Heavenly Shae

Chapter 5: "1000 Li Paces."

Two days later, the old monster returned. They were ready for their first exchange of information.

"So, what secrets of the universe will you be sharing with me?" Shae asked excitedly.

"Hah, I thought that was going to be my question, with how our last conversation ended." The old monster chuckled quietly. "But I believe we agreed on foundational information first. So, I will offer up a brief overview of the first stages of cultivation, and maybe a bit more if you ask the right questions."

"Will you guide me through a cultivation session?"

He grimaced, "No. You don't have a cultivation manual to follow, and you will not use mine, it is unlikely to be well suited to you."

"So just theory then? Isn't there a basic technique, a manual or method that most could follow?"

"Hmmm, there are a few. Tempering or the pilgrimage I mentioned before is one such. Though it is much more flexible in its application. Generic methods are... counter-productive at this stage. You want a manual that is well suited to you. Ideally designed specifically for you, but that is near impossible. So instead, most sects store many variations for their new inductees to choose from. Some need assistance in that, and some can manage it on their own."

"Hmm, we can't even do the first step? Just learning to touch qi and move it around would still be helpful, right?"

"You think that is the first step?" He asked with a grin, then chuckled at her expression. "In truth, there is a separate reason. The qi of the mountain is quite different from the rest of the world. Better for me, but it could be dangerous for you. Not deadly, you could certainly start if you need to. But it would be detrimental in the long run."

Shae creased her forehead in frustration.

"And what did you bring to offer today?"

"Well, we did agree on establishing some groundwork, so first I need to ask some questions, figure out where you are at. Then I have a few ideas for things to explain." She smiled mischievously. "Like yours, maybe more, depending what you ask about."

"I can see the merit in that. Ask away."

"Ok, this is going to start a bit self indulgent but, we'll get there. Tell me about those blood red creepers, you did know what they were, yes?"

"Ah, yes I did. Your name is quite close, they are iron blood creepers, cousin to iron blood vine that grows in trees. Though the name varies by region. That one," he gestured to the rocky area, "it used to be dormant, and much smaller, it must have found something to feed on."

"Something?" Shae asked.

"The normal fare, as plants go. It also thrives in iron rich soil and will spread quickly with a carcass for it to feed on. Common for the more demonically named spiritual plants. Where have you been dumping the rabbit entrails?"

"Not right there, further uphill, the refuse pile you told me about. Ah, so it feeds on blood? It would be iron rich, as the name suggests." Shae considered for a moment, "could the pile be draining past its roots? Out it dug down into the water table?"

"Water table? That's somewhat esoteric knowledge for a mortal girl."

"Pffft." She blew out a laugh. "Hardly, villagers and farmers live off the land, they need to rely on wells and irrigation for their crops, water flow is well known to us."

"True but few would call it irrigation. They would say canals and ditches."

"If you stop me every time I use a technical term we are not going to get anywhere today." She gave him a glare.

He raised an apologetic hand, "moving on then. You may be correct, the creeper's roots were working through a small vein of iron, so something may have changed since my last guest was here."

"Through the iron?"

"Slowly, but yes, if the soil isn't ideal then you mostly find them near deposits. It is also what makes them useful, though we would prefer the slower growth rate."

"Useful... Do they refine the iron somehow?"

"Hmm, you could say that, but not really. They use it to reinforce themselves. Their previous bounty is already being used here by you."

"Bounty. What part... wait let me guess." Shae mentally ran through the things around camp. There was nearly no iron. Then she only considered what matched the dark red color. "The snares?"

"Yes! Their vines are impregnated with the iron they suck up. The thin size of the snares is because only a small vein within each vine gets the iron reinforcement. There's not enough to strengthen the whole plant. And the slower the plant grows, the stronger that thin wire of iron."

"Impressive, that seems quite useful for farmers and villagers as well."

"Oh many hunters and explorers know of its usefulness. Anything in a pinch as they say. But good smiths make much better wire, and it grows too slowly to be easily farmed." He paused as a thought struck him. "Since you have the free time, I can show you how to harvest it. Though I suspect the wires will be of poor quality for snares. Still, the thing will need to be pruned, soon."

