Chapter 118: Core (1) (Bonus: Review)
This is a chapter to thank Dennis_junior for his review and also as an apology for uploading it so late.
Thank you very much and I hope you continue your support for my novel.
Enjoy!
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According to the system, the core condensation was kind of like cultivation circulation but also not cultivation. Each cultivation stage had a limit for core condensation. Usually in cultivation, when the core of a person condensed to a certain condensed stage, that was the sign that the person was ready for a breakthrough.
However, for Wei Jun, who didn't require core condensation to increase his Qi seemed to be an unnecessary step but the system stated many more advantages that Wei Jun couldn't help but look past.
Following the system's guidance, Wei Jun mentally entered the same space where he had entered when dealing with Hui Ying.
Only this time, the scenery was a little different. It was like a ball of yarn, not organized at all as if Qi like strands were leaking from it. Wei Jun's task was simple, to gather all those leaking strands in one place and polish it like a ball. It was kind of like strands of cotton candy and Wei Jun had to compress those strands so they weren't disheveled anymore.
It was a technical thing and even Wei Jun didn't understand it much but Wei Jun knew that he had to make it so that the strands come together as a ball.
Done with the theoretical part, Wei Jun moved on to the practical part. He approached the core with his mind because according to the system, that was the only part he could see, and feel, the Qi with.
Wei Jun started simple and focused on just one out of the thousands of strands and began to control it to his will. It didn't even budge. It wasn't like last time Hui Ying where Wei Jun felt like he had no control over the yellow Qi strand. He had control over this yellow Qi strand; he just couldn't move it no matter how hard he tried.
He began to put in more and more effort but it only became harder for him until he felt like he was about to pass out so he moved away and exited that space-like realm.
Wei Jun slowly opened his eyes while a massive headache assaulted him. His head felt like it was splitting apart, literally as he felt blood coming out of his ears.
[HP -17]
He could feel a massive internal bleed so he hurriedly consumed a healing pill from the shop.
[You have consumed a healing pill]
[HP 31\\31]
[You cannot consume another healing pill for an hour]
Wei Jun sighed as blood ceased to flow out of his orifices and his headache began to disappear. In just a minute, he felt as if new but the pain from earlier was still fresh in his mind.
Wei Jun sat up straight once again and analyzed his earlier movements. Since the system didn't intervene, it wasn't something that much of a life-threatening situation since the system only helped when Wei Jun was about to go down the wrong path.
In other words, it was up to Wei Jun to figure it out. He had to experiment with different approaches. He had already gone hard, now was the turn to go soft. Wei Jun sighed and waited. He opted to wait an hour just to be on the safe side. The healing pill was magical, but cool down time was an hour and Wei Jun couldn't risk it with how things had happened.
Once an hour passed and Wei Jun had done some Qi circulations and felt refreshed, he once again entered the realm of the Qi and focused on the core. This time, he opted for a simple and soft approach. He began to feel the strand, a single strand, ignoring the rest of them. As expected, he could.
As he began to feel the strand of Qi, he could feel the heat emitting from it. It felt like a scorching hot pan radiating heat even after the flame underneath was turned off. Not the best analogy but Wei Jun wasn't there to make the analogies. He was there to feel.
He could feel the heat radiating from it, the power generated from it. The amount of Qi in the strand was way less than the strand of Qi he had let out in Hui Ying.
After a while, the strand of Qi that felt like it was like a wriggling eel in the ocean began to straighten out. It wasn't long before it became soft like a silky soft strand of hair. Wei Jun then gently guided the strand back into the core. The strand began to merge with the core and soon enough it was gone.
Wei Jun sighed internally but didn't continue. Instead, he opted to come out. Now that he knew the method, he wasn't going to speed through it, he still needed to properly analyze the situation. Also, the fact that his headache had returned but only slightly this time. He didn't even feel it after some minutes.
And his HP hadn't taken a hit also so he assumed that was the safest way to go. Now was the last concern.
'How long did it take?' Wei Jun asked because when he began, it was bright outside but currently, it seemed to be getting dark.
[A little over six hours]
'That long?' Wei Jun asked.
[Why do you think it takes cultivators decades to advance?]
[Just having a good a high ranking technique isn't everything]
[If you just want to disregard the matter of control, then it won't even take five decades for a cultivator to become a cultivator at the last realm, given that they have a good technique]
[However, then, if you want to use the Qi armament, you will have to expend thousands of Qi points for just one use]
[But with good control, like the control of the system, when a skill activates, can lower the cost by 50%]
Wei Jun somewhat understood the advantages of Qi control. Of course, when he activated skills, he didn't need to have good control, but he wasn't going to be entirely reliant on the system.
The Qi discharge could be used in many ways and that required control. Wei Jun needed to learn control for that. Deciding not to waste time anymore, Wei Jun got back to the task. He was just going to do one more Qi strand and then eat a hefty amount.
When he entered the Qi realm again, he began to control a strand just like before but he felt as if this time, it was easier. Not a whole lot easier but if it was a 100 difficulty before, it was now 99.9. It was a minor difference that a normal person wouldn't even notice but a man like Wei Jun was sure to focus on everything related to cultivation. Even something as minor as that.
Similarly, the next time he did, the difficulty became 99.8, then 99.7, and then 99.6. Over the course of the next four days, until Saturday night, when Wei Jun felt that it was enough, the difficulty was around 89.7. He had done exactly 103 strands and his control wasn't perfect, but he was getting used to it.
According to the system, his progress was very fast for someone who didn't have any talent for cultivation. Wei Jun didn't know how that worked but he didn't care. As long as his power increased, he was satisfied with it.
Getting up, Wei Jun felt different. Not like sup*rman different, but different. He couldn't tell exactly what it was because of how minor it was so he let it go for now.
Wei Jun didn't experiment any more with his Qi. He had gotten used to the slight headache for the past few days and even when it accumulated to a slight migraine, he could still manage.
Wei Jun left the warehouse after he was dressed and made his way to his car. He drove straight to his villa and as he entered, he saw the group having dinner. The one who was happiest to see him couldn't help but smile which she was quick to wipe off her face.
"Did you… Did you have a safe trip?" Xia Lu asked, getting up from the dining table. Wei Jun stopped her and simply replied, "All the work was done."
As far as others knew, Wei Jun was out of the city to scout prospects for his next projects. He didn't tell anything otherwise, even to Li Wei, and kept it as simple as he could.
Once done with that, Wei Jun excused himself to his room where he took the much-needed shower. He didn't get close to anyone before so they couldn't quite smell but Wei Jun could smell the stench of sweat wafting off of him during the entire drive.
After the shower, Wei Jun came out and called Li Wei to get updated on the situation. So far, there was nothing concerning and after a brief report about everything, Wei Jun ended the call.
'I guess I will go to the office tomorrow and deal with the piled-up work.' No doubt in his absence, a lot of work would have been accumulated, Wei Jun was just going to deal with that tomorrow since he worked on Sundays as well.