Chapter 4 – Senior Sister’s Guidance

“Observe,” Senior Sister Li ordered, settling into a meditative pose. “I will show you the proper way to follow the manual, look closely.”

Suddenly, a cluster of pebbles started levitating in front of Senior Sister Li. Slowly, the pebbles arranged themselves in the pattern described in the manual, hovering about a palm’s length in front of her body. As she started to breathe in and out in the described rhythm, the pebbles began to flow, tracing the patterns, with different sections at varying speeds.

“None of you managed to gather any Qi yet, but visualization of the cycling might help you grasp the insight needed to gather your first strand of Qi.” Senior Sister cycled the pebbles for a time before continuing. “And when you finally succeed, it'll be easier to follow the correct pathways if you're already used to visualizing it.”

Sher judged it an effective teaching method, especially for those new to deciphering cultivation manuals. Even with her experience, she appreciated the clear instructions provided.

The lesson began right at dawn, as planned. The morning air was crisp and chilly, a result of the ship's altitude. The skies were clear and when Sher looked back East towards the capital they left yesterday, it was no longer visible.

The lesson continued, with the presentation now broken down into the components of the cycle. Both the descriptions and visualizations provided by Senior Sister Li were straightforward, even though the breathing technique itself, White Tiger Blawan, was inherently complex.

Whenever a disciple raised a question, at first tentatively and unsure if they were allowed to, Senior Sister Li would give a clear answer. Meanwhile the questions themselves were on point and proved the students had begun to understand the basics.

When the session ended, the disciples left in high spirits, their faces alight with newfound determination, eager to challenge the monumental task of gathering Qi. Senior Sister Li left with the disciples, heading to her own cabin to focus on her own cultivation.

The deck of the ship was quiet once again. Only Elder Feng remained, situated at the helm of the ship, deeply in meditation.

After some time, another figure came onto the deck, looked around and headed towards the stem of the ship. Sherenna felt the Elder’s gaze on her back, as she sat down at the stem, the wind blowing in her face, her hair flying behind her.

Sher started slowly, following the proper breathing rhythm. Gradually, she extended her senses towards the surrounding Qi and started breathing it in with accordance to the technique. She let the Qi reach her Dantian, but instead of letting it disperse, this time she guided it through her body with accordance to Senior Sister Li’s morning guidance.

Sherenna directed the smallest trickle of her Divine Sense inward. She watched very closely how the technique affected her body and whether the method from received instructions correctly sent Qi to every part of her body. Only minor adjustments were necessary to utilize White Tiger Blawan to its fullest extent.

At first the Qi spread throughout her body was on the verge of dispersing to the surroundings, yet, as she continued to cycle in accordance with the technique, it became more and more deeply ingrained in her muscles, and bones, and organs. Saturating and enhancing them to a small degree, for now.

Finally, as Sher gathered more Qi from the surroundings and the cycled Qi went through her body and returned back to her Dantian, it started to gather there, and was made her own.

As she felt the first drops condense in her Dantian, she felt this ravenous hunger, like a starved prisoner sent home and welcomed with a feast. She started to accelerate, taking in increasingly more of the surrounding Qi. As she sat on the ship’s stem, Sher felt buffeted by Qi as much as by the wind.

Sher could not tell how much time had passed since she sat down, but at last a change happened in her Dantian. The slowly condensed drops of Qi began to merge, forming a single, larger body of Qi—the first stirring of what would one day become a vast Sea of Qi.

Simultaneously with the change unfolding in her Dantian, the traces of Qi spread through her body began expelling impurities her mortal body had accumulated. Black grime released from her pores, staining her clothes. But each stain marking her garments testified that her body was that much healthier.

Feeling stinky, but rejuvenated, Sher rose and turned around with a smile. She faced Elder Feng, who sat on the other side of the ship, his eyes wide with astonishment. Sher gave him a small wave and hurried to the ship’s bathroom. It would not do for the other disciples to encounter her as she was dirty from the expelled impurities, she had an image to maintain after all. She was their Senior Sister in the sect and now a cultivator at the early stage of Qi Condensation.

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Cleaned and refreshed, with clean clothes withdrawn from her storage ring which she could finally access, Sher returned to her cabin and continued cycling following the White Tiger Blawan technique. It was important to stabilize her cultivation base; for her, the only way to properly celebrate her achievement was to indulge in amassing even more Qi.

* * *

The evening came and the sun continued its journey to set down in the West.

