Blossoming Path

"You," Elder Ming began, seeming on the brink of voicing some thought, yet he restrained himself, shutting his eyes in an expression of patient resignation. "It is no longer within me to be astounded. I direct you towards meditation, towards finding your path, and you come back with a new technique. You know, Kai, if I were to ask you to forage in the forest, I wouldn't be surprised if you came back cradling a mythical phoenix egg."

I don't think he'd appreciate it if I revealed that time I went to the forest and triggered the Heavenly Interface, so I kept my mouth shut and continued cultivating. His mutterings faded as I returned to the circulation of energy.

Crimson Lotus Purification Technique (Level 1): A sophisticated cultivation method that harmoniously blends the essence of the wood element's growth and the purifying power of the flame element. This technique allows the cultivator to draw in and accumulate energy from their surroundings at a slow pace, resembling the gradual unfolding of a crimson lotus. The gathered energy is then purified, removing any impurities or harmful constituents in the user's body, before integrating it into theirl reserves. The cultivator can regulate the extent of purification, providing a finely tuned balance between cultivation speed and quality.

The cultivation method was incredible. It was faster than the basic one I was taught, but whenever I accumulated a sufficient amount, it was whittled down to a fraction of pure energy. I added it to my reserves and opened my eyes. Everything felt clearer, and I had produced an incredible amount of heat as I cultivated. It was like a fever, and sweat covered my body.

"How's that, Elder Ming?"

He was monitoring my condition, partially to prevent Qi Deviation, and to see how it worked. I recited the information from the interface, but he needed to check its capabilities for himself.

"The speed at which you cultivate is...slow. Incredibly so. It refines it down further, shedding away any impurities until it's a fraction of what you collected."

"So, is that a good thing...?"

"Imagine your body as a vast vessel," he began. "Many cultivators see their bodies as immense oceans, capable of holding an enormous amount of Qi. They don't worry about the quality of the Qi they gather; they just keep pouring in more and more, like a torrential rain. They believe the sheer volume would eventually lead them to transcendence."

He then glanced at me, his gaze piercing. "But you, Kai, you're not like them. Your vessel is not an ocean but a small, exquisite cup."

His words were like a pebble dropped in a quiet pond, creating ripples in my understanding. He was right. My body's capacity for Qi was far smaller than others due to my weak circulatory system. Even though I told him my condition improved as a result of our training, it was still well below average. He mentioned that there were elders in the village who had more physical aptitude than I did.

"With a small cup," he continued, "You can't simply fill it with rainwater. You must be selective, fill it with the finest nectar. It is not about quantity, Kai, but quality. The slower accumulation of Qi, the process of its purification, it might be seen as a curse by many, but for you, it is a blessing in disguise."

He turned his back, facing the sun as he did so. "Your body is your vessel, Kai. Treat it with care. Fill it with the purest Qi, nurture it, and in time, it will surely transcend to the next rank. Don't see your limitations as shackles. They are the keys to a path less tread. The path that is yours."

I was encouraged by his words, although his mention of how exceptionally slow my cultivation method was concerned me. I didn't have a baseline, except for the most simple one that wasn't classified as a technique. I asked him another question.

"Elder Ming," I hesitated, "I'm curious about your cultivation method. How did it work?"

His eyes held a glimmer of mirth, "You probably wouldn't recognize the name even if I told you, but it is known as the Phoenix Blaze Resurgence."

"The Phoenix Blaze Resurgence," I echoed, letting the unfamiliar words roll off my tongue. "Sounds powerful."

"It has its merits," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling with a smile. "It's based on the principles of my sect, which fundamentally revolves around the flame."

"But... how does it compare to mine in terms of gathering Qi?" I couldn't help but ask. It wasn't a matter of competition, but rather understanding our relative positions in the vast world of cultivation.

Elder Ming considered the question for a moment before replying, "If we were to compare, it gathers Qi at roughly tenfold the rate of your Crimson Lotus Purification Technique."

"Tenfold..." The number echoed in my mind, daunting but also strangely motivating. So the amount Elder Ming could collect in a day was worth over a week's worth of mine?

"However, do not despair, Kai," he quickly added. "Remember, our paths are different, and so is our approach. Just like your technique, the Phoenix Blaze Resurgence also draws from the flame element. But while yours focuses on the purification aspect, harnessing the flame to refine the energy, mine emphasizes the rebirth aspect, harnessing the flame to continuously replenish and renew the qi. Both methods carry their own beauty and uniqueness, just like two flames from the same fire."

Two flames from the same fire, I mused. Despite our different paths, there was an uncanny sense of connectedness. It was a comforting thought, knowing that my technique was not an isolated instance, but part of a greater, more intricate tapestry of cultivation methods.

Again, I was reminded of patience. If I acted hastily, the foundation of my cultivation would be ruined. The idea of spending years building something that would take another months irked me, but those were the cards I was dealt.

There would be no half-measures here. If I was going to fill this vessel of mine with energy, it would be with the purest! I could make a garden wherever I pleased, but I'd only be satisfied if it were made on the finest soil rich in nutrients!

Elder Ming left me to my cultivation, and I spent hours accumulating the energy from my surroundings. It wasn't innate, but a part of Tianyi's Qi Haven skill. She exuded an aura that provided the environment with energy, and my technique was slowly but surely collecting it within my body.

