The lecture of Elder Zheng lasted for quite a long time . After which he started to give instructions to guide & channel the Mana energies around the Mana-Meridian Channels & storing the concentrated mana on the Mana-Circuit which served as pseudo Dantian.
He guided very carefully without any scorn or ridicule & would even sometimes pass on his Mana & personally guide the students' Circulation showcasing where they failed, their strong points & other miscellaneous guidance.
Sargon, his Trio , Rahus Lombaros , Naval Race Berinya Kostov & many others who came from some affluent families with some knowledge were also further enlightened & changed & continually modified & made their Mana-Circulation more Perfect.
If even those with decent backgrounds could benefit hugely , some were even brought to the point of questioning their knowledge & common sense of their ancestral heritage.
One can imagine how much of progress & leap this simple lecture was to those with poor backgrounds or from the Secular side of the World.
He continued by instructing the students on the art of channeling mana through their Mana-Meridian Channels, emphasizing the importance of precision and care. "Your Mana-Circuit," he explained, "serves as your pseudo-Dantian until you reach a higher realm. It must be nurtured, strengthened, and expanded with diligence.
After making sure everyone got the jist of it , Elder Zheng didn't let down the enthusiasm of the new students & continued briefly about the topic of 2nd & 3rd Phase of Inner Houtian Realm, after all talking more than necessary of 1st Phase is useless , cultivation is after all a continuous accumulation process.
" Diligence is more needed than the Knowledge & Spiritual talent of the Cultivators at least till before one reaches Outer Houtian Transformation Realm it is the same story. Each new Realm brings with it new understanding , principles & tempo of cultivation. Something might be highly favored in one realm but in another it might even become a hindrance.
Cultivation & Realm-Progression is never as monotonous as one thinks. Each Step brings new Trials & adventures. ", the teachings became more esoteric with complex rational logic the more Elder Zheng continued.
Seeing that some were on the verge of breakthrough & some had even entered the 2nd Phase, Elder Zheng gave detailed information regarding breaking through from 1st to 2nd Phase , how to consolidate one's realm after achieving breakthrough & how to further progress onto the 3rd Phase.
Sargon & others carefully listened & absorbed the knowledge & each of them noted key-points of the 2nd lecture. Sargon made the following summary.
As long as one makes a Circuit which can be also called as Mana-Circle which helps in circulation of mana throughout the body one is said to have entered the Inner Houtian Realm awakening their talent of Mages.
This is further Divided into 4 Phases:
Apprentice Mage Phase [equivalent to Martial Learner Phase from Darknorth Cultivation System]:
Here one focuses on controlling the ethereal colorless low vitality mana to induce more vitality to it through mastering the Skill of Mana-Radiation & Mana-Resonance . It should be focused more on making the Mana more fuller with life by opening up 12 Principal Meridians channel & Acupoints.
At Peak one creates a circulation within a Magic Circle which is called Xuan Jin Wheel Formation for getting peace & balance of the mana, which further enhances Magic abilities.
To perform Mana-based Spells one not only needs a Wand bonded by one's blood, or needs to make Hand-Incantation PLUS the utterance Chants to perform it well
Novice Mage Phase [Martial Artist Phase] :
This realm is focused on Exquisite Control & Clarity of the Mana mastering the Skill of Mana-Dissemination .To enter this realm, one needs to cultivate a larger & more robust Magic Circulation Circuit. Meridians are tempered & acupoints are cleared , opening up the pores of skin & cleansing the whole body , making it suitable for holding huge amounts of Mana. Mana can go outside the body for a short distance temporarily.
At Peak one creates a Chengming Wheel Formation (Clear Brightness): Gaining clarity and insight. To perform Mana-based Spells one needs a Hand Sign or Wand with Chants.
Journeyman Mage Phase [Martial Master Phase]:
This realm is focused on Explosiveness & Lethality of the Mana mastering the Skill of Mana-Circulation . To enter this realm one purifies & makes the ethereal Mana visible infused with a huge lifeforce & elemental properties. One needs to start opening up the Five Apertures, gaining.
At Peak one opens Zhouxing Wheel Formation(Perpetual Movement): Harmonising with life's dynamic flow.
To perform Mana-based Spells is simple as movement of body. The Visible True Mana can go outside the body & Mana is strong enough to change its structure to perform the spells effortlessly without the need of Hand-Signs like Naruto or Wands like Harry Potter.
After a brief introduction & metaphor-like knowledge of deeper fundamental principles of each cultivation realm, many disciples with poor & Secular background began to break through some minor phase.
Perhaps it was continuous accumulation beforehand or some lack of good, neat & rational insights passed down from their ancestors they were just one step behind.
