Heart Core

Morning in the Silvermoon town was the most lively time of the day. Sun's rays from between the hills enveloping the town created a beautiful sight that would make anyone filled with energy for the day ahead.

Sound of kids running around playing, their laughter, teasing and pranking could be heard on every street. Young boys and girls warming up for training, their parents getting ready for work, everyone was enthusiastic and trying to make the best of the morning.

There was a young boy standing on the training ground looking at the morning sun. His eyes were calm and filled with a sense of maturity, one that couldn't be seen on the eyes of a boy so young. His face sharp and his hair tied at the back falling at the shoulder level. At one glance, he looked like a promising young scholar to be. He was about 140 cm tall and with slim build but by no means thin, his muscles already looked packed and condensed with clear outline of a trained athlete.

This boy was none other than young Adrian who was already on his eighth year. Right now, he was basking in the sunlight and lost in his thoughts. These past few years he has grown by a lot. Often times he found familiarity in the meaning behind how some things in life made sense. He felt he wasn't so new to the concept of life. This familiarity at his age coupled with his daily life in training made him somewhat quiet and reserved.

Sounds of footsteps approaching awoke Adrian from his thoughts. Turning around he found his father Alfons coming towards him with a slightly smiling face. That was the face of satisfaction. Alfons was proud of his son and even though he didn't voiced them directly, it could be seen on his face whenever he looked at Adrian.

"Right on time as always I see. You must be eager to learn another new form. After the basic footwork, attacking and defending techniques, there are still different maneuvers, control, feints and distraction techniques for you to learn. So what do you think?".

Cupping his right fist with his left palm, Adrian gave his father a slight bow and said with enthusiasm - "Good morning father! Yes, I think I am proficient in all the previously taught forms of attacking and movement techniques. I believe I am ready to learn advanced forms".

"Hahaha, I knew you would say something like that, but son, you must learn to be humble. What you think is being proficient might just be basic in the eyes of others. You're like a frog in a well, you won't know how good you are until you have compared it with others. But I'm not here today to teach you about any new forms". Said Alfons shaking his head.

Adrian couldn't help get a little disappointed at the thought of not being able to learn new form but hearing what his father said next made his breathing quicken and blood flow faster.

"I'm here because its time for you to form your heart core. Yes, according to the town priestess, the alignment of stars are best on the tenth day of the fifth month this year which happens to be today. Qi is abundant and overflowing when stars are aligned properly. It is the best day when young ones of right age can attempt to form a heart core that can sense qi."

"Come, follow me to the clan hall. Your grandfather will explain all the young ones in the clan about forming the core there".

Adrian forgot to speak in his excitement. Following behind his father he saw several faces on the way to the clan hall building. His uncles and aunts, his older cousin brothers and sisters, other relatives and many servants, attendants and guards to whom he just greeted and smiled. He had met with them often but never got too closed with anyone.

Soon he was outside the clan hall building. Typically speaking it was just one large room with a pointed roof. The hall was large enough to fit at least a thousand people, hence it was used for various functions and events. Once inside, Adrian saw that there were about seventy five people in the hall today. Eight year olds who were there for the heart core formation as well as their parents and family members, some relatives and other few who were there just to see the future potentials.

Feeling a nudge from his father and getting the signal, Adrian went to the center of the hall and lined up besides the other three candidates. All of them were familiar faces. One boy and two girls making it four of them for this years ritual.

Turning sideways, he saw the only other boy, Tulio. He was thinly built and a little timid than the other boys for which he was always made fun of. Adrian found him of good nature and personality, if only he could show a little brave front and be confident about himself, he was sure to be a fine warrior in the future. May be forming the heart core could bring that change, hoped Adrian.

Next was Kaia, a short girl with twin tails, who he really didn't like. This girl was the epitome of vanity, she would always treat others as if they were born to do things for her. Adrian and her had a few mishaps over the years which caused them to ignore each other as much as possible. The girl also found Adrian irritating as she never liked the way he talked and looked at her like he was much older than her. Adrian didn't even want to think how she was going to be when she grew up.

Then there was Livia. She was completely opposite of Kaia. In fact, Adrian couldn't figure out this girl at all. She seemed talented in training and martial arts but other than that she was kind of a dunce. She didn't seem to be able to make longer conversation with others and would easily be fooled by anyone. But whenever in training or during things related to cultivation, she would be as serious as as master. Her changing attitude made others feel uncomfortable at approaching her.

While Adrian was eyeing them, they were doing the same. Tulio just smiled at him while Livia gave him a causal glance of indifference. Kaia, on the other hand looked at him like he was a bug, frowned with a scorn and then turned around. Adrian could just sigh at this.

"Ahem! Well, now that everyone is here, lets start with the the basics first". This took the four's attention completely.

He nodded towards Adrian acknowledging his presence and started "Heart core, as the name implies is the core of the heart which forms at its center. It is nothing more than the part of heart muscle that gains the property of manipulating qi. The heart is already an organ which pumps blood throughout the body. Once it has formed the core and gains the ability of guiding the qi, your body along with your blood will have qi mixed in as a property. You can think of it as a flavor. Your blood will have the flavor of qi, which when flows through gets absorbed by your organs, muscles, bones. As qi itself is the manifestation of all things in the universe, it has the magical property of enriching your body, you will get the primordial source of energy that the universe itself produces".

