Chapter 94: The Middle

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    Breathe in.

    Breathe out.

    Liu Jin closes his eyes and gently cycles Qi through his body. It flows through Nine-Headed Snake Gods Veins and passes through his dantian.

    With every breath, the process repeats itself.

    With every breath, his focus sharpens.

    His lower dantian is in good condition. This comes as no surprise to Liu Jin. The lower dantian lays the foundation for all that follows, so it is easily the most important one at lower levels. Old Jiang had always stressed its importance, and Liu Jin always focused his efforts accordingly, something that had served him well when he was in the Foundational Realm and the Inner Realm.

    Liu Jin is now in the Nascent Realm, the third Realm of cultivation. The days in which he could just focus on his lower dantian are long gone.

    After all, it is in the Nascent Realm when one starts becoming aware of their soul.

    Perhaps, due to the events of Eastern Port City, Liu Jin has become aware of his soul a little earlier than he otherwise would have. However, it is a fact that cultivators usually start becoming aware of their souls when they are in the Nascent Realm. It happened sooner rather than later, but he would have hit this point all the same.

    And the soul is not the domain of the lower dantian.

    No, the lower dantian is more closely related to the physical. It is the best for receiving and distributing Qi through the meridians, nourishing the physical body.

    The soul, meanwhile, is the domain of the middle dantian.

    It is not something Old Jiang had ever told him, probably because the soul is something one must become aware of by ones own merits. It cannot be forced. Indeed, it was through constant cultivation that Liu Jin noticed his awareness of his own soul increased when he focused on his middle dantian.

    Right now, that is the dantian he is focusing on.

    Liu Jin carefully cycles his Qi through it, paying attention not just to the way the energy moves through his body but also how it flows into his very spirit. He feels the shape of his soul, the way it molds itself to his body as if it were just hiding beneath his skin.

    Breathe in.

    Breathe out.

    Sweat shines on Liu Jins forehead. His brow creases as he phases out his five senses. His body is important, but it is not what he needs to focus on right now. He needs to start paying more attention to his middle dantian and what it rules over. He needs to start mastering his very soul.

    Breathe in. Breathe out.

    Breathe in. Breathe out.

    Slowly, carefully, Liu Jin wills his soul to move. It doesnt do so quickly or easily. It cannot even be compared to a babys first steps. It just

    Twitches.

    One twitch. Two. Three.

    Four.

    Fi...ve.

    It is the soul equivalent of wiggling ones toe. For now, this is the best Liu Jin can do.

    It is enough to leave him gasping for air.

    His concentration breaks. He collapses on the floor, his body now drenched in sweat, his chest heaving as he stares at the ceiling. Even after all this time, he can only move his soul this much. To think Xiao Nan could split his soul into pieces and control them from a distance. Incredible.

    The skill required for such an endeavor. The power necessary. The potential ramifications and implications. All those things give him pause.

    Liu Jin sighs and hangs his head.

    The jar with the black lump soon goes back into his spatial pouch. The egg follows a second later.

    It should be fine. There is still time. There is still plenty of time.

    As long as the temporal seal is in place, nothing bad would happen to the black lump. It is not as if it is conscious of what is going on. It may exist, but that is all there is to it. It possesses no cognitive ability to even recognize said existence. Whether Liu Jin makes a decision now or in a decade makes no difference.

    Even if it is a little sad.

    Someone knocks on the door.

    Brother Qing, are you here? Brother Qing?

    Liu Jin blinks. A wave of his hand disables most of the talismans as he walks to the door.

    Senior Brother Khong, he says, opening the door. I was not expecting you at this hour.

    I had hoped to talk to you in the Apothecary. However, you did not come today, Khong Hu says, abruptly inviting himself into this room.

    I was busy preparing for my journey.

    Admirable, yet it is because you were not there that I must now invite myself into this room. Khong Hu looks at the room in a naturally snobby way. A good thing I did. Clearly, you have not been educated in the proper way to present yourself if this is how you have chosen to live.

    He had actually been educated in the proper way. Hed just never cared for it.

    What exactly has Brother Khong come here for?

    Why, is it not obvious? Khong Hu asks. He takes a pamphlet out of his pocket and gives it a slap. To teach you manners, of course! You have been chosen by the grace of Elder Xue to accompany Young Master Feng Zhi! When you go outside, it is the Eternal Flame Clan you will be representing! No, it might be even more than that. Night Phantasm City is located outside the Crimson Cloud Empire, so youll be representing the whole empire as well! The slightest misstep will reflect badly on all of us!

    I really dont think-Wait. Liu Jin blinks. Night Phantasm City is outside the Crimson Cloud Empire?

    No wonder he hadnt recognized the name.

    See! You dont even know that much! Khong Hu shakes his head. Clearly, I should have broached this topic much sooner, but no matter. I am here now. I will do my best to impress upon you all you need to know to avoid making a fool of yourself.

    I really dont think this is necess-

    It is entirely necessary! Your three friends may be lost causes, but in you, I sense a glimmer of potential. Now, sit down and do not worry. I shall make something acceptable out of you!

    Faced with such high energy, Liu Jin can only resign himself to a tedious evening.

    ~~~

    Amazing...

    Huang Shing says it. Everyone else thinks it. The sight before them is undoubtedly amazing. They are all gathered just outside the gates of the Eternal Flame Clan. Elder Xue and Elder Cheung are already there; so are Feng Zhi and over a dozen servants. However, that is not what shocks them.

    The transport is the one that does that.

    It is made of five long, interconnected wagons constructed from red wood and adorned with gold, the colors of the Eternal Flame Clan. Each one is large enough to fit at least ten people comfortably. There are no Spirit Beasts of any kind to pull on them. Instead, wheels of fire lift the vehicle off the ground.

    Well, Feng Zhi asks, raising an eyebrow as a servant opens one of the doors for him. What are you waiting for?

    The journey to Night Phantasm City has begun.

    ~~~