"Ah, great, that sounds intriguing! I do find my fingers to be restless these days. But onto the science of it. How does it extract and use the iron? Especially from an ore deposit, dirt I can understand. But raw iron and blood would be..." Shae trailed off in her speculation.

"How? Hmmm, I hadn't considered. Let's see, there is metal aligned qi. So I suspect the species has gained a natural affinity for it, and possibly inherited some form of technique to draw in and reinforce itself." He rubbed at his chin, "I suppose it could be worth investigating if one has a similar metal affinity, and could not find a compatible body reinforcement technique."

Shae had raised an eyebrow and turned her head in confusion. "A qi technique? No, I mean the basic chemical interactions that let it breakdown and repurpose the iron. Probably as rust. For the ore, at least, it would need to let moisture rust away the iron to break it down. Or just dissolve into water like in a rusty well."

"Chemicals? You sound like a heretical Alchemist. Who filled your head with such nonsense?"

"Ugh, it is neither nonsense, alchemy, nor heretical. Please don't tell me reason and logic have crumbled in the face of a little bit of magic and mysticism. Has cultivation really replaced the classical search for knowledge of the world?"

He remained silent. Assessing the girl.

"Ugh," she groaned. "Well, it always was the domain of the rich, those with free time to pursue their own goals. Not something a peasant could really manage. And yea, if you could get super strength and laser eyes, why would you bother with a bit of boring science." She mumbled her thoughts, barely audible to herself, but the old monster had no trouble hearing it.

"Miss Shae, if you do intend to exist with something approaching a normal life, even as a cultivator. You will want to be much more careful about the words and ideas you release into the world. You never know who is listening."

She rolled her eyes with dramatic exaggeration. "Right, fine. And if you expect to learn something about the world, blaming everything you don't understand on qi is a horrible way to do it. First things first, the plant doesn't use qi, that is absurd." She waved a hand, preventing his interruption. "Occam's razor. The simplest explanation is the most likely."

"You feel using qi would be complex? More complex than a bespoke chemical reaction created and controlled by the same plant?" And what is an Occam?"

"Who is Occam. He's the mortal who coined the term. And yes, you explained the complex requirement yourself. An affinity for metal qi, and some bespoke technique that it can instinctively learn, both of which it must pass to its offspring. Versus one of many biological processes which are fundamental to its being." She paused for a breath. "I can't claim that qi is completely uninvolved. Perhaps it assists in the process, catalyzing a reaction. Isolating the iron to begin with."

"A reasonable argument, and I like this Occam's Razor. Sounds similar to the Tenet of Least Abstraction. And yet, I'm not convinced."

Shae shrugged, "I wouldn't expect it to be so easy. And I could be wrong in this case. If you told me that you sensed metal qi flowing through the plant. I would believe you, but still ask if the plant itself is moving it or perhaps the qi is simply following the metal instead? Can it really intend to move and use qi? It is just a plant."

"Just?" He questioned back. "Plants have spirits as well, however faint. A part of their being that can grow and change and even cultivate qi, given the right environment. Do not discount plants. Especially those in a high qi environment like this mountain."

She looked at him skeptically, especially at the cultivation part, but the reminder of the qi rich mountain clouded her with doubt. "Monstrously powerful plants aside, I do believe I have a topic to start on, to lay some of that groundwork we talked about. Would you like to start your own lecture?"

"Hmm? Not going to provide your topic first?" He raised a curious eyebrow.

"Uh, I could, but I suspect it will just lead to more questions, and I'd rather do it all at once."

"Fair. You have demonstrated that you have a lot to say, and we didn't discuss who would teach first. You'll go first next time." Shae nodded at his pause. "I will start with an overview of cultivation stages, the ones before core formation. Which is the stage I am at. You will not need that information for a long time, and by then you should have a manual that details the specifics. And a Senior to mentor you, if needed.

"There are three primary goals to pre-core cultivation, these are generally separated into specific steps, a stage for each. Most manuals approach them in the same order. Though, technically they can be performed in any order." He paused the lecture to look directly at her, "do not change the order directed by your cultivation manual."

Shae made a face like she was offended he had to specify that, and placed a hand over her chest. Her pose quickly became dramatic and mocking, but she didn't interrupt.