But , Now they are catching up & those proud peacocking Young Masters are also having a sense of urgency within them. If they can't even stand-out among these "Low-Lifes" how can they have a face to show to their Elders back home.
Among them was an Orphan who was lucky enough to be selected into Violet Valley Sect, a human boy named Samus with no last name was ecstatic for his breakthrough into 2nd Phase, "Haha . Finally ! Finally , I have climbed this Peak. My Sword Art has already broken through Minor Mastery completely mastering the True White Emperor Sword Aura doubling my combat capability. With this Aura, I have now begun to tread upon Mastering the Dao."
"Interesting ! Didn't expect the First of the Batch to Master Aura Inception fully & step on Dao-Mastery Path was not from some rich Martial Art background but an Orphan with a Poor Upbringing. Let me See….! Good He has Mastered White Emperor Sword Sutra. An Excellent Seed for those bastards of the Southern River Region.", Elder Zheng looked at Orphan Samus with a complicated gaze.
"What Sin have this Poor Daoist committed to fall out of favor from Shahraab the Almighty Divine. Those Southern Bastards easily get a Disciple-Seed but even when Life is running faster than Yellow River, forget about the chances of Dao-Foundation even being a good Disciple-Candidate for my Talisman Lineage- I haven't found any ."
Meanwhile Sargon was also deeply focusing himself on the intricacies of the Dragon-Origin Dantian. Slowly he was feeling his body becoming hotter with each Mana flow. He was also getting some insights into the creation of his 2nd Dantian- The Dragon Tail Dantian.
The Courtyard Master also has some credit in this breakthrough. But he understood that after this great equalizer it would be harder for any recent surprises to occur.
But he was wrong !!!
BOOOM !!!!
RUM !!!!
Surrounding Mana areas were slowly resonating at the same rhythm, humming with a deep-low pitch sound. This only happened for a few breaths with the center being Sargon.
Yes, Sargon had already finished the basic construction for the later establishment of the Dragon-Tail Dantian. He just had not created a new Dantian in his Tail Position yet but just laid its foundation for the fear that the Darknorth Inheritance would be exposed to the outer-world.
After all, the Cultivation world was no Joke , when it was called "Bloody World of Rivers & Lakes". There was a curious and somewhat lust-filled gleam in the eyes of Courtyard Master, which only Sargon could notice.
It was not the Lust of Body , but instead the Lust of Possessing the Secrets of the Disciple.This Phenomenon after all only those with Outer-Houtian Realm could incur to the surrounding natural mana, how could a novice of Inner Houtian Realm be able to do so ?
You think it is Talent ? The Master is no fool who has just entered the World of Cultivation so he wouldn't believe it one bit. He smelled something hidden.
But the phenomenon didn't stop there yet. Sargon was of course not a fool to openly even hint his uniqueness of Cultivation. He was in fact rushing forward to go into a deeper state of contemplation & Mana-Meditation.
BOOM !!!
Sargon used all his Mana & started to guide it through his newly tempered 12 Principal Meridians, & started to disseminate the Mana outside his body through the Pores.
"Exquisite control of Mana, Pushing it out from the pores of Skin further purifying the body . Impossible !! This Sargon has touched upon the enlightenment of the 2nd Phase while only being at the 1st Phase. Even Back home…..", Rohus Lambaros was in too much shock to continue although he was himself at Early Level of 2nd Phase. It was the Pace of Enlightenment that shocked him to his core.
"Already has the skill of Mana-Dissemination. He Must have mastered the skill of Mana-Radiation & Resonance. Very Good. Then it is normal to resonate with the natural mana during the enlightenment breakthrough. But still , he may have some hidden means, Need to check on his background. If it has no Backing then I can probe further & see if it helps me to build Xiantian Dao-Foundation. All under Dao-Foundation are ants. But my age ….", the Courtyard Master was lost in his own thoughts as he actively used an Eye-Technique to peer through the Inside of Sargon.
Sargon was unaware of being seen through nakedly by the Master. But he was not clueless & childish, that was just a Mask he had shown to outside during his life. He had some guesses that someone may have already investigated him.
If it was not for sudden-enlightenment which was detrimental to suppress & his previous saying which ignited the Fire hidden deep within his Spirit.
The Dao was showing itself to him, the Path was opening up itself. Heaven was giving him favors in a certain way. If he retreated now, how could he have pure Dao-Heart to pursue his Dao ?
You must go on.
Seek the Dao.
The pain was slowly being shifted from the Mental Aspect to the Physical Aspect as he slowly tried to change the deep-rooted Mana Circuits & started to add some minor changes into it.
