Chapter 8: Cultivation techniques and Lunch

The King told Lei to sit down. He then sat down facing Lei and pulled a sheaf of papers from a pocket hidden deep in his robes. He handed the sheaf of papers to Lei who studied them intently. They were filled with intricate diagrams showing movements of qi through the body. "This is a cycling technique most suitable for an arcane cultivator. It is one I devised myself. I looked at cultivation techniques used by cultivators of the other energies and I took the aspects from their cultivation techniques that would suit arcane cultivators then I amalgamated it into one singular technique. I will now walk you through it. I need you to visualise the arcana for me again. Now hold onto the feeling it gives you, it should give you a feeling of power. Now hold onto that power and close your eyes. Visualise your dantian, considering you are at such a low cultivation level it should look like a ball of mist. Now focusing on the feeling that the arcana gives you, that feeling of power, imagine drawing it in through all the pores in your body. Open your eyes and follow the cycling pattern shown in the manual. Lei opened his eyes and started moving his qi through his meridians as demonstrated on the parchment. He felt the qi in his meridians start to filter and become denser. Once he felt that it was pure enough he directed it into his dantian. Once all the energy was directed into his dantian he relaxed and looked at the king. The king, realising he was finished, began to speak, "That was the harvesting technique which you use to replenish your dantian. The next technique is known as the cycling technique. This technique is used to further refine the qi in your dantian increasing its potency but decreasing its volume. This makes it a great tool for increasing your power at the cost of endurance. This time follow the patterns written on the second page." Lei looked over the second page of the manuscript and began moving his qi in accordance with the patterns written on the second page. As he moved his qi through the meridians he felt the qi become denser but felt the volume decreasing. When he had refined the qi in his meridians he sent it back to his dantian and felt the remaining qi start to become denser. He realised that the more he did this the denser his dantian would become. "This technique is the key to advancing from inner body cultivator to manifestation stage cultivator. In order for you to advance from realm to realm you need to perfect an aspect of your qi. This is achieved through a specific cultivation technique like the technique you just performed. This technique is known as the Shai technique. When you advance to the manifestation stage you will need to learn the Liliang technique which will increase the strength your qi can exert. Then once you have reached the authoritarian stage you will have perfected your qi and you will now have to perfect your soul. At this point you will begin to practise soul cultivation techniques. These will perfect your soul and will help you advance through the immortal realms. I want you to spend the rest of day cultivating according to both techniques that I have taught you. Tomorrow I will take you through some simple techniques that are suitable for an inner body cultivator." The king then strode out of the room leaving Lei to practise his techniques. 

A few hours into his cultivation Lei had seen how his core was getting denser and Lei thought that it would eventually be so dense that it could almost be considered solid. Lei carried on with his cultivation techniques when he realised that he was feeling extremely thirsty. Lei stood up and decided to leave the room in search of something to drink. Lei walked through the room where the king had unlocked his dantian and meridians. Then he made his way out of the chambers where he had been training. Lei once again found himself in the maze of hallways and passages. Lei wandered around trying to find a kitchen or a bathroom. Lei had been searching for what felt like hours but was, in reality, around half an hour when he saw Xiang walking through the hallways. She smiled when she saw him and said, "Lei, my father said that he was training you today. Why are you here instead of training with my father?" "He unlocked my dantian and meridians and taught me a few cultivation techniques and then left me to cultivate for a few hours. Which I did, but then I got thirsty so I left and began to look for somewhere to get something to drink. You wouldn't be able to help me, would you?' 

Xiang laughed and said, "Not a problem, I'll be happy to guide you to the nearest dining room. Incidentally I was heading there anyway to have a meal with my sisters. Come with me." Xiang set off down the hall and Lei followed her through the turns and stairways of the citadel. Finally Xiang and Lei arrived at one of the lesser dining halls. Xiang pushed the doors open and they entered to see three young women sitting at the table already waiting for Xiang to get there. They all looked similar to Xiang, just older. Lei stopped and bowed to each of the princesses before saying, "Greetings your majestys. I am Lei Kun, the arcane cultivator. Your father is instructing me in the ways of the arcane cultivator." 

The princesses looked at him like he was scum. Before the oldest looking sister turned to the sister sitting next to her and said, "Did that peasant just speak directly to us?" The other sister answered and said, "I believe he did Mira. A peasant thinks that he is worthy enough to speak to us. The very thought is hilarious." Lei heard Xiang take a deep breath before she started shouting, "DID YOU NOT HEAR WHAT HE JUST SAID? HE IS AN ARCANE CULTIVATOR. HE WILL BECOME STRONGER THAN ANY OF US. FATHER IS TRAINING HIM TO PROTECT OUR KINGDOM. HE IS DEFENDING THE VERY KINGDOM YOU LIVE HIM." She took a deep breath and said, "Look, I'm sorry I shouted but he will become more intertwined in our kingdom. You all know father is dying and do you really think it is in your best interests for you to disrespect the person who will protect us all?" The princesses and Lei stared at Xiang in shock until the princess, who had yet to speak, suddenly said, "Xiang we are sorry for our actions and hope you will forgive us and I hope that you and Mr Kun will join us for lunch." Xiang nodded and said, "I would like that and I'm sure Lei would too." Lei just nodded as Xiang pulled up a chair. He walked to the table and began pulling up a chair leaving a seat between him and Xiang, remembering what she had said about royal protocol. As he was doing so she shook her head and said, "Lei come sit next to me considering you are an arcane cultivator and that you will soon be our kingdom's protector. I believe that you are of suitable standing to sit next to me." Lei felt conflicted. He didn't want to hurt Xiang's feelings by not sitting next to her but he also didn't want to offend her sisters by ignoring royal protocol. He was conflicted and then he realised that he valued Xiang's friendship more than he cared about offending her sisters. He sat down next to Xiang and pretended not to see the judgemental looks that the princesses were throwing his way. And so began one of the most awkward lunches of Lei's life.