A pseudo-cultivator?
"I heard Keeyah's explanation," Marcus began, "But I'd like to hear your take. What really separates a full-fledged cultivator from a pseudo one?"
"Two major obstacles," Nexus replied holding a finger up. "The first being the most difficult issue, something that I still have no idea how to upscale. My core."
"Core?"
"Yeah, my core. The old world would have called it the Dantian, and the ancient world called it a mana heart. Their names are different; however, their uses and functions aren't very different. They're both used to store, refine, and reproduce Wilder Force. Only then can the human body begin to go through proper evolution. Though there are other ways to achieve evolution, having a Core seems to be the most appropriate from what I've read."
"So… you don't have a core?" Marcus wondered.
"Not quite. I have an incomplete core, better than most pseudo-cultivators and orthodox cultivators. I can store a bit of Wilder Force in my core, however, I can't refine this energy, and I have to constantly disperse it because it turns into poison after a while. Many pseudo cultivators can gather Wilder Force in their bodies, but the energy naturally disperses with no core for it to reside. Forcing the pseudo cultivators to constantly absorb and always consciously try to contain Wilder Force in their bodies."
"Punctured balloons trying to capture," Marcus muttered.
"Exactly like that. Moreover, Wilder Force, unrefined, will start to poison and kill the person trying to contain it."
"And then cultivators have complete cores?"
"Yes," Nexus replied.
"Why? What's stopping others from having a complete core?"
"Well, no one is really sure of the reason. It could be inherent talent. It could be the fact that I'm already an Awakened. It could be anything."
"So there aren't Awakened who are also Cultivators?"
That can't be. The Imperial Family should be one of them.
"You should know that there are. But yes, that's how difficult it is. Most people choose to focus on one path, and that's not a bad thing to do at all."
"If the problem of cores is solved, then every Awakened and pseudo cultivator can become full-fledged cultivators."
"Yeah, but that's easier said than done. And after that, very few would share such a technique like… the Imperial Family might never let such happen."
No one needs their approval. If it is spread secretly and everyone learns it, who do they want to hold accountable?
Marcus thought.
"What about the second obstacle?"
"That has to do with the human body. The body is filled with so much that we don't even know the extent of its true limits. The first step to creating a Core is finding the Major Acupoints that can accommodate Wilder Force."
"Acupoints?"
Before Marcus could react, Nexus tapped a finger on his neck. "Yes—natural conduits. Think of them as arteries, but for Wilder Force. Your Core acts like a heart, and these acupoints are the veins. Without them, no circulation. No growth."
"Currently, there are 36 Major Acupoints known, however, most Cultivation Arts only contain information about 5 Major Acupoints. Cultivation Arts like this are known as Tier 1 Arts."
"I suppose not all Cultivation Arts of the same Tier are the same."
"Not all." Nexus smiled. He liked how Marcus' brain processed information. "As well as there are Major Acupoints, there are minor ones too. It's hard to put a number on them. Most Minor Acupoints are death traps though. One wrong opening would lead to one's death. The combination of Major Acupoints with the Minor ones is what sets a Cultivation Art apart in the same Tier."
"Then Tier 2 Arts are arts with 10 Major Acupoints involved?"
"Eight," Nexus corrected. "But the eighth unlocks a whole new dimension. It's a leap, not just a step."
Marcus opened the paper in his hands, but still kept his gaze on Nexus. "What Tier is this Art?"
"Tier 4. Twenty Acupoints. One of the highest you can find outside the Imperial Family's hands. But that's not what makes it terrifying. It's the number of Minor Acupoints recorded in the Art that makes it so worthy of attention. There are 105 Minor Acupoints recorded on this page. I have personally opened 20 all the Major and Minor Acupoints recorded in the Art. And unless I can find the complete version or take the risk to complete it myself, then I have no need for the paper again."
A number of questions ran through Marcus's mind after speaking to Nexus for a while. He asked some of them and received answers.
"It's good to have answers for your questions, but what's even better is seeking them out yourself. My answers come from my experiences, a limited view of the world. If you search for answers yourself, who is to say that the answers you come up with wouldn't be better than mine?"
This statement, like glue, stuck itself into Marcus's mind. He liked the idea of that even more. So much so that he didn't even know that he was smiling. He didn't just agree—he felt it.
"Has anyone ever told you that you have a good smile?"
His words snapped Marcus out of his joyful state. He quickly relaxed his facial muscles and his expression flattened instantly.
It was true that he rarely smiled, even at his sisters. Even when he attempts to do so consciously, his smile always comes out crooked. But on rare occasions, when he is truly pleased, an honest smile graces his face.
By the time he turned to glare at Nexus, he realized that the man had vanished.
I still had a few more questions to ask him. Marcus thought.
…
"Captain, is that all you wanted to tell him?" Margret, appeared beside Nexus as he was on his way out.
"I had a feeling that you were listening to our conversation." He chuckled. You haven't gotten rid of your gossiping attitude.
Margret ignored his comments and pushed on. "You didn't tell him anything about what our team would be facing in the near future."
Nexus paused, and his expression became serious. "Though I used him to make a point, I have no plans on using him to do anything other than that. Our opponents and enemies are way too strong for him to be truly involved. Besides, the kid is only going to be spending three years here. That's too short for him to catch up and be of much use."
"We might know that, but the others won't believe it. They'll still come for him."
Nexus laughed, and the sound of his voice became low... dangerously so. "Then let them come," he said. "Oh, let them come."