Quantum Cultivation, Jace Kang [heaven official's blessing novel english .TXT] 📗

“No. When I left this plane, there were already several families of Taiji.” The master’s severe expression softened into a grin. “In the World of Rivers of Lakes, there are even more. In fact, that’s where it started.”

Ken cocked his head. “I thought Zhang Sanfeng created it.” At least, that was what the movie portrayed.

“Not exactly. Through his meditation, his consciousness passed into the World of Rivers and Lakes, and he learned the motions of Taiji by watching a Sage.”

“Oh.  Then what about Chen Taiji?”

“It was founded by Chen Wangting of Chen Village, based on his own martial arts background and reading Zhang Sanfeng’s manuscripts.”

Ken bounced up and down. “And Yang Taiji?”

“A student of the Chen family, Yang Luchan, was invited to teach imperial princes.  The princes were too lazy to hold the low stances, so Master Yang modified the training.” Master Ryu gestured to Aya. “Because her muscles are so weak, I taught her an easy version to begin with.”

Ken scratched his head. How much later had the master woken him up? “When did you show it to her?”

“About five minutes ago?” Master Ryusuke shrugged.

A new pit formed in Ken’s gut. In just five minutes, she was already performing it so beautifully.

“She’s a natural talent.”

Ken snorted. “XHuman genes, probably.”

“Maybe. Now, come with me.” Master Ryu led Ken over to where Aya was practicing.

“All right, Aya-chahn. Stop.”

Chahn? Was that like the Coon he’d used?

Aya froze in place.

“Come, sit across from each other, under the tree. It’s almost dawn.” Master Ryu gestured with both hands to his left and right, even as he assumed the Zhan Zhuang stance.

Meeting Aya’s gaze, Ken went to the indicated spot and plopped down. She followed suit.

“What’s so important about dawn?” Ken asked.

“Because dusk and dawn are the best times for beginners to Cultivate.”

So cryptic. “Why?”

“Because that’s when Yin and Yang are balanced, and even new practitioners like yourselves can differentiate between the two.”

Ken nodded in slow bobs of his head, though Aya eyed the master with a raised eyebrow.

“And here, one male, one female. Yin and Yang, facing one other.”

Did this mean Ken would be stuck with Aya throughout their training? Just what did the master see in her? Sure, she had the same face as Captain Keiko, but she was so thin and frail, her complexion so pale and sickly, it was hard to believe they could be related.

The master tsked. “Straighten your spines, like I showed you.  Good. Now, press your Huiyin point to the ground.”

“What’s the Huiyin point?” Ken asked.

Master Ryusuke smirked. “The very bottom of your torso.”

Aya blinked several times and gulped. “Down there?”

“Down where?” Ken threw his hands up.

“Halfway between your anus and your scrotum.” His lips twitched as his eyes shifted to Aya. “Or for those of us without scrotums, halfway between your anus and vagina.”

Swallowing hard, Ken shook the image of Captain Keiko out of his head. He squirmed, trying to get into the right position. It was satisfying to see Aya squirming as well.

The master nodded. “Before, in the Zhan Zhuang stance, you were connected to the Earth through the Yongquan points in your soles. That way, you draw Qi up from the ground through your legs.  But now, I want you to circulate it through your Governing and Conception vessels. Close your eyes. Press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth, right behind your teeth. One palm on top of the other over your navel.”

“What does that do?” Ken asked.

“It connects the Governing vessel on your back, the Yang side, and the Conception vessel on your front, the Yin side.”

It didn’t make sense, but Ken did as he was told.  His tongue tip tickled the roof of his mouth.

“Now, imagine drawing Qi from the ground through your Huiyin point as you inhale, up your spine to the top of your head, then down the center of your body down to your Core as you exhale.” He knelt and adjusted first Ken’s position and then Aya’s.

Doing as he was told, Ken settled into a rhythm. At first, it was hard to pay attention to all the details of sitting correctly, and then visualizing it all.

“If you can’t sense the energy, imagine it like a stream of water. Rising, rising, rising like a fountain up your spine to your Baihui point.”

Pressure and warmth spread from the master’s finger at the very vertex of Ken’s head. It was easier to visualize it now, and Ken could almost feel the tingling up his spine.

“Now, down the front of your body, through your neck, through your sternum, across your naval, down to a few inches below your naval.”

The tinging went down.

“That is your Dantian: your Core, the Sea of Life. It’s the reservoir for Qi, the house of your Essence. The more you expand and enrich it, the greater your Cultivation.”

“Do you mean the bladder?” Aya asked.

“No. You can’t see the Dantian on an X-ray, or whatever you use to look inside someone, at least not until you achieve First Rank and it solidifies into a physical Core.”

“Like the Dragon Pearl you mentioned last night,” Ken asked.

“Yes. The stronger you become, the larger, purer, and more tangible your Core becomes.”

Aya blew out a rasping breath. “That would explain why the Peacekeeper scientists thought you had a bladder stone.”

“No more talk; concentrate,” the master said. “Feel. Breathe in through your nose, pull the energy up your spine. Slow and controlled breath.  Once it reaches the top of your head, breath out through your mouth, and let the energy sink down to your Core. Stretch each breath out, longer and longer.”

With each inhalation the sensation became clearer, though the rattling of phlegm in Aya’s chest, followed by a hissing