A tall, stern disciple stood at the front of the test chamber, his expression emotionless as his eyes swept over the gathered children.
"Master Shen will not be overseeing today's test," the disciple announced, his voice sharp and authoritative. "He's returned to the main sect. After last initiation, he mentioned needing to research something."
The disciple pressed on before Xuan could think about what that meant. "My name is Tao—you may call me Master Tao," he said, his cold gaze sweeping across the room. "I will be leading the test in Master Shen's place. You all know what's at stake—those who cannot sense qi by the end of today will be..." Tao paused, his lips curling into a slow, unsettling smile. "…kindly escorted out."
A chill ran through the room as the children shifted nervously.
Then Tao's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Those who pass will be one step closer to becoming a true disciple of the Venomthread Sect, like I am," he added, his eyes gleaming as they swept over the group wtih pride.
"The test is simple," he continued. "I will call each of you forward, one by one. Using my qi, I will draw a number in the air, and your task will be to tell me what that number is. If you are truly able to sense qi, you will see it. If not..." He let the threat hang in the air, his smile widening slightly.
Xuan swallowed hard. He knew he could sense qi, but the weight of the moment still hung on him. He couldn't afford to let his nerves get the better of him now.
Sweeping his gaze over the group, Tao's eyes settled on the first child. "You," he said, pointing to the arrogant boy who had mocked Xuan in the dining hall.
The boy puffed out his chest, attempting to disguise his nerves with a display of false confidence, and stepped forward. Once he was closer, Tao raised his hand, and the air shimmered faintly as he manipulated the qi, forming it into a shape. A faint trail of light appeared in the air, drawing a glowing number.
Xuan squinted, focusing on the energy in the air. It was a seven. He could see it clearly in his mind's eye, and the moment of recognition calmed his nerves slightly. He mentally repeated the number, waiting for the boy to respond.
"Seven," the arrogant boy said aloud, his voice steady.
Tao nodded, his expression indifferent. "Correct. Stand to the side," he ordered, waving the boy off dismissively. The boy smirked reliefed as he moved to the side, casting a glance at the other kids as if he had already won something.
Unbothered, Tao pressed on without pause, calling up the children one by one. Some, eyes wide with fear, managed to pass, their voices trembling as they recited the numbers. Others, however, faltered; when they failed to see the number, terror washed over their faces as Tao decisively ordered the other disciples to escort them out.
Soon Bo Cai was called up. Even now his usual easy-going demeanor had'nt been shaken as he stood before Tao. The air shimmered again, and Xuan focused on the number. Thirtythree, he thought. Bo Cai paused for a moment, then confidently said, "Thirtythree."
Tao gave a nod, and Bo Cai smiled, as he was told to stand with the others who had passed. He shot a brief glance at Xuan, a look of encouragement passing between them.
Finally, it was Xuan's turn. Tao's cold eyes locked onto him, lingering for a second longer on his missing arm. "Come forward," Tao said, his tone flat, but his disdain for Xuan still evident.
Xuan stepped up. He was more confident now. He knew he could sense qi, so he wasn't particularily worried.
Tao raised his hand, the air shimmering again as he manipulated the qi. Xuan concentrated, his mind sharpening as the glowing number began to form. Eleven. He could see it clearly. His heart raced, but his voice remained steady as he spoke.
"Eleven."
For a brief moment, Tao's expression faltered, a flicker of something like surprise passing through his eyes before the usual coldness returned. He gave a short nod, though the disapproval in his gaze was unmistakable. He had no faith in the cripple and he didn't like the constant small smile that was somehow on his face. "Correct," Tao said, though his tone was clipped, as if he didn't like the fact that Xuan had passed. "Stand to the side."
Time went by fast as the final kids got tested.
When it was all over, only nine of them remained—Xuan, Bo Cai, the arrogant boy, and six others who looked equally shaken but relieved.
