Tang Nuan's words resound throughout the room. Her anxiety and fear are audible in her words and tone. Her face also shows her upset at the concept of her child possessing twin martial souls—a most curious reaction to have when a child possesses twin martial souls.
Tang Chen walks over to his wife placing his hands on her shoulders, doing his best to comfort her with his touch. "It will be fine Nuan'er, he will be fine," he says to her with a calm soothing voice.
Despite his words, Tang Nuan is not truly becoming calm from them. "But husband you know what became of the last one to have twin martial souls. He didn't die from an assassination. He exploded, exploded, you know he was fine for a while. Then boom, blood and guts splatter on all those around him. Knowing that how can I stay calm when our son has twin martial souls? That might happen to him." she says becoming more frantic as she continues.
Her worries are not completely unfounded. Twin Martial souls are something anyone should envy. Yet this blessing from heaven is also incredibly dangerous. Incompatibility between the marital souls can occur.
The explosion occurred when the individual was adding a soul ring to their second martial soul. They were only a soul king at the time. They added a ten-thousand-year ring onto their second martial soul. He seemed to be fine before the absorption process. Once more as a soul king they already had a black fifth ring. The ring they were absorbing was only a 15, year ring.
Even to this day only theories exist on the cause of that person's demise. An examination would have been performed to determine the causes. Yet there simply was not enough to autopsy at least not in large enough pieces. The best theory is that the martial souls came into conflict. This conflict escalated until it caused his body to implode.
This theory comes from another Prosser of twin martial souls. She passed duel beast souls one ice and one fire. Two absolutely conflicting elements make every step of her cultivation hazardous. She didn't even make it to Spirit King instead dying from cultivation. Ice and fire ravage her body intermittently at different times. Her entire life became one of agony.
Many others who had her as an example simply chose not to cultivate their second martial soul. Either that or they tried to cultivate it, but needed to see it destroyed. Thus up until the present day not a single known case of successfully cultivated twin martial souls exists.
Everyone present knows these facts to some degree or another. Those with an association with the Spirit Hall have a greater knowledge. After all the girl was a member of their faction long ago. It was by their Soul Hall she was trained, and where she died. Living out the rest of her days in pain even after the destruction of her cultivation.
Tang Yuan had babbled everything out as she continued to panic. Tang Chen already knew a lot about those two events. Yet now he knew even more than before. Some of it he had heard before as rumors, and only now confirmed. Tang Chen wrapped his arms around his wife comforting her physically. Normally she is an incredibly strong person. Yet her family is her Achilles heel her greatest soft point.
As Tang Nuan calms down from her panic and anxiety. They could begin to speak of how they would handle this matter. Yet they lacked something critical to make the discussion effective. That being knowledge and understanding of how to cultivate twin martial souls.
Without that, they can only guess things along as best they can. With two limit Douluo they can guess pretty well in fact. Their understanding is to have one be a primary martial soul. Then make the second one weaker perhaps so they don't conflict with one another. Beyond that idea, they are unable to come to a conclusion.
They determine that they should approach his cultivation with extreme caution. As for which martial soul to cultivate they are unsure. Tang Yuan's input of course should be considered. They will discuss it with him tomorrow.
Meanwhile, as the adults discuss the difficulties of his twin martial souls. He has made his way into his own training room. He is eager to begin his cultivation so he quickly comes to the center of the room. He takes his meditation pose that he found works best for him.
He opens the scroll with some caution afraid to rip it in his excitement. He begins to read it with caution so as not to miss a word. It is important to be thorough in understanding the scroll for the best results. Once more to ensure safety during the cultivation process.
Golden Crocodile watches as Tang Yuan quickly begins to read the scroll. Despite being incredibly impatient to begin Tang Yuan visibly calms himself down. Golden Crocodile nods his head at that it is never good to go into cultivation with impatience. Doing so could lead to any number of complications.
Golden Crocodile has no intention of interfering at first. Instead he we will watch for now, and only interfere if he finds himself in trouble. Better for him to get it himself even if it takes a while. That way it will feel more natural to him. After that, he can help him make adjustments to cultivation.
Tang Yuan takes about 30 minutes to read through the scroll. He had finished reading and then returned to read it a second time. The cultivation method is best called the Golden Method. It is primarily focused on the cultivation through the element of gold. Thus the reason it is more compatible with him than the Clear Sky Clans technique.
