Waking up to the same routine: breakfast, study, lunch, martial arts training, cultivation, dinner, and sleep. Day in, day out, it's become my unvarying life for the past three months. Occasionally, I manage to carve out some free time to engage in playful moments with my sisters. Despite the seeming simplicity of my routine, everyone around me believes my mind to be at ease, devoid of the weight of studies.
Without any notable events, the monotony continues until tomorrow. The morning sun marks the commencement of the Elements Qi awakening process for my elder sister, Xu Min. Her 52 meridians recently opened, paving the way for this significant event.
Anticipation bubbles within me as I look forward to witnessing the Element Qi awakening process. Thoughts race through my mind as I lay on my bed, ready to embrace the embrace of sleep.
Over the past three months, I've delved into the intricacies of this world's history, elements, cultivation paths, and realms. Understanding the fundamentals has been a journey, revealing the diverse cultivation paths, each intertwined with unique elements and their mechanisms.
Summarizing my extensive library studies in this cultivation world, the prevailing concept revolves around the "Powers of Elements" that bestow distinct abilities upon their users. While these powers manifest in diverse forms, certain common themes thread through their existence.
1. Earth: Earth-based powers are typically linked to strength, stability, and grounding. These may include abilities related to manipulating soil or rocks, as well as enhanced physical endurance.
2. Water: Water-based powers often involve control over water, ice, or the ability to cleanse and purify. This element is also associated with emotional balance and adaptability.
3. Fire: Fire-based powers are connected to passion, transformation, and purification. These abilities may include control over flames, heat, or the capability to ignite change.
4. Wind: Air-based powers usually relate to agility, intellect, and communication. These abilities might include control over wind, flight, or enhanced mental acuity.
5. Lightning: Lightning-based powers are associated with energy and sudden, powerful transformations. Abilities may include control over lightning or harnessing electrical energy.
6. Light: Light-based powers often symbolize enlightenment, truth, and healing. These abilities could involve the generation of light, the dispelling of darkness, and spiritual insight.
7. Nature: Nature-based powers encompass a wide range of abilities related to plants, growth, healing, animals, and the environment. This might include communicating with animals, controlling plant life, or influencing weather patterns. Practitioners might have the ability to manipulate plant life or possess regenerative qualities.
8. Darkness: Powers related to darkness or shadows can be associated with secrecy, mystery, and hidden potential. Abilities might include invisibility, control over shadows, or tapping into hidden strengths.
In the volumes of various books within this world, the recurring theme is the existence of elements and their accompanying powers. Generally, individuals possess the capability to manipulate a single element, with some achieving mastery over two elements after undergoing the awakening process.
Remarkably rare are those born with the extraordinary gift of controlling three elements, earning them the distinguished title of a true genius. Each element harnessed corresponds to an additional meridian opened within the cultivator's body, one element, one extra meridian; two elements, two extra meridians, and so forth.
The feat of mastering three elements stands out as a rarity, documented sparingly in the pages of history books. This accomplishment signifies that the cultivator has successfully unlocked 55 meridians within their body.
Beyond the foundational Qi Meridian Realm (Qi Disciple) at this realm's lifespan, like that of a human, the power system of this world unfolds through Qi power cultivation, comprising nine realms, each consisting of nine stages. Mastery of these realms propels cultivators to break through the barriers of their world, transcending into the ultimate and final realms known as the 'Godly Realms.'
Here are the nine realms after Qi Meridian (Qi Disciple):
1. Qi Initiate Realm (Qi Practitioner): The starting point for cultivators. Initiates learn to tap into their elemental Qi, sensing its presence and beginning basic energy manipulation and meditation.
Lifespan: Extended by 50 years.
2. Qi Channeling Realm (Qi Master): Cultivators refine Qi control, channeling it through specific pathways to enhance physical strength and gain elemental mastery. Early manifestations of elemental attacks and minor enhancements in physical abilities.
Lifespan: Extended by 100 years.
3. Elemental Attunement Realm (Qi Grandmaster): Practitioners align Qi with elemental forces, choosing a primary affinity. They gain deeper elemental manipulation abilities associated with their chosen elements, including the ability to project larger and more controlled elemental attacks.
Lifespan: Extended by 250 years.
4. Qi Harmonization Realm (Qi Warlord): Cultivators achieve a balance between inner energies and elemental forces, enhancing precision in elemental manipulation. Can now harmonize multiple elements for more intricate attacks and defensive maneuvers.
Lifespan: Extended by 400 years.
5. Ethereal Fusion Realm (Qi King): Attaining the ability to merge multiple elemental Qi types, allowing versatile combinations. Practitioners gain power over the natural environment, receive Qi Wings for aerial mobility, and can manifest ethereal armor for defense.
Lifespan: Extended by 600 years.
6. Celestial Integration Realm (Qi Emperor): Fusing Qi with celestial energies, unlocking manipulation of cosmic forces. Achieving extraordinary feats and demonstrating control over the celestial order. Can now create minor celestial phenomena and possess increased resistance to external forces.
Lifespan: Extended by 800 years.