Perhaps due to reincarnation his Spirit was resilient but his Body was still young & soft like that of Baby.
New Circuit for circulation was carved out from his Meridian Networks.This was a new circle being made inside the already existent Larger 1st Mana-Circle/Circuit which made him a Magician from a Normal Mortal Man.
During this entire process the pain he felt increased as if exponentially. The Pain was comparable to the moment when he first opened his Dragon-Origin Dantian. But it's duration was much longer & was of slower Nature.
He clenched his fist, persevering through the hurdle while exquisitely controlling his Mana to the required pathway.
This Circle was commonly known as Xuan Jin Wheel Formation also known as Mystical Stillness Wheel. Although it had far less volume of mana which it could hold compared to Nahirah's 1st Mana Circle or DarkNorth's Dragon-Origin Dantian. But it was not what it was made for.
This Wheel would act as a Control-Circuit of the much larger 1st Mana-Circle .As its name-suggest , It would further induces Mystical Stillness quality of Detached & more calmness to the Mana making it easier to cultivate, resonate, radiate Vitality within.
Furthermore this would be a virtuous circle where the Apprentice Mana-Circle would improve the XuanJin Wheel which would further improve 1st Mana-Circle & so it goes reinforcing & growing.
This Function was also more semi-automatic than Manual, it's like creating a minor steam-engine within his own body to better guide & cultivate the Mana.
"This is the essence of Cultivation. Cultivate Ease progressively forgetting & ignoring the minor details to look & experience the Wide View of the world acquiring the perspective of Heaven & Earth. It's a slow, hard & arduous journey. " Sargon clenched his fist as he opened his eyes, feeling the improvements within himself.
"I Have almost no-bottleneck for the 1st Phase of Apprenticeship, as I have already carved my XuanJin Wheel. Plus it would be even easier for me to enter the 2nd Phase as I already have Mental-enlightenment regarding the Dissemination of Mana.Haha It is true Indeed when the Ancients said without Teacher one would be in darkness even in broad Daylight.", Sargon was already quite happy with his progress.
In Fact is progress extended beyond mana cultivation through mastering the Mana-Radiation Skill he had already glimpsed into the Next Step of his SaberManship for the Skill of Essence Subduing Flame Saber. Just a Step to achieve Minor Mastery of this Art thus gaining the True Saber Flame Aura, adding wings to Tiger increasing his combat capacity by more than 200 % .
But revealing too much is bad as revealing too little. He knew of this wisdom. He wisely chose restraint, prioritizing a solid foundation. After all, apart from Alchemy this was his Main Dao.
"The Dao of the Domineering Saber," Sargon whispered to himself, "that bears Heaven itself."
Sargon was ecstatic beyond measure. Throughout his Journey of Cultivation this was the first time he had achieved breakthrough after breakthrough at the same time with apparently little effort.
"Hmmm. First obtaining the higher Realm Wisdom of Mana Dissemination in the 2nd Phase, then opening the XuanJin Wheel of the 1st Phase. The ancients, lacking Wise Teachers, took Heaven and Earth as their guides, painstakingly forging the Mana Cultivation methods of today. This made it easier for the current generation to tread the Path. Such is the 'Understanding before Breakthrough' method of the Ancient Way, contrasting with the modern 'Breakthrough before Understanding,' where cultivators ascend first and comprehend later, transforming mere knowledge into Wisdom.
Marvelous! Either this boy is a once-in-a-century genius, or he harbors secrets. In the cultivation world, who succeeds without concealing one or two truths they'd never share—not even with the dead? But him? He hasn't even grown hairs on his balls yet. What could he possibly hide?
Interesting. Very interesting."
With one hand supporting his head, the Courtyard Master's eyes gleamed as he plotted… who knows what.
The courtyard's atmosphere remained charged as other disciples began to consolidate their gains. Some envied, while others felt inspired by those who progressed.
Rahus Lombaros clenched his fists, vowing to push himself harder. "If I can't surpass him, how can I face my clan?"
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Elder Zheng dismissed the disciples. "Remember," he said, his voice firm, "cultivation is a journey, not a race. Each step forward must be steady and deliberate."
Sargon nodded, his mind already planning his next steps. The path of the Dao stretched endlessly before him, filled with challenges and opportunities. But he was ready. With his foundation solidified and his will unshaken, he would carve his destiny in the annals of cultivation.
As Sargon left the courtyard, he glanced at the distant mountains, their peaks shrouded in mist. "The Dao reveals itself to those who seek it," he whispered. "And I will seek it to the very end."
The Dao Beckons !!