Once more the technique has more complete information on the body. Within the body, there are many Soul Veins as it were. As normal veins carry blood the soul veins carry soul power through the body. All the books he could find told him that at least. The problem was that each one said there was a different number in the body.
The cultivation technique shows the largest amount on the body diagram. The Said diagram is by far the most complex part of the rather large scroll. Even still he doubts that it details nearly all of them. He read once that the body has about 200,000 to 300,000 blood veins in the body. There are billions of blood arteries running through the body apparently.
Both veins and arteries carry blood through the body. The question becomes do the soul veins also include their own version of arteries? Are they simply all called Soul Veins? This scroll certainly does not say anything about that. Maybe people simply cultivate and as they continue to cultivate they stumble across more veins at random.
Thus the numbers recorded in different books radically change. If the Soul Veins are compared to blood veins then perhaps there is a similar number. The number of veins from 200, to 300, is apparently affected by multiple factors. Some of those veins indeed carry unoxygenated blood. Others are small veins that run through the body.
Tang Yuan could only conclude that he would have to take his time in his cultivation. The scroll does in fact list the twelve meridians spoken of in Chinese medicine. Twelve organs in the body are identified as important existences. Yet there is not a single mention of the eight extraordinary meridians. Though that is to be expected by all accounts the only mention in the series is The Mysteries Heaven Technique.
Many in his past life considered Soul Land to be amongst the weakest cultivation worlds. One of the reasons is the weakness of the techniques. Cultivation techniques are extremely lacking in their ability. The greatest cultivation technique in the series is basically the Mysteries Heaven Technique. Apparently, that is the case in all five eras, and even for the god king Tang San.
Tang Tuan concludes that this will be touch-and-go. He has no idea exactly how much knowledge he is missing. How much of his Earth knowledge will be effective in this manner? As he grows stronger he can likely expand his understanding and work on it.
So he then begins finally to cultivate. He begins to channel his soul power through his body. To start cultivating one must move their energy through the body. Having it start at one point moving through the body, and then end at the point it began. Almost like from point A to B than back to A, but in this case more like from A to Z then back to A. With any fewer or more steps being added on depending on the technique and thoroughness.
It might seem relatively simple in nature going from point to point. Yet it's like trying to move a mysterious substance through these points. You have to use soul power to move soul power. Plus intense mental focus, physical stamina as well.
If that is not enough Tang Yuan grouses to himself. You have to move this difficult-to-move energy this soil power. Through channels in the body the extraordinarily thin soul veins. Like threading energy through holes the size of needles. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that there are obstructions in these channels.
If the channels are likened to rivers then these obstructions are debris. Things like stones, sticks, mud, and anything else that would block the flow. You have to maneuver the energy carefully through the obstructions. He notices that if he doesn't then the obstructions block energy. Not only does it slow energy movement it also causes energy loss.
The obstructions in his veins are likely the impurities that people are born with. What's even more ridiculous is that he is the child of nobles. He has had a mixture of baths for years with specific diets as well. Designed specifically to clean the impurities in the body. Yet they are just still so many and numerous. He shivers imagining what it must be like for those without extra preparation.
After more than an hour of continuous effort, he finally completes the first cycle of cultivation. His energy has returned to its starting point. Yet he had only managed to run his soul power through the main channels. He hadn't even tried to send it down even the secondary channels. Much less the lesser channels below those that are so numerous.
Once this first cycle wasn't even truly a first cycle. He had only used his own power to do and complete the cycle. As the scroll suggested to do so at first to become used to doing so. The proper form of cultivation is to absorb energy from one's surroundings. Then use one's own energy to lead that power through the soul veins.
Doing so is even harder than moving one's own energy through the body. Energy wise it is not as exhausting, but focused-wise wise it is far more so. So Tang Yuan mobilised his own soul power to once again begin a cycle of circulation.
As he moves his soul power once again through his body. He finds that doing so is slightly easier now than before. It is not especially easier, but it is certainly easier to do all the same. Likely as a result of already having done it once before. Now that he has experienced it he can maneuver his soul power with greater ease than before.
