‘The Hall of Great Clarity, huh?’

  I stare up at the sign and shake my head to clear the cobwebs. Clarity would be a boon about now, especially since I am still plagued by anxiety. However, I have come to terms with it. I am too far out of my comfort zone, so every new change is just another weight piled atop my head, and until I experience enough, I cannot take them off. It is a matter of time, but until that time, I will struggle.

  Understanding does not bring much comfort, let alone relief.

  I catch myself nervously chewing on my lower lip and put an end to it before I chafe it raw, or worse, tear the flesh and bleed. Before I left home, I lacked self awareness to know I possess at least one nervous tick. Now I have several! I dab my lip with my sleeve and it comes away clean, so at least I won’t go into the hall drooling blood like a drunken brawler.

  ‘No more cowardice. Let’s go!’

  I mentally conjure up Jingyi and imagine her pushing me onward and encouraging me to take my first step — and immediately bump into someone trying to walk around me. I frantically step back, bow my head in shame, and plop my fist into my other palm to apologize.

  “I am so sorry! I didn't mean to get in your way!”

  I hear the soft laughter of another girl. “I wasn’t watching where I was going either, so how can I blame you?”

  “Anxiety fills my head with a fog, so I thank you for—” I feel her soft fingers lift my hands and I look up to see which senior I inconvenienced. The moment I lay eyes on her my unspoken words catch in my throat.

  ‘Woah… She’s so pretty!’

  The other girl raises her free hand to cover her smile with her sleeve. “Nervous? I couldn’t tell.”

  “N-nervous? Haha, well, m-maybe a little bit, I think. Something definitely clouded my mind,” I stammer nervously until a light breeze blows through the courtyard and fills my nose with a hint of soothing fragrances and my lips with inopportune comments. “You smell really nice!”

  I sway on my feet, overcome with dread due to my impulsive comment. However, she merely laughs. Beating myself up for saying something awkward is standard practice for me since I am supposed to be composed and ladylike, but this is an uphill battle if I’ve ever seen one.

  Seeing a young woman like her is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity. Men will do really stupid things, like scale mountains or start wars over someone like her, and a single painting might inspire generations of artists for thousands of years. An unfortunate soul like me can never hope to compare, much less conduct myself as anything less than a babbling fool when caught off guard by such a peerless beauty.

  She holds up a silk sachet embroidered with plum and chrysanthemum flowers and smiles. “Incense, fragrances, and how to make or blend them together is one of my hobbies. If you like this one, I can make one for you as a token of our newfound friendship.”

  I lean forward to get a whiff of it. “I would treasure it.”

  ‘Friendship? With me? And so easily? Am I blessed?’

  She returns the sachet to the inner pocket of her robe. “I am Song Ling, by the way.”

  It takes a few seconds for my own name to pop into my head, but I finally manage to blurt it out. “I am Zhou Ran! It is a pleasure to meet you, Song-shijie.”

  “Oh? Are you my junior?”

  “I am everyone’s junior.”

  “Really? Well, only a dozen or so were accepted after me, so I am not far above you.”

  I muster up the best smile I can because my head is well-and-truly empty. Thankfully, she gestures to the Hall of Great Clarity. “Shall we go inside? We don’t want to be late for the first lesson.”

  I nod and follow Song Ling up the stairs.

  Distracting myself from her becomes an immediate priority, so I shift my attention to admiring the Hall of Great Clarity. It is a vast lecture hall with terraced seating encircling a raised dais for the speaker nestled against the far wall. Natural light fills the room from a series of small windows high above, much like the ones in my new home. The morning sun is supplemented by a host of braziers and candles, some of which burn a pleasant, woody incense.

  The most stunning aspect of the structure is how intricately engraved every bit of wood is. Winding motifs curl around immense pillars and sprawl across flat surfaces to tell tales of scholarly pursuit by those who lived many centuries past. The wisdom these individuals collected and left behind is expected to yield the very clarity the hall purports to hold.