"The three are, in the order recommended. Firstly: qi gathering and control. Touching qi, learning to move it freely within yourself, and accumulating a large portion of it. To feel what a full Dantian is like, and to feel the natural qi of the world convert to your personal qi. That large portion then allows you to move into the second stage: body cleansing. Cleansing aims to remove blockages and toxins from the body, both called impurities. Thereby purifying the body to better hold and use qi. With the secondary effect of a small amount of tempering. There are far more specifics, but they don't need to be listed now, you can read them from the books when you learn to read in whatever sect you join."

"Uh, I can read now." Shae stated, with some actual offense in her tone.

"You can? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Why did you assume I couldn't? Do you think so little of mortals? 9 in 10 from my village can read." She crossed her arms, playing up her heated emotions.

"While I'm sure that is true, the 1 in 10 that cannot are the young, no? Your age group specifically."

Shae shifted, begrudgingly accepting his rationale. "Still, you knew I was smart, you should have asked."

He opened his mouth to argue, but stopped himself and sighed. "Perhaps. What is done is done. Most of this lecture can be found in the basic literature available to sect entrants. Which... I don't currently have in my residence."

"You have books here!" She said with excitement.

"A few. Most of which are rather specific and technical. The one about cultivation stages is still quite advanced-" He spoke as he recalled his selection then caught sight of Shae. "-and I'm sure you will manage it just fine." He recovered well.

Shae nodded and smiled wide. "Great! So, is tempering the third stage?"

"Ah, yes, the lecture. No, not at all." Shae let out a small gasp at the blunt denial. "Tempering was found to be an optional process that will occur naturally over a cultivator's lifetime. The third stage is-"

"Wait-wait-wait. What? Optional? So please clarify, with specific reasoning, why you have been putting me through that once a week."

The old monster was taken aback by the very serious woman that seemed to be angry at him. "Ah, yes. Perhaps I should go into more detail, since you have been suffering through it." He swallowed, he wasn't nervous, just needed to clear his throat at that specific moment. "When done early, it has many long term benefits. Such as improved qi flow and capacity, bodily resistance to qi pressure, and supposedly, partial cleansing which should reduce time spent during both the second and third stage."

"Hmmm, only supposedly? Do go on." She wanted a bit more, and was certainly not enjoying the sight of the old monster squirming under her ire. Which he was certainly not doing, because he was a powerful core cultivator that would not be intimidated by a mortal girl.

"Supposedly, because it is difficult to confirm. The benefits all contribute to faster progress, so isolating specific changes is near to impossible. More importantly it has largely fallen out of favor because it is very time consuming. Take the pilgrimage as example, several years spent slowly climbing the mountain instead of making more focused progress."

"But couldn't someone do both, cultivate during the pilgrimage?"

"Hrm." He fluttered his hand. "Maybe. Conventional wisdom says mixing stages and not fully completing stages is counterproductive. You could gather qi, but the tempering might be blocked by too much qi, slowing the whole process. Tempering could also affect your precise control. Faster methods like what we are doing, require a more powerful cultivator to spend a considerable amount of time and effort. Without this mountain providing the qi pressure and density I would have a much harder time, possibly even at the expense of my own progress."

Shae finally appeared content with his answers.

"Speaking of density, that is why I still dissuade you from cultivating here. Even in this shielded area, you might find it difficult to become accustomed to the density, and may form habits that rely on it. Potentially crippling your progress when you leave. Again, another reason to not temper and gather at the same time." He shook his head for emphasis. "And that assumes that you are not overwhelmed by it... yes there are other dangers, though rare. Which is why a spirit root test is recommended. Ah, but I am jumping ahead, the third stage is meridian cleansing."

"Meridian?"

"Right, you would be in the dark about that. The cultivation book I have is largely about meridians and qi channels throughout the body, and how those connect us to our souls. Simply put, they are not technically physical parts of our bodies, but metaphysical connections to our spirit and soul. At least according to that book. There have been a variety of theories throughout history with most correlating specific organs to specific meridians, hence the naming structure, which I will skip for now.

"The goal of stage three, often called foundation building, or just foundation stage. Is to clear these meridians of impurities, or whatever blockages might be there. This may seem trivial, but the specific method and the cleansing order are very important and generally the focus of any cultivation manual designed to reach the core stage."

