Chapter 48: Homework
The pages smelled of old parchment and were interspersed with ink sketches. The first illustration showed a hand placed over a block of metal, fingers spread wide with lines of force emanating outward.
Understanding Metals Nature;Before one can extract from metal, they must understand its nature. Place your hand upon a piece of metal and attempt to sense its core. Do not extract. Instead, attune yourself. Feel its solidity, its weight, and its resistance.
I looked around for any metal item within my vicinity. But the closest one I had was my iron staff from Wang Jun. I left it underneath the bed, as I hadn't found the opportunity to train yet.
Placing it by my legs, I reached out and searched for an extraction point, like how I do with plants. But all I felt was an unyielding wall. I had never attempted to extract anything else with my powers aside from plant matter. It didn't occur to me to attempt it on anything else. After all, the Heavenly Interface told me it was supposed to be used for plants only.
Where I would try to feel out gently and coax out the extraction point, my qi seemed to bounce off any attempts at extracting the metal. I kept testing different spots, brushing my fingertips along the iron staff to find the point of extraction.
After several minutes of failure, I opened my eyes and let out a small exhale.
I was pushing my essence and qi against the iron. It was like trying to push my hand through a wall. It didn't budge, it didnt yield.
That clearly wasn't going to work. What did Master Li Tao say to do afterward?
If your initial attempt is not successful, do not fret. The will is a tool when dealing with metal. Strengthen yours. Sit in meditation, envisioning a wall. With each breath, see this wall become taller, thicker, and more impregnable. Your will must be strong enough to climb and then break down this wall.
A matter of will, huh?
That didn't seem right. I was made of pure, concentrated power and will! Atleast fifteen percent!
I put down the staff and tried again but with an intensity unlike anything before. I gritted my teeth, remembering how I had to push through against the rope-wrapped poles during my conditioning exercise.
After finding a good spot to hold, I began to push.
The metal refused to yield. My grip tightened on the staff as I pushed harder and harder, trying to make it bend to my will.
Suddenly, a sharp, splintering pain pierced through my mind, making me recoil in agony. It felt as if a thousand needles were being thrust into my head, each one more painful than the last. My vision blurred, and the room around me spun. Dropping the iron staff, I grabbed my head in my hands, trying to control the surging pain.
Amidst the haze, I felt a burning sensation seeping from my palm. Looking down, I noticed the muscles on my palm had twisted and turned a darkish purple. My thumb contorted into a painful position. Panic welled up inside me. Qi deviation, a voice echoed in my mind.
I tried to focus my internal energies to stabilize my qi, but the pain was overwhelming. The surge had disrupted my internal pathways, and now my qi was running wild, unchecked. Each attempt to control it only led to more pain.
Despite my eyes being closed, I felt a white flash of light close by and a soft touch on my shoulder. Tianyi.
Almost immediately, the pain subsided. It was still debilitating, but I no longer feared for my life. I released a sharp intake of breath, internally thanking my steadfast companion for her timely intervention. I truly would be dead several times over without her help. She's getting some alcohol as a treat after this is all settled and over with.
Hours or perhaps minutes later, the worst of the pain subsided, leaving me drenched in sweat and panting heavily. My hand throbbed, and a few bruises remained, a stark reminder of my foolishness.
Laying on the ground, I took stock of the situation. My body felt drained, my mind foggy. Muttering out my thanks to Tianyi, she fluttered over to her corner by the windowsill, resting amicably.
It was then that Master Li Tao's words resonated even more profoundly.
Your will must be strong enough to climb and then break down this wall.
And just like that, a quest appeared.
Quest: Creation of Healing Hydrosol
- Study ancient alchemical texts from the Verdant Lotus Sect's library to uncover the secrets of hydrosol creation. (0/3)
- Harvest fresh tienchi ginseng, spirit moss, common reed, and Chinese orchid and deepen understanding of each ingredient. (0/4)
- Extract the pure essence of spirit moss and find its hidden properties. (0/1)
- Distill the ingredients using an alchemical still. (0/1)
- Learn the method to create purified water using alchemy.
I gave myself a minute to digest the quest fully. I went to my freshly made batch of Invigorating Dawn Tonic and chugged one down. Energy washed over my body, soothing my physical and mental fatigue.
I suppose I wasn't sleeping tonight.
My vision blurred, a throbbing sensation originating from my temples. The last thing I remembered was being completely engrossed within my memory palace and now...
I was seated at a wooden bench, surrounded by students. Each was engrossed in preparing various ingredients, carefully following instructions from an imposing figure at the head of the room. The realization hit me suddenly: I was in class.
Li Na was waving her hand over my face, a concerned look etched on her features. "Kai? Are you alright? You seem elsewhere."
Pushing away the fatigue clouding my mind, I forced a smile. "I'm fine, Li Na. Just a bit distracted. Thanks for checking on me."
She gave me a pointed look but didnt press the matter. Turning back to the task at hand, I tried to follow the instructions being shared.
"Our focus today," Instructor Xiao-Hu began, "is on prepping ingredients with efficiency. Remember, your diligence here affects the final product. Do not rush. Instead, be methodical and precise."
My fingers shook as I picked up a herb. Fatigue clung to me, weighing down every movement. Each snip of the herb seemed to drain me further, making me acutely aware of the long hours spent in experimentation the previous night.
Amid my struggle, memories of Master Li Tao's exercises resurfaced. 'Strengthen your will.' That phrase echoed in my mind. Wasnt this just another wall to climb?
With a deep breath, I focused. My knife moved with a newfound purpose, quickly and efficiently prepping the herb in front of me. I tuned out the rest of the world, focusing only on the task at hand. The herbs, the knife, and me. It was as if we were dancing, each step choreographed, each move exact.
Li Na, seemingly impressed, nudged me with her elbow. "Looks like someone finally woke up. Keep this up, and you might just get moved to the advanced classes."
I chuckled, not breaking my rhythm. "Lets not get ahead of ourselves."
"Quiet!" Instructor Xiao-Hu scolded, turning to our corner of the class. I muttered out an apology and kept my head down, too tired to even feel embarrassed.
However, as the class continued, the fatigue came back in waves, stronger each time. I found my grip slipping, my focus waning. But every time I felt like giving in, I remembered Master Li Tao's words. The metal. The wall. This was just another challenge to overcome.
When the instructor finally called an end to the session, I exhaled in relief, my fingers aching, my mind exhausted but proud of the work I'd done. Li Na smirked at me, her playful demeanor returning. "You did well today, despite your zombie-like state at the start. Got any secret potions you're hiding?"
Grinning, I responded, "Maybe, but a cultivator never reveals all his secrets."
