I’ve just reached the first level of Qi condensation.

An average cultivator that reaches this level would have the strength of 10 men. I already had the strength of 15 to 20 men before I elevated to this. Case in point, I could easily lift that massive bear on the way up the mountain.

Now?

It’s easily been doubled. Only doubled, because the purpose of Qi Condensation isn’t to increase raw strength. It’s only a byproduct.

One of the more interesting things about Qi level progression is that the first level of every stage is one of acquiring and stabilizing. To be more specific, to reach the first level is to show that you could achieve the initial expectations of that stage and hold on to it.

Here, that means having Qi flow smoothly throughout the meridians, while bunching up some of it within the Dantians. Having it bunch up says you’re able to bring Qi into your body and then hold it by force or coercion successfully.

It cannot be overstated how difficult this is for non-cultivators.

At their best, a person who has practiced body cultivation without being able to achieve the first steps of cultivation can at most push the already existing Qi around and out of their body to achieve certain effects. As an example, if someone wanted to make a Qi infused punch at that stage, they would push more of it out of their hands to release it, at just the right moment. The more adept of a body cultivator they are, the more they could manipulate what was inside them. Like changing the flow of a river.

A Qi Condensation expert is someone who can somehow draw Qi inside them, and on top of that, make portions of it cycle within their dantian without letting it escape. Every level of Qi Condensation comprises growing that pool, as well as refining it and your body to do it automatically. While increasing the quality of the Qi.

If not carefully controlled, all of your efforts at that level could vanish away. If mismanaged, you could lose multiple levels of work.

This is because Qi at this stage, is considered more of a gas than a liquid. It is only once you reach the 8th level of this realm that it changes to Liquid, which can then be used as the base to set up for the foundation establishment realm.

I am securely in the first level.

Considering the difficulty of even getting to the stage I’m at now, and that it would normally take years after doing the treatment I just did to recover from, before even thinking of moving into the first cultivation stage, it only makes sense they would be terrified.

The person who used their spiritual sense on me has said little to their fellow guards, except that my body is crazy. Alternatively, it was easy to see and sense when I progressed into the first stage, as there were major fluctuations coming from my body.

They are all foundation establishment, so their senses are quite strong. This doesn’t include the fact they are guards and have refined senses, able to casually detect minute changes.

Even without words, they will know something is up.

It will only solidify that I am a noble in their minds. I can use this to make sure that they won’t try to get rid of me, that they will say nothing about what happened.

Knowing all of this, I walk straight up to the one that did the spiritual sense on me.

Before I can get close enough to actually speak, they all kowtow on the ground.

“Please spare our lives young master. We are but humble servants at your service!”

I stop in place and stand there quietly.

Obviously, I’m using my conversation scan.

With a low voice, I speak to the man before me.

“I’m sure you understand how dangerous the things you’ve seen are?”

The man I question gulps, but still answers.

“I do.”

Either over explaining or keeping your answers short are the best ways to navigate conversations with nobles. He’s chosen the latter.

I continue to stay silent and actually look off into the distance. Almost prompting him to offer something. Another option, but one that I can’t suggest myself.

One of the older guards is the one that raises this option.

“Sir, if I may offer a solution, that could help resolve this.”

I turned to look at him but say nothing else.

He shakily adds, “Of course, there are other things we will hope can satisfy you.

“There is a cultivation technique that we can use to forget this situation. While we will need to report that we have used it and regarding whom for, nothing about the situation will be logged.”

He pauses with some trepidation.

“… would that be satisfactory for you?”

I take a breath in and out.

“It’s a start.”

They let out a collective breath, as this means they will keep their lives, at least. However, I continue with another option.

“I know of a variant of this that you may not need to record for your work. It will keep parts of the truth, but let you forget the… dangerous parts.”

This is where they will be caught in a rock and a hard place, as this could put them at risk for their job. But if they don’t, it’s at risk anyway. From both their perspective and mine.

If they say no… I’m not sure of what to do.

This information… could cause several issues that I can’t control. If I had the power to forcefully quiet them with sheer strength, even I would be tempted.

And that scares me.

