“No protest?” Elder Ko smiled. “Good. You have the correct mindset at least. Now, do you understand what the process is for choosing the correct martial art?”
“Uhh… one that suits you and your inner strengths, yes?” Wu Ying said. That much, at least, he understood.
“Of course. But that is not all. Suitability is one criteria, but you must also consider compatibility with your other styles and, at your level, growth!” Elder Ko said, wagging a finger at Wu Ying.
“Growth?”
“Of course. You are just starting on your cultivation journey. A martial art that suits a Body Cleanser might be useless when you achieve Energy Storage, never mind Core Formation. As a Body Cleanser, you have no ability to project your chi outside of your body, as you have not opened the energy storage meridians in your body. Only at the Energy Storage stage will you begin such a process,” Elder Ko said.
Wu Ying nodded quietly. That information was not unknown to him, but he had not truly considered the implications, since it had never mattered to him before. But obviously, Elder Ko was right.
“Many of the works in this section are only suitable for practitioners in the Body Cleansing stage.”
Of course, many practitioners would never know better until it was too late—unless they sought Elder Ko’s guidance. Or received such guidance from their families. Which, come to think of it, they probably did.
“I look forward to Elder Ko’s guidance,” Wu Ying said with a bow.
“Har. A sweet-talker,” Elder Ko said. “Now, considering your sword style, you are actually well placed for further levels in cultivation. While the Long style jian art provides significant benefits at the lower levels, it is when you have achieved Core formation stages that its strength will truly be shown.”
“Elder is very knowledgeable.”
“Your great-grandfather’s brother once fought my master,” Elder Ko said with a sniff. “A pity that he fell during the war.”
Wu Ying bobbed his head. He vaguely recalled that story, but it was such a long time ago that the matter for their family had faded. Still, it was due to his contributions that their family held what little prestige it did in their village.
“Considering its slow growth and your lack of development in the jian, if you do not improve significantly, you should avoid taking challenges using weapons in the tournament if the format allows it.” Elder Ko walked down the stacks, leading Wu Ying to a portion of the shelves that took up one entire row. Even a quick glance was enough to inform Wu Ying that this entire row contained fist arts. “It is better for you to study a fist art that is compatible with what you have learned but which you can make use of in the Energy Storage stage too.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Good.” Elder Ko walked among the shelves, pulling manual after manual before tossing the majority back. He did not even look deeply at those he picked up, only checking to verify the name of the manual before moving on. In this way, in a short time, the Elder had accumulated three manuals he was happy with, which he passed to Wu Ying. “Study the introduction, principles, and first stance for all these. Then make your choice.”
“Of course, Elder Ko,” Wu Ying said with another bow. “I was hoping the Elder might recommend a cultivation method too.”
“Already?” Elder Ko sniffed but nodded, leading Wu Ying to another section of the dimly lit library.
Along the way, Elder Ko stopped to adjust some manuals, giving Wu Ying time to view the burnished wooden shelves and the manuals in detail.
“Did the Elder not want me to show my cultivation?” Wu Ying inquired as they walked.
“I have already seen it,” Elder Ko said. “When you were showcasing your forms, your chi moved through your meridians on its own accord.”
“It did?”
“Of course. The reason the Yellow Emperor never recommended movement while cultivating was due to the propensity of cultivators to inadvertently activate their chi during practice and, eventually, normal movement. While that allows you to cultivate faster, it also allows those with the proper training to grasp another’s cultivation level,” Elder Ko said. “Were you not informed of this?”
“No.”
“Hmmm…” Elder Ko turned down the stacks and walked along the manuals for cultivation, repeating his earlier actions. When he was done, this time, Elder Ko offered Wu Ying half a dozen manuals and held another one. “All these would be suitable for you. Of course, we do not recommend shifting from the Yellow Emperor’s style as yet. While the style provided to you is slower than some others, it has the benefit of not aspecting your chi. The vast majority of the cultivation methods in your hands will, unfortunately, force an aspect onto your chi. There is no help for it, but that is what we have at this level.
“As for this”—Elder Ko waved the simple scroll in his hand—“this is a cultivation exercise.”
“An exercise?” Wu Ying said. This was the first time he had heard of a cultivation exercise.
“Yes. Exercises are unlike full styles—they focus upon one aspect of cultivation and force an individual to repeat it constantly. It is uncommon for cultivation exercises to be used these days, as cultivation styles have progressed sufficiently that many exercises are included in most styles,” Elder Ko explained patiently. “But in this case, this exercise focuses on awareness and containment.”
“Why would I need awareness?”
“Greater awareness of one’s chi and when it flows will allow you to understand when you are activating your chi. Containment will help you reduce the external signs when you are cultivating. It will also dampen the signs of your passing in general,” Elder Ko said. “Do you understand?”
“It’ll stop people from reading my level as easily?” Wu Ying said, a light bulb going off.
“Good. And unlike those manuals, this you can afford.”
“Oh. Oh…” Wu Ying ducked his head. Well, yes. Cultivation manuals would be expensive. How expensive, he was not certain. Still, he took the last manual from Elder Ko, intent on studying all his options.
“Good. Then we are done.”
Elder Ko turned and walked away, leaving Wu Ying clasping the many books and staggering off to find a quiet corner to read.
Hours later, Wu Ying leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. As he lowered his hands, he stared at the lamps that had been lit all around the library, giving off flickering light. His stomach rumbled, reminding Wu Ying that he had not eaten anything since that morning, an uncommon occurrence as he always managed to grab an afternoon snack from the kitchens. Never mind the dinner that he had missed too.
Still, the day had been productive. He had finished reading through the documents the Elder had provided. As Elder Ko had said, all the cultivation manuals aspected his chi, ensuring that his chi would resonate with one of the five elements[15]. It was, of course, quite common for individuals to have their chi resonate in that manner—in fact, Wu Ying was certain most of the Elders were aspected in one form or another. However, his level of cultivation and insight were insufficient to sense that as yet.
However, Wu Ying was certain that changing his cultivation right now was a bad idea. For one thing, the cultivation techniques he had read were not that much of an improvement over the Yellow Emperor’s. And while he only had the manual for the Body Cleansing stage, the Yellow Emperor’s guide was sufficient for now. If he managed to actually achieve a position in the inner sect, he would have access to better manuals. Still, reading the manuals did offer him one benefit—they had expanded his view on cultivation and enlightened him on certain aspects of the Yellow Emperor’s style. Wu Ying knew, given time to experiment and digest the information, he could progress even faster now.