The Laws of Cultivation: Qi = MC^2

A surprise greeted me as I woke up the next morning. As I had been shaking off my sleep, still recovering from the injuries of the tribulation I’d felt a new presence walking around the village. Feeling curious to find a new cultivator I began to follow. The Path took me to the village head’s house, and as my concern grew, I found myself standing in front of a shocked Yin.

“L-Lu Jie?” she stammered, looking me up and down to make sure she hadn’t seen a ghost.

I looked back at Yin as well, unsure if my senses had somehow gone haywire.

She had a core in her now, a dantian that I felt to be roughly at the first realm.

“Yin… are you…” I trailed off unsure of what to say.

Yan Yun came upon hearing my voice.

“Lu Jie? You’re awake!” she shouted, rushing closer before she spotted my gaze lingering on Yin.

“What’s happening here?” I asked, glancing between the two girls.

“You should come inside, there’s some things we need to tell you,” Yan Yun said, grabbing my hand. I didn’t resist, following the girls in.

After a small explanation, I found myself sitting in astonishment. As it turned out, Yin had become a cultivator, having broken through to the first realm. And she did it with Chi instead of Qi as well. She wasn’t alone either, other villagers had also begun sensing Chi, though to a lesser degree.

I still couldn’t tell why. Was it something to do with the Heavens? Had the heavens been stopping them from cultivating? Or was it related to the Spirit tree, and my connection to this village bringing this change in them?

“How long ago did you break through?” I asked.

“Not… not too long ago,” Yin said.

“Yesterday actually,” Yan Yun added. “I helped her through the process.”

“And you started being able to sense Chi when…” I trailed off again.

“When the divine tree had flashed in the skies, before you’d shot up into the tribulations like a mad man,” Yan Yun said.

I chewed on the information for a moment. So it wasn’t just me who had seen all of that, but the entire village. “Is that what they’re calling it? Divine tree?” I asked.

“Y-yes. Some villagers have even started worshiping it,” Yin said.

I felt strange at the idea of people worshiping a tree that existed within my soul, but I didn’t linger on the thought.

“Alright. This is… interesting. Truthfully, I have no idea why this happened. But even before this, the fact that Twilight’s words had been effective on you and no one else had made me suspect something was going on,” I said.

“At least, this is quite clear proof that even a mortal can become a cultivator. We just don’t know why or how exactly yet,” I said.

Yin shuffled, glancing at Yan Yun with an uncertain look.

“Is something the matter?” I asked.

“N-no, I just… I’m just wondering if this is okay,” Yin said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I think she means that, if people find out you can make mortals into cultivators, the entire foundation of the empire will shake. Mortals may flood this place to try and become a cultivator, and some of the people in power may not take too kindly to that,” Yan Yun said.

“I have been talking to sister Yun and… we think it may be best to keep this hidden for now,” Yin said, and Yan Yun gave a nod.

I frowned, thinking over it. “I see your point. But at the same time, if others are also starting to sense Chi, then it won’t be long before they start to notice. We need a more permanent solution to the problem one way or another.”

“Yes, but for now, we can take anyone who is starting to reach close to the first realm and guide them, while asking them to keep quiet about their new abilities. It’s not much, but at least it can delay things for a little 'til we can figure something out.”

“Sure, I think that makes sense to do.”

“I’d also like to ask to be allowed to guide the new cultivators,” Yan Yun said.

I looked at her curiously.

“All this time, I’ve been feeling a little useless, but out of everyone here I am the one who has received the most formal education on cultivation. I have been learning these things since I was a small child, and though I no longer have a cultivation myself, I can at least guide others upon their Path,” Yan Yun said.

“I see no problems with that. I’ll be happy to leave any new cultivators in your hands.”

Yan Yun smiled at my words, and Yin looked happy as well.

“Alright. Thanks for letting me know. I think this makes my task simple. I assume the villagers are quite curious and I believe they have a right to know what happened here, with the tribulation. Not to mention, I think the Heavens will no longer be holding me back from sharing things,” I said, glancing at Yan Yun.

“Are… you sure?” she asked me. “It was a lot to take in, even for me. And these are regular mortals.”

“I’m sure. And I think it will be easier for them to accept, than it was for you. They didn’t live in your worlds, so to them, this will be new, fresh, rather than a fundamental change of their reality.”

I made my way out of Yin’s room, heading outside. I found the village head in the fields, and walked up to the man.

“Lu Jie! You’ve awoken I see. The villagers were starting to worry but I knew you would be just fine,” the man said, smiling with a pleased expression. “You are fine, yes?”

“Took me a few days but I’m good now,” I replied. “Can I ask you to gather the villagers? I have something to inform everyone about.”