Pure awe could be seen in the eyes of the four candidates. They weren't provided with such insight before this, they just knew that heart core was needed to feel qi and start cultivation. Now they couldn't wait to experience it themselves after hearing about it firsthand.

"So, that sums up the general introduction. By now you should have some idea about how qi works. Then let me tell you about the four stages of cultivation. Hahaha, this is where it gets interesting so listen carefully. When one successfully starts sensing and circulating qi, they enter the first stage of cultivation called Qi Novice. A Novice is one who can circulate Qi in their bodies. There are three tiers for Qi Novice.

- Low tier, Mid Tier and High tier Qi Novice. Each of these tiers further consist of normal and peak levels. Peak level is similar to transition between one tier to another, where the strength is almost similar to the next tier. That is the reason for differentiating it with normal level. When you guys are able to form a heart core, you'll become a Normal Low Tier Qi Novice and when you are nearing the wall to the Mid Tier Qi Novice, you are considered a Peak Low Tier Qi Novice.

The other stages of cultivation include Qi Master, Qi Lord and finally Qi Emperor. They each have the same tier and level structure. A Qi Novice is someone who can circulate qi, A Qi Master is someone who can materialize qi, a Qi Lord is someone who can distribute qi, and finally Qi emperors are the ones who are in complete control of qi in the world. There is just one qi emperor known to this day, the Blizzard Emperor, but alas he hasn't been heard of since ages."

The mention of Qi Emperor brought about murmurs among the crowd. This was a hot topic as there was yet to be seen another Qi Emperor in the world. Many youths and old alike aspire to someday breakthrough to the Emperor level and be seen as Gods among men.

"Hahaha, Look at you lot, gets your blood boiling, right? Hahahaha forget about the Qi Emperor, we are blessed to have a young Qi Master as our leader of this town otherwise it would even be difficult to meet a Qi Master easily, let alone meet a Qi Lord. If you have what it takes then first step into the Master level, only then can you think about becoming the lords and emperors.. hmph!!"

A heavy pressure descended on the crowd at the end of the sentence, they quieted down and came back to reality. Yes, starting cultivation might not be difficult but each successive breakthroughs would keep getting harder and rarer. The presence of Qi Master in the small city or town was already considered exceptional as only large cities would be able to keep them.

"Grandfather! I have a question" - Adrian raised his hands without any hesitation breaking the silence. Seems like in his excitement, he forgot that he was in the clan hall and his grandfather wasn't just a merry old man but the dignified grand elder.

That didn't seem to anger or disappoint the old man, instead it made him happier. "Hahahha, go on my boy, if you don't even have some curiosity after all this, how can you seek anything in the future, hahhaha!"

Adrian gather his thoughts and asked - "Why are breakthroughs so difficult, are the hard work and effort not sufficient? Or are the techniques for breakthroughs not complete, what else could it be?"

"...."

"...."

"Wow", "What!!", "Did he just really…", "Interesting.." .. Similar expressions could be heard from the crowd.

"Excellent!!" - Not just the crowd but the old man too was stunned at the questions the eight year old was asking. Meeting higher stage Masters and Lords was a chance encounter, one might not even get an opportunity in life to ask them for advice. A young boy who hasn't even formed his heart core daring to ask about breakthroughs on such level was an unheard occurrence during such rituals.

Now even the crowd was interested in hearing what the old man could say about such a vague subject.

Feeling the expectation and intensity in the stares from the crowd, the old man didn't even flinch. He just stroked his beard, took a deep breadth and answered - "Breakthroughs are not just upgrading your strength and neither its increasing the quantity nor quality of the qi. Breakthroughs are mainly a striking improvement of your understanding of the world, the qi, the stages and your body itself. They are fueled by the experiences you accumulate throughout your journey in cultivation. That is why no mater the technique or theory, one's breakthrough cannot be achieved unless one can understand it by their body and soul, just knowing how is not sufficient, you have to feel it."

Everyone along with Adrian couldn't help but think about the deep meaning behind those words. Feeling pleased at himself for being able to make the crowd awe at his words, Adrian's grandfather asked with pride.

"Boy, do you understand now how difficult it is to breakthrough?"

Adrian took a deep breath, bowed towards his grandfather and said - "Yes grand elder, I think I understand a little more now. I cannot simply achieve a breakthrough when I want it even if I try very hard. The only way I can hope for a breakthrough is by trying different ways to feel it. So, it also depends on luck and encounter. Any such thing can help me understand and enlighten with which a breakthrough can be sensed and felt. That is why you said they are fueled by the experiences we accumulate. Thank you grand elder for clearing this for us".

"...."

The old man had his eyes gape wide in shock. He didn't know what to say. Hearing the boy expand upon what he said, he felt he was the one getting advice. He felt his understanding increasing more.

Getting out his stupor and clearing his throat he said - "Good good! You truly are a Silvermoon, the young will surpass the old they said. I can see it now, hmm".

CLAP!

"Alright, that's it for all the understanding you need now. It is time for you to learn a heart core formation technique. You can meditate on the technique and form the core, this is one of the better core formation techniques in the clan. Now, sit down and calm your breathing, don't think about anything just focus on your breathing and keeping it uniform".

As the four sat down, the crowed also quieted down and looked towards them with anticipation and expectations in their eyes.