  Song Ling pauses and I narrowly avoid bumping into her again. She is pointing further towards the center. “How about there? There’s a few open seats.”

  I agree to sit with her and we swiftly pick our way through the other initiates to take our seats. There’s plenty of space between our comfortably plush cushions, at least enough that I couldn’t reach out and touch Song Ling’s shoulder without leaning overI wanted to. There’s just enough space behind me that someone can easily walk through if they must, and in front of me is a small desk.

  The sect is providing some writing supplies as well as a curious pill atop a ceramic plate. The deep purple shell of the pill is polished smooth and shiny, so that it gleams anytime it catches the sunlight. It is not a normal pill, though, because something stirs within, like angry storm clouds roiling in captivity.

  ‘Is it a pill, or some sort of egg?’

  I lean forward to get a closer look but I am immediately interrupted.

  “Attention, initiates!” a woman shouts while stepping onto the dais. I recognize her as Elder Cai. “Take your seats and we will begin.”

  While the last few wayward initiates scurry about to find an open spot, Elder Cai spends a moment or two rolling a series of masterfully detailed paintings from the back of the dais. Once finished, she turns back to us and salutes. “I am Third Elder Cai Lingxian, and I have the pleasure of introducing you to the art of qigong. With some luck, we’ll get you caught up to the others by the end of the week.”

  “The reason you are here today is because you cannot sense Qi, much less gather it for use,” she moves to the first painting and directs our attention to it while speaking. “This is a diagram of the meridian system. All humans possess them, and they are all the same — or close enough. We do have a few Yaoguai students among us this year. A Yaoguai’s meridian system is not going to be the same at this stage in development, but will eventually mirror ours. This is nothing to fret about.

  “Every living being has meridians. Humans, Yaoguai, spirit beasts, and even regular critters, we all have them. You’ll learn more about the differences between the human meridian system and those of other beings later on, but it is good to have that bit of information nestled away in the back of your mind, yes?”

  A few students, myself included, nod at the rhetorical question.

  “The important takeaway here is that these meridians are the physical pathways within your bodies which transfer Qi to the various organs. Once you open your meridians and purify them, you will be able to use Qi in a number of ways and for any number of reasons. As physical pathways, they are influenced by the state and condition of your body, and thus, they can be manipulated accordingly.

  “This manipulation is the basic concept behind qigong. So, we will begin with a rudimentary breathing exercise.”

  I spare a glance at Song Ling and find her entirely devoted to the lesson. Her focus is admirable, and I lament my inability to match it. Instead, I ponder over a curiosity: she’s suddenly taller than I recall. Song Ling is about a hand taller than me, but now that we are seated, she is a good head taller.

  ‘I guess that’s the result of my long legs,” I mentally shrug and turn back to the lecture.

  “Posture is important,” Elder Cai shifts and lowers herself down onto her own cushion. “Ideally, you will utilize the jingangzuo, which I am demonstrating now. Do not force yourself! If you have not practiced the necessary flexibility then you are likely to injure yourself.”

  I pause and glance around to see a few others hesitating. If there is anything I am confident about, it is my flexibility. I proceed to emulate Elder Cai to the best of my ability. This pose is one I am familiar with from my meditation practices, and now that I am starting to learn cultivation, I wonder if a few of my lessons in the past were priming me for this. They were not practical exercises, but academic ones.

  ‘Did my dad know I’d be here some day, or was he just being thorough?’

  “For anyone who cannot manage the jingangzuo at this time, know that getting to this point will be one of the basic criteria for passing my introductory lessons, so you will be working on this in your own time. For now, you may use one of the following positions.”

  Elder Cai demonstrates a more relaxed, half-jingangzuo, as well as a position designed for extreme ease, in which the legs are crossed with the feet arranged out front rather than atop the legs. Once all of the disciples have found a suitable method, she returns to her original seated position.

