Kapitel 6: Learning 2 - Spirit and External Cultivation
"Now... onto Spirit and External Cultivation!"
Julong was a little taken aback at her pace as she had already just dumped a tonne of information on him. He was hoping that she would allow a little more time for him to absorb everything, but obviously, that wasn't the case.
He was also still surprised at how carefree and playful she was. Maybe it was because he was still young? He didn't really know.
Either way, it didn't matter too much, he had taken away the main message in her words, that being to Cultivate to the very peak of each realm. He was assuming that, that principle was consistent throughout each type of Cultivation.
"I'm ready, Master!"
She brimmed at him, getting ready for yet another long explanation.
"First up, Spirit Cultivation. As we've covered, spirit cultivation is the refining of the Divine Spirit. The Spirit, otherwise known as the Soul, is originally formless but is able to take shape by continuously tempering it. There are 4 different Realms in Spirit Cultivation, the Illusory, Corporeal, Materialization and Allroamer Realms are their names. Each level increases your awareness and senses, making it easier to detect threats and other things of the like. Another great thing about the spirit is its use to create Genesis Runes. Genesis Runes have many uses such as sealing, exploding, creating weather events and other useful things that can help with healing, combat, defence and other means.
"As a basis let's look at the Spirit in order of Realms, starting with the 'Illusory Realm'. There are 5 stages, Beginning, Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage and great Perfection. This is a scale to help keep track of your progression and is easier to put it onto a scale of Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced. The Elementary stage allows you to draw Grade 1 Genesis Runes and is equivalent to the Eight Great Meridians Awakening Realm. The Intermediate Stage allows for the drawing of Grade 2 Genesis Runes and is equivalent to the Qi Nourishing Realm. The Advanced Stage is when the Spirit is giving off signs of becoming Corporeal, which allows you to draw Grade 3 Genesis Runes and is equivalent to the Heaven Gate Realm. Right now you are Early Stage, so you are bordering the Elementary and Intermediate stages, meaning that your Spirit and Internal Cultivation are almost equal. It is not essential to Cultivate the spirit as when you reach a certain Internal Cultivation Realm your spirit will be naturally affected. For example, when you reach the Alpha-Origin Realm, your spirit will automatically enter the Illusory Realm. Despite this, however, Cultivating the spirit can be extremely beneficial, and I would recommend it as it will also help drastically with your other forms of Cultivation. One small example is the ability to last longer when absorbing the Qi required to strengthen your Alpha-Origin Layers.
"The next Realm of Spirit Cultivation is the 'Corporeal Realm', which can be sorted into Early, Middle and Late stage. The early stage allows you to draw Grade 4 Genesis Runes and is equivalent to the Alpha-Origin Realms' layers 1-3. The Middle stage allows for the drawing of Grade 5 Genesis Runes and is equivalent to layers 4-6. The Advanced Stage allows for Grade 6 Genesis Runes to be drawn and is equivalent to layers 7-9. In addition to this, you will be able to begin using spirit attacks against opponents. You will automatically step into this realm when you reach the Divine-Dwelling Realm.
"The next realm is the 'Materialization Realm', which is also formatted in a list of 3, Early, Middle and Late Stage. In the Early Stage, you can draw Grade 7 Genesis Runes and is equivalent to the Divine-Dwelling Realm. In the Middle Stage, Grade 8 Genesis Runes are eligible to be drawn and is overall equivalent to the Heavenly Sun Realm. The Advanced Stage allows you to draw Grade 9 Genesis Runes and is equal to the Nascent Source Realm. At this point in time, it is also possible to produce something called Spirit Flame, which is essentially Saint Fire, but not as deadly.
"The final realm is the 'Allroamer Realm', which is the pinnacle of Spirit Cultivation. The Early Stage alone gives you enough power to fight a Law Domain Expert, let alone the Middle Stage which is equivalent to the Saint Realm. The Advanced Stage is still very mysterious but is said to be like the God Realm of Internal Cultivation, so we call it the God Stage. At this stage you are able to create clones of your main body with similar fighting power, along with the ability to suppress Genesis Qi, meaning you are able to create a safe zone inside even a Law Domain. The Middle Stage, known as the Saint Spirit can only be achieved when reaching Saint Hood and will allow for the creation of Saint Fire. As such, just like all Realms before, when you reach the Saint Stage, your Spirit will automatically step into the Middle Stage of the Allroamer Stage, regardless of your previous level. There is also a Late Stage but no one has ever achieved it, because it is known as the Heavenly Spirit, which yet again belongs to the God Realm.
"The Allroamer Realm is one of the reasons why so many Cultivate their Spirit. Because it gives people a taste of the Saint Realm without achieving the Saint Realm. That being said, it is still extremely hard to reach such a stage and is generally only achieved by people who became Saints and some extremely talented Law Domain Experts. And even if you do reach the Allroamer Realm, a true Law Domain Expert will almost always win any fight that takes place."
