Cultivation could be divided into five Realms.
The First Realm explores the self and solidifies it, thus establishing the Five Foundations of the First Realm.
But the most integral of these Foundations is one's Way.
It is the most vital Foundation to the Cultivator; it is their beliefs, the core of their very being.
It could also refer to the Cultivator themself, in a way.
Those without a Way cannot progress through the Five Foundations.
When the Five Foundations have been established, the Cultivator can thus proceed to the Second realm.
Where the First Realm solidifies the Self, the Second Realm is about expression.
...
The commission Sun placed for his armour would take approximately three nights.
Having wrapped the blade of his halberd, Sun left to return to his shared accommodation.
It was a simple building of one story, two bedrooms, and common amenities. There was also a courtyard within the residence.
This was the place Sun and Liming Zi stayed as they prepared for their departure.
"I'm not sure five nights would be enough to reignite my old skills completely... I feel like I'm talking like an old man..."
Sun chuckled lightly to himself.
He was planning to familiarise himself with the weight of the halberd, but turned his gaze to the opening front door.
"You're back already?"
"I did not get much. It did not take me too long."
Saying so, she presented two ornaments.
There was a small piece of jade wrapped in bone, vaguely resembling a heart. A chain allowed it to be hung from one's clothing.
"Jewellery?"
"Not exactly. I've bought one for you, too." Liming Zi handed over one ornament.
They were similar, but there were noticeable differences between the two.
The one Liming Zi held onto had no blemishes, the bone of clean off-white, and the piece of jade was flawless.
The one she handed to Sun had a darker colour; the bone had a slightly reddish-brown hue. But the jade within was of higher quality.
"Is this meant to be a gift, or...?"
"It is a Dao Art Media." Liming Zi spoke as she jangled the ornament, drawing attention to it. "It will be of use during our time at Qing Mao Dao Settlement. Surely you haven't forgotten what they are?"
"This...?"
Sun scrutinised the ornament with disbelief in his eyes.
"A Dao Art Medium getting used for something so... menial?"
"While I admit that the value of something is adherent to the eye of the beholder, this is no 'menial' Medium."
Saying so, Liming Zi placed the ornament into Sun's palm.
"You remember how to use one, yes?"
"Of course..."
Slimming his eyes and intensifying his scrutiny, Sun felt a subtle aura on the Dao Art Medium.
He could trace it in his mind.
The flat image of a one-spoked wheel, encircling a smaller circle that contained a simple heart within. Peculiar imagery surrounded the heart, vaguely depicting the layers of skin and muscle.
This was a Dao Art Image.
With the image fully envisioned in his mind, Sun then concentrated on his body.
There were three masses along the middle plane of his organs.
One mass resided in his head, resembling a lake which ebbed lightly.
One mass resided in his stomach, resembling a vortex which consumed all.
The final mass resided in his heart, glowing like candlelight, white in colour.
Under Sun's command, the light intensified, flowing outward along his circulatory system, into the palm of his hand, and then into the ornament.
"I feel... warm?"
"The Dao Art this Medium uses leans towards the Physically Supportive category. It provides respite to the muscles and helps maintain the skin's health."
"So it is one shade off of being a beauty product?"
"In a way... But that is not the point."
Quelling the light emanating from his Heart Qi Core, the warmth slowly waned from his body as the Dao Art Medium lost its supply of Qi, but Sun's eyes remained on his palm.
There was a peculiar thought within his mind as he recalled his past.
He cast a glance towards his halberd, Rising Dragon, still resting on the table.
"The weapon I wielded, I should be able to recreate that Dao Art inscribed on it, and apply it to my new halberd, right?"
"No... Not exactly, at least." Liming Zi held her Dao Art Medium to Sun's gaze.
"The Dao Art you wish to inscribe is complex; it was of medium-level Clarity. Not only is your halberd ordinary, lacking innate Qi, but to find a suitable Medium with enough Innate Qi to hold a Dao Art Image of such Clarity would be difficult."
"What if I use these?" Sun held up the heart-shaped Medium in his hand, "Not this one specifically, but if I purchase these... menial Mediums in mass, the sheer number should be capable, no?"
"Potentially, it could work, but the scattered traces of Qi would make the Image quite fragile..."
Sun let out a quiet exhale as he thought it over.
"But it could still be done..."
...
An hour has passed, and the cusp of Early Hour nears.
Sun sat before Rising Dragon, the silver lustre shimmering lightly under the filtered starlight.
The wrapping was undone, and the blade was bare to the cool air.
In his right hand was an assortment of ornaments, each was a Dao Art Medium he had quickly purchased after making his decision.
He asked Liming Zi to direct him to the same store she visited.
'Even if the Dao Art Image is fragile, all I need to do is reinforce it so it won't fall apart...!'
He began by concentrating on his Qi Cores; the Heart Qi Core gave off a radiant light.
Pressing the index finger of his left hand down, Sun traced a circle on the base of Rising Dragon's double-axe head.
He began with a wheel, adding one spoke pointing up the halberd's spiked top, then another pointing down the halberd's shaft.
'This is all I can recreate for now... It should not be too complex.'
He felt regret in his limitations, having to opt for a Dao Art of a lower level of Clarity.
Sun could not recreate the original strength of his previous weapon, but still vied to push the recreation's strength as far as he could.