Master Tao stepped forward, his icy gaze sweeping over the remaining group. "Congratulations," he said, though his tone carried no warmth. "Before we end, I will give you the opportunity to ask questions regarding your cultivation."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. No one wanted to be the first to speak, but the air was heavy with unsaid questions. Eventually, one of the kids, a small girl with wide eyes, nervously raised her hand. Tao gave a curt nod.
"Master Tao," the girl began, her voice shaking slightly, "you said we need to unlock all six nodes to gather enough qi for cultivation. But what happens if one of the nodes gets damaged during training? Can it still be healed?"
Tao's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered the question. "If a node is merely damaged, there are methods to heal it. You can either find some special medicine or you can find someone strong to assist you. However, if the node is destroyed completely, there is nothing that can be done." He paused, his gaze sharp and unforgiving. "Understand this: damage to a node can cripple your cultivation. It is a risk every cultivator faces, so be careful"
The girl nodded slowly, her shoulders slumping as the weight of his answer seemed to press down on her. She tried to maintain a neutral expression, but Xuan caught the way her fingers trembled at her side.
He pondered as he watched her almost trembling figure. What about the other way?, he thought. Tao hadn't mentioned the way Xuan had healed his own Heart Node. His parents' method had shown him how to surround the damaged node with qi, gradually mending it over time. He had experienced it himself, knowing full well that it could certainly work.
But Tao's explanation offered no such hope. It was harsh and final. Does he not know about that method, or is he just keeping it from us? Xuan wondered, casting a glance at the crestfallen girl. Her face had grown pale, and though she hadn't said anything, Xuan could tell—she had probably damaged one of her nodes during training.
Xuan knew how that felt, his heart softening as he remembered his own hopelessness just a while ago, inwardly deciding to share his experience with her later. But before he could dwell on it, Tao's cold gaze flicked over the group once more, pulling Xuan out of his thoughts.
He hesitated only for a moment before raising his hand. "Master Tao, I have a question."
Tao's gaze flicked to him, irritation flashing briefly in his eyes. "Yes?" he asked, his tone impatient.
Xuan swallowed, then spoke. "Master Tao, is it possible to unlock the dantian with fewer than six nodes? If someone could gather enough qi from just five, could they still open it?"
Xuan knew the answer might not change anything, but he wanted to ask. He wanted to confirm his theory. Steeling himself, he waited for a response.
A sneer curled across Tao's lips, his eyes darkening. "Ridiculous," he snapped, voice heavy with disdain. "The very foundation of cultivation requires balance. Six nodes create that balance—without them, the flow of qi will always be insufficient. What you're asking is impossible. Don't waste your time with foolish ideas.
Frustration and embarrassment burned in Xuan's chest, his smile faltering for a bit. Tao's dismissive tone stung, but he had expected it. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that his parents' method had hinted at something different.
„It-"
Just then, one of the other disciples interjected, a flicker of interest crossing his face, before he caught himself, quickly shutting his mouth. His gaze briefly flicked toward Xuan before turning away. "Never mind," the disciple muttered under his breath, clearly not wanting to make trouble in front of Tao.
What was that about? Xuan wondered, though Tao's icy glare left no room for further questions.
„Next."
Slowly but surely the other kids also asked a few questions—mostly general concerns about cultivating qi and techniques. Tao answered them curtly, his patience visibly wearing thin with time.
Soon he clapped his hands sharply. "That's enough questions for now. You'll have another opportunity during the next session." He gestured toward the door, signaling the end of the gathering. "You're dismissed."
---
In the weeks that followed, Xuan threw himself back into his cultivation. The denial of the hosting disciple didn't deter him. He had faith in his parents' method, and he had hope that it could still work as he continued to slowly but surely unlock the remaining nodes.
His daily life became a relentless cycle of cultivation. Besides the few hours he spent eating in the dining hall and the occasional, brief conversations with Bo Cai, everything was focused on unlocking his nodes.
But no—there was one more thing.
One evening, after a cultivation session, Xuan found himself standing in front of the door to the room of the girl who had asked the question about the broken node - a girl named Ying Yue. The same defeated look in her eyes had been haunting him for days. He didn't know why, but something compelled him to share what little he had learned about healing a damaged node.