She then quickly locked eyes with him.
"But that won't matter much for you, as I'm sure you will reach the Saint Realm."
What a bold judgement, it was something not even Zi Xiao herself was sure she would ever say, let alone something that Julong thought he would ever hear, especially while he was still in the Qi Nourishing Realm.
"I think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself, Master. But I'll try my best."
"That's all I'm asking."
She waved her arm, creating a gust of wind and slicing all the bamboo around her, before simultaneously turning it into a small inferno. This undoubtedly signalled her move to the next lesson.
"Now, onto External Cultivation. After the explanation I gave about Internal Cultivation, this should be pretty easy to understand. There are 3 main ways of Genesis Qi Cultivation, Internal, External and Blood Essence Cultivation. Blood Essence Cultivation is the act of harvesting blood from high-grade Genesis Beasts and refining it. It can be used to help advance Cultivation of any kind and is a very beneficial tool if it is much more powerful than you. As such it is one way to Externally Cultivate, though not as effective as normal methods, those being exposing your body to extremely harsh environments, such as sitting in Lava or being struck by Lightning.
"The Realms of External Cultivation align with that of Internal Cultivation, you just need Techniques to support it, you understand?"
"I understand how to Cultivate it, but I don't understand what you mean by Techniques. Does it mean that if I was at the Divine-Dwelling stage, my body would already be Externally Cultivated? I just need to have a technique for it?"
"Not quite. External Cultivation is created by the practice of learning Techniques which for all intents and purposes improve the Physical Body. For example, if I had learned a body strengthening or defence art in a lower grade of cultivation, and I went up to the next realm, my body would be stronger than a normal Yuan Master who allowed his Internal Cultivation Realm to fortify his body. This would naturally be from the previous effects of the Technique I had practised, so in theory, if I did the same thing at each level, it would exponentially increase my body's conditioning, making me far stronger than even other Saints when I reach that level. A simple way to know if someone is in a very high realm for external cultivation is by looking at their body. There will generally be a small golden glow around them.
"So yes, when you get strong enough in Internal Cultivation, just like how the Divine Spirit catches up, so will your body, hence the 'Saint Body'. But if you practised techniques that contributed to External Cultivation, your Saint Body should be stronger than others."
Julong nodded his head in understanding.
"I understand now. But that also brings another question. You have somewhat eluded to the answer but I still must ask. What if one just refined the body with tough conditions without a Technique, would that work? I mean using Genesis Qi on your body instead of your Dwelling."
Zi Xiao tapped her finger on her chin in thought, as if trying to come up with an explanation.
"It would work, it just wouldn't be as effective, by a long shot. Think of it like Cultivating normal Genesis Qi over Cultivating a Scripture. Normal Genesis Qi is much weaker than a Scripture, the same goes with External Cultivation without a Technique over having a Technique. By practicing this Technique, which is comparable to a scripture you can then practice other defensive techniques to add further and faster progress to your cultivation. Think the Scripture or Technique, if you will, like internal cultivation. By cultivating it with Techniques, you will metaphorically breakthrough.
"But going back to your original question: Sure, if you weren't already undertaking Internal Cultivation, you could fuse Genesis Qi with your body to strengthen it, but it is unwise for you since by practising a Technique you will already be doing the same thing."
"It will take a longer amount of time to fully Cultivate both, but will be quicker than if I was to do both completely individually - is what you're saying."
"Correct. It saves time and makes the forms of Cultivation comfortably interact which can be extremely beneficial. Not to mention you will be far stronger than people who do not do both, and most people don't.
"The only issue is that it in theory will take longer to break through to each Realm, but that was unavoidable no matter how you look at it. But the benefits outweigh the cons, and to prove it I can solemnly tell you that even if people break through before you, you will still be as strong as them before you break through, that is of course not taking into account completely different realms. Though, when you do finally breakthrough, regardless of Realm, they will be nothing but an ant before you."
Julongs eyes shimmered while looking Zi Xiao and the now raging fireball behind her, which neither of them seemed to have a problem with.
"It was my intention in the first place to Cultivate all three. This has only added to the flame of desire Cultivation has instilled in me."
He looked back toward Zi Xiao and the hope fluttering in her eyes. All that hope seemed to stem from him. He wasn't sure if he would be the unreachable genius that Zi Xiao was certain he was going to be, but he would try, for both his and her sake.
He would hit the very peaks of Cultivation just to prove he didn't need the Wan family.
"I won't let you down, Master!
"...also, was the inferno necessary?"
Zi Xiao looked around her and noticed the whole forest on fire.
"Yes, it was!"
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein