Since I want to use the insights from my previous outburst, I need to make sure to recreate the circumstances that it happened in. Sitting down on the grass in the courtyard, I focus myself on my inner energy and start circulating it through my inner paths.
As soon as I start my cultivation, I feel a great pressure on my outer paths, as if this kind of cultivation was far more efficient and suited for me. While that might be true, I can't start from the top. If I won't be able to wrench the control over my own energy from my instincts, there will be absolutely no point in having insane amounts of said energy!
As my mana overflows from my dantian once again, I slow down this process as much as I can, to observe how does my body react to the flow. For some reason, acupoints are reacting to it as a fertile ground reacts to the rainwater, while my innards are repelled by it as if it was an acid? There is really no logic in it!
Observing how does the energy react to specific parts of my paths, I can't help but marvel at my stupidity. While the acupoints are kind of stops that designate the routes, what does actually connect them? Just a bit of my flesh! If I can adapt parts of my body to accept my energy, there should be a way to improve my entire body like that!
Limiting the amount of energy flowing through my path, I start to lightly force it out of the paths. Yes, in the same exact moment that first droplet of mana drops out of the regular pathway I'm able to see the stairs. Apparently, no matter how much of my energy I do infuse in my body, this insane pain will appear the same.
Feeling my body being burned, melted and torn apart at the same time, I tighten my teeth and endure. Only when the small part of my muscles where I was forcing my energy in finally ease down and stop depriving me of my sanity I can confirm my idea.
If I will manage to endure this impossible pain, I will be able to fortify my body! While I can't be sure if this will have any positive effect on my cultivation, even with just a tiny bit of my body adapted to it, I can feel my circulation being a lot smoother and easier, as if some kind of clog got cleared out!
But that can wait. While improving my circulation can't be unbeneficial, it won't change anything in terms of my ability to wield this energy! What I need to focus on, is actually using my mana to my advantage without the use of additional tools like the ultraviolet sword from my adventure back in the forest!
Since my idea is confirmed already, I speed up my cultivation to a point where the flow already connects its forwarding point with its tail, creating a full circle of energy flowing through my acupoints. With every increase in the speed or amount of the energy that takes part in my cultivation, I can feel my aura growing stronger and stronger. Only when it feels almost like a tangible entity, I try to push it in the form of a sharp pole!
And nothing happens.
What should I do to manipulate it then? Even after trying to recreate my previous deed on a smaller scale, there were no effects to speak about whatsoever. What am I doing wrong then?
Wait, since the cultivation is all about circulating the energy, maybe manipulating it has something to do with the flow as well?
Since I already understood more or less how does it work by comparing it to the pressure and density, maybe that could prove useful as well? I remember that my aura erupted only when enough energy gathered in my pathways and spilt outside en masse. I think I can use this to figure something out!
But how am I supposed to gather a lot of energy in a single spot? If my pathways already exist, I can only control the speed of the flow or the amount of the energy contained by it. But what if I suddenly block the circulation at a very specific point?
Eager to try my idea out, I extend my hand forward while boosting the flow. When it reaches a point when something in my mind clicks, I forcefully block the flow in the acupoint at the tip of my finger!
BOOM!
Like lighting, blocked energy suddenly burst out from my fingertip in the direction that it's pointing! With the new outflow for my energy, all of my mana gathered in my flow is rushing out of my finger, creating a deep, burned-out pit! Only when I stop myself from blocking the flow does it come back to the usual pathway!
Okay, so that's one way to use it. What if I fortify only some parts of my body to alter the original pathways and force some constant effects to appear? But wait, if I get too hasty right now, I might wreck my natural pathways and who knows if I will be ever able to fix them back? What if I make some kind of calculation error and only block myself from progressing?
No, altering my state can wait. I will attempt it only when I'm sure I can do it in the right way!
"Blop!"
"The overdrive cooldown on the host's running ability is over!"
"Blop!"
"The overdrive cooldown on the host's bad smithing ability is over!"
"Blop!"
"The overdrive cooldown on the host's executioner's path is over!"
Wait! I totally forgot about this usage of the system! Considering how improving my abilities tends to infuse me with innate ability to use it more efficiently, maybe that's the correct way for me to improve?
Bonger! I recall unlocking my tools to analyze my abilities and paths! It's time for my part of the deal to be paid now!