  “This is one of many physical arrangements you will use in the future, but you will understand why we begin with this one over the next few steps,” Elder Cai flicks her wrists and adjusts her sleeves. “Sit upright with your back nice and straight. You should be firm, but not tense; relaxed and comfortable, yet sturdy. Next is the chin which we want slightly above level to open the throat. Finally, pull your shoulders back, then down a fraction, and push your chest out to open the core.

  “Again, do not force yourself to do anything you are not prepared to do. Do what you can. Remember: relaxed, yet sturdy. You should feel open and wide, but not pained or uncomfortable. If you do, close your form somewhat and maintain what you are able to. We are here to practice, not injure ourselves.”

  These additional instructions are new to me, but something I can do without discomfort, so I follow along without any issues. Elder Cai is right, the positioning of the body does feel open and suitable for taking deep breaths. My training with Master Li is already paying off! Getting situated in the proper jingangzuo is no challenge for me, but I find myself curious about Song Ling. How is she faring?

  I glance over.

  When we first bumped into each other I did not pay too much attention to her overall figure, I just assumed everything was amazing. However, now that we are seated and Song Ling has also followed all the instructions perfectly, I am distinctly aware of a particular set of attributes I overlooked. The simple robes the sect provides mute our forms somewhat, but Song Ling has fully overpowered any efforts the outmatched garment can muster and is pushing it to the limits. I do not lack any confidence in my physical features, but when compared to Song Ling, I have plenty of room to spare.

  I let out a heavy sigh. ‘I am probably invisible sitting next to her. Maybe I’ll sit in the back next time.’

  “The next step is to work on your breathing,” Elder Cai continues after a lengthy pause. “Start with deep breaths through the nose. Fill your lungs and release from your mouth. In and out with a measured rhythm. Do not hold your breath, merely take it in and then expel it. Breathe deeper than you normally would, and become conscious of it. Feel your body expand and fill, and then contract. If your breathing is not steady, and you falter or stutter, practice until it is clear.

  “Every motion of your body influences more individual components than you can possibly imagine. You will learn a great deal about your anatomy as your lessons progress, but suffice to say, even a twitch of your little finger can involve components all the way up through your arm, shoulder, and neck.

  “Your breathing is no different. The expansion and contraction influences muscles and tendons throughout your core. The contraction of muscles aids in the transference of vitality throughout the body through your blood vessels, and your meridians are the same. These breathing exercises are performed to aid in the circulation of Qi, and many other techniques you learn later on will have taken these influences into account to maximize the gathering and transference of your Qi.

  “While you practice and steady your breathing, I will answer any related questions you may have.”

  I do not have any pressing questions, but other initiates do. Instead, I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. The goal is to achieve a clear pattern without wavering, and though the first few breaths I take stutter, I find clarity soon enough.

  “How do you fare, Zhou-shimei?” Song Ling whispers.

  “Well enough,” I whisper back. I didn’t expect her to get chatty, much less inquire about my progress. “I did similar meditation back home, so this is a minor adjustment to a familiar routine.”

  “I hope you do not mind my observation, but you do still have some slouch.”

  “Oh?”

  She draws my attention with a wave of her hand and then places her finger tips just below her sternum. “Focus here, and bring your core outward. It should be the adjustment you need.”

  I follow her suggestion and discover that she is correct. ‘It seems I am not the only one with some experience.’

  “I think that is enough time,” Elder Cai claps her hands together three times to draw our attention back to her. “Now that your breathing is steady and your posture in an acceptable state, I am going to introduce you to Qi. You’re in this lesson because you cannot sense Qi in the environment, much less in yourself. On the table before you is a pill. Do not touch it yet! It is dangerous enough that you will take them only when I say so.

  Upon taking these pills, your body will fill with a torrent of Qi, far more than it naturally contains or produces at this stage in your cultivation. This sensation can be overwhelming. You must focus on your breathing, keep your mind steady, and do not give the Qi a chance to overtake you. If the Qi spirals out of control, you will be in danger, which is why you are to take the pill only when I instruct you to.”

