Stranger: Back Home

Before explaining the path of cultivation, Xenos asked, "Hmm... before we start discussing the path of cultivation, do you have any questions?"

Maximo hesitated briefly before asking, "Master, in the status window, near the talent and attribute section, it mentions 'Earth Tier' and 'Mortal Tier.' What does that mean?"

Xenos explained, "In terms of talent, there are nine tiers. The higher your tier, the farther you can progress on the path of cultivation."

Kori hesitated before asking, "Master, what rank is the Earth tier?"

Xenos replied, "It's in the middle of the lower ranks. The tiers begin with Mortal, followed by Earth, Heaven, and so on."

Misaki, her face clouded with disappointment, asked sadly, "So, Master, we can't reach the highest levels of cultivation?"

Seeing the disheartened expressions on his disciples' faces, Xenos reassured them, "Talent is only one factor that determines your cultivation potential. You were born into a world with minimal spiritual energy before the space gate opened. Humanity has also been cursed, which means you were born without spiritual roots, diminishing your potential from the start. To regain that potential, you must defy fate when you reach the peak of martial cultivation. But don't worry—I will help you reshape your talent."

Valdir, with a furrowed brow, asked, "Master, you said we were cursed and born without spiritual roots. What does that mean exactly?"

Xenos paused for a moment before responding, "That's a long story, one we'll discuss another time. For now, focus on your growth. Are there any other questions?"

All the disciple shook their head indicating that, they didn't have any further questions.

Xenos nodded thoughtfully before speaking. "Now, let's talk about the path of cultivation. There are nine major paths, but I'll start by explaining the first one—martial cultivation."

He paused for a moment and then added with a hint of amusement, "Personally, I don't know why it's called 'martial cultivation.' If it were up to me, I'd name it 'body cultivation'—a more fitting term, don't you think?"

Turning to Valdir, Xenos continued, "Since you're from a hidden family, I assume you're familiar with the basic structure of the first nine tiers of cultivation?"

Valdir nodded. "Yes, Master. The first nine tiers are: Skin Transformation, Tendon and Muscle Transformation, Bone Transformation, Marrow Cleansing, Organ Transformation—first the five primary organs, then the six visceral organs—Sense Refinement, Nerve and Meridian Refinement, and finally, Brain Refinement."

Xenos smiled slightly. "That's right. Now, my question for you is this: why do we go through these nine tiers of cultivation? What makes them so important?"

Maximo responded, "Master, martial cultivation helps us build a strong foundation for our bodies and attune ourselves to spiritual energy, allowing us to reach the next realm."

Xenos, hearing the answer, nodded slightly. "A good response," he said, "but that is not the main reason. In truth, there was no concept of martial cultivation realms in ancient times."

The disciples were taken aback by this revelation, their eyes widening in surprise. Sensing their disbelief, Xenos continued, "In ancient times, humans were born with spirit roots. They could naturally sense the spiritual energy around them, using it to refine their cultivation paths with ease."

His tone darkened as he added, "But after a great calamity, humans were banished and their spirit roots were sealed. This left them nearly crippled, struggling to cultivate without the innate connection they once had."

"Now, let's go back to why we cultivate the First Realm and why it's considered a major realm. As Maximo mentioned, it's about building a foundation, but there's more to it. You must also break the First Seal," Xenos began, his voice calm but firm.

"When you cultivate through all nine tiers, you'll have the foundation to challenge the heavens and carve your path forward. To do this, you need to break the Seal of Mortality. This seal keeps your spiritual root bound, forcing you to live as a mortal."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.

"To break the seal, you must endure a tribulation of lightning—three waves of it. The stronger your talent, the more dangerous the lightning will be."

"The moment you break the seal," Xenos continued, "you'll finally be able to cultivate beyond mortality."

Hearing their master's explanation, the disciples felt a deep realization settle over them. The old tales they'd heard as children, of experts struck down by lightning, now held new meaning.

Maximo, understanding the gravity of the situation, asked, "Master, are there other seals that bind us?"

Xenos nodded. "Yes, there are other seals. Every major realm comes with its own seal. For example, the next major realm, Spiritual Cultivation, will challenge you with the Seal of the Dao. That's why it's crucial to build a solid foundation at every minor realm, or you'll struggle to move forward."

Xenos continued, "Now that we understand the purpose of initial cultivation, let's move on to discussing each realm. But before we dive in, you must grasp that the order matters. You should always progress from the outside inward. Do any of you know why?"

Misaki eagerly jumped in to explain, "Master, it's because of the impurities. If we cultivate from the inside out, the impurities will accumulate in the next tier, making them much harder to remove. But if we go from the outside in, it's easier to purify each layer."

Xenos nodded, "Exactly. Now, imagine you start by refining the marrow first. The impurities from the marrow would then accumulate in the bones. When it's time to refine the bones, you'd spend much more time clearing not only the natural impurities but also those carried over from the marrow."

"Similarly, you can't begin with the brain or internal organs, as they are delicate and sensitive. There's a high risk of internal bleeding or even death if mishandled. You need proper control over the refinement process, which requires experience. This is why it's crucial to follow the correct path of cultivation."

"Now that you understand the hierarchy, it's time to delve into cultivation starting from Tier 9, known as Skin Refinement. As the name suggests, this stage focuses on refining the skin, but it's divided into several sub-realms."

"The first sub-realm is called Impervious Skin. In this stage, through rigorous practice of the cultivation technique, one strengthens the skin to become resistant to blades and sharp objects. This is where most modern humans halt their progress, content with reaching this level of defence."

