Chapter 43 Qi Gathering Realm

"You're already in the 10th Stage!?" The librarian replied in surprise. Right now Mo Xiaowen was standing in front of him. He had gone to the library to ask for help on reaching the Qi Gathering Realm.

"Yes, I broke through about 2 days ago." Mo Xiaowen said. The librarian then recollected himself, his eyes half open as usual.

"Hmmm, all right then. Sit down, I'll try explain as best I can." The librarian said, a chair appearing behind Mo Xiaowen. 'What the...the Qi Gathering Realm really is mysterious.' Mo Xiaowen thought in shock.

"I see I've got your attention. As you can tell that was me utilising Qi to move a chair instantly from a corner of the library to here. Eventually you can do the same, but for now its best to focus on the 1st Stage." He explained taking a deep breath.

"Now the Qi Gathering Realm as a whole is pretty self explanatory, a cultivator must gather Qi within them to reach greater and greater heights. Of course that is a very very fundamental viewpoint on it. When one gets into the intricacies it gets a bit different.

Firstly, one must clear their dantian and meridians, this encompasses the 1st Stage of Qi Gathering and is by far the easiest. This Stage can take cultivators a year, or even 2 or 3 years. For some people this Stage alone is harder than the 2nd, 3rd and even 4th Stage of Qi Gathering, while for others its the easiest. This is due to a multitude of factors, which I won't be getting into.

Now to gather Qi one must mediate, intaking Qi and expelling impurities in a constant cycle. The speed at which one intakes Qi is dependent not only on natural talent but the cultivation technique being utilised. Density of Qi and purity is also dependent on this, but even with the worst technique if one tries hard enough density and purity of Qi can be increased." The librarian explained, Mo Xiaowen mostly understood the concepts.

"So why do we have undergo Body Tempering before Qi Gathering?" Mo Xiaowen inquired out of curiosity.

"Think of your body as a jar, before Body Tempering any Qi would break the jar but after Body Tempering the jar can easily hold it within." The librarian answered as best he could.

"Okay, if I got this right doesn't that mean the stronger your body is the more Qi you can have per Stage?" Mo Xiaowen continued his questioning.

"Not necessarily, I am sure you know at least a bit about the dantian and meridians, these are what actually hold the Qi within your body. While I called the body a jar, that's only in the context of the 1st Stage really, as after one clears their meridians and dantian any and all Qi within the body is contained there. It is possible to expand your meridians and dantian and is in fact how one increases their Stage in the Qi Gathering Realm."

"But how does that work? Do I slowly expand them by pressing them outward with my Qi?" The boy asked in confusion.

"No, no, no. Once your Qi reaches a certain point you can initiate what is know as a Qi Eruption, activating the Qi Eruption will allow you to reach the next Stage of Qi Gathering. Naturally this process can only be undergone 9 times corresponding with the 2nd to 10th Stages of Qi Gathering."

Hearing this Mo Xiaowen nodded in understanding. 'But what about those books I read on meridian expansion back then, it doesn't sound the same.....then again I barely remember them.' He thought to himself in confusion.

Noticing Mo Xiaowen's confusion the librarian couldn't help but smile. "Let me guess, you read those books on Meridian Expansion? Theoretically they hold merit, basically they discuss expanding your meridians prior to the Qi Eruptions to exponentially increase the effects of Qi Eruptions. It is possible, the issue is it not only takes time, and patience, but if one isn't careful they may rupture their meridians and dantian. While the Qi Eruption is definitely more violent in nature, its also a natural process, while this expansion that they propose is mostly artificial."

With that the librarian cleared up Mo Xiaowen's doubts. "Clear meridians and dantian in the 1st Stage with a Qi Gathering technique that I assume I can get from the Martial Hall. Then continue to gather Qi and initiate Qi Eruptions to increase my Stage. Volume, purity and density of Qi is important, and if need be I can even try artificially expand my meridians if I am ballsy enough. Is that it?" Mo Xiaowen swiftly went over everything they discussed.

"Hmm, basically yes. If you don't mind me asking what Foundational Art did you practice?" The librarian asked.

"Internal Rupture Body Technique." This answer caused the librarian to fully open his eyes in shock.

"Normally I'd recommend against artificial meridian expansion, but in your case while I don't recommend it, I won't go against it either. That technique almost primes your body for it." The librarian stated, which made Mo Xiaowen quite happy.

'Seems I've inadvertently done something good.' He thought to himself quite pleased.

"Also, in the Sect we have about 10 Qi Gathering Techniques, I recommend you utilise the Solid and Pure Qi Gathering Technique. As its name suggests it focuses on density and purity of Qi and is a very well known technique not exclusive to our Sect. Unlike most techniques its is compatible with many many techniques. Its only downside is cultivation speed.

If you're scared of being stuck in the Qi Gathering Realm, then by all means, pick one of the other 9, but from watching you I believe you have a shot at entering the Core Formation Realm. And the Solid and Pure Qi Gathering Technique will make it significantly easier at not only finding a compatible technique, but also forming a strong Core."

With that last piece of advice the librarian sent Mo Xiaowen off. The boy initially wanted to read the meridian expansion books, but decided against it for now since he already had a lot to learn and instead headed straight to the Martial Hall.

After a brief discussion with Martial Hall Elder he was allowed access to the 2nd floor of the Martial Hall. 'Its really....empty here.' In comparison to the first floor which had 100s of books nearing at least a thousand, the second floor held maybe 60 books at the most.

This was naturally not that great, and showed that while the Demonic Cliff Sect housed a Core Formation expert, their foundation wasn't that strong in regards to the Qi Gathering Realm.

'Whatever, for now lets find the Solid and Pure Qi Technique.' He then moved towards the Qi Gathering Techniques shelf and swiftly procured the Solid and Pure Qi Technique.

After reading it for almost 2 hours Mo Xiaowen left the Martial Hall and headed to Sea Glass City for his sailing lessons. 'I should be done memorising the technique tomorrow.'