Qi Gathering Meditation Technique

Wang Yu sat at his desk, pouring tea while reading the ancient booklet in front of him. It was a treatise on Qi Gathering Meditation, a mystical martial arts technique that promised to unlock the ancient energy of the universe and harness it to increase strength and physical abilities. According to the text, this technique had been passed down through the ages.

According to the text, practitioners could tap into their dantian, a sacred energy center located deep within their being, and absorb the life force known as Qi into their bodies. However, the success of this process depended on the practitioner's talent and technique. By focusing their mind and opening up their meridians, the pathways that allowed Qi to flow through their body like rivers of energy, they could gain mystical abilities.

As he read on, Wang Yu learned that at the beginning, practitioners start by opening their dantian, allowing them to absorb a small amount of Qi into their body. They might notice a slight increase in strength, speed and improved stamina during physical activities.

With each new level attained, practitioners could open up more meridians and absorb and use Qi more efficiently, leading to a noticeable increase in strength and improved endurance.

At level 3, practitioners' dantian capacity increased, allowing them to store more Qi. This led to a significant increase in strength and improved overall performance. At this level, they could also gain the ability to wield magical weapons, such as a flying sword, which they could use to soar through the skies and attack their enemies. They might also develop a spirit sense, a heightened awareness of their surroundings that allowed them to feel and control objects within a certain range (approximately 30 meters).

Further improvement in their ability to absorb and use Qi led to a marked increase in strength and enhanced the range of their spiritual sense.

At level 5, practitioners who were less than 40 years old could become eligible to become inner sect disciples and gain access to more resources within the Ice Hell Sect. If they were over 40, they could become deacons or be assigned high positions within the sect.

At level 7, practitioners' dantian capacity increased again and became liquid, providing a great boost in strength since the Qi inside the dantian was no longer gaseous. This led to a further increase in strength and physical performance.

At level 9, practitioners' dantian capacity increased again and turned solid. This gave them even more strength and improved physical performance. Practitioners at this level could be eligible to become vice elders within the Ice Hell Sect, or even sect masters in other, weaker sects.

At the highest level, practitioners had mastered the Qi Gathering Meditation technique and could open all of their meridians, allowing them to absorb and use Qi at the maximum possible efficiency. This led to the greatest possible increase in strength and enhanced physical abilities. They might even gain the ability to channel their Qi into powerful energy blasts. Their dantian would also reach its peak solid form, providing an increase in vitality and extending their lifespan. At level 10, practitioners could expect to live for approximately 200 years, with each subsequent level increasing their lifespan by an amount.

Wang Yu wasn't very impressed with what he had read, but he was happy because despite it being way weaker than his Everlasting Turtle technique. At least he could cultivate without hiding his strength.

After he finished reading the technique, Wang Yu started to cultivate according to it, he felt the Qi entering his body through his pores toward his dantian.

At the first level of Qi Establishment the cultivator should open his first meridian which is situated in the right elbow, when a cultivator opens it he will notice a great increase in the absorption of the energy.

Wang Yu estimated that his talent has improved after cultivating the Everlasting Turtle technique, but he didn't know to what extent. So he decided to spend half of his time cultivating the Qi Gathering Meditation technique.

…..

After two hours of cultivation, Wang Yu left his room walking through the streets of the Ice Hell Sect, taking in the sights and sounds around him. The streets weren't bustling like in the servant district, but they weren't desolate either. There were still people going about their business, some carrying weapons and armor, while wearing the symbols of the various departments on their chest.

As he walked, Wang Yu couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the power of the sect. He had only been a member for a day, but he could already sense the strength of the cultivators around him. It was a far cry from the life of a hunter in the Darkness Forest.

Suddenly, a voice called out to him. "Wang Yu! Over here!" Wang Yu turned to see his friend Lu Chi waving at him from across the street. He hurried over to join him.

"I'm glad I ran into you," Lu Chi said with a smile. "I was just about to go meet with some of the other new disciples. You should come with me. It'll be a good chance for you to get to know everyone."

Wang Yu nodded, intrigued by the idea. He had only arrived at the sect a day ago and he was eager to learn more about this new place.

Lu Chi led the way to a small courtyard where a group of young cultivators were gathered. They all looked to be around the same age as Wang Yu, and they all wore the symbol of a silver hammer on their chests, indicating that they were part of the Refinement department.

As they approached, one of the cultivators, a young man with a sharp gaze, stepped forward to greet them. "Hey, Lu Chi. Who's this?" he asked, gesturing towards Wang Yu.

"This is my friend Wang Yu," Lu Chi replied. "He just arrived at the sect yesterday."

The young man nodded and extended his hand towards Wang Yu. "I'm Zhang Jin. Nice to meet you, Wang Yu. Welcome to the Ice Hell Sect."

Wang Yu shook Zhang Jin's hand and nodded. "Nice to meet you too, Zhang Jin."

Zhang Jin gestured towards the other cultivators. "These are some of the first year disciples. We all entered the sect around the same time, about five months ago."

Wang Yu glanced at the other cultivators and nodded politely. Despite their friendly smiles, he couldn't help but feel a sense of appreciation as he looked at them. They all seemed young and motivated unlike people from the servant district, Wang Yu knew that this is the effect of being talented, they all aspire to be something great.

Just then, a tall, muscular man with a shaved head and piercing eyes walked into the courtyard. He wore the symbol of a deacon on his chest. Seeing him enter Wang Yu couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as he saw approach.

"Hello disciples," the deacon said in a deep, commanding voice. "I am Deacon Liu, and I will be guiding you in your training today. Follow me."

The disciples followed Deacon Liu obediently. As they walked, Wang Yu couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the power of the deacon. He knew that he was far beyond his current level and he couldn't wait for the moment when he would reach that level of strength.