I kept going until I could go no further; the ball I had accumulated was of significant size and the qi in Elder Ming's home had all but dried up. If I had to compare it to something, it was the size of Wang Jun's head.

But unlike his cranium, it was full of impurities. Throughout the process, it purified the mass bit by bit. But now I focused fully on filtering out the impure qi.

Each moment spent in cultivating was akin to an expert bonsai gardener delicately pruning their treasured tree. The impure qi was like excessive branches and leaves that needed to be trimmed away for the true beauty of the tree to shine. I needed to ensure every leaf—every sliver of qi—was as close to perfection as it could be.

The ball of energy within me began to shrink. As though an invisible hand was pruning it, the impurities were slowly whittled away. The process was slow and arduous, but I didn't waver. Like a meticulous gardener inspecting each leaf, I examined each bit of Qi, casting off what was impure, retaining only the purest essence.

Gradually, the Qi ball reduced to a fraction of its original size. It was painstaking work, and at times, I could feel frustration gnawing at the edges of my patience. But each time I felt my resolve waning, I would think of the bonsai and its perfectly trimmed leaves, each a testament to time, patience, and unwavering dedication.

I could almost feel the purity of the Qi left within me. It felt as if I was holding a small diamond, sparkling with brilliance and purity in the vast emptiness of my internal world. It was smaller than what I had started with, but it was purer, more potent. It was a drop of nectar gleaned from a vast ocean, and it was mine.

This was the path Elder Ming had guided me towards. A path that was not about quantity, but about quality. It was a path of patience and meticulousness. It was the path of the gardener, creating something beautiful and pure from what seemed ordinary and excessive.

There was a certain madness to it, a fervor that was as intoxicating as it was frightening. Yet, I embraced it, for half-measures were never an option. Not for me. Not now.

I couldn't afford to be content with the impure and the ordinary. I needed the purest and the best. I needed perfection, and I would attain it, even if I had to tear it bit by bit from the vast expanse of the universe. I would spend every moment, every breath, in cultivating this sliver of perfect Qi within me. Because this was my choice. My path. And on this path, there was no room for mediocrity.

After all, the ones who revolutionized the world weren't those who walked the beaten path. They were the ones who ventured into the wilderness, fought the monsters, and emerged victorious. They were the ones who dared to question, dared to strive, and dared to become more than what the world expected them to be.

That ball had become the size of a millet seed, and I placed it into my dantian. The core where my qi resided.

The moment it made contact with my core, I felt a rush like never before—a sensation akin to a searing iron meeting ice. I could feel the energy immediately starting to work, its purifying nature tearing at everything I had built so far, like a tempest raging against an unsteady fortress.

Every imperfection, every fault line within my core began to dissolve under the relentless onslaught of the pure Qi. It was like introducing a river into a stagnant pond; the fresh, vibrant water pushing away the murky, lifeless liquid, bringing with it a wave of new life.

The impurities were stripped away, eroded to their very core. I could feel it happening on a cellular level, a thorough cleanse unlike any I had experienced before. It was pain and euphoria, torment and liberation, all wrapped into one dizzying package. It felt as if I was being torn apart and put back together, piece by piece, molecule by molecule.

And then came the manifestation. I could feel my skin start to perspire. But it wasn't sweat that seeped out of my pores. It was a viscous, black liquid. It clung to my skin, as if reluctant to leave the confines of my body. It was almost sentient, a sticky, smelly substance that was a testament to the impurities that had been living within me. The sight was revolting, the smell even more so. But beneath the initial disgust, I could feel a sense of profound satisfaction.

This was the physical representation of my body's impurities. It was proof of my progress, evidence that my relentless pursuit of purity was not in vain. This was the price I paid for perfection, and as I stood there, the black ooze dripping from my body, I knew without a doubt that I would gladly pay it again.

My body, my vessel, was cleansed, renewed, and ready to be filled with even purer Qi.

As I took a deep breath, feeling the clean, vibrant Qi circulating in my core, I knew I had taken a step further on the path I had chosen.

"Kai, what ha-Urgh! Blech!"

My eyes snapped over to Elder Ming. The day passed by without me knowing and it was already evening. He had quietly left me to my own devices, monitoring me and making sure nothing disturbed my cultivation. His face was one of immense disgust and confusion.

"Sorry, do you mind getting me a towel?"

"Out! We're going to the river! Oh my heavens, did you defecate yourself?"

While pinching his nose, Elder Ming ushered me out of his home. It was bad. I fully understood his reaction. Even Tianyi seemed hesitant to fly near me, eliciting a feeling of revulsion through our link.

I passed through the village, dutifully avoiding the common areas due to my...condition. But even then, there were complaints.

"Did you forget to clean the pig pens?" An accusing voice said further into the village.

Xiao Bao's house was closeby, and I could hear whines from outside. "Mom, it smells like when grandpa removes his boots after farming!"

"Ah, the unmistakable fragrance of youthful indiscretion. Reminds me of my first attempt at brewing rice wine. Didn't end well, I tell ya!"

Every comment served to color my cheeks and hasten my pace before the villagers realized the smell was coming from me.

It wouldn't do to get another nickname. Kowtow Kai was bad enough. I could already imagine what Lan-Yin and Wang Jun would call me.