Early the next morning Qi was woken up by his father to walk him from the farm towards the North Gate smithy by Green Jade city. Having to walk for about an hour to get to the smithy and wanting to be early the sun wasn't yet peaking over the horizon. This however didn't put a damper on Quans' spirit as he instructed Qi on his expectations.
Quan: As I mentioned yesterday do your best to incorporate your task at the smithy into a skill as it will make the process of learning smoother in you journey overall. Work hard and do all the task issued to you well. Show interest in learning and achieve what merits you can and hopefully Master Dong will allow you to practice refining as soon as you break through to the first layer of cultivation.
Qi: And how long does that usually take?
Quan: With your Spirit root talent normally it would take about a year. However I'm hoping with your strong spirit you will be able to achieve it sooner than that.
Qi: How hard is it to Progress from first to second level of cultivation?
Quan: This took me about 3 years to achieve but I was on my own with little to no way to obtain resources and having a weaker Cultivation technique. So your advancement shouldn't take as long.
Qi: What does a stronger soul achieve for me in cultivation and are there better ways to strengthen it?
Quan: The soul splitting peas I grow for you to eat are Beneficial enough and there are spirit fruits and elixirs that can also strengthen your soul power. As for why its important to strengthen it will help you comprehend skills and make it easier to control your spells.
Qi: So both fruits and elixirs are able to increase your spirit
Quan: Yes but spirit fruits are typically of higher grade than the grade one spirit plant soul splitting peas. Not only that but they also have a much longer growth time to get the seeds to a mature state where the fruit can finally mature.
Qi: Why don't we try planting some better spirit fruits to try instead of always the peas?
Quan: The farm we rent from the Kingdom is only able to raise grade one spirit plants and we don't have the ability to raise the grade of the spirit qi around the farm.
Qi: And you said elixirs can also raise ones spirit?
Quan: Yes but you would need to be at least of the first level of Qi Refinement to use spirit elixirs and pills. Not to mention the spirit stones required to buy them but enough of that. Those are things to worry about once the family starts to make more money.
Qi: When you say the family does that mean we are part of a bigger family and are a branch?
Quan: No of course not I mean you and me.
Qi: Ahh
Quan: Now look the smithy is in sight the one in charge will be Dong Jaun ask for him, let him know who you are and give him this.
Quan hands a bag to Qi as he starts to turn around.
Quan: I have a lot to do at the farm as I've just got permission from the steward of our district to open up another acre of Farm land by our four acres so next year we can have more resources.
Qi: So you will be expanding into the forest near the farm? Wait I see buildings but there barely more than dots!
As Qi said this his father had already taken off excited by the prospect of "Deepening" the foundation of the family by opening more fields to rent.
Qi: ( I think he forgot as a cultivator he can see further than I can) Sigh... well better keep following