Li Meilien looked far towards the horizon. With a vague expression, she stood on the deck, planning to rehearse the evening's instructions. Instead, her thoughts drifted back to the time she embarked on the path of cultivation all those years ago. She remembered the apprehension and excitement she and her fellow disciples felt taking these first steps.

The most talented among them managed to enter the Qi Condensation realm within a month. Now, several among them had reached the Foundation Refinement realm, and she was already at the peak stage, preparing for a chance to break through.

A teacher. She never would have thought. Yet, such was life. And if—when—she reached the Core Formation realm, she would be counted among the lesser Elders, her shoulders burdened with even more responsibilities.

Li Meilien heard steps on the deck behind her; the disciples started gathering for the lesson. Three young men, meticulously selected through a process lasting multiple days, evaluated carefully and snatched from rival sects’ hands. And one pampered princess, who apparently thought she could just join her sect on a whim. Preposterous.

The three men stood together discussing their experiences. One of them, Fu Jin, talked excitedly about how he managed to sense a strand of Qi in the surroundings this afternoon. If he wasn’t merely bragging, he seemed to have potential and a bright future ahead.

Li Meilien started walking towards them, her eyes landing on the princess, who stood near, but apart from the rest. Was it tactfulness, giving them space, or arrogance, not mingling with those she considered her lessers?

‘Life in the sect will teach her all about such an attitude. I wonder if she will cry to take her back to her father?’ thought Meilien, but then she really looked at the princess, and stumbled. Straightening herself, she watched the princess, no, watched Junior Sister Song with disbelief. ‘How the hell did she reach Qi Condensation in a mere day?’

* * *

Sher watched as Li Meilien repeated the proper stance and strike of the Tiger Palm technique. Senior Sister seemed a bit stiff, perhaps a bit self-conscious? While it was a basic technique, that could also mean Senior Sister Li hadn’t used it in a long time.

Clear instructions on how to guide Qi in each step of the strike accompanied the repeated presentation.

The four disciples stood at even intervals, each assuming the stance and trying to imitate the Senior Sister. Three of them followed only the physical part of the exercise, while Sher replicated the Qi flow as well.

When the session came to an end, Li Meilien asked Sherenna to stay behind for a moment. She complied.

“Junior Song, I wonder if you had an instructor at the palace? Did someone teach you a cultivation method already?” Senior Sister had a stern look on her face. “You should know that Disciples of Baihu are expected to train in the White Tiger Blawan technique, and especially at the early stages of your cultivation mixing techniques can lead to difficult complications with your cultivation base and deviations of Qi.”

Sher had initially wanted to wait until one of the other disciples made a breakthrough, before following with her own.

Whether she waited for the first lesson or not did not make much difference as to how infeasible her breakthrough was. But ultimately, Sher decided that it did not matter.

During her time as a princess of the Song Empire, Sher was safe. She had chosen the safest possible starting point for this life, as she needed her body to mature before embarking on the Path to Immortality.

However, now that she had left the Empire and traveled on a flying ship accompanied by other cultivators, all her instincts screamed at her, at her helplessness.

It felt utterly wrong to her to be at the mercy of Fate and other people. Completely vulnerable to their whims, accidents, or any malice directed her way.

A mortal had to submit to the fickle current of Fate, their life never truly in their own hands.

Sherenna hated that feeling vehemently. All along on her Path to Immortality she defied Fate, she carved her own path against the raging currents of Fate. Her will, never broken, unyielding.

She felt she betrayed her Dao by choosing to stay powerless and thus she took the first step forward on her new path. It was better to face consequences with power to overcome them, than shy away and not be ready to meet challenges.

“Thank you for your concern, Senior Li; however, besides reading a few books on the sects and Dao, and, well, some interrogation of Old Wang, I hadn’t involved myself with cultivation in this short life of mine.” Sher decided to be mostly truthful, she had no experience in this life. However, she also understood the suspicion, and Senior Sister Li seemed genuinely concerned beneath her stern façade.

As Senior Sister Li’s severe face got even more serious, a voice from another part of the ship resounded. “Don’t worry, o precious disciple of mine, your Junior Sister broke through right here beside me. There was nothing wrong with her White Tiger Blawan technique, as far as I’m concerned.” Elder Feng said, not moving from his place at the helm.

“Well, then, how did she…” Li Meilien began, but caught herself. “Congratulations Junior Sister, that is a commendable achievement, and I wish you that the rest of your cultivation journey will go as smoothly.”

“Why, thank you, Senior Sister.” Sherenna smiled. “I, too, wish you a smooth Path to Immortality.”