Yet even still having done it once it is still exceedingly difficult. Move the soul power through the body. Maneuvering it through the debate and obstructions in the soul veins. Move it through the major soul pathways from one side of the body to another. The first cycle took him more than an hour, but less than two.
His second is finished in more than an hour and a half. Than he begins a third cycle of his soul power movement. Once again starting the soul power at one point, and bringing it back to that point. His third cycle he manages to finish at about 90 minutes exactly. More than five hours and he has only finished a total of three cycles.
Then suddenly he collapses to the ground in complete exhaustion. His body was panting in exhaustion as if he had just had a full-body workout. His mind was just as exhausted if not more so as a result of his efforts. Cultivating is exhausting to do that's for certain. He still hasn't even gotten into the true form of cultivation.
Speaking of which Tang Yuan surmises that he should be able to begin proper cultivation now. The cycling of his own soul power is basically recommended to be done before cultivation. As a form of exercise as it were before proper cultivation. Thus he begins the true process of cultivation.
He uses his meditation technique to begin to draw in the natural energy around him. First Tang Yuan gathers it in his body. He does so slowly at first, but speeds up as he continues to do so. Then when there is enough he mixes this energy with his own. Cycling it within the dantian like mixing it around within.
He notices that as he does so the absorbed soul power changes. Some of the energy is directly transformed into his soul power. This helps in recovering the strength expended on his self-cycles. Now he pushes that energy along the same paths he did before. In some ways, it's actually wiser to do this now.
In order to properly absorb that will energy Tang Yuan has to use his natural energy. By cycling both his energy and the natural energy in his dantian. He mixes them together to a set consistency. Though it's more like he is using his energy to move the wild energy around. Allowing him to instantly digest some of that power to help recover his used energy.
He is continuing to absorb energy as he continues. Allowing him a greater amount of energy to use in the cycles. Yet it is also harder with much more energy to manipulate than before. The absorbed energy is different from his own power. He can manipulate his own power with little issue. The energy he takes in is wild and untamed thus being far harder to control.
As he moves it through his soul pathways it becomes readily apparent. As he moves it through his pathways he also has to keep control over the wild energy. If he doesn't keep constant watch the energy will try to deviate. Like using a single string to hold and bind together dozens of other strings.
Even as he catches most of the strings a few of them escape his control. Other strings are shaved off by hitting the impurities. All the while moving the strings through the small openings. It is a mind-numbing process to be sure requiring absolutely intense focus. Finally, he manages to complete the first cycle of the mixture. It is his first true cultivation cycle as well.
He checks to see the differences now that energy has finished its cycle. He immediately notices a change in the soul power mixture. It's now much more receptive to his control than before. Though there is still quite a bit of wildness to the mixture. Yet he sees how it's done now.
So Tang Yuan begins a second cycle moving the more controllable mixture. As he does so he notices that the soul veins are easier to move through. He is able to complete this second cycle with greater ease. He is able to complete this cycle faster than the one before. It seems like he is becoming more and more proficient with each cycle.
Examining the mixture in his dantian shows it to be even more controllable than before. This confirms a theory he had from completing the first cycle with it. By continuing to cycle the mixture he continues to change to wild energy. Each time he finishes a cycle with absorbed energy it becomes more integrated. Coming closer to changing from wild energy into his own energy.
Like mixing together two substances to make a new substance. Yet that substance is actually much less than what it started with. Portions of the energy were lost when it left Tang Yuans' control. Yet there was also the use of energy merely from moving it around. Considering the feeling he is experiencing throughout his body. More of the energy was left behind in his veins as he moved it.
After finishing this cycle a refreshing feeling flows through his body. Like the feeling after exercise a nice soft feeling. He suspects this is from the energy left behind. Other parts of his body are absorbing it slowly. He can feel the mixture in his dantian is also decreasing. Rather it is being digested by the energy in said dantian.
He checks his own soul power capacity. It is rather low at the moment after multiple cycles of soul power. Only 5 cycles and his soul power is practically all used up. He has enough energy for two more cycles roughly he estimates.
Absorbing a bit more energy from around him he mixes it into the mixture. Then begins the cycle properly. This cycle is harder than the previous one before it. The newly added wild energy makes it harder to control. Yet now the majority of the mixture has already changed. Thus the difficulty is not much greater than before.