Without much conversation, Xuan had quietly taught her the technique he had used to begin healing his Heart Node and explained how to gently guide the qi around the damaged node and let it slowly mend itself over time. After that, his focus had returned fully to his own problems.
Two weeks later, after a steady effort, Xuan unlocked the first leg node. The surge of energy that followed its opening was familiar by now—sharp and exhilarating. He could feel the difference instantly. The ease with which qi entered his body had improved dramatically, and the sensation of pulling it in from the air around him was growing more natural.
After the first leg node got unlocked, the second one took even less time. Just a week and a half later, after countless cultivation sessions, Xuan felt the barrier on his second leg node give way. Another rush of qi flooded his body, even more intense than the last time.
Everything seemed to be going well as the process had become smoother with each success. As more nodes unlocked, the flow of qi entering his body increased, giving him more energy to control. Each node he unlocked made the next one easier, and the progress was undeniable.
Finally, Xuan focused his efforts on the last node—the head node. Unlike the others, this one felt different. It was located in a more vital and sensitive position, closer to his mind and consciousness. The head node wasn't just another gateway for qi—similar to the heart node it held something more. And along with that came more serious consequences, if he tampered with it thoughtlessly.
Both his parent's method and the sect's method had mentioned the special significance of the head node. It granted a cultivator the ability of internal inspection, a vital skill for the future stages of cultivation that allowed one to visualize their body more thoroughly, especially in relation to the flow of qi. The ability would give him deeper insight into his body's workings—letting him track his progress, detect internal injuries, and even control his qi more efficiently by seeing where it was flowing or blocked. Unlocking internal inspection would be the first step towards unlocking the dantian.
But even with its higher significance, the head node was still just another node to unlock. Xuan had already unlocked five and was well-practiced in the process. Though he approached this one with more caution, aware of the dangers its vital position posed, he didn't hesitate. He had grown confident in his control over qi, and while he took his time, ensuring every step was careful and deliberate, he didn't let fear slow him down.
Finally, after days of focused cultivation, he felt the familiar shift. The barrier around the head node began to weaken and then gave way completely. Qi rushed through his body, but with it came something new.
A heightened awareness bloomed within him, a clarity that hadn't been there before. The ability of internal inspection unfolded in his mind, allowing him to visualize the flow of qi within his body with startling precision. He could see the qi surging in his body, and feel the energy pulsing towards each unlocked node.
Xuan lost himself in the sensation, his focus narrowing as he observed the subtle flow of qi within his body. It was mesmerizing to see how the energy moved, drawn towards each unlocked node like iron to a magnet. He could feel every surge and pulse, each wave of qi attempting to weave a path forward. For the first time, he truly grasped the intricacies of his cultivation—the ebb and flow of energy, and the delicate dance within him. But as he continued to study the movements, he began to notice something off.
As Xuan observed more closely, he finally understood why the qi had always felt sluggish when he tried to manipulate it. There were no defined channels for the energy to flow through. The qi was essentially forcing its way through his body, squeezing through pathways that hadn't yet been formed. Without proper channels, the energy struggled, its movement stifled and inefficient. Each node attracted and gathered qi, but the lack of established qi channels meant the energy had to push its way forward, slow and laborious.
Put off by this realization, Xuan pondered what to do. His next instinct was to consult his parents' manual for guidance on what to do about this. But just as he wanted to go through it, a sharp knock interrupted his thoughts. Someone was at the door.
Xuan, still catching his breath from his recent breakthrough, stood up and opened the door. On the other side stood a senior disciple of the Venomthread Sect. Xuan blinked in surprise, taking in the figure before him.
The man's face was sharp, his dark eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression. Xuan immediately felt a sense of familiarity, though it took him a moment to place it. Then it clicked—this was the same disciple who had almost spoken up during the Q&A session, when Xuan had asked about unlocking the dantian with fewer than six nodes.
His heart quickened, a mix of curiosity and uncertainty swirling in his chest. Why was this disciple here, now, at his door?