"More cleansing? Wasn't that the second stage?"

He nodded, "Second stage can be seen as physical cleansing, third as metaphysical. It is debated if the blockages come from the physical or the metaphysical, whether performing them in the reverse order would be easier due to eliminating the source first. Ultimately, cleansing the body is easier and requires less qi so that is done first. Any cleansing provides a deeper qi pool for the cultivator to use for future cleansing, and so is a natural growth and acceleration of progress. Many manuals structure the cleansing order on this idea."

"So, either steady progress by doing the small ones first, or more trouble at the start, with explosive growth afterwards?" Shae guessed.

"Quite right. But in practice it is far more complex. The blockages from some meridians can spill into others when cleared, causing lost progress. Which is why it is vitally important to follow your manual, it will detail a specific order that doesn't encounter this problem."

"Okay, sounds like I need a cultivation manual."

"Yes, but first the affinity test, or spirit root test."

"You mentioned affinities before, with the plant, a metal based affinity, was that the same thing?"

He hummed a tone to himself. "Yes, you could say they are the same. Although, the test also checks for general compatibility rating. You will be given a low, average, or high grade rating. Indicating how quickly you are likely to progress through the early stages. Some people break these predictions, but they are reasonably accurate. If you also have a strong affinity, that means you will progress faster with a specific qi element. And should look for a corresponding manual and a knowledgeable senior to guide you."

"A knowledgeable senior like you?"

"No I am way off in the forest and would not be a reliable mentor when you are in the sect, if you do join my sect. A mentoring senior is usually only a stage or two ahead of you, but for specific affinities larger gaps are expected. Any questions?"

"Uhhh, when can I start?" Shae whined. "You said the first stage was about control too, can I do that? I feel like I am falling behind already."

"Heh, so then, you have made up your mind to cultivate?"

"Well, you make it sound so easy, and I've got a head start. It would be rude not to."

"Hah! Easy." The old monster chuckled. "The first few steps of a hike up a mountain are easy. Keeping up the pace is the hard part. Not giving up and resting on the way up, or just stopping because it has become too difficult."

"Huh, good metaphor."

"It is an old classic, from the time of the pilgrimage, actually. Back then, it was also about how long you would stick to the same task, staying on the pilgrimage, staying focused for three years is a bit of an imposition for some. Proven by the fact we don't do it anymore."

"Hmm, three years, so that time isn't saved in the later stages then?"

"It depends on the compatibility and motivation of the cultivator. For low grade spirit roots, the pilgrimage is quite helpful. Medium is about even, when also using a good manual. A lower quality manual will slow you down, so tempering can recover some time, most still find it tedious."

"So then, high-grade sees no benefit? Or is even slower from a pause that long?" The old monster nodded at Shae's intuition. "So, who gets recruited to sects? Only the high grades?"

"Yes, the high grades are snapped up first. And those with affinities, especially unique ones, possibly just for the novelty. Affinities are rated as well, so some low grade affinities will likely get passed over. Unfortunately low grades are universally left behind, but it is said that the monks take all that are willing. Mid grades overlooked by the sect can join the military. Rumor is that they still use tempering, because it lets them use fewer more generalized manuals, worse for the individual, but better for the group. Untempered soldiers are also kind of useless on a battlefield with core stage cultivators."

"They come here for that?"

"Luckily no. That would be quite disruptive to myself. There are many other places in the world like this, of varying density and pressure. If the military doctrine is believed, theirs is much better and works well with their manuals and physical training regime to finish the tempering and make other progress within two years. But this is probably getting off topic."

"Yea, a bit, but it's still interesting." She considered for a breath, "Should I be doing physical training as well?"

"Staying active, as you already are, is excellent. Sect cultivators rarely push their physical limits unless they are martially specialized. The benefits fall away beyond core creation. It is ideal for militaries that pursue a large number of moderately cultivated soldiers. Yet, not for those who wish to actually progress to nascent soul and immortality."

"Oh, that's kind of disappointing."

"Ha, well, introduce yourself to the martial trainers when you join a sect. You may reconsider that opinion."

She caught the hint and let the topic drop. "I still feel like I could be doing something more while here. Maybe some kind of qi control practice? That is part of the first stage, right?"

