7 Chapter 7 Cultivation 101
By the time Shen Tian and Huang Di reached the Moonlit City, it was already dusk and the autumn colors had littered themselves around the City.
The varying shades of orange, red and yellow made for quite the spectacle and the incandescent lights was like a single blossoming flower under the evening sun.
"Wow.... just wow....", Shen Tian sighed as he looked at the beautiful city. He had never left Green River City and spent his entire life examining the streets and surrounding forests of the small country city. Being brought to such a foreign and mystical place was like putting an ant in water.
He was way out of his depth.
"Pretty ain't it? Believe me kid you ain't seen nothing yet. Once you mature, then I'll take you to some exotic locations. The White North Continent's Snow Sky Mountain, the Azure East Continent's Immortal Islands, the Black South Continent's Rainbow Archipelago.... even the Royal Demon Continent has a few beautiful sights. There's a whole wide world out there, that Green River City you grew up in isn't even a fraction....", Shen Tian was enamored by the old man's tone. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips and his green eyes grew brighter as he gazed down at the City below.
The skin of a normal sheltered 13 year old boy was finally starting to shed, and the visage of a confident, young man was starting to show.
Shen Tian was enthralled with cultivation.
He desired to become strong.
He desired to become powerful.
He desired to become immortal.
Now he was enthralled with the world and the hidden beauties it contained.
As the saying goes, "the world is your oyster".
Huang Di nodded inwardly at Shen Tian's actions and threw out a random sentence.
"Maybe if your lucky I'll teach you some arrays and inscriptions.... if you become proficient enough with them than any power will accept you, regardless of your cultivation", despite being intrigued with the beauty of the moonlit city, Shen Tian looked blandly at the old man.
"You have no concept of shame, do you?", he asked.
The Yellow Emperor put a finger on his chin and gave a puzzled expression.
"Shame? What's that?", he said with a smile.
The two of them continued their flight over the Moonlit City until they floated down before a large 3 storied building near the center of the city.
The decorations for the building were grand and pretentious to say the least. Gold plated steps, gold plated door and a massive coiling dragon completely crafted out of gold only served to push potential customers rather than pull them.
Shen Tian sent Huang Di a lame look before the latter quickly responded.
"This isn't what all branches of the Nirvana Auction House look like! The branch manager of this one just happens to be a little bit.... odd?", the bald old man tried to save his House's face but Shen Tian just waved him off.
"Let's just get inside. I feel like people are staring". He said.
The old man nodded before entering through the massive doors of the Nirvana Auction House Moonlit City Branch, and walking up to the front desk.
"Good evening! Welcome to the Nirvana Auction House Moonlit City Branch. How may I serve you today?". A beautifully golden haired receptionist greeted Huang Di and Shen Tian. She had a shapely body and her clear blue eyes would've caused lesser men to become lost in them.
Huang Di stepped forward and handed the beautiful receptionist a token causing the young woman to go slightly pale before quickly regaining her calm and welcoming demeanor.
"So its Sir Yellow Emperor. I should've recognized you instantly. Please forgive me". The pace at which she spoke we definitely quicker, indicating some form of distress.
Shen Tian sent a raised eyebrow to the old man beside him you sent a shrugging look back.
"Consider it forgiven". He said.
The beautiful receptionist shoulders dropped slightly in relief and she guided the pair to a private residence in the back. Obviously reserved for the higher ranked members of the Nirvana Auction House; members like Huang Di.
The golden haired beauty gave one last bow before closing the doors to the private abode and the eerie sound of silence enveloped the abode.
This is kind of weird, he thought.
The young man watched as Huang Di threw several blue colored stones to each corner of the room and gazed in awe when a light blue barrier expanded and filled the room.
"Okay. Now it's safe to talk". Huang Di turned his focus to Shen Tian. He wanted answers about the Lineage he possessed as well as details about its power.
He said he would take him on as a direct disciple with the intent of passing everything he knew and promised to assist him on his path of cultivation.
But Shen Tian knew that this old man wanted to raise him to be a member of the Nirvana Auction House. He knew that by accepting his offer he would become a member of the Nirvana Auction House.
His enemies would become their enemies and their enemies would become his enemies.
Conversely their allies would also become his allies but he digressed.
"First of all.... are you willing to become my disciple and inherit my teachings?", he asked.
Shen Tian immediately kneeled and kowtowed three times before Huang Di his response or actions needed no words to describe his meaning.
"Second.... are you willing to become a member of the Nirvana Auction House? In doing so you will gain access to resources and information that exceed every major faction in this world. You will however, make an enemy out of every other Auction House in doing so. You are aware of this correct?". Huang Di narrowed his eyes as he gazed into Shen Tian's. Fully utilizing his profound cultivation base to discern truth and lie from his words.
Shen Tian nodded as his green eyes stared into Huang Di's endless black one's.
The power he felt behind those eyes might as well have been a unholy demon ready to let lose on humanity.
"Good, I see I haven't chosen wrongly. Besides your talent and your Lineage, do you know why I asked you to become my direct disciple, Shen Tian?", the old man poured a cup of wine and leaned back into his chair. He swirled the red liquid as he looked at Shen Tian through the thin glass.