Now they’re the ones that go silent, as they look between each other and, with their long history together, communicate silently.

Before long, they seemed to have decided.

They request for deeper explanation and to be shown the method.

I pull on my memories gain from the demonic cultivator, which included a method he used when he needed to have his memory changed to protect himself.

Similar to the contract restrictions, the only way this works is if it’s completely voluntary.

Because of my in-depth understanding of it and the use of my scan, I’m able to accurately portray and communicate the varying effects, purpose, and usage of this technique.

Obviously being wary of this, because of the effects of it, they do small tests, while discuss deeply between each other about whether or not to use it.

All I do is stand there and allow them to decide.

For a guard to change their memory and not notify their superiors, that is a huge thing. They’ve clearly understood the intent of this too.

I don’t want anyone to know that much about my body. It is far too dangerous.

It’s also the reason they’re even considering it. They did an in-depth spiritual sense on me.

They know that I have all three dantians unlocked.

Just having the lower and middle would be a hidden card for a noble clan.

Having the upper unlocked? That’s unheard of and legendary. People have had cities annihilated for lesser secrets.

They also know of all the changes that have happened to my body with the meridians and dantians. Including how I’ve optimized all aspects and have made multiple changes that would normally kill a person. Something they wouldn’t have been able to perceive without the level of depth in the sense they used.

Last, they know that I have my healing constitution, which can essentially handle all those changes I have made. This isn’t something to scoff at, because there are other healing constitutions out there. But it is extremely rare for one to be able to affect all aspects of the body, including the Dantian and meridians.

It would mean my cultivation can’t be permanently crippled.

If anyone were to know that, it would mean my death in situations where I would normally be crippled.

Rather than a hidden card, this would be a secret that would cause someone to want to take over my body by any means necessary.

These guards are essentially bargaining for their lives, as someone in my position and with the changes I just made would definitely have backing. And that they had gotten confirmation about that from the first teleportation guard, means that they may lose their lives if this were ever to get out.

So, as expected, they agree.

All three of them sit down and begin circulating within their bodies. Being foundation establishment, they control it and quickly complete the changes.

The result after they use the method, which was like their own technique with just a few changes, ends up being that all they know is that I went deep into the forest and progressed to the first stage of Qi cultivation. Besides that, they had completely disrespected me earlier and have to give a huge compensation to keep their jobs and maybe even their lives.

Last, they also ingrained that they have an idea that I have a huge backing and to be wary.

This is so they’re able to keep the second part of their promise, that this wouldn’t be the only thing they do to make up for what they’ve seen.

I’m hoping that it will also help if anything comes up later, to keep them on my side.

Their eyes slowly open after this and almost unconsciously, they moved back to their normal guarding positions, before their eyes clear up. It should be complete now.

As soon as they see me, they returned to a kowtow position.

One of the younger guards yells out, “We are sorry for our disrespect, young master!”

The older guard follows up with another yell.

“Please have mercy on us, we will do anything to rectify this!”

Like before, I stand quietly for a bit. Unlike before, they do not speak.

After a small period of time, I say something.

“… Do any of you have any old injuries?”

They don’t seem to process what I asked. They repeat it to themselves.

“Old injuries?”

A look of confusion crosses the older guard’s face, before rapidly turning into horror, then despair.

… what is he thinking?

He nods in resignation.

“I do, young master. Let me show you now.”

He slowly raises himself up and removes his shirt, exposing his chest. It is covered with a variety of scars and bumps. He’s clearly been through many life and death battles.

He gulps, before pointing to part of his left forearm. The area there is still swollen, but appears to be stable.

“This area here still goes through quite some pain. If you are looking to open it up, this might be a good choice.”

… it sickens me that this is even something to be considered for a person to do. It’s probably tame, considering the norm.

Nonetheless, this is an opportunity to actually use my healing cultivation method.

“I won’t be harming you. Despite what has happened, I will use my healing cultivation method on you.”

He seems visibly confused, as getting healed is normally something you pay for. So, I clarify.

“I just reached the first stage. You can consider this as testing my abilities.”

His face hardens before he nods his head.

I raise my hands and use the method.