He exhaled and looked up briefly. "Yes, that would be helpful. Yet, when we say control, we mean fine control, finesse. Not strength or power. Finesse is what you will need to cleanse yourself, control your internal qi, and execute techniques. Power comes naturally as you progress, and early cultivators just don't have the qi reserves for power to have any effect. Perhaps if you were combat focused, overwhelming an enemy with one large technique might be safer than a prolonged battle. But we should not plan around such conflicts. More importantly, this mountain is nearly the opposite qi environment than what you would need."

Shae sighed in defeat.

"For control training, you require a very thin qi density with minimal external pressure on that qi. Thin is not ideal for initial contact with qi, as it becomes harder to find and grasp. But initial contact is rarely a hurdle. That thinness forces you to manipulate small quantities of qi improving your control."

She hummed in thought. "Right, so, that test and a manual are still my next steps. When can we do that?"

"So eager. And what is this we? Ha! Heh heh!" He laughed at her surprise. "You would need to bargain for my direct assistance, and there might be complications, which neither of us would agree with. Instead. I suggest you find a village and use their annual testing process. As it happens, I know a nearby village that holds theirs just after harvest. I can arrange transport, assuming you wish to leave then."

"Hmm, yea, I might get sick of you sooner."

"True, I should say the same, you do test the nerves."

"Hey!" Shae appeared offended. "You don't have to say it out loud."

He considered an apology, but the girl had said the same first. "In any case, I will see you to your entrance into a sect, even if it isn't mine. I think you could have accomplished that without my interference."

A frown of confusion crossed her face. "You're being too nice, why the quick turnaround?"

"If there is one thing to be wary of in the cultivation world... well, one of many. It would be to be cautious in making enemies. At any moment your cultivation progress can stall or backtrack, and your worst enemy can sprint ahead. Then if you have angered them enough, they may snuff you out." He let the declaration hang in the air for a breath. "If I had fewer morals, I could be a bit more devious, try to drain you of your knowledge then snuff you out so as to not take the risk of your vengeance. Fortune favors us both that I am not so demonic. Instead I shall try to keep some balance to karma and fate and ensure I've not made an enemy of you."

Shae remained silent. The direct proclamation was far more than she expected.

The old monster let the silence breathe for a bit. "Not every cultivator will be so magnanimous. My journey is unique to me."

"Fate and Karma. You seem to believe in these ideas?"

"Ideas? Hmm, I know a few that would have words for you about that. They are real... but how they manifest is subtle, and can vary significantly. Diviner is a career of great prestige. To read the winds of fate, observe the strings of Karma attached to us all and make predictions. Before you try to argue, I assure you they are considerably more accurate than you might expect. Throughout history they have proven their worth to be far more than superstition or instinctual guesswork." He took a solemn breath choosing how much to reveal. "I had heard from others, non-diviners, of the rare brush with fate, the rare pull of karma or Heaven which directs us to a path. I had been skeptical, never quite understanding, or simply in denial. Until-"

"Until you met me?" Shae cut in, and he looked unimpressed. "Sorry, please continue."

"Bluntly, yes, but it was two days ago, the single word you said. For a single word to resonate so clearly with my Dao... a clearer sign from the Heavens I do not think we would get. And so," he gestured to her. "it is your turn, I believe."

"Huh? Wha-?"

"Your topic of discussion? What did you decide on?"

"Oh!" Shae blushed a little at her lapse in memory. "That! Yes, alright. Ah, so! How do- well, in your own words, how do plants breathe?"

The old monster turned his head to the side, looking much more like the confused old man than the powerful hidden master. "Isn't the question 'Do plants breathe?' And I would say they do not, no lungs. Not even the fine pathways that insect use, generally only identifiable on the very large insects that use qi to move air through themselves."

"Ah, right, well, large insects aside, and generally, what I will be discussing is entirely within the mortal realm, not your qi and spirit plant weirdness. That is good though, it means we have something to talk about. I am going to discuss how plants breathe, how they use the sun's energy to create sugar in a process called photosynthesis."

The word did not thrum like evolution had, she felt no echoing response from the old monster or the world just from the word. Yet, she did see the old man's eyes widen a fraction, so perhaps he did.