultivation. The first stage for a cultivator is Mortal, which is the same stage as those who cannot cultivate. Peasants and nobles alike start at this stage, and it has the most cultivation techniques available to it. The next stage is Body, where the physical capabilities of a cultivator are enhanced to levels ordinary people couldn’t dream of obtaining.

Before Li Feng starts his journey of cultivation, he must see his starting cultivation level. A genius like Li Wen could have a cultivation level of 99-Mortal when they first check on the Heavenly Mirror Stone, but most people expect to have around 20-Mortal if they’re not from a large cultivation family. For Li Feng, his family expects him to have around 10-Mortal cultivation, since he doesn’t train with Elder Tan or practice any techniques.

A short rickshaw ride delivers Li Feng and Lam Bai to a shop on near the estate. There are shops for Heavenly Mirror Stones closer to the temple, but this shop is where Li Wen does most his business, since the owner is a friend from back when he was in the army.

Li Feng steps off the rickshaw and waits for Lam Bai to follow him and instruct the driver to stick around before they enter the shop. Lam Bai enters first and greets the old chubby man behind the counter. “Hello, Liu Chen, we’re here for the young master’s Heavenly Mirror Stone.”

“Good morning, young master Li, Lam. Alright,” Liu Chen says, reaching under his counter and pulling out a circular stone wrapped in cloth. “One thousand coins, as always.”

“Here you are,” Lam Bai says, handing a 1,000 coin piece to the man and picking up the clothed stone. “Have a good day.”

“You as well,” Liu Chen says, and Li Feng and Lam Bai leave the store. Li Feng and Lam Bai get back on the rickshaw, then take it back to the estate.