He quickly finishes a cycling of soul power. Then just as quickly begins the next one. At this point, the method of doing this is becoming routine for him. Yet he has so far only finished the lowest type of cultivation circulation. After finishing his latest cycle the mixture has been changed to his will.
The mixture is completely under his control now. Yet it is still not actually a part of him. Observing it closely he can notice it getting minutely smaller. It is barely noticeable yet it is a constant phenomenon. Tang Yuan equates it to the digestion of food in a stomach. As time goes on more of this energy will naturally be consumed by his own soul power.
This is part of the cultivation process. Even without cycling his soul power it will still flow through the soul pathways. Like blood flowing through blood vessels a constant process. As it does it will carry parts of the digested energy through it. Then that energy will slowly be absorbed by his body.
Yet this passive effect is only a fraction as effective as active cultivation. During active cultivation, the user actively moves the soul power around. By doing this the various soul pathways and parts of the body are saturated with Soul Power. It takes time for the body to absorb the energy it has absorbed. Thus the reason why cultivators don't simply cultivate day by day.
Another being they have to allow the energy to settle and their own recovery. In order to cultivate the user requires their own soul power. It is a necessity to move and manage the chaotic wild energy. If there is not enough of their own energy the wild energy could go rampant. Like trying to halt or stop a river's flow with sticks and stones.
Checking his current soul power reserves. He determines that he only has about 10% or so left after only seven cycles. Which is absolutely terrifying in terms of energy use. Though even in the last cycle he had a great deal of inefficiency. Thus he lost a lot of energy to the mistakes he made.
He could barely finish another cycle he estimates. Even then he doesn't have real confidence in doing so. Instead, he decided to try something he had been wanting to try for a while. He begins to do his Mental Palace exercises.
He continues his exercises as he normally does reaffirming his memories. He has managed to become far more proficient in the technique. Even as he has continued to acquire more information. There has not been an increase in the time it takes for the exercise. If anything he has shortened the time consistently.
He has been able to finish it in less than an hour now. Once more he has experienced the illusion of seeing his palace in his mind's eye more and more. Thus he runs through the mental paths and totems for his memories. I imagined his palace with as much detail and realism as possible. He focuses all his remaining soul power into his head focusing on the spot between his brows.
He took no care to conserve the amount of his remaining power. He burns through all of it as fast as possible hoping to bridge the gap. In many fictions to use all your mystical energy in your reserves causes consequences. Then as anticipated his power runs out even the energy recovered while doing so. As it does he is faced with the feeling of true exhaustion.
He had used much of his mental focus on cultivating, and now his exercises. His physical fatigue from the day's tiring events. Finally reducing his currently usable soul power to 0%. In this moment of sheer exhaustion is one of the best opportunities to reach it. Tang Yuan falls into a state between the realms of sleep and waking.
As he enters this state the filters of his mind relax. Logic and focused attention parts of his brain lose some of their focus. His mind moves closer to the land of dreams with every step. As he does his mind enters a state of relaxation even as his mental palace remains in mind. Becoming ever more real and in focus even as everything else is blurred. A waking dream on the cusp of dreams yet still aware.
As this happens he feels it as the string, a thread, like a single feeling on the edge. He has felt it before he falls asleep, yet it is always gone before he wakes. Slipping from his grasp as he fell asleep. Then drawing upon the final dregs of power. He drags himself from the cusp of sleep still holding on to that feeling. Then he places everything onto that feeling that string following it.
Then suddenly he opens his eyes to find the entire room has changed. No longer his private meditation room in the Clear Sky Clan. He enters through a door into a relatively large room. The room is hearty and lived in with a number of facets. The room is like a mix of two different rooms.
On one side are multiple bookshelves lined up together. The bookshelf is filled with a wide variety of books. From classics such as Sherlock Holmes, or books of medicine and engineering. Some of the books seem out of place looking like they belong to an ancient library.
The opposite side of the room is like a shut-in's dream. With TV on a stand paired with an Xbox X, and bookshelves of games. Other bookshelves are filled with various manga, light novels, and comics. Posters are placed intermittently on the wall in series. Naruto, One Piece, Fate, Black Clover, and Dr. Stone. As if calling attention to those especially for some reason.
