Once the fire was safely dealt with, we went our separate ways. I passed the bear, not daring to tempt fate by crying out or something. This time, I continued down proper to the bottom of the canyon. Knowing what I knew now, my plan was to try for just one core from a Giant Bat or Gazer. According to the Academy library, they would range from the Third to Fifth stage in the early parts of the canyon. There was also mention of a special reward waiting for anyone who managed to make it to the spiral-shaped canyon's center.
There were similar mentions of rewards related to the bottom of the large lake in the west, for fishing the "River Lord" magical beast in the east and defeating it, and of course for reaching the deepest part of the temple high on Mount Bing. Of course, my goal was the center of the spiral of Luoxuan Canyon. Naturally my current cultivation wouldn't be enough. With a couple Stage 3 cores or single Stage 4 Fourth Realm core, though, the cores should have enough Qi between them to give me a breakthrough, so that would be an appropriate time to learn how to absorb them.
That was easier said than done, though. During the day, basically the only magical beast to be found outside the caves worn into the canyon were Gazers. These were large, floating eyeballs and, unique among the beasts in this preserve, they attacked with mental attacks. Resolve, the Measure of a cultivator that I had a minor talent in, had an effect on defense against mental attacks alongside Reaction, but I wasn't confident in withstanding more than one Gazer at once. I needed to find lone Gazers which I could attack swiftly and decisively, and that took time. One thing I had going for me was that anyone could tell the relative Stage of a Gazer by its size. Small was Stage 3, the ones I was after, the "medium" size ones, were Stage 4, and there were large ones that were Stage 5, and usually had lesser Gazers around them.
The sun was beginning to set by the time I checked my 4th kill—and at last, visible through the hole of the dead Gazer's blank pupil, was an intact Stage 4 core. In spite of not having cuts or bruises, my Health points were below half now as well. Time to skedaddle.
Leaving the canyon, I dashed past the bear—barely a minute after I'd left its boulder-like figure behind, its roar erupted, and I increased my speed until the Dark Forest came into view. Setting up camp in the dark was annoying, but it beat camping in the canyon. The next day, I was slightly less cautious returning through the Dark Forest than before, trying to save a little daylight for the other side. I had a close call with a few more Speartail Wolves toward the end, but I managed to escape and leave the forest unscathed. A good thing too—my Health points had only recovered to about 2/3rds.
I was undisturbed that night—the beasts in this area were Third Realm anyway, so they likely stayed away on purpose. When I finally caught sight of the small city of tents that was the main camp, I felt quietly triumphant. Sure, Jue Zhu was sure to pass me soon, and he outdid my stats in everything but Comprehension anyway, but with this breakthrough I should have the highest cultivation level in the year, however briefly.
It didn't take long for me to find Hasegawa. "The disciple greets Elder Hasegawa," I said, putting the Etiquette course material to use.
He raised his eyebrows. "You're back already?"
I explained how Jue Zhu had, in fact ran into me and, more quietly, about the 3 beast cores I'd already obtained. "Three, including a Fourth Stage, already? I'm impressed. Even among top underclassmen of previous years I've seen, not many would progress like you are. But don't get complacent. It's not easy to extract the maximum possible amount of Qi from a core.
It is easy to start the absorption process, though. All you have to do is cultivate while holding a core. You know how you can sense the Qi all around you when you cultivate, right? Well, you'll be able to sense the core's Qi too. It'll be basically impossible to miss. Then, once you focus your consciousness on the core's Qi, it will start absorbing into you on its own.
In fact, it will start flooding into you. Absorbing a core's Qi always happens much faster than in normal cultivation. If a cultivator normally uses a very good cultivation technique, core absorption will take place even faster. The Experiential Physique can handle this better than a Mortal rank physique body, but sooner or later, your body will start rejecting the core's Qi. The Qi tries to return to the core, but it can't, which causes a chain reaction that destabilizes the core and destroys it.
To prevent this, you must regulate the flow of Qi into your body with your will. I'm afraid I can't explain it better than that; it must be felt. If it was most others, I'd say you were setting yourself up for disappointment, but with your quick mind, I'd say your chance of absorbing enough from the cores you have to break through to the Fourth Stage is about one in three. I'd say more likely, you'll get close enough that another few kills in Luoxuan Canyon will get you there. Or maybe even in the Dark Forest on the way."
I paused, thinking. "My total cultivation is around 8.5 million right now with the kills I've gotten in the canyon so far. If I absorb the Stage 4 core perfectly, that's almost enough on its own. I'd better get what practice I can out of the other two cores first."
Hasegawa made an "ehhhh" gesture. "That will help, but it's more difficult to successfully control core absorption with a core above your level, too. Of course, you can anticipate it being harder, but whether that's enough will be up to you."
"All right. I think I'll turn in the monster parts I have so far first, then I'll start with the weakest core."
"I'd like to watch your attempt, if you don't mind."
I stopped turning away to go. "Of course, you have every right to as my teacher...may I ask why?"
"You didn't think we've stopped updating your rankings just because the 'school year' is out, did you? We may not have eyes on you all the time, but everyone's gains in Qi, what magical beasts they kill, and how many, are being tracked. You're doing very well so far, but how well you absorb cores will also speak to your potential. Getting firsthand data like this is part of my duty."
"Well, I'd hate to impede a matter of duty. In that case, let's do it now before some other concern calls you away and delays us both."
Hasegawa nodded. "We can use my tent."