7. Transcendent Mastery Realm (Qi Ancestor): Transcending the physical world, performing acts that defy ordinary reality. Briefly merging consciousness with the universe, standing on air without techniques, achieving agelessness, and acquiring limited control over time perception.
Lifespan: Extended by 1000 years.
8. Cosmic Enlightenment Realm (Qi Venerable): Merging Qi with the cosmic order itself. The power to shape reality according to will, gaining mastery over the best combination of elements. Can now manipulate the elements on a grand scale, create small pocket dimensions, and achieve near-instantaneous movements.
Lifespan: Extended by 2000 years.
9. Nirvana Attainment Realm (Qi Saint): The highest stage before the Higher Realms. Transcending the mortal realm, achieving perfect enlightenment, manipulating the essence of creation, and communing with cosmic beings. Can manipulate life force, project consciousness across vast distances, and create temporary realms.
Lifespan: Extended by 5000 years.
The progression through these realms embodies a lifelong odyssey of self-exploration, discipline, and a profound connection with universal energies. Each realm unravels new layers of power and understanding, yet the journey towards the Godly Realms stands as the ultimate test.
In my extensive readings at the library, I delved into the details of numerous renowned cultivation techniques, meticulously categorized based on elemental affinities.
Additionally, I acquired the latest information about the world's basic currency hierarchy, ranging from Silver Coin and Gold Coin to the esteemed Manifest Coin. Notably, 1 Manifest Coin holds the value of 1000 Gold Coins, and 1 Gold Coin is equivalent to 100 Silver Coins. For transactions involving higher-value items, Tier 4 Pills come into play, as their value starts at 50 Manifest Coins.
Over these three months, my pursuits extended beyond mere knowledge accumulation; I also dedicated myself to cultivation, successfully opening the next set of my meridians. At present, 24 meridians stand open within me.
Contemplating my progress, I mused, 'With sustained effort, I can expedite the opening of all my meridians, enabling me to undergo the Elements Qi Awakening process. The wealth of information I've gathered will undoubtedly prove invaluable once I transition into the realm of a cultivator.' With these thoughts, I closed my eyes, embracing the realm of sleep.
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I could sense the anticipation building within me as I approached the venue where the Elements Qi Awakening process for my elder sister, Xu Min, was about to begin.
Having started my day early, I took a refreshing bath, dressed myself, and waited for the spectacle of witnessing Xu Min's awakening.
The ancient hall, usually reserved for private cultivation, now stands as the sacred ground for this crucial event. Present were not only my immediate family but also formidable cultivators from nearby regions. Their presence hinted at a shared eagerness to witness the Elements Qi Awakening of Emperor Xu Min's eldest child.
In the gentle morning sunlight filtering through the trees, the clearing emanated a warm, golden glow. This day held immense significance, marking the commencement of Elder Sister Xu Min's Elements Qi Awakening Process.
Adorned in a traditional robe embellished with symbols representing the empire, Elder Sister Xu Min, with her 52 meridians wide open, stood ready for this momentous occasion. The air carried a solemnity as our family and fellow cultivators gathered, fully aware that today would shape her path as a cultivator.
At the center of the clearing lay the Elemental Stone, a time-honored relic passed down through generations. This mystical stone possessed an extraordinary ability to gauge an individual's connection with elemental forces. Xu Min's heart raced as she approached the stone, guided by a senior overseeing today's important ceremony.
The Elemental Stone, a vibrant reservoir of energy, showcased its power by pulsating with various elemental forces. Each element emitted its own enchanting allure, tempting Xu Min with promises of strength and purpose.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Min reached out and placed her hand on the Elemental Stone, releasing her Qi. The stone responded immediately, its surface shimmering, and a mesmerizing display of elements encircled her. Fire crackled, water rippled, wind whispered, and the earth trembled. Light, lightning, nature, and darkness converged in a breathtaking show of energy.
For a fleeting, exhilarating moment, Xu Min felt intimately connected to the essence of each element. As the energies settled, a newfound clarity emerged.
The earth and water elements resonated most deeply with her spirit. In acknowledgment of her innate affinity, the Elemental Stone emitted a radiant glow, leaving the onlookers in sheer awe.
Elder Sister Xu Min had been chosen by the earth and water elements, a revelation that brought tears of joy to our mother's eyes. At that moment, it became evident that her destiny was intricately intertwined with these two elements.
The gathered cultivators burst into cheers and applause, celebrating the joyous moment of Xu Min's profound awakening as the newest cultivator. Her journey in the cultivation world was just beginning, carrying the legacy of the chosen elements into the unexplored territories of cultivation.
Setting forth on her cultivation journey, Elder Sister Xu Min's path now shone bright with the newfound power of the Qi system. Having completed the challenging initiation process, she returned to our mother, embracing her tightly.
As time unfolded, my sister's skills blossomed, and her command over the earth and water elements solidified. She transformed into a symbol of hope within the cultivation world, embodying the limitless potential inherent in those who traverse this extraordinary path.
Armed with honed abilities, she aspired to become a master of her craft, ready to face the challenges and adventures awaiting her in the expansive realm of cultivation. After receiving heartfelt congratulations from the assembled cultivators and family members, it was time to resume their everyday routines.