  Elder Cai rises from her seat and hops down from the dais to approach the first row of initiates. “I do apologize, because the next hour or so might be rather dull. We will progress one at a time so that I may watch over you and ward you from danger. I suggest you continue to practice on your own until it is your turn.”

  She steps up behind the first initiate, a young boy who is visibly regretting his choice to sit in the front. Elder Cai holds her hand out over his head. “I will also take this time to inform you of the nature of your innate Qi and your spiritual roots, in case you are not aware of them already.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “What is your name?”

  He mutters nervously, but is too quiet to hear from where I sit.

  “You may take the pill. Swallow it whole and do not chew it.”

  As soon as the boy imbibes the pill there is an immediate change. He reacts as if he is stuck with a thousand needles and suddenly tenses up. Elder Cai reminds him to steady his mind and keep control of his breathing which calms him down. A few moments later, he is sweating profusely, trembling, and breathing raggedly.

  “Very good. The challenge is controlling the rush and you performed admirably. Remember the sensation of Qi circulating within you and dwell on it until you are certain you can recall it, especially once the effects of the pill wear off,” Elder Cai shifts back and prepares to move on to the next initiate. “Your innate Qi is metal, and you possess only the corresponding metal root. I look forward to seeing your progress.”

  The boy breathlessly thanks Elder Cai and she moves on. She asks each student for their name and reminds them to keep steady and stay in control before allowing them to take the pill. One after another, initiates swallow the pill and reacts similarly. Each learns a bit more about themselves that they may not have known before.

  On two separate occasions, Elder Cai was forced to take action as the initiate lost control. The elder moved with such speed and precision that the exact motions of her fingers were imperceptible, but she ended them by placing her open palm on their backs. Both immediately vomited the pill back up, as well as the rest of their stomach’s contents, but they lived. Murmurs from the rest of the initiates followed the embarrassing situation, but Elder Cai snapped at them.

  “You are all martial brothers and sisters here, so if you must judge, then keep it to yourself.”

  No one dared whisper the second time it happened.

  Eventually, Elder Cai arrives at Song Ling. My new friend handles the situation with remarkable poise, as if the pill has no effect on her. Well, at least at first. Despite handling the initial rush very well, Song Ling eventually starts to breath heavily, but to her credit, I only notice a single bead of sweat on her brow.

  ‘Either she is particularly gifted, or Song Ling is less ignorant about all of this than I am. Being friends with her might be in my favor if she is willing to help me.’

  “Excellent work, Song Ling,’ Elder Cai’s praise causes Song Ling to glow with pride. “Your innate Qi is wood, and you possess the corresponding root, as well as one for water. I will be keeping an eye on your progress.”

  With that said, Elder Cai moves along and is standing behind me a moment later. After the two initiates failed earlier, I became nervous about my own performance, but having seen the way Song Ling conducted herself, I am filled with a competitive urge. I can’t allow myself to falter now or she might leave me behind.

  “Your name, initiate?”

  ‘Did she forget me already?’

  “Zhou Ran.”

  “You may take the pill. Swallow it and do not chew it.”

  I pick up the pill between my thumb and forefinger and hold it up to examine it while I wet my lips. Never in all of my years did I dream I’d be here, learning to cultivate, yet here I am. I am no longer a cooped-up lay-about, and this is the moment of truth. If I do well here, then I have a future!

  I plop the pill into my mouth and swallow it.

  It takes only a second or two before the effects kick in. An overwhelming sensation of power erupts within my core and surges throughout my body. I have never felt anything like it! Sheer power courses through every fiber of my being like a raging river, and it is immediately evident why everyone else reacted the way they had. Each breath I take is charged with… something. It reminds me of taking a deep breath of fresh, winter air, but on an entirely different level. The vibrant sensation races into my lungs, swirls about, and is expelled, but unlike air, something else lingers — something tremendous.

  “Steady your breathing, Zhou Ran.”

  If Elder Cai hadn’t said anything, I’d never have noticed the tumultuous nature of my breathing, or how I have begun holding each breath in my lungs to savor the power they bring. I quickly exhale and work to steady my breathing, and the sensation of Qi flowing through my meridians begins to subside to a more tolerable level. It is controlled, rather than running rampant.

