Chapter 11: Cultivation 101
Li Lang still remembered the moment when he had asked Elder Nong if there was any method to get around the limit of Qi one could absorb each session, imposed by aptitude. The elder had closed his eyes and took a pregnant pause, looking towards the sky above before replying.
“Cultivation is more difficult than climbing up Mount Tai. Each and every step is taken with blood, sweat, and tears, but the higher you go, the steeper it gets. You must also progress quickly lest you run out of time. If you need assistance at the start line already, how far could you possibly go?”
Seeing Li Lang’s unconvinced expression, the young elder shook his head and continued.
“If you must know, there are no established methods to break past one’s natural limit. While some employ the use of various pills to address this issue, they all come with serious drawbacks and an exorbitantly high price. The famous Ascension Pill is one such pill. While it allows one to breeze through cultivation realms, one won’t be able to exert strength as befitting of their cultivation or progress by themselves without further using pills of even higher quality than the previous.”
“I see…“
The young elder pitifully stared back at the large-headed boy as they silently continued their journey. He wasn’t trying to discourage him, but the ways of the world were too cruel and he believed it would be better for the child to give up his unrealistic ambitions early on.
Li Lang finished reminiscing about the lesson he had with the elder and prepared himself for another attempt. With a clear image of the strange sensation of Qi fresh in his mind, he began to suck in the ambient Qi as he had done in his memories.
The surrounding Qi slowly but surely entered his body through five different points. With the energy flowing through him, he began the next step of using the Qi to dig out a space for it within his body. He began with his fingers, and the dull pain intensified the more he forced Qi into himself.
The pain persisted for as long as Li Lang cultivated.
This…is taking so long. Hmm, Elder Nong said to use my imagination, so maybe I can make it faster if I use other imagery.
Li Lang began imagining himself as a black hole, dragging all the ambient Qi toward him. It once again started at a slow trickle, but then rapidly grew into a quick stream.
It worked! But it’s not going any faster if my body can’t hold it. It’ll just spill out!