BLEARGH"
"AW GROSS, DON'T DO THAT
HERE!"
I was getting criticised
as I vomitted out the death Qi. It did no good to stop me
however, in fact I
clenched my stomach a little harder so my vomit could reach
to the feet of
those criticised my lack of skill on darker acts.
"It is ok Tianyou, just
let the Qi out until you are free of taint."
I tried to smile towards
teacher but all I could do was vomit harder. Eventually the
beads I swallowed
popped out of my mouth but before they even landed on the
floor they
disappeared.
"This is what happens, if
you try to use a technique you are incompatible without
proper practice and
preperation or strong foundation." Teacher provided as
he held the two beads,
which were somehow sparking clean, between his fingers.
"Unfortunately for us
however, no one can know which principle they are most
suited for until they
try all the paths. Although if you cultivate long enough
like me, you can skip
a few steps like this!" with that Teacher Li threw the
undead beads in air and
caught them with his mouth as they fell back, as if he was
jusr eating snacks. Without
any warning a chilly and rotten Qi spread from his body to
entire room,
freezing all the students in their place.
Teacher's eyes were now
faintly red instead of his welcoming blue eyes, his rather
silky and dark hair
spiked up and with blue at its tips. Tattoos were slowly
forming around his
eyes and neck and suddenly, he spit the beads out. All the
changes disappeared
in an instant.
"This is how vessel
cultivation works. You take in foreign demon and spirit
beads forged by a soul
smith and use their undead Qi to empower yourself. Alas it
is not a cultivation
method fit to be used by everyone, even though it is our
Sect's most prized method."
I sighed as I unconciously
tuned out the lesson I spent many times listening. This was
the unfortunate
truth for Outer Sect disciples. Repeated lessons. It was
useful if you didn't
get the lessons first time around but materials repeated
once in every 6
months. This was my 4th time listening the same vessel
cultivation class. It
was simply not a method for me. So I had to cultivate more
mundanely and
couldn't benefit many of the uses of demon beads. Spirit
beads were good enough
to replenish me every once in a while but it was also the
most common currency.
Currency I needed to spend my daily needs and some...
pleasures I enjoyed. Class
ended soon and students were released to pursue their own
training for the day.
I got up lazily, not even realising how my left hand
positioned itself over the
sheated sword on my hip to rest nor how my right went in his
pockets instantly.
I exuded an air of relaxation and calmness despite my inner
turmoils. Perhaps
that was why no one seemed to realise when I had problems.
Not that I care.
A small sprint that is
just short of a movement technique carried me to training
area. I could be out
of breath at times but my leg strength was coming along fine
for someone at my
level at cultivation. I found a mostly empty spot in area
and drew my sword. A
fine Jian. Not enchanted nor cursed by the blood of a
demonic cultivator.
Merely a balanced blade crafted by a common blacksmith. I
felt this blade spoke
to my soul more. It felt easier to use it.
I started going through
the sword forms. Some felt odd with a Jian in my hand,
either moves for a
heavier blade or for someone who could put much more
strength behind his
attacks but most felt right. After a considirable lenght of
time I could smell
the impurities pouring outside from my body and the fatigue.
I didn't waste
anytime and quickly sheated my sword and left the training
area and crouched at
the closest greenery I could find. Which was easy for sect
was covered by
trees. I crossed my legs and assumed the position for the
meditation. My hands
quickly found my pouch of declaining spirit beads and
grabbed a one for me to
swallow. I felt the bead go down to my stomach as I used it
as a imaginary
core. I forced it to release the dormant Qi in it and push
all the impurities I
managed to unravel with my training. 4 hours I spent
cleansing my body. 5 more
beads were spent and barely managed to get rid of the
impurities.
"It is getting harder to
cleanse recently. Perhaps I can finally breakthrough into Qi
gathering stage. "
I mused outloud, uncaring if I was heard. Then a slight
worry gripped my heart,
what if someone heard it, then dismissed it again.
I gave a shaky breath.
Opening my eyes I could see the dark sky.
"Another simple day. " I
said looking at stars. It felt like I was wasting my time
again. Was
cultivation really the path for me I wondered. Maybe I could
have been a
scholar, I was smart after all. My thoughts swirled inside
my head as I made my
way to showers and to barracks for Outer Sect students after
that. I closed my eyes
on my bed for a quick rest, unread books and trinkets I
fancied over my desk.
Soon I was asleep. Another day was spent like many others.
I rose with dawn. It was
more of a reflex developed over the years. My home before
the Coiling Death
Sect had a window faced the sunrise and with each sunrise
beams of sunlight hit
my face at mornings. It developed a habit of waking up when
light or heat hit my
face. I could sleep under light as well but it often led to
weird dreams and
uneasy rests. Of course I wasn't thinking any of this while
dressing up. I simply dressed up and left for class.
Although I was bored out of my mind during the lessons, Sect
frowned upon those
who skipped them. So I did my best to not miss any, out of
the worry to not
face any hardships at the very least.
Class was full by the
time I arrived, forcing me to sit in the seats in front,
just few moments
before our teacher appeared with a flicker of air.
"A movement technique no
doubt. " someone muttered under their breath. Teacher's
smile seemed to grow slightly
due to envy and admiration of his students.
"As some repeating
students already know, today we will talk about using spirit
beads for
cultivation. Yesterday's lesson had some mentions already
but today it is the
main focus."
I was already losing my focus
but I still tried to listen the lessons I heard many times
before.
"Cultivation in it's very
core is actually simple. You first need to be able to
cleanse your body from
the impurities it holds. Many ways found for this but as you
know our sect's
famous style is truly the most efficient. The Foreign Demon
Beads arouses the
impurities within your body and forcibly removes them from
the deep corners
within flesh. And then the Spirit Bead acts as a faux core
and if with
Cultivators focus cleans the impurities away. Unfortunately
not everyone is
suitable to use Vessel Cultivation."
With that teacher took a quick glance at
me. I felt a slight ping of anger within me. He was a
cultivator almost at the
end of Qi gathering, even if he were to accidentaly look at
me he could avert
his eyes before I even perceive the action. No this was a
deliberate action,
done simply because I wasn't skilled and he pitied me.
I sighed. There was no
use getting angry. He was right in a way. I was simply not a
good fit for this sect. Still I didn't forget. Just because I couldn't act on
my anger didn't mean I would forgive. Lesson continued on despite my inner
turmoil.
"If one is unfit to use Foreign Demon Beads then they
can still use physical exercise to interact with impurities within their body
of course but it is generally a harder process and takes much longer than just
using beads. Of course even aside from that beads allows us to briefly access
to the innate abilities whatever Demonic Beast was used in the smithing of said
bead. This alone helped our Sect to turn the tides against Beast Waves as
humans have became the hunters once more."
I couldn't help but frown. Listening great success of the
Sect and humanity against the Demonic Beasts haunted humankind yet I was not a
part of this glorious achievement. Teacher saw my frown and did not make any
comments but I only felt like he pitied me even more.