  “Good, very good,” Elder Cai pauses for a moment. “Come see me after the lesson.”

  She then moves on to the next initiate.

  ‘Wait, what about my innate Qi? My spiritual roots!?’

  I frantically look at Song Ling. “That’s good, right?”

  She shrugs.

  ‘Guess not…’

  Jingyi skips along the garden’s winding path and hops up onto the porch so she can fling the door to their new home wide open. It is everything she could hope for and then more. The sect left nothing to be desired, and all needs are easily accounted for. She and Zhou Ran have to share a room and a bed, but despite her friend’s tendency to sprawl out and snore, Jingyi wouldn’t have it any other way.

  She hums a little tune while slipping her shoes off, twirls her way inside, and then shuts the door behind her with a quick flick of her foot.

  “Welcome home.”

  Jingyi practically hops out of her socks and scrambles to catch the box of supplies she nearly fumbles onto the floor. “Miss Bai! I didn’t know you were still here.”

  Lingfei doesn’t reply immediately. She takes the time to sip a cup of tea first. “How are you acclimating to your new life?”

  “Oh, it is a change, that’s for sure,” Jingyi replies while setting her box down on a shelf. “I’ve served Zhou Ran all my life, and even that has changed a lot. When we were young, we were like sisters, and then I actually had to do my job, so I became a servant. Now we’re friends again, and… hehe… I’m rambling, I guess.”

  “Zhou Ran…” Lingfei whispers to herself. “An odd girl. Of all those assembled the other day, she was the only one who showed any resistance to my influence. Do you know why that is?”

  “Influence?” Jingyi puzzles over what that means while setting some food items out to prepare a light breakfast. “I don’t know what that means. Would you like something to eat?”

  “Nevermind my inquiry. It would be difficult for one with no training to understand. And yes, I will join you for breakfast.”

  “And what about your friend?” Jingyi gestures at the large, three-legged raven perched atop a nearby bookshelf.

  [I will eat whatever you prepare, miss Xiang.]

  Jingyi blinks.

  [You assume correct. As we are both companions to another, I feel that it is only right that I speak using my true voice, and not one limited by the simple form I bear.]

  “Oh! It is an honor, your excellency!” Jingyi curtsies in the raven’s direction.

  The raven flutters down from the bookshelf and lands on Lingfei’s table. [You may call me by my name, Bai Xujun.]

  “Bai? Like Miss Bai?”

  [Indeed. I am the great ancestor of the Bai clan.]

  She looks between Lingfei and the bird, but the young woman barely stirs. “That sounds like a very important role to fill. Do you like quail eggs? I have several.”

  [It is, and I do.]

  “Two will suffice,” Lingfei chimes in. “The great ancestor needs to mind his diet.”

  Xujun squawks. “Nonsense!”

  “Two it is.”

  [Do not listen to this foolish girl! Four is a meal suited to one of my stature.]

  “You’ll gain weight again.”

  The indignant raven turns his back on Lingfei. [Very well. Two eggs.]

  “Your stature is very fine,” Jingyi comments with a coy smile. “Very regal.”

  [As it should be! With my guidance this girl will see me returned to the heavens where I belong.]

  “The heavens?” Jingyi inquires while setting down a bowl with two eggs in it for Xujun to eat.

  [Yes! Ages past, my foolish cousins descended upon this world and were punished for their hubris. One remains a prisoner to the master of this mortal realm, doomed to eternal servitude. But now that I have Lingfei, I can return to where I belong!]

  Lingfei scowls at Xujun while he rambles excitedly, and potentially divulges more information than he should. Jingyi just smiles and allows him the opportunity to do so. “So, Miss Lingfei is quite special, then? Zhou Ran is very special to me, too.”

  [None of my descendants have ever possessed the potential that she does. I sense some potential in your friend, though she has yet to begin realizing any of it.]

