Cultivation

Twenty-five small rooms were provided for them, each room containing a large bed, a table, a bathroom, and a bookshelf.

"This is good," Lod who jumped on the bed said with a satisfied smile. The bed was so soft he felt it was not made from animal skin but rather a cloud. It was a whole different feeling from his home. The softness of the bed sent him into a blissful sleep within minutes. 

Early in the morning, he woke up with the knocks from the other villagers. He took a bath and changed into the oversized brown shirt and pants he got from other servants. 

"Today your work is to clean three classrooms from M-Zone." A middle-aged man said he was in charge of giving work. He led them through a massive gate and into the zones of the college. 

As everyone looked at the people around, no one looked at them. They entered the M-Zone and to the classes. The classrooms were so big, they were large enough to hold ten thousand students each. 

"We have to clean all of this today?" one villager inquired, his voice echoing with disbelief. It seemed like an impossible task!

The man looked at the shocked faces and smiled. "Don't worry too much, just do work and it will end in no time. I have been working here all my life so I can tell you that. Now get to the work" 

Everyone got a broom and started cleaning. They noticed one thing that surprised them the broom could clean so fast as it was made just to work like that. Because of that, the work became easy. 

In just 3 hours they finished cleaning the 3 classrooms. Even they were surprised by it. They quickly placed the brooms down and started to walk towards the school that was for servants. 

Lod was having a hard time breathing, he had a weak body to begin with. With the work he had done, he felt he reached his limit. But his excitement took over his body and walked to the school with everyone.

Returning to the servants' section, they noticed many people were on their way too. So they just followed them and reached the school. 

Even though they said it was a school, it was just a public ground… everyone sat cross-legged on the ground and waited for the instructor to come. 

Lod and his group made their way into the middle where there was a platform. They noticed that everyone was facing towards the platform so they understood it and sat very close to it. 

Soon enough, a figure descended from the sky, landing gracefully on a platform. Though he lacked the imposing presence of the celestials they had encountered in the village, he still commanded respect with his flowing green robes and arrogant demeanor. Everyone felt he didn't want to do this at all, but he had to do it for a reason.

"My name is Kenny," he announced, his voice echoing across the field. "I am here to teach you the art of cultivation. Most of you have likely heard of it, but for those who haven't, allow me to explain." He paused, clapping his hands once. "The first thing you have to know is what we are cultivating. The energy you take into your body, the energy that exists in everything and everyone, the energy which is the one to decide who is powerful or weakling." 

Lod took out a small book from his pocket and wrote everything he heard. 

"It is called, Energy of Universe and also Energy of Heaven and Earth— Qi! This Qi, when cultivated within your body, grants you power. To reach the celestial realms, you must follow a specific path and technique. First, you must strengthen your body with Qi…" 

Kenny continued his lecture, his words echoing in the vast space. However, Everyone couldn't shake the feeling of confusion. This person was not even trying to explain anything, he was just saying things. despite taking meticulous notes, much of the explanation remained shrouded in mystery for Lod.

'First, strengthen my body with Qi? And then what? How does one reach these realms? And what are these realms called?' He couldn't find the answer, and fear kept him from voicing them. Kenny's aura of disdain was palpable, a clear message that any interruption would be met with death. 

e lecture continued for an hour before Kenny abruptly stopped and vanished without a word. Lod, frustrated by the lack of clarity, held his head in his hands. He had gained some knowledge, but it was far from enough. He didn't understand almost 90% of it, just understood that to become celestial, one had to cultivate Qi and reach realms. And he didn't know the name of the realms. 

"This won't do…" he said with a sigh. He wished there was a better teacher but this was not college. They were even blessed to get such teachings. And all of the servants know that. 

"Brother, I have one question," Lod asked the person sitting beside him, he was not from their village. 

"Hmm? What is it?" he looked at Lod as said. 

"So it is this like everyday?" Lod wanted to know if every lecturer is like this or not. 

"Almost all, but once in a while if we are lucky, we will get a good person." He understood what Lod meant.

"Oh, okay… thanks for answering" 

"No problem." 

Everyone started to leave the ground to their own residence. Lod got back to his room and sat on the bed. "Can we listen to college lecturers? I can't rely on this type of teaching and book in the servants' library. I need a professional" he said to himself. After some thought, he got out of the room and walked towards the college. No one even tried to stop him from entering, which made his heart easy and amiss at the same time. 

He walked to a class nearby and sat outside where he could overhear the class. 

"… so it has elements of Fire, which does not only burn you from inside, it will destroy your foundation and will cripple you…." 

Lod heard what they were taught and sighed, he also didn't understand what the lecture was about as he came in the middle. He stood up and walked away without making much noise. 

Inside the classroom, the lecturer smiled faintly. Though hidden from view, he had been aware of Lod's presence the entire time. Disappointed, Lod walked towards the servants' section. But suddenly he saw kids walking somewhere. 

'They don't look much older than 10…' Lod thought and his eyes lit up, he followed where they were going and entered another zone. He could see this zone is for kids! 

Everyone looked at Lod and noticed he was a servant and didn't say anything. Lod walked through and found a class was ongoing. He walked there and sat outside and didn't care about others looking at him strangely. 

"Why is a servant here?" 

"Maybe trying to listen to class? Haha. Funny" 

"Look he is indeed listening to the class, is he an idiot?" 

Some kids looked at him and laughed thinking it was funny. When Lod heard them, he looked embarrassed but didn't leave.

"… since we are talking about techniques, children. What is cultivation technique?"