On another wall are several pictures placed upon the wall. Seeing them Tang Yuan can't help but smile all the way to his heart of hearts. Featuring a family of five at the start growing to six in later ones. Then dropping to five once more midway through the photos. The photos continue seemingly years later from the last of the family in funeral attire. The picture grows happier as the wall continues. Then there are pictures of another family far fewer than the other. Yet that number shall only grow as time passes.
The middle of the room is divided into two areas. On one side the most striking feature is a table made in the form of a map. The map is of the Soul Land continent with landmarks marked. Golden, silver, bronze, and other metal pieces are scattered on the map. Like pieces of chess on a board only far more esoteric in nature.
Around the table are a number of blackboards filled with writing. The names of various series are on the board with things by them. Such as One Piece with the term haki right next to it, and the question "Is it possible?" Besides the blackboard, there is a board with a number of papers in a stack on it. The papers each seemingly have a design or checklist on them.
On the other side of the map table and boards is a completely different form. Like a
Comfortable sitting area room standing in the middle of things. Only a single chair to sit on seemingly able to move in any direction. To face the TV or the boards when changed. As if the chair was designed for all of them. He stood before a lone window on the only relatively sparse wall.
He recognises this place instinctively in a way. Yet he can't help, but feel amazed to actually be within this room. This was a place he had never truly been in physically before. It bears similarities to several rooms dear to his heart. He imagined it to be so after all for every day for five years up to today.
He had managed to enter his Mental Palace properly in this way. It also signifies the evolution of his Mental Palace technique, or at least its progression. From the very beginning, it was something that any normal human could use. A memory technique used to improve the user's memory through its use. Only now does it truly have the right to be called a supernatural technique.
The change in his technique has allowed him to reach an understanding of it. Though it has changed from being mundane to supernatural. It has not suddenly become overwhelming in nature. It however has three major advantages to its intrinsic nature. Yet also possesses several shortcomings.
The advantage it provides can not be understated. The first is the primary purpose of the technique memorization. As a mundane memory technique was its only advantage. Using it can massively help in recording information in the user's mind.
The second advantage is the condensing of spiritual energy together. Such as the form of the room itself all of his spiritual energy was condensed to create it. If he were to exit the room through the door he would leave his mind. This room is in a way his spiritual sea as defined by soul land terms.
Which leads to the third advantage of his Mental Palace. This technique as a true mystic technique allows one to enter the Spiritual Sea. In his case allowing him to enter this room that is a form of the spirit sea. Once more it is possible to change and alter the sea. Through the visualization and reformation of the Mental Palace.
These three advantages are rather useful with the very first being especially so. Yet the technique has a number of glaring flaws as well. The most obvious and glaring being that this technique on itself has no way of properly increasing spiritual power. Doing the mental exercises can slowly increase his spiritual power.
Unfortunately, the increase is rather slow in nature. Yet that increase is also constant in the increase. As the scope of his memories and understood concept deepens that daily increase will grow. He will have to find methods of improving his spiritual Power. It is simply too useful and necessary not to do so.
Another problem or problems rather is that the techniques have no offensive ability. The techniques were never meant to be used to attack. So that is only a natural outcome in conclusion. However, the techniques actually decrease his offensive ability as well. A large part of Tang Yuan's Spiritual energy is used to create the Palace and can't be used to attack. This brings two problems in one a weak offense.
Finally, the fourth problem as it were is a relatively weak defense. His created Mental Palace has no actual defenses. Only the four walls that form its room protect it. Those walls are fairly sturdy for his level, but they are truly anything to write home about.
Yet even given these problems Tang Yuan can't help but be proud. The Mental Palace is the first technique he has recreated in this world. Now it has actually leveled up as it were. Even if that was partially a conscience and his ability to trigger a waking dream. Thus entering his Mental Palace this early.
He likely would have been able to do so eventually as his power increased further. Doing so now however is absolutely a godsend. He has now come to see the strengths and weaknesses of his techniques. He can also make use of what Spiritual Power he still has from making the Mental Palace.
Thus thinking that he finally steps out of his mental palace after what feels like hours. When he finally comes too he finds himself not in the training room. Instead, he wakes from his warm and comfortable bed. His last act must have caused him to reach his limits after all. This caused him to fall unconscious either while he was in the Mental Palace, or after he left.