  “Oh? Well, Zhou Ran hadn’t expected any of this a week ago, so she is definitely underprepared. She does not have a wonderful teacher like yourself, that is for sure. Is that why you are not attending any classes today, Miss Bai?”

  “That is correct,” she sips her tea and then sets the empty cup aside. “It will be some time before the others catch up to me, so I am being left to my own devices with minimal guidance.”

  “Hm… I will adjust my schedule a bit more, then. If you’re going to be around most days I will need to plan meals accordingly.”

  “I may not be. The Qi in the home is sufficient for my cultivation at this time, but I will begin searching for a more suitable location soon enough.”

  “Well, until then…”

  [And what of you, girl?]

  “Me?”

  [Who else? What will you master first?]

  “I… I didn’t have any particular plans,” Jingyi glances back to the box she carried in earlier. “They said those like me should find ways to be useful. We might not have jobs for the sect, but we’ll be staying here and supporting our masters. I grabbed some sewing supplies from the storage room and figured I’d start there since I always enjoyed needlework.”

  [And then?]

  “And then what?”

  [What will you do after you have mastered the needle?]

  “That will take a while, no?”

  The raven laughs, or near enough. [Foolish girl! Do you mean to tell me you do not know your own potential?]

  Jingyi shakes her head.

  [Hmph! Unlike your friend and Lingfei who are claimed by fate, you have been overlooked. Your future is undecided and entirely within your hands. But more than that, you are special in a way that they are not.]

  “Special? Me?”

  [There is no doubt. I have never met another like you, and now that I have, I am certain that Lingfei can return me to my rightful place.]

  Jingyi swallows hard. “I don’t know if I understand.”

  [Foolish girl!] Xujun squawks angrily. Lingfei turns to fix her icy blue gaze on her, and the duo stare at her like hungry predators. [There is none in the world who possesses the potential you do. Unlike all others, yours is truly limitless.]

  Between completing the first exercise and getting the initiates out of the hall, I have plenty of time to wait and ponder over what to expect. I asked Song Ling before she left if she had any ideas, but she shook her head. We were both stumped. She told me she’d see me later and then filtered out with the rest. Now I am alone with the gaudy and resplendent Elder Cai.

  I gulp and approach the dais.

  “Elder Cai, you wished to speak with me?”

  “I do,” she gestures to the cushion atop the dais. “Please, join me.”

  I hike up my robes and climb, rather gracelessly, onto the platform and scoot over to the cushion.

  Elder Cai watches with a mixture of dubiousness and curiosity while pushing one of the paintings back into its rightful place.. “You could have used the stairs.”

  I freeze for a moment and then proceed to get situated on the cushion with an awkward chuckle. “I didn’t want to waste any time. So, uhm… is there a problem?”

  “Oh, nothing of the sort. I merely wished to consult with you beyond the notice of your peers. You youngsters like to put your ears where they do not belong and tend to judge too harshly for your own good.”

  I look up at Elder Cai and struggle to shake the feeling I’m about to receive a remedial lesson.

  “How familiar are you with spiritual roots?”

  “They are the connection between our spirit and our physical body, and while everyone possesses spiritual roots, they are not always connected in a manner suitable for cultivation.”

  Elder Cai is pleased. “Mostly correct — and very academic. The spiritual root is an important component for our cultivation. Without it, we cannot sense Qi, and if we cannot sense Qi, we cannot progress our cultivation. You seem to have learned something before coming here. Who taught you?”

  “My father!” I chirp proudly. “Oh, uh, Zhou Xiaoming. He isn’t a taoist like you, but I think he’s always held a bit of a fascination.”

  “Zhou Xiaoming? Of the Imperial Academy?”

  I nod. “Yes. He’s been the headmaster for years. Do you know him?”

  “Not personally, but I have heard of him,” Elder Cai appears amused, but continues. “The world around us is suffused with Qi, and this Qi bears the will of heaven, as many call it. Which is to say it serves a purpose. If left alone, it will follow its course and fulfill its fate, as will all living things. Through our spiritual roots, we are able to impose our will upon this Qi and overwrite its purpose with one of our own design.”