The village head looked at me, concern reflected on his face. “Is it about the tribulation?” he asked. “You don’t need to explain anything. The heavens and tribulations, these are realities of cultivators. Even if you told us more we would understand little.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s something that affects this village. I’ll explain when everyone is here.”

The village head frowned, but gave me a nod.

I slowly steeled my resolve. I did not enjoy acting, like I knew a Lord needed to. The role did not suit me. But it was one that was needed, if I wanted to protect the people here, and guide them to a better future.

Taking some time, I prepared myself as, one by one, the villagers began to gather.

I called my spirits to me as well, alongside Zhang, Su Lin, Granny Lang and everyone in the village. Even the spirit beasts from the mines and the forest joined the gathering, and I could spot Ash waiting in the distance as well, out of sight, but close enough to hear me if he wanted.

Nearby, I found a neat little boulder and had Zhang move it with his gravity Chi before standing on it.

Su Lin, Zhang, Yan Yun, Yin and the rest stood next to my boulder. The village head led the crowd, standing in front of them. Whispers and murmurs filled the area and I let the people talk for a moment, before raising a hand.

The crowd went silent.

I swept my gaze across the plain, watching every person who lived here. I filled my voice with Chi.

“I’m sure you all saw the tribulations that came upon this village,” I said, my voice being carried across the field even as I spoke normally.

“And I’m sure you have questions as well. About the light, about the tree, and about me.”

More murmurs echoed.

“Today, I would like to answer those questions.”

The voices died, as everyone’s eyes hung on me, waiting for my next words.

“We all know that the sect has rescinded its protection from this village, leaving you stranded for winter. For the years of work the villagers and miners of Taizhou, they left you to fend for yourself. As someone who was involved in those events, I have felt it my responsibility to not let any harm come to this village and its people. As such, I reached out to the Lord of the seventh peak, and have come to an arrangement,” I said, reaching into my pocket as I took out a Qi crystal.

“This crystal. This stone. It is an alchemical pill. But no ordinary alchemical pill. It is one, made by a mortal, one just like the rest of you and from this village,” I said, before glancing at Yin.

Gasps and shouts now echoed but I continued undeterred.

“Yes, alchemy. Done by a mortal. And it is this which we will be creating. Why must this village bend over under the whims of cultivators? Why must you hang on to the sect, desperate for their protection? I see this as an opportunity. A chance for this village to stand on its own. Under the Lord’s orders, I have been provided the title of Baron, marking this territory as the Barony of Lu. So long as I live, I will protect this place from all threats that should arrive. I will stand between any enemies that try to harm this place. Should a demon rise from the depths, I will be there, fighting it,” I said, as Chi echoed my voice.

“This village will still be governed by the village head, my title will not bring much change to things. But as a Lord, I feel it is my responsibility to ask of you this. Do you accept me as the Lord and Baron of this place? Do you accept my protection?”

People looked at each other, in uncertainty when I noticed a man, one I remembered saving from the mines, bowing his head. “I accept you as my Lord!”

The voice was followed by others, miners, and villagers than I and my friends had helped in one way or another.

“I accept your protection Lord Jie!”

I watched, at once by one, the villagers bowed, shouting my name and even the spirit beasts bowed.

“We accept you as our Lord.”

I felt something stir, Chi expanding out of me and into everyone standing around me. Like Zhang, and Labby, they now felt a part of me as well. And I felt their lives upon my shoulders.

“Then as your Lord, I have some plans. Under my guidance, we will be working to establish alchemy houses to create these crystals. The village head’s daughter, Yin, is the one who I have taught and who made this pill. She will guide you, alongside Granny Lang. We will use the spirit herbs to create these pills, selling them, and using that to feed this village. I also intend to train warriors, and soldiers. Any who are brave and willing to stand alongside me, and protect your home,” I said, before turning to Zhang who walked ahead.

“Zhang will be working with the warriors, training them. He has already picked three, who will also guide those who join.”

I took a breath.

“And for the final thing. I must share the truth which I found, that led me to be exiled from the sect and to this village. The truth, which brought the heavens down in tribulation,” I said, glancing around the villagers.

And so I spoke, and the villagers listened. Of the unity of Qi and Gu, and the First Law. Not everyone understood, and not everyone accepted my words.

But a few did, and in their spirits, I saw the First Law take hold.

Chi swirled around me, around this gathering, flowing into the villagers who saw the glimpse of truth that I showed them.

Letting my Chi flow into their spirits, I called out to the spirit tree in my soul, letting it reach out into the world.

“A new order now presides over this village. No longer do the heavens tie you in chains. You are all free to choose your own fate,” I said, as the tree manifested behind me, a brilliant light that shone up into the skies.

The villagers bowed in reverence, and I felt their calls touching my spirit, as chants shook the air.

“Praise be the Divine Tree! Praise be Lord Jie!”

The first step was done. Now came the hard part.

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