Tang Yuan can't help but think, uh oh. His mother is probably going to scold him for this. Yet speak of the devil and they will appear. The door of the room bursts open as his mother steps in. She has a very disapproving look on her face. Stepping forward to the bed quickly she reaches out to pinch his cheek.
"Ow, Ow, Ow!!' he says as a result of her pinching. He was somewhat putting on an act to assuage her anger. Though she was actually pinching hard enough to hurt. So not totally an act his expression turning contrite.
"So you can feel guilty for worrying your mother." Tang Nuan says with some anger still. Though she released his cheek satisfied that he had been punished enough. "You're lucky Grandpa checked your condition immediately. Otherwise, I would have been far more worried," she says not saying and worried.
"That's enough Nuan'er stop making him worse, Xiao Yuan already looks remorseful." Tang Chen says gently to Tang Nuan in a coaxing manner. "After all I was much the same the first time I cultivated. From what I heard you were even worse apparently," he said the first part remindeldy and the second teasingly.
Tang Nuan looked like she wanted to puff up at the second and first parts. Making way to argue against his words about that. Then she turned slightly bashful and embarrassed at the final part. "At least I didn't cultivate to unconscious," she said the last part with a petulance in her voice.
Tang Yuan sighs glad that dad managed to defuse the bomb which was a worried mother. Catching his sigh his mother once again began glaring at him. Causing him to look away from her afraid of the spark to combust. Finally, he knew it was safe when she sighed. He had managed to escape relatively unmarried from his mother's wrath.
"Still I trust you have learned your lesson, Xiao Yuan." his father told him with a hint of sternness. His mother was nodding her head while looking at him intensely. If he didn't provide a good answer he would definitely be lectured. It only happened less than a handful of times, but that was enough.
He debated at first how to say things. He could only agree with his father's words. He would do that anyway yet this also serves as a useful opportunity. He could do something he had considered for a while.
"Yes I understand Father, and I apologize for worrying you both," he tells them both truly apologetic for worrying them. Tang Chen notices that his tone seems to have a but coming to it.
"Well the thing is Mom, Dad I have a secret," he told them first leadingly. He once thought about how he would explain where certain knowledge came from. He certainly would not reveal his reincarnation which was a no-no. Now remembering a certain saying he came across in fanfiction.
He told them about his Mental Palace technique. How he had discovered it early on in the library. Not telling them he had started using it far before that. He tells them how it works and how it works. It is basically a technique that is mundane in nature. That anyone could use it with enough effort. "It was originally a memory exercise technique completely mundane."
"Was." Tang Chen quickly picks up on his word choice and tense.
Tang Yuan then tells them he ended up inadvertently transforming it into a technique yesterday. They quickly connect it to his fainting. He tells them how it had been inadvertently evolved into what it is now. Then he tells them what he has determined about the techniques.
"I was hoping to share it with you and Mom. If not the entire clan as well," he tells them though he also wants to limit it to a degree. For now, only releasing the basics to the rest of the clan. Keeping the new form to themselves for now. He tells them that though more eloquently put. Partially for their own advantage, and partially to prevent its spread.
His father pretty much agreed to that. He likely saw through both his reasons. He might even agree with them to a degree. However, inevitably the question was raised that he was sure was coming.
"How did you learn to practice techniques?" his father and mother both asked. Even if it is basically a technique not need any soul power. It was still incredibly useful, and not using energy makes it even better.
"It started on a day I went to the library." he wove a story of him going to the library to find a book. "I had already spent a good amount of time there. When I stumbled upon another book that caught my interest," he told them of reading that book for a long time that week. He finished the book returning to several sections. That it was like reading multiple books not a lie in fact the truth.
"I see what an interesting book, so where is this book now. I want to read it myself." Tang Chen said interested in the book now. Certain that it would be a great help to him.
This is the selling point. Tang Yuan suddenly let his contriteness show about it. "About that one day when I came to read it again. I found it missing from the last location. At first, I thought that someone else had taken it. Yet I have never seen it again, and no one I ask knows about it."
"That is not good." Tang Chen says aloud and then asks "What is the name of the author of the book?"
Here it goes when something strange happens. Then blame him in this situation. "The name on the cover is Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. Beyond that, I don't have much on him. Except for him claiming in the book to be a magician and have power over space." he tells them both perfectly aware they will never likely meet Zelretch.