“Sounds exciting,” Wu Ying said.
“Not really. Oh, there were fights, but it was mostly a lot of walking and camping. The only good thing was the amount of demon meat we were able to eat.” A smile lit up the ex-monk’s face. “Have you ever tried third-stage demon boar?” At Wu Ying’s shake of his head, Tou He continued. “It’s so much better than second-stage. The taste is richer and deeper and the fat—”
Wu Ying chuckled as Tou He regaled him about the meat they’d eaten. At the lecture hall, Wu Ying led Tou He around the corner, heading for a side entrance which led them to the top of the hall itself. The rafters were mostly empty, just a few other individuals were present. The vast majority of the inner sect members who were attending the lecture were downstairs, where they were more likely to hear and be heard better.
“What’s this lecture about?” Tou He asked softly.
Wu Ying chuckled, as he was not the one who was out of the loop. Liu Tsong had spent the first few days of his initiation, after Wu Ying had recovered, ensuring he completed all the bureaucratic necessities correctly this time. Along the way, Wu Ying had also managed to learn more about the way the inner sect worked.
“It’s one of the introductory lectures,” Wu Ying said. “How are you here if you didn’t know about it?”
“I was following everyone else. What’s an introductory lecture?”
“You know how there are three kinds of lectures?” Wu Ying said, and Tou He shook his head. “Well, there are the private lectures, which are only accessible if the Elder invites you. Those are generally meant for those who are already a disciple of the Elder. Then there are the paid lectures. Those Elders lecture on the topics of their expertise, but those lectures are open to more students and are less personal.
“Lastly, there are the public introductory lectures. The Elders rotate constantly as the lectures are repeats. But they’re a good introduction to the various occupations, fighting styles, and introductory knowledge a serious cultivator requires.”
“And this is an introductory lecture,” Tou He said as the pair took seats. The lecture hall was a small half-oval with two levels facing the simple stage. “To what?”
“Cultivation in the Energy Storage phase,” Wu Ying said.
Since the sect was not a school and the intake of new members to the inner sect was sparse, the introductory lectures were never set up to cater to the new members. Instead, new inner sect members were expected to work with their sponsoring Elders or other senior members to brush up on what they needed to know. Of course, introductory lectures to the basics of each occupation happened too, but those were often scattered throughout the year as demand built up.
“Who’s lecturing?”
Before Wu Ying could showcase his ignorance, their lecturer walked onstage. Wu Ying’s eyes widened then narrowed as he mentally chided himself. Of course Fairy Yang was the most likely candidate. Not only was this lecture extremely basic, the Fairy was also the newest Elder in the sect. Such menial duties would obviously fall to her.
Yang Fa Yuan was the youngest, most famous Elder in the Sect. Most of her infamy came from her beauty—her pale, fair skin was set off by long lashes and lustrous black hair, a delicate jaw, and a shapely, long-limbed figure. Her title of Fairy was undutiable and unargueable, and many a cultivator had spent hours daydreaming about the cold, imperious beauty.
“Today’s lecture is about the beginnings of Energy Storage and its differences from cultivation in the Body Cleansing stage. For those who have advanced to the later stages, this lecture is of little benefit.” Fa Yuan paused, obviously waiting for a few cultivators, who stood up and left. Her gaze grew colder as it swept over the members of nobility who stayed before moving to the rafters and spotting Wu Ying and group. As his senior and another student sponsored by Elder Cheng, the pair had a more intimate connection than most.
“Energy Storage, unlike the Body Cleansing stage of cultivation, is significantly more dangerous. This is because the Energy Storage meridians in a cultivator’s body are entirely closed off, unlike the twelve meridians which are opened during the Body Cleansing stage. As such, to open each new meridian, a cultivator must use additional chi to breach and cleanse these meridians,” Fa Yuan said. “Use too little and a cultivator faces backlash from the backflow of chi into their dantian and meridians. Use too much and you can damage your energy meridian.”
The soft scrape of ink on paper resounded through the hall as cultivators took notes. Wu Ying sat forward, hands clasped as he listened intently. Thus far, the Fairy had not said anything he had not known, though his lack of notes was also due to his lack of funds. Tou He was quietly turning prayer beads in his hand as he listened.
“Now, the amount of energy used varies greatly depending on the type and aspect of one’s chi. This is why the presence of an Elder is always recommended during the first attempt at breaking into the Energy Storage stage,” Fa Yuan said. “However, time has shown certain truths. Using the Yellow Emperor’s Cultivation method, it can be deduced that for the majority, double the amount of chi used to break the twelfth meridian is required to open the first Energy Storage meridian.
“As to which meridian to open first, it is, of course, a matter of your cultivation style. However, many styles have multiple routes of opening. This is unlike Core creation stages, where the development of your Core is specified in exacting steps. In light of this, the Energy Storage channels and their uses are as follows…”
Wu Ying made sure to listen and memorize as best he could. Much of this knowledge was theoretical, but knowledge could always bring a moment of enlightenment. Still, a part of Wu Ying noted his need to speed up his own cultivation. As a Body Cleanser 8, he was the weakest cultivator in the inner sect by at least one level. While it was unlikely he would be driven from the inner sect, a lack of progress in the next year would definitely carry penalties.
An hour later, the lecture was complete. As Wu Ying got ready to leave, he straightened in surprise as a voice entered his ear.
“Come down. We should speak,” Fa Yuan said, sending her voice to his ear via spiritual communication.
It was the first time Wu Ying had experienced this form of communication, but he found himself nodding automatically.
“I have to meet Elder Yang,” Wu Ying informed Tou He.
“No problem. I need to visit the inner administration hall,” Tou He said. “See you there?”
“Possibly. It depends on what Elder Yang desires,” Wu Ying said.
Tou He nodded of course, and the pair split up, Wu Ying making his way down the stairs to the edge of the stage. As he walked up to the Fairy, he felt the jealous stares of the nobles who had hung behind, not daring to approach the Elder directly.
“Elder Yang,” Wu Ying said, bowing in greeting.
“Junior Long.” Fa Yuan’s words caused a stir among the inner sect members, many who did not know of their relationship. Gazes grew even more heated as Fa Yuan continued. “Elder Cheng has left for the time being. He has mentioned you might require some help during this period.”
Wu Ying bowed again, smiling. Elder Cheng was considered somewhat eccentric, his belief in fate sometimes trumping what many would consider common sense. That he even mentioned this matter to Fa Yuan was unusual and probably indicated Elder Cheng still thought he owed Wu Ying some minor karma. “Thank you, Elder Yang. I would be grateful for any assistance you might offer.”
“Very well,” Fa Yuan said approvingly. “Come. I have much to do. Now, tell me. Have you chosen your supporting occupation?”
“No, Elder,” Wu Ying said. “I… well, I’m still learning of them.”
Fa Yuan hummed in thought as the pair walked out of the lecture hall and turned toward the peak of the mountain. “Choosing a good supporting occupation is important. While certain prodigies or well-resourced individuals might be able to progress in two or three supporting occupations, for most, mastering a single occupation is their limit. A wise choice now can avoid heartaches in the future.”