"But beyond this lies the Rebirth Skin realm. Here, the skin not only becomes soft and elastic, but it also gains a slight rebounding effect against piercing weapons. Afterwards comes the Cell Refinement stage, where each cell is refined to store vast amounts of energy, allowing the practitioner to form a Qi shield around the body, perfect for ambushes and defensive manoeuvres."

"The final stage is Touch Refinement, where the sense of touch is sharpened to an extraordinary degree. At this level, the skin becomes a heightened sensory organ, capable of perceiving subtle details—like the intent to kill, or the feeling of being watched."

In the journey of cultivation, each step brings a new level of power, endurance, and connection to one's own body. The path to Tier 8, known as Tendon and Muscle Refinement, is a critical one.

 By fortifying these elements, a cultivator builds not only raw strength but also gains unmatched flexibility and resilience—qualities that make the body a formidable vessel for channelling and withstanding powerful energies.

 Tier 8 is split into four sub-levels: Basic Reinforcement, Core Fortification, Spiritual Reinforcement, and finally, Flawless Refinement.

In the Basic Reinforcement phase, tendons and muscles are strengthened beyond the abilities of an average human, resulting in greater strength and flexibility. This foundational level serves as the building block for more advanced enhancements.

The next step, Core Fortification, takes this a step further, refining the muscles for swifter responses, explosive power, and sharper coordination. This stage primes the body, transforming it into a weapon in itself.

Afterwards comes Spiritual Reinforcement, where tendons and muscles are infused with spiritual energy, allowing for superhuman strength and control over one's internal energy. This phase heightens combat techniques and improves agility and balance, making complex moves effortless.

The pinnacle of this tier is Flawless Refinement. Here, every fibre is strengthened to its peak, enabling rapid recovery, seamless energy flow, and remarkable endurance against physical threats. At this stage, the cultivator's body becomes a nearly indestructible fortress.

Moving to Tier 7, the focus shifts to Bone Refinement, further divided into Bronze Bones, Silver Bones, Gold Bones, and Jade Bones.

The transformation begins with Bronze Bones, strengthening bones to the durability of bronze, granting resistance against attacks and faster healing.

As a cultivator advances, their bones reach the Silver Bones stage, enhancing agility and allowing them to move with a smooth precision that amplifies martial skills.

At Gold Bones, a cultivator's bones become intensely strong, emitting a powerful aura that even deters adversaries. This level brings a surge in physical capabilities, making their moves more potent.

Jade Bones, the final sub-level, represents the highest degree of Bone Refinement. At this point, the bones are infused with spiritual energy, providing extreme durability, enhanced healing, and a deepened connection with the natural energy around them.

Following Tier 7 is Tier 6: Marrow Refinement, focused on enriching the blood through Red Blood Refinement, Spiritual Blood, Spiritual Immune Blood, and Dark Red Blood Refinement.

 Each stage purifies and strengthens the blood, enhancing the body's ability to harness and sustain energy, resistance to illness, and longevity.

Tier 5 focuses on mastering the five primary organs—the heart, spleen, lungs, liver, and kidneys—each contributing distinct benefits to the cultivator's strength and well-being. 

The heart fosters emotional balance, boosting intuition and vitality, while the spleen enhances digestion and Qi production, strengthening the immune system.

 The lungs promote efficient respiration and Qi flow, aiding in detoxification, and the liver supports resilience and endurance through its role in detoxification.

 Finally, the kidneys act as reservoirs of essential energy, sustaining overall vigour and hormonal balance. Together, these organs create a strong foundation for the cultivator's journey to higher power and health.

Xenos looked over his disciples and asked, "Before we proceed further, do any of you have questions?"

Valdir raised his hand, "Master, are there any sub-realms for each of the organs?"

Xenos shook his head. "Organs are delicate in nature. We're still in the first major realm, and it's not advisable to 'elementalize' them."

Misaki tilted her head, curious. "Master, what does 'elementalize' mean?"

"Elementalizing," Xenos explained, "is the process of aligning specific organs with elemental energies. For instance, the heart aligns with fire, the kidneys with water, the lungs with metal, the liver with wood, and the spleen with earth."

He continued, "In tier 4, which includes six organs—except for the Triple Burner—each organ corresponds to one of the five elements. The stomach aligns with Earth, the large intestine with Metal, the small intestine with Fire, the gallbladder with Wood, and the bladder with Water. These are known as supporting organs, backups for the five main organs."

Kori spoke up, "Master, why do we need backup organs? Couldn't we just rely on the five main organs?"

Xenos nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good question, Kori. The reason is somewhat complex, but the body uses Elementalization for sustained energy during prolonged battles. When the primary organs are exhausted, the supporting organs provide necessary backup. You'll understand better when the time comes."

Valdir had another question. "Master, what about the sixth organ, the Triple Burner? I've never heard of that."

"Yes," Xenos said, "the Triple Burner isn't exactly an organ. Ancient humans theorized its existence. It acts as a bridge, helping energy flow between the organs seamlessly, preventing complications."

Then Maximo added, "Master, what about sense refinement at tier 3—the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue—as well as nerves and meridians at tier 2, and the brain at tier 1? Aren't those even more sensitive than the organs? Are there sub-realms for them as well?"

Xenos nodded. "Yes and no. They are indeed very sensitive, and even the slightest error can lead to grave consequences, sometimes even death. So there are no sub-realms in the way you're thinking, but that doesn't mean there's no further cultivation. If you reach higher realms and pursue specific paths—like becoming an archer, where you refine your eyes, ears, and nose, or practicing the Chess Dao, which focuses on the brain and nerves—you may cultivate those areas further."

Xenos looked at each of them, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "So, do you all now have a general understanding of the cultivation path?"

All the disciples nodded.

Author:

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The next chapter will be published on 2-11-2024.

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