The sun had risen hours ago, casting long shadows across the training yard as the students continued their rigorous training. The initial challenge of forming the bridge between their lower, middle, and upper dantian had left many of them exhausted, both mentally and physically. The emotional toll of connecting with their hearts, followed by the sharp clarity required to bridge to their minds, had pushed them to their limits.
Thanos sat cross-legged, sweat pouring down his face as he tried to regain his breath. The intensity of the earlier exercises lingered in his body like an ache that refused to fade. He looked around at his comrades, some still struggling to stabilize their Qi, while others seemed to have found a rhythm that allowed them to push through the difficulty.
Sheila Obarisiagbon observed them silently, her gaze sharp and discerning. The instructors had always been strict, but today felt different. There was an air of finality in her words, as if this stage of their training would define their futures as Qi soldiers.
"Listen closely," Sheila began, her voice cutting through the haze of fatigue that hung over the group. "You've all done well to reach this point, but the path ahead will only grow steeper. The process of forming your upper dantian is not just a milestone—it is a gateway. A cultivator who fails to form their upper dantian will face significant challenges. Some of you may have managed to bridge your dantian today, and some of you may not. But understand this: the consequences of not forming your upper dantian go beyond what you experienced today."
The yard fell silent, every student hanging on her words.
"The upper dantian is the seat of your mind, the center of your mental clarity and spiritual insight. Without it, you will be vulnerable to attacks on your mind. Psychic assaults, mental illusions, even techniques that prey on your fears and doubts—these will be far more difficult to resist. A strong mind is your first line of defense, and without a fully developed upper dantian, that defense will be compromised."
Thanos felt a chill run down his spine. He had always known the importance of mental strength, but the thought of being vulnerable to such attacks made the stakes of their training all the more real, the more dangerous.
"Moreover," Sheila continued, "there are techniques you will be unable to perform without your upper dantian. Techniques that involve the manipulation of your surroundings, such as domain creation which require a sharp and focused mind. A cultivator with only a lower and middle dantian may have physical and emotional strength, but they will lack the precision and control needed to wield these advanced techniques effectively. You will be at a disadvantage in battle against opponents who have mastered these skills."
Thanos clenched his fists, the weight of Sheila's words settling heavily in his chest. He had come so far, trained so hard, and yet the path ahead seemed so daunting, he knew it would be challenging but this..
The memory of his failed attempts to stabilize the bridge to his upper dantian replayed in his mind. He had seen the clarity, felt the connection, but his fears had pulled him back, unraveling his progress.
"The difference between those who succeed and those who fail is not merely a matter of talent," Sheila added, her tone softening slightly. "It is a matter of perseverance. Some of you may not have formed your upper dantian today, but that does not mean you cannot do so in the future. What matters is that you do not give up. Your journey as a cultivator is a battle against yourself—against your own doubts, fears, and limitations. Do not let one setback determine your fate."
"One of the reasons you might not have been able to form your upper dantian is the lack of true struggle in your life."
There were frowns and expressions of confusion in the crowd,
"You see, in life everyone go through their own fai lr share of struggle, some more than others, and depending on the way we handled the challenges we were faced with, we emerge different than what we once were and our minds become stronger.
But inlife there are those that don't really face anything too challenging or too mind wrecking and so their minds weren't tampered by the heavy struggles and temptations of this world."
Listening to what she said Thanos understood what she meant, it was just like your muscles when put under extreme physical training regularly, the body becomes stronger and adapts to the pressure, so when ever you pick up the weights again, you can easily lift them. The same could be said of the mind, when faced with situations that require great mental strength to overcome, maybe bullying or a life and death situation, your mind becomes stronger and less likely to be easily shaken by such things. And while thinking of his life Thanos realized he really did live a balanced life.
His parents weren't rich or anything but they took care of him. They had stable jobs and were highly respected in their place of work. He attended a good public school and was never really a pick for bullying. He finished secondary school and joined the military. Yes he's faced some battles but both ended in victories and quick saves. In short, he never faced anything really traumatic.
But if that's the case what is with the mental images that form when he tries to form his upper dantian, what is with the mental barrier he is confronted with when he cultivates. If he really had lived a peaceful life, where did the battle in his mind originate?
Sheila continued her lecture, "when forming your upper dantian you are faced with a mental challenge, a battle of the mind that you must win. These battles are created based on our life experiences, they are formed by the accumulated trauma that we have previously faced in our lives. So no matter how difficult it may seem, the battle you face in your mind is not one you cannot overcome, for your mind never gives you battles that you cannot win, after all, it is your mind."
Thanos' eyes widened as his questions were answered. He finally understood he he faced such a difficult battle in his mind even though he never really faced anything really traumatic in his life. Even though the challenges he faced were minor ones, they each did leave a scar on his mind, and an accumulation of all this said scars and worries and fears formed his this mental barrier that he had faced and failed to break through. He realized this and smiled,
"I guess I do have my own fair share of struggles..."