The Great meridianless Conqueror

The stench of manure and damp hay fills my nostrils as I settle into the abandoned stable. It's a far cry from the silk-lined chambers I once knew, but beggars can't be choosers. Five gold coins are all that remain between me and starvation. Five gold coins, a spatial bag, and a physique wasted on a meridian-less body. Across the dirt pa...

The stench of manure and damp hay fills my nostrils as I settle into the abandoned stable. It's a far cry from the silk-lined chambers I once knew, but beggars can't be choosers. Five gold coins are all that remain between me and starvation. Five gold coins, a spatial bag, and a physique wasted on a meridian-less body. Across the dirt path, the market bustles with the haggling cries of merchants and the chatter of townsfolk. With nothing better to do, I wander over, my stomach growling in protest. Stalls overflow with produce, cheap trinkets, and the occasional worn weapon. My eyes scan the offerings, but it's a dusty stall tucked away in a corner that catches my attention. An old man with squinting eyes sits behind a collection of forgotten relics. Among chipped pottery and rusted farming tools, a single book stands out. Its cover is blank, the pages yellowed and brittle, but there's an undeniable aura of age emanating from it. An age that speaks of forgotten knowledge and immense power. "How much for the book?" I ask, my voice rough from disuse. The old man peers at me, his gaze surprisingly sharp. "Fifteen gold coins, young master." I hesitate. Fifteen gold is all I have left after buying the stable's lease. But something compels me. "I'll take it." Back in the dim light of the stable, I run my fingers across the book's cover. As I open the first page, a blinding light erupts, and I stumble backward, shielding my eyes. When I can see again, a figure hovers before me. He is tall and thin, with a wild mane of curly purple hair and eyes that gleam with ancient wisdom. "Greetings, Kylo," he says, his voice a soothing balm. "I am Inzhak K'kheiro, and I am to guide you forth on this journey through harship and infinity." My mind reels. "W-what are you talking about? What is this book?" Inzhak smiles, a gentle, grandfatherly expression. "This book... it is the key to unlocking your true potential. You may lack meridians, but fate has something far greater in store for you. You are chosen, Kylo, to walk a path beyond the confines of normal qi cultivation. A path of infinite possibilities. " He explains that the book contains a cultivation system unlike any I have ever heard of. A system that focuses on ascending through the realms using a different energy source. He tells me of the Forgotten Era, a time of unparalleled power and knowledge, and how he, Inzhak, was one of the first to explore the mysteries of cultivation. "I have waited millennia for someone worthy to inherit my legacy," Inzhak says, his eyes filled with a profound sadness. "Someone to share the endless journey with. Will you accept this destiny, Kylo? Will you defy the limitations placed upon you and reach for the stars?"

Inzhak’s words hang in the air, a promise of power that both thrills and terrifies me. I clench my fists, the calloused skin a reminder of my current reality. "Tell me more about this cultivation system," I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. Inzhak nods, a knowing smile gracing his lips. "Very well, Kylo. Prepare yourself, ...

Inzhak’s words hang in the air, a promise of power that both thrills and terrifies me. I clench my fists, the calloused skin a reminder of my current reality. "Tell me more about this cultivation system," I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. Inzhak nods, a knowing smile gracing his lips. "Very well, Kylo. Prepare yourself, for it is unlike anything you have ever imagined." He begins to explain the grand structure of this Ascension system. "The path ahead is long and arduous, divided into major realms: Mortality, Body Forging, Spiritual Convergence, Immortality, Divine Ascendance, True Divinity, Godly Transformation, and finally, the Infinite Realms." The words resonate within me, each realm a peak to be conquered, an eternity to be explored. I listen intently as he dives deeper into the first major realm. "The Mortality Realm is your foundation, and is divided into three minor realms: Sensing Qi, Enlightenment, and Peak. Each of these is further divided into four substages: low, middle, high, and peak." He pauses, his eyes twinkling. "However, there's a catch. This book will only reveal its secrets as you progress. Only when you reach the required stage or realm will the corresponding pages unlock." My gaze falls back to the open book. The first page is filled with elegant calligraphy, describing the very first step: Sensing Qi. "Normal cultivators," Inzhak continues, "would immediately sense the Qi in the air and draw it into their dantian through their meridians. But you, Kylo, are different. Your goal is twofold: first, to sense the Qi in the air, to imprint that sensation into your memory. And second, to feel the vitality within your own body, the life force that sustains you." I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. The stable air is thick with the scent of hay and earth. I focus on the air, trying to discern any subtle energy. At first, there is nothing but the coarse feeling of the air filling my lungs. "Imagine," Inzhak urges, his voice a gentle whisper. "Imagine the Qi as a gentle breeze, a tingling sensation on your skin. It is everywhere, surrounding you, permeating everything." I try to visualize it, to feel it. Slowly, a faint sensation begins to emerge. A tingling, like static electricity, dances across my skin. It is subtle, fleeting, but undeniably there. "That's it, Kylo! You're sensing it! Now, hold on to that feeling." I concentrate harder, trying to amplify the sensation. The tingling grows stronger, almost humming now. I commit it to memory, etching it into the very core of my being. Now, I must turn my attention inward.

Frustration mounts with each failed attempt. I clench my jaw, forcing myself to remain calm. The memory of the Qi in the air is vivid, but when I turn my attention inward, I find nothing but emptiness. I search for that same tingling sensation, that hum of energy, but it eludes me. My breath grows ragged, my muscles tense. The stable wall...

Frustration mounts with each failed attempt. I clench my jaw, forcing myself to remain calm. The memory of the Qi in the air is vivid, but when I turn my attention inward, I find nothing but emptiness. I search for that same tingling sensation, that hum of energy, but it eludes me. My breath grows ragged, my muscles tense. The stable walls seem to close in around me, amplifying my sense of failure. Again and again, I try. Close my eyes, remember the feeling, search within. But the vitality remains hidden, a locked door with no key. Anger begins to simmer beneath my skin, a familiar companion from years of being labeled a cripple. Just as I am about to succumb to despair, Inzhak's voice cuts through my frustration. "Kylo, you are focusing too hard. You are trying to force it, like a blacksmith hammering metal. Instead, be like water, flowing and adaptable. Feel the rhythm of your breath, the beating of your heart. The vitality is there, woven into the very fabric of your being." His words are a gentle rain, soothing the fire of my anger. I take a deep breath, consciously relaxing my muscles. I focus on the rhythm of my heart, the ebb and flow of my breath. I imagine the blood coursing through my veins, carrying life and energy to every cell in my body. And then, a flicker. A faint warmth deep within my core. It is subtle, barely perceptible, but it is there. I focus on that warmth, nurturing it, allowing it to grow. It expands, filling my body with a gentle, comforting energy. The tingling sensation I felt in the air now resonates within me, a harmonious symphony of energy. A gasp escapes my lips as I feel a surge of power coursing through me. The book in my lap glows with a soft, golden light. The first page fades, and the second page appears, filled with new instructions, new challenges. I have done it. I have sensed the Qi and found the vitality within. A triumphant grin spreads across my face. I have taken the first step. The impossible has become reality. "Congratulations, Kylo," Inzhak says, his voice filled with warmth and pride. "You have reached the low substage of the Sensing Qi minor realm. The path ahead is still long, but you have proven that you have the potential to reach the very highest peaks."