Chapter 4 - Cultivation

Cultivation is difficult. Cultivation is the art of using natural Qi to refine the body, mind, and dantian. There are two main paths of cultivation: Body Cultivation and Qi cultivation. There are other cultivation paths like Blood cultivation and spiritual sense cultivation, but they are branches of the main two paths. Body cultivation is using natural Qi to refine the body. Body cultivation is more difficult and more painful than Qi cultivation. On the other hand, Qi cultivation is using natural Qi to refine the dantian and eventually make contact with laws.

The other cultivation paths are extremely difficult to cultivate and their cultivation methods we're lost. That's why most if not every cultivator cultivates the two main paths.

"Body cultivation and Qi cultivation each have their respective realms, but I'll only talk about the first three realms." Long Tian said.

"The first three realms of the Qi cultivation path are Qi Refinement, Qi Condensation, and Golden

Core Realm. The first three realms for the Body cultivation path are Warrior Realm, King Realm, and Ascendant Realm." Long Tian explained.

"Master Tian, in your opinion who is better: a Body cultivator or a Qi cultivator?" Zhi You asked after digesting everything he just learned.

"Hmph, they are both equally powerful. However, Body cultivators are more annoying because of their higher recovery speed. Especially Body cultivators that cultivate a recovery-based body cultivation technique." Long Tian said with clenched fists. It was obvious he has had encounters with a recovery-based Body cultivator.

Zhi You absorbed what he just heard. It seems that body cultivators had specific types like recovery, speed, and strength.

Zhi You always respected body cultivators in the novels he used to read. There was something so captivating and exciting about beating up your enemies with your own hands.

"Catch."

Long Tian threw Zhi You a crystal ball derailing his thoughts.

"What is this?" Zhi You asked with a confused expression.

"It's a tool used to determine cultivation talent." Long Tian casually said.

Zhi You was happy, he did not think he would get to find out his cultivation talent so soon. Hopefully, it's as high as his alchemic talent.

"How do I use it?"

"Sit in a lotus position, close your eyes and try to feel the qi in the surroundings. Then pull it into your body and circulate the qi from head to your toes. The amount of qi you absorb would be recorded by the crystal ball, which will grade your talent." Long Tian said.

Zhi You tried to feel the qi in the area. It took him a couple of attempts to feel the qi and another three incense sticks to form a circulation with the qi.

Finally, after about the time it would take six incense sticks to burn, Zhi You got a number.

4?

"What does that mean? Is it good?" Zhi You asked nervously. He knew one's cultivation talent meant everything in a world where only strength matters.

Zhi You looked at Long Tian for a response as his heart pounded rapidly.

"Cultivation talent is classified from grades 1 through 9. A grade 4 is below average." Long Tian said with a sigh.

Zhi You's heart dropped a little but he regained his calm. He still had alchemy to boost his talent and most importantly, as long as he worked hard his talent should matter too much.

Long Tian looked at Zhi You's tense expression and smiled.

"There are many different items that can be used to improve cultivation talent. They are very rare and difficult to find but as long as your cultivation journey continues, there is always an opportunity." Long Tian tried to cheer his disciple up.

Zhi You simply nodded but a fire had been lit in him. It does not matter if it is a world where strength rules or a world where money rules, as long as there is a ladder to the top, he will climb it to the top.

"Don't worry about it, as long as you work hard to learn and study alchemy you will be fine." Long Tian said. "Let's rest for the night, tomorrow we will cultivate for some time then we will head back to the Long clan."

-Next Day-

Long Tian and Zhi You checked out of the inn and began their journey. As they walked around the city, Zhi You learned the town was called Doich. Doich was on the outskirts of the country of Tamara. However, Doich is a central hub for cultivators because of the Elemental Graveyard. Cultivators who have Golden Core Realm combat strength gather in this city and venture into the Elemental Graveyard to find cultivation resources.

The Elemental Graveyard was originally a normal forest but the Elemental Sage changed it into a holy land for the cultivation of any of the elements. As time went on, the beasts and plants mutated and became stronger and more dangerous. That's why it's called a graveyard.

"Anyway, you need to start cultivating, you can't concoct or protect yourself without a decent cultivation base." Long Tian said. "Even though your cultivation talent is not that great, I have pills to assist you."

"We have arrived." Long Tian stated.

Zhi You looked at the building in front of him. It was large and had nine levels. The building had a modern look to it. There was a sign on it saying: Cultivation Hall.

Zhi You could guess what this place is used for.

Long Tian confirmed his theory. "This is a cultivation hall. The higher the level the better the qi quality and quantity."

"Take this, these are notes about the first cultivation level. It tells you what they are and how to break through to the next level." Long Tian tossed him a scroll.

"We will be staying here for six months, you should be the 2nd layer Qi Refinement cultivator by then." Long Tian said as he led the way into the building.

When they walked in, a receptionist walked up to them. She was a beautiful young woman with long black hair that cascaded down like a waterfall. She had soft pink lips and a bountiful chest. All her curves were in the right places. That went to show the quality of this cultivation hall.

Zhi You was caught off guard by her beauty. Although she wasn't the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, she was definitely in the top five.

Zhi You noticed that the majority of the women he has seen in this world were all really attractive.

Long Tian did not seem fazed by the lady's beauty, he simply pulled a token out of thin air and showed the lady. She scanned it and gave it back with a bow.

Seeing this, Zhi You was reminded of the pouches he took from the dead bodies he saw when he first arrived in this world.

"What floor would you be staying on, Sir Long?" the beautiful lady asked.

"Take my disciple and I to the highest floor, get us two separate rooms. We will be staying for six months." Long Tian instructed.

The lady was surprised when she heard the word disciple. She took another look at Zhi You, she was sure he didn't have any cultivation.

'Why would someone with a high-level token have a disciple without any cultivation?' She thought. But she knew to mind her business. She simply led the way to the ninth floor.

Zhi You arrived in his cultivation room. He felt the qi in this room was a lot thicker than the qi outside. He took a deep breath, it was time to see what was in those pouches.