10. I Didn't Expect Cultivation To Be This Easy

Although Johan already stepped into the Qi Condensation, the first of cultivation ranking. He still didn't understand the general concept of cultivation ranking. So he asked Qitian Dasheng.

Qitian Dasheng answered.

"Alright. It will be quite useful if you know the concept. But, let's go out first! Your stench is unbearable inside this room." Qitian Dasheng pointed with his index finger.

Johan looked down. He saw many small dark lumps filled with unpleasant odors all over his body as if his body had been sprayed with swamp water.

"What are these? Can I take a bath first?"

"No need! You need to consolidate your rank after this. There will be black lumps coming out of your body again. Those black lumps are impurities that come out after improving the quality of your body by using the pill and your Qi that flows throughout your body." Johan's body still contained the remaining medicine from the pill he swallowed earlier, possibly, more impurities would come out of his body once again.

"Impurities?"

"Yeah. Aside from making you healthier, cleaning the impurities out of your body will benefit your cultivation."

"So, it's like that."

This time, Johan understood what Qitian Dasheng was saying. Apparently, clearing impurities from the body is beneficial for cultivation. He didn't know what the benefits were, but he could guess that clearing the impurities made cultivation easier and faster.

After a moment, Qitian Dasheng cast a spell that made him and Johan teleport to the apartment rooftop. There was nothing on the rooftop except for the strong wind blowing from the east.

Qitian Dasheng started to speak.

"I'll explain from the lower rank. There are two kinds of initial stages, the Qi Refinement stage which is ranked first to second, and the Foundation Establishment stage which is ranked third to fourth. First rank Qi Condensation, second rank Life Energy, third rank Internal Foundation, fourth rank External Foundation."

"Is that all?" Johan could guess the ranks weren't just four as Qitian Dasheng had mentioned earlier. But, Qitian Dasheng just replied.

"There are more. But for now, the rankings above the four I mentioned are useless to you."

"That's right. I'm still in the Qi Condensation rank." Johan nodded. Since he had only just stepped into the first rank, four ranks above him were still beyond reach.

"If you want to break through into the second rank, Life Energy, you need to open your Crimson Palace, which is the middle dantian, then open your Crystal Palace, which is the upper dantian. As for how to open them, you need to find out by yourself. Once you reach the second rank. You need to unlock 8 meridians to break through into the third rank, Internal Foundation. From the third to the fourth rank are easy to understand since you just have to strengthen your internal organs and your bones."

Truth to be told, Johan didn't understand a little bit of what Qitian Dasheng said. However, as long as he could remember the hints, Johan would try to do something to break through.

Even though Qitian Dasheng didn't tell him how to open the Crimson Palace and Crystal Palace, Johan still asked what their exact point was. And after knowing the point of the Crimson Palace in the middle of his chest and the point of the Crystal Palace on his forehead, Johan started to ponder. And suddenly, without him knowing why, he gained an understanding of how to cultivate.

At the same time, he didn't notice that his irises and pupils had changed from a normal pattern to a pattern that reflected the clear night sky.

Since he gained an understanding of how to cultivate, he immediately closed his eyes to meditate.

Meanwhile, Qitian Dasheng who was looking at Johan was astonished by the change in the pattern of his eyes.

"Not only did he gain enlightenment, but his eyes also evolved in this early stage." Qitian Dasheng murmured.

Normally, a cultivator would awaken his talent after breaking through to the second rank, Life Energy. If one had an innate talent from birth, that innate talent would evolve when one broke through to the second rank as well. Even Qitian Dasheng himself awakened his talent when he was at the peak of the first rank.

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Sunday, October 2, 2022. 5 AM.

The view from the rooftop of the high building is truly stunning. Especially in the morning when someone can enjoy the beautiful sunrise. Unfortunately, October is the month in the season that approaches the winter season, so the temperature drops can be quite noticeable when one is in such a place.

Despite being buffeted by the cool autumn breeze in the early morning, the two people on the rooftop didn't budge. One of them stood motionlessly, and one of them sat in meditation not paying any attention to his surroundings.

Of course, both of them were Qitian Dasheng and Johan.