Shen Tian shook his head in uncertainty but Huang Di immediately responded.
"It wasn't something like "I saw a part of myself in you" or "you remind me of someone" but something much more simple.... just that I know you aren't afraid to leave those you love behind in order to pursue your path". Shen Tian's eyebrows narrowed at the ambiguous statement but Huang Di held up his hand and stopped his train of thought.
"I'm not saying you hate them or you wanted to leave them behind but in this world where only strength is the true law, having loose ties to people makes them a liability. A liability your enemies can use against you.... believe me, I'm talking from experience", his tone grew sorrowful, as if trying to remember something painful or hard to recall.
Shen Tian didn't respond.
He knew that Shen Xian was his reverse scale.
The only person he ever considered family in the world was half way across the world with nobody there to watch over him.
But it was better this way.
He was in the possession of a Lineage. A power that chose him and nobody else.
If anyone found out he was a member of the Nirvana Auction House and then found out about Shen Xian, they would target his younger brother until he was out in the open.
"You understand right? Your life is different from theirs now. You were chosen by a Lineage and are destined to live a life unlike any other". Huang Di stood up and placed a hand on Shen Tian's shoulder.
"You shall live a life of solitude. Of loneliness. You will put those you love at a distance even if it means them hating you because of it. Because so long as their safe.... you can sleep soundly each night.... do you understand me.... Shen Tian?".
Shen Tian's entire body was shaking and he clenched his fist so tight it almost drew blood.
But Huang Di's words reverberated throughout his entire being.
I am condemned to a life of solitude.... in order to protect the ones I love.... what hypocrisy.
He took a deep breath before staring Huang Di in the eyes.
"I see. I will not see my younger brother, unless his life is in mortal danger. Is that acceptable?". His tone was cold and unflinching. The once elder brother persona had now vanished and hidden under many layers facades and lies.
It hurt, he thought to himself.
The pain in my chest... it hurts....
His eyes glistened. But he eagerly awaited Huang Di's response, unsure of whether he could hold back the tears before he received his answer.
".... Yes that is acceptable".
There was an awkward silence in the air as Shen Tian wiped his eyes with the hem of his sleeve. The damp patches been badly hidden under the light colored clothing.
Huang Di sighed internally.
This was the same thing his own master made him do when he joined the Nirvana Auction House. He had to sever all ties to the rest of the world and join the House completely free of all links and connections.
This was to both ensure his focus on his cultivation, as well as the safety of the Nirvana Auction House. Considering they took in almost anybody, regardless of their background, they needed to ensure their commitment to the House, as well as to the safety of their loved ones.
"It gets easier kid. It'll hurt for a while but don't worry.... it gets easier from this point on....".
Shen Tian nodded, but he was still wiping the excess water from his eyes. Unable to communicate without becoming a blithering mess.
"Anyway.... how about we get onto more interesting business. Like cultivating for example". He said.
The 13 year old Lineage wielder wiped away his tears and kneeled before Huang Di. His eyes still watery but Shen Tian held them back and stared at his master.
Huang Di man smirked at this student and his attentiveness towards the subject.
"Good, because I'm only explaining this once okay? If you need more than one hearing than I probably accepted the wrong disciple". Shen Tian narrowed his brows in defiance before nodding resolutely at the Yellow Emperor's words.
"As you know, cultivation is the path to immortality. All cultivators desire this, and by becoming immortal one would gain powers exceeding that of Divine Gods or Heavenly Demons. It is the pinnacle of existence.
To cultivate you need a clear understanding of several things. First, one's Spiritual Root. This determines whether or not someone has the potential for cultivation as well as a measure of talent. If the Spiritual Root is damaged or stolen than it is impossible for someone to cultivate. There are exceptions to this rule like Body cultivation but I'll get onto that later....
Second, are someones Innate Qualities. Physiques like the Pure Yang Physique and the Conquering Earth Physique increase the quality of one's cultivation while not increasing speed by themselves. Affinities and Bloodlines are also similar to them but the latter is much rarer than the former.
Thirdly we come to the cultivation method. Contrary to what you might think, there are a multitude of ways to reach immortality. Cultivation is only a process to reach that end result and the type of cultivation method is important to each individual cultivator.
If a cultivator with a Yang affinity cultivates a Yin technique what do you think happens?". Questioned Huang Di.
Shen Tian thought about it for a moment before raising an eyebrow and looking at the bald old man.
"They would die right?".
He nodded.
"Correct. While cultivating a wrong cultivation method different from one's affinity would result in only a decreased cultivation speed, Yin and Yang are counterparts and requires a special balance in order to cultivate.
Tomorrow, we will check your affinities and when we reach the Nirvana Auction House Azure West Main Branch you will pick out a cultivation technique you think will give the most efficient return. Be warned, the method you pick cannot be changed easily. Only after you have fully completed the method will you be able to safely change your technique.
Otherwise you may go out of control and die".
Shen Tian nodded sharply.
He had heard stories of cultivators going out of control during their cultivation and killing even their best friends and close family!
If that happened to him, the power from his Lineage may overwhelm him and destroy him from the inside out.
He gulped.
Being imploded, really wasn't the way he wanted to go out.