  She gestures to the remaining painting of the meridians with a swish of her wrist. “We draw Qi into our bodies, the spiritual roots overwrite its will with our own, and then it is stored in the dantian for use. This is… well, this is what I wanted to speak to you about.

  “During today’s lesson, I informed each disciple of the nature of the innate Qi, which is the Qi we, as living beings, produce naturally. It is always associated with at least one of our spiritual roots, or I should say, almost always. There are some abnormal scenarios where something produces a Qi with no nature, and you are one of those abnormalities.”

  I suddenly feel cold. “Is that… bad?”

  Elder Cai pauses longer than I’d appreciate her doing. “Normally, I would say yes. For others, the nature of their Qi enhances their cultivation of the corresponding root, bolstering their overall cultivation rate. Qi of no elemental nature does not enhance our cultivation but it also doesn’t hold it back. Curiously, or perhaps by design, those with Qi like yours always possess five spiritual roots.”

  “So, I have all five spiritual roots?”

  “Yes. Under normal circumstances we will not admit someone with five spiritual roots,” Elder Cai pushes the painting of the meridians away while she speaks. “But, you were sent here by her excellency, and so you will be given a chance. Are you aware of the greatest foe of any cultivator?”

  “Is it time?”

  “Very good. Time is our greatest enemy. We are in a race against our mortality, and if we do not escape that fate and transcend to immortality, then we die. Most sects, let alone masters, will not bother investing in someone who has more than three roots because each root must be nurtured individually to balance the spirit’s connection and that means more time is required. As you possess all five spiritual roots, you will require more time to cultivate than your peers.”

  I lower my gaze to my lap. Am I doomed? Doomed before I even begin?

  “It is not impossible, though,” Elder Cai crouches down and places a finger under my chin to tip my head up. Despite the gravity of the situation, she is smiling. “Grand Elder Wei Yukou is like you. She possesses all five spiritual roots and has natureless Qi. So, you are not alone, and I suspect once she catches wind of you she will be a great resource.”

  I do my best to smile in return as Elder Cai sits down on the floor next to me. “It will be difficult. I do not know what her excellency saw in you, but whatever it is… just disregard it. You are an initiate of the Taiyi Sect, and if you have the potential to succeed, we will ensure that you do.”

  “Really? So, it’s not hopeless?”

  “If we gave up everytime something looked hopeless, who would get anything done?”

  We both chuckle.

  “It is only the first day, Zhou Ran. You did well in today’s lesson, so you are off to a good start. It is too early to despair,” Elder Cai pushes herself up to her feet and dusts her robe off. “Besides, we are the Taiyi Sect! If there is a place in this world more suited to taking on a challenge like yours, then I have yet to hear of it!”

  Her sudden zeal is refreshing and uplifting.

  “Pay attention in your lessons. Work hard. Make friends, and build yourself a proper support network, and I think you will do just fine. You are dismissed.”

  “Well, what was it?”

  I catch myself before I have a chance to embarrass myself by releasing whatever awkward sound I primed in my throat. I whirl around, hand to my chest, and scowl at Song Ling. “Were you trying to scare me?”

  “Maybe,” she teases while slinking out from behind a pillar. “I was also the only one with a socially acceptable reason to linger, but I assure you, I am not the only curious one.”

  “It’s nothing scandalous or exciting, but it is a lot to take in.”

  “The type of thing better said elsewhere?”

  I shrug. “I don’t think it matters who knows in the end, but I’d rather not stand about in the courtyard if I can help it.”

  “It’s still pretty early,” Song Ling makes a show of looking around. “Why don’t we find a place to sit? I can still feel the Qi from the enlightenment pill and we might as well use the time to practice some more.”

  I place my hand over my lower abdomen. “Yeah, I still feel it. Let’s find a good spot and I’ll tell you what I learned.”

  “Deal.”

