The Elder stepped closer, assessing Kaan again. "You are very lucky to meet me first, young man. You have a Perfect Yang Body, which is a very rare body type that exceeds in cultivation speed and material refining techniques."
"What a cursed blessing that is," Kaan thought. "One thing I am blessed with is cultivation, and I can't practice it in my home dimension."
"You don't seem very excited, but it is a thing to be excited about. How about an offer? Become my direct disciple, and you will become a Mind Stage cultivator in just three years," the Elder said with absolute confidence.
Kaan, his excitement now overcoming his fear, immediately kneeled and bowed, his forehead touching the floor. "I, Kaan from the Westlands, will become the humble student of Great Elder Chu of the Obsidian Cauldron Pavilion."
"I greet my Master Chu!" Kaan said.
Great Elder Chu, with a hint of satisfaction and pleasure in his face, said, "I accept Kaan, from the Westlands, as a direct disciple of mine." The Elder took out an empty wooden plaque and infused it with his Qi. As soon as he infused it, an emblem of a black cauldron appeared, beneath which was inscribed his name, Kaan, and his Master's name, Chu.
"Take this. This is your identification plaque right now. It cannot be easily replicated because every Qi has its own unique traits, and since everyone here knows me, they won't treat you wrongly. Now, let's go to the cultivation room and start your cultivation."
"Yes, Master," Kaan replied. After following his Master, they came to a secluded space furnished with several worn cultivation mats.
"Sit down in a lotus position and eat this," Master Chu instructed, handing him a pill that looked like a perfect, glowing pearl. Kaan immediately thought: "Analyze!"
The UMA interface appeared:
Analyzing...
Item: Cleansing Pill
Ingredients:Azure Flower 60%, Aloe Vera 39%, Pure Qi 1%
Description: A pill that cleanses impurities from your body.
"I guess aloe vera is used in every dimension," Kaan muttered. "But Pure Qi? That's new."
He swallowed the pill. As soon as he gulped it, his body started heating up, and an immense, searing pain—a pain far exceeding a mere paper cut.
"AAAAAAAH!" Kaan screamed.
"You have to hold on. This is for better potential, young man," Master Chu calmly instructed.
When he finally woke up, Kaan found he was covered in a thick, slimy residue that smelled overwhelmingly bad "Ugh! What the hell is this?" he gagged.
"That is the impurities you had in your body," Master Chu explained. "Now that they are out, your body is truly pure. I have a bath prepared for you, so go clean yourself and return."
"Yes, Master," Kaan replied, struggling to stand. The sheer amount of filth made it hard to see his feet. "Apparently, Earth food is trash," he thought, stumbling toward the bath. He througly cleansed himself and returned to his Master's side.
Kaan returned from the bath, feeling lighter and more energetic than he ever had before.
"Master, I feel a lot lighter and more energetic," Kaan said, stretching his newly purified limbs.
"Of course, you would. Because you just broke through. Congratulations, apparently, your body absorbed the True Qi inside the Cleansing Pill."
DING!
You learned a new ability in a different dimension.
Reward: Level Up.
The Ring's interface popped up right in front of Kaan, startling him slightly.
"Now, sit down," Master Chu instructed. "I will show you how to circulate your Qi in order to open up your nine meridians." Master Chu rolled up his sleeves and approached.
Kaan quickly sat down in the lotus position, deciding to check his Ring later. He felt his Master's hands on his back, along with the familiar, steady warmth.
"Now try to remember this route," Master Chu explained, gently guiding Kaan's internal energy flow. "This is the way for your Mind Meridian. Don't try to rush and open them up without the proper order, or you could become a monster that only killing satisfies you."
Kaan was a smart kid; he could remember almost anything he saw or felt once, so he quickly grasped the precise technique, treating the flow like a complex hydraulic schematic.
"Now try it," his Master said.
Kaan organized his breath and focused. He started to circulate his Qi, and in his first try, he felt something pop in his head. That was the Mind Meridian opening instantly.
"I can't believe this. This boy is a genius. He did it on his first try. I have to raise him properly," Master Chu thought, profound satisfaction replacing his previous shock.
"Master, I did it," Kaan whispered. "I can feel the Qi around me and inside me."
As soon as he turned around to face his Master, Kaan trembled as he sensed a monstrous surge of Qi coming from the Elder. "What the hell is this man? I can't even lay a finger on him," he thought.
Master Chu, sensing the boy's sudden fear, quickly contained his Qi and smiled gently. "You can become like this if you work for maybe ten years with your body. It took me one hundred fifty years to reach this stage, so you are really blessed, kid."
At that moment, a heavy sigh was heard from the doorway.
"What the hell? I worked days and nights to get a branch manager position, and this kid just gets accepted by the Elder? I don't acknowledge it," came Zhuo's jealous whisper.
Elder Chu looked toward the doorway, his eyes sharp. "Let's take my daughter and leave. We may have gotten too much attention. We are going straight to the main branch."
Not just the Elder, Kaan also sensed Zhuo, thanks to his newly acquired cultivation and opened Mind Meridian. Kaan knew his potential was limitless—he could soar like a dragon.
"Let's go, kid," Master Chu said, grabbing Kaan and walking out.