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

against the defenses inside Peacekeeper Headquarters’ EtherSpace.

She looked over to the Data Hub from just a few minutes earlier, where the cameras were sending backup files. It was generally a one-way path, but would it be possible to use that link to affect the cameras, thereby bypassing Peacekeeper Central?

In all, there were sixty-three cameras between the bridge and Pontocho Park. While it would be faster and more efficient to put them all on a loop from the central EtherSpace at Peacekeeper Headquarters, it was also a lot more dangerous. Still, even zigzagging between each camera and the Data Hub, while inserting the looping code one at a time, she’d still finish faster than Ryu and the others would enter each of the camera’s zones.

She set about the task, using the backdoor and never having to face a Sentinel.

By the time she was done and returned to the real world, she found herself in Ken’s arms, jostling as he ran.

Chapter 25:

The Purebred

W ith the rest of the group following, Kentaro carried Aya as he jogged east to the other side of the bridge and turned north. He wouldn’t have been able to run with so much extra weight in the past, but Cultivation had already strengthened him. The river rustled on the right, though the churning sound could just as easily been coming from his stomach.

The Kappa Core threatened to send his stomach into rebellion; it took all his willpower to keep it down.  He looked down to where Aya nestled in his arms, in that trance she went into when hacking into the EtherCloud.

She’d almost died, overpowered by the Kappa. Despite his jealousy over her how quickly she learned, he didn’t want her harmed. In fact, she motivated him to try harder.

Behind them, Master Ryu balanced the Kappa leader’s walking stick on his head the whole time. Siena followed close behind, marveling at the feat.

At last, they arrived at a strip of grass overlooking the Kamo River, barely lit by the moonlight. Cherry trees lined the banks. Couples sometimes came here to stroll during the spring bloom. Of course, those were XHumans, and no Purebred would dare come here, unless they were assigned by City Works to attend to the grounds.

While Teppin explored the area down by the river, Sienna danced around the trees, her wrist to her mouth. Was she talking to her brother again?

Ken set Aya down. Her legs wobbled, and he reached out to support her. “Are you all right?”

With a charming smile usually only reserved for the master, she nodded. “Just a little weak from the damage I sustained in the EtherCloud earlier.”

“All right,” Master Ryu said. “We need to get started now, before the energy inside the Kappa Cores dissolves. Take off your shoes, dig your toes into the Earth, and assume the Zhan Zhuang stance.”

The soil felt cool and squishy beneath Ken’s feet.

“Now, sink lower.” Master Ryusuke pressed down on each of their shoulders, pushing until their thighs were parallel to the ground. He kicked their feet so their toes pointed forward, and then nudged their spines so that they weren’t leaning over.

Ken’s legs soon began to ache as he fought for balance. Facing him, Aya looked to be faring worse, from the way her knees buckled.

Master Ryusuke knelt down and scooped up some soft loam. He ran it between his fingers. “As I mentioned before, the Earth aspects of your body relate to digestion.”

Siena chuckled. “That doesn’t make any more sense now than it did earlier.”

“Doesn’t it?” Ryu raised an eyebrow. “All nutrients come from the ground. It takes our digestive system to process what we eat. The Yang aspect relates to the stomach and the breaking down of food. The Yin aspects relates to the Spleen, and its ability to transform food into energy.”

Ken listened intently. “Before, you said that Earth controlled Water, and that’s how we could defeat Water-style techniques.”

“Yes. But think of river beds as your intestines.” The master gestured at the Kamo River, so close by. “Water winds through them, just like broken-down food passes through your intestines. Now, imagine the Yang aspect of Earth as a cauldron.”

“What’s a cauldron?” Siena asked.

The only reason Ken knew was because of Age of Greed movies. “It’s a big pot which witches used to cook food.”

“Close enough.” Master Ryu cupped one hand and wiggled the fingers of his other hand beneath. “The Yin aspect is the fire beneath.  The cauldron receives food, and breaks it down through the action of the fire. The good parts mix with the air in your lungs to generate Qi, while the bad gets expelled. In some cases, like Aya’s, some of the bad mixes in with the good and becomes phlegm.”

The Kappa jelly sloshed in Ken’s stomach, no doubt filled with plenty of bad parts. “How do we make sure the good and bad separate?”

“I’m glad you asked, since right now, we want to break down the Kappa Cores and extract the good aspects, while dispersing the bad. The low stance is the first part.  The next is to visualize. As you perform the Microcosmic Orbit, visualize your Qi passing through your Middle Burner.”

This was a new term. Ken cocked his head, and was pleased to see Aya equally perplexed.

“It’s your center, between your navel and the bottom of your ribcage.” Master Ryu pressed his hands over his belly. “Anyway, as your Qi passes through that area, visualize it rinsing away the gunk, leaving the Core clean.”

Ken did as he was told. After so many days of practice, the visualization came easily, though nothing seemed to be happening.

“Imitate my motions now.” Inhaling, Master Ryu lifted his hands, palms up, in front of his