  Setting & Character Guide

  Taiyi Sect (Tàiyì — 太意) — One of Longzhou’s Five Great Sects and Zhou Ran’s future sect; located outside Nangao and is loyal to Ruyilong, rather than the Emperor

  Red Dust Pavilion — Taiyi Sect Headquarters

  Hall of Great Clarity — One of many lesson halls in the Red Dust Pavilion

  Cai Lingxian (Cài Língxián — 蔡绫娴) — Third Elder of the Taiyi Sect

  Wei Yukou (Wěi Yùkòu — 委御寇) — Taiyi Sect’s Grand Elder; referenced only in this chapter

  Zhou Ran (Zhōu Rán — 周然) — The main character; initiate #427 of the Taiyi Sect

  Zhou Xiaoming (Zhōu Xiǎomíng — 周晓明) — Zhou Ran’s father, headmaster of the imperial academy

  Xiang Jingyi (Xiāng Jìngyī — 相婧祎) — Zhou Ran’s best friend and Dao Attendant

  Song Ling (Sòng Líng – 宋玲) — Taiyi Sect Cultivator; initiate number unknown

  Bai Lingfei (Bái Língfēi — 白凌菲) — #3 initiate of the Taiyi Sect and Zhou Ran’s roommate

  Bai Xujun (Bái Xūjūn — 白虚君) — “His Excellency”, Bai Lingfei’s three-legged raven companion and clan ancestor

  Qi, Innate Qi, and Martial Artists

  Qi is an integral part of any good cultivation system, so we’re going to see a lot of it in WMTG. Qi varies between stories and settings, but has some consistent features. For those not overly familiar with Chinese fantasy, Qi/Ki/Chakra/Etc., you could think of it as western fantasy Mana and be close enough.

  Qi doesn’t have a visual component on its own, sort of like a colorless gas. This means the average citizen cannot comprehend qi, or realize that it is all around them. They just rely on someone else telling them that it is so. Most of the populace is vaguely aware that it exists, but have so little to do with it that it might as well not exist as far as they are concerned.

  As the story goes along, qi will become more complex. Suffice to say, there is a waterfall of different classifications and categories that qi is stuffed into. From the top, qi is divided into earthly and heavenly qi. Earthly qi is produced in the mortal realm, such as Da Xi’an, and contains substantial impurities; heavenly qi is produced in the heavens in great quantities with exceptional purity. It is the goal of any cultivator to finally “taste” heavenly qi.

  Furthermore, qi is divided into natures: fire, water, earth, metal, wood, and the uncommon natureless qi. Natureless qi is neutral, while the five elemental qi types interact with each other according to the Wuxing, or five processes/phases. Each element has a generative cycle which represents their emboldening aspect. Wood enhances fire, fire enhances earth, and so forth. There is also the conquering cycle which determines which negatively impacts another. Water conquers fire while fire conquers metal. There’ll be more in depth on this later.

  Qi also possesses different states, like physical matter. In nature, it is mostly found as a gaseous form, which is why qigong exists. This method is used to breathe in qi along with the air in a normal breath. The next state is liquid. Liquid qi is the first refined qi and is one of the earliest goals of a cultivator. Liquid qi is denser than gaseous qi, thus allowing for greater storage capacity. It is also easier to work with. Lastly, a solid state qi is necessary to build the Jindan, or golden core.

  When the cultivator is prepared to form the Jindan, they choose their cultivation foundation, which will be covered in a different section. Suffice to say, qi gets a lot more complicated at this point!

  The last bit I want to cover is innate qi. Innate qi is produced by the body of a cultivator (or other living being). To anyone else, this is just normal qi, but to them it is innate qi, because it is theirs. Martial artists call innate qi inner force, and it is very important for them, because the biggest divide between martial artists and cultivators is the Divine Sense, or ability to sense external qi. Because martial artists cannot access divine sense for one reason or another, they rely entirely on their innate qi.

  So, there is a lot of potential overlap with cultivators and martial artists, and I wonder if that will ever be important going forward? ;)