Qitian Dasheng looked at Johan in amazement.

"How frightening. Of the eleven elemental dantian nodes, he has opened four in a short time even when he hasn't learned any cultivation techniques."

When Qitian Dasheng felt that Johan was about to open the fifth node, he suddenly opened his eyes.

Johan was quite surprised after seeing the sunrise. Even though he was meditating intending to cultivate, little did he know that he fell asleep while meditating, and he had a strange dream.

He glanced at Qitian Dasheng and said.

"Sorry, Qitian big bro. I seem to have fallen asleep."

"Falling asleep, why do you think so?" Qitian Dasheng only replied with a slight smile. Then, Johan replied.

"Because I dreamed something strange."

That reply made Qitian Dasheng chuckle.

"Hahaha. You're not asleep, little friend. You are in an enlightened state. It's a state that cultivators crave, you know."

"Enlightened state?" Johan was stunned.

"So all the things I thought were dreams weren't dreams at all? The things about my eyes weren't bulls*it too." Johan could only say in his mind.

Looking at the silent Johan, Qitian Dasheng said.

"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. Everyone has their secrets after all."

Johan nodded in gratitude. He was glad that Qitian Dasheng was a good person. Otherwise, it will be troublesome.

But he didn't realize that Qitian Dasheng had already guessed what Johan was hiding after seeing the changes in his eyes earlier. Most likely it was the origin of his eyes, or it could be the power of his eyes. Well, either of the two could be dangerous if it leaked because those eyes weren't ordinary. It seemed that Johan was also aware of the gravity of his secret being known to others. So all Qitian Dasheng needed to do was warn of something else.

"Little Yue Han. Since you are already a cultivator, it would be best if you hide your family's identity. Or you can also fake your family address."

"Eh??" Johan was stunned at first. But, when he thought about it. Qitian Dasheng's words made sense. Somehow, he understood that the path of cultivation was filled with dangers and hardships. So he knew why Qitian Dasheng had said that to him.

Johan thought for a moment. If he wanted to fake it. It should be done carefully. He wanted to fake that his family was still with his father's family. Of course, the goal is only to take revenge for what they have done. However, knowing how cunning they were, they would surely throw the blame on their mother's family. And that would put her mother's family at risk.

"How troublesome."

Seeing Johan sigh in anxiety, Qitian Dasheng said.

"Well, for now, make sure you hide your identity as a cultivator! Everything will be fine."

Johan twitched. What Qitian Dasheng said sounded like a legendary flag in an anime or an in-game story.

Johan saw his body covered in black lumps, he was disgusted because the smell was too strong, but because there was no way to get down from the rooftop, Johan asked Qitian Dasheng for help. Qitian Dasheng only stretched out his hand.

Then, Johan appeared above the surface of the river not far from his apartment.

*Splash*

Then, Johan fell into the river which attracted the attention of people who were jogging on the riverbank in the early morning. Johan's head came up to the surface of the water. When many people saw him, he felt a little embarrassed. But what else could he do? Since he had already plunged into the river, it would be best if he cleaned up the black lumps on his body. He took off his shirt, then used it to rub his body which was covered in black lumps.

Fortunately, the river wasn't that clear, so the black lumps that were cleaned from Johan's body were not very visible when carried by the river current. Otherwise, Johan could be chased for polluting the river.

After he came out of the river, everyone looked at him weirdly which made him immediately dash toward his apartment while bare-chested. And strangely, his body felt light when he ran as if his body had been given a high dose of doping.

After reaching his room and changing clothes, he muttered.

"I've never felt so healthy and fit like this. Besides, I can feel that I'm much stronger than before. Is this the effect of cultivating?"

At that moment, Qitian Dasheng answered Johan's muttering from the balcony.

"You are already one-third at the Qi Condensation rank. Another two-thirds, you can break through to the Life Energy rank."

Johan was bewildered. He just started cultivating, but he reached one-third of his current rank already.

"Eh, isn't that fast enough? I didn't expect cultivation to be this easy."

Qitian Dasheng's body shook. What Johan said really sounded hateful and annoying at the same time.

"Little friend, do you believe I won't flip the table to your face after you say that?"