"Next, I am going to teach you the most basic method that will help you improve your strength." Bell was quick to move away from the subject of the Nexus. Given her field of expertise and nature she did not like to talk about death. "You will use it for the other fields as well but due to the status of your world you should only use it in regards to your Neidan or body. It will be difficult at first, but you will get accustomed to it relatively quickly. In fact, the rest of this week will be spent in its entirety to teach you how to use it."
Arc was not bothered by the shift from the Nexus. He was much more interested in gaining strength. If he had it he would not be forced into such embarrassing situations by those adults around him.
He did have some reservations about anything Sirius approved of. He seemed like he just wanted to hurt him.
"Now if you would please lay down, I am going help teach you how to circulate Xan how we want you to."
Arc found himself following her instruction without telling his body to. He didn't know about Bell's control over the living yet, so he chalked it up to him trusting her.
"Relax yourself, close your eyes, and focus on your body." Arc followed her instructions. He found it difficult to relax completely, but through Bell's assistance and guidance he got himself to a state she was satisfied with.
"Try to focus on what I will be forcing through your body. We have a lot of time, so focus more on the flow and technique. Do not stress yourself trying to rush." Her voice was soothing him and helping him stay concentrated. She was starting to use the power of her name a little bit in order to assist him, this was usually a very time consuming process. "We will start with your Nexus, focus on your sternum."
As she placed her hand above Arc's chest, she began to emit a faint white light that started to coil around his torso.
"We will start by identifying your Nexus. Do you feel that cold but comfortable feeling right by your heart, directly in the center of your chest?"
Arc nodded in affirmation. It wasn't as big as he thought it would, about the size of a speck of dust. Yet he found that when Bell stimulated it it let off incredible amounts of energy.
"That is what is called Xan. It is the energy that your neidan will store and use. It feels cold because it is foreign, but your own Xan will feel warmer. If I had to describe the temperature of the world's natural Xan then it would be lukewarm, but it can change depending on location and concentration."
Arc paid attention to her explanation as he focused on the sensation in his chest, trying to figure out how to make this happen himself.
This did not go unnoticed by Bell.
"Focus your attention on your Nexus. Then focus you strength on it. Slowly but surely you should find yourself gaining control of it. I will leave some of my Xan for you to work with. You have yet to get to the Xan Condensing stage, much less complete the Xan Sensory stage."
Arc felt that cold sensation slowly become warm as it became one with him. As Bell relinquished her control he tried to make that feeling manifest on his own. He wasn't able to make it quite as intense as she was, but it still felt like it was a few degrees hotter than normal.
Bell, while not impressed by the degree of control, was ecstatic at his progress. "Very good Arc! This usually takes even the most talented of people a year to condense their Xan after completing the Xan Manipulation Stage. You did it in only three days, albeit you had help from a master."
"Wait, three days? Hasn't it only been a few minutes?" Arc was sure it hadn't been that long since he started concentrating his power, and her words had distracted him from his meditative state.
"This is your first time cultivating, so your confusion is to be expected. Whenever you reach the status you were in, something we call the null state but down there is known as the meditative state, time seems to pass at a much faster rate but progress in cultivation increases drastically in turn." Arc still looked confused. "You know how sometimes when you are obsessed in an action it seems like time passes faster?"
Arc nodded. He had experienced it during his experiments with the towers and walking.
"It is similar to that. It is significantly more efficient time and energy wise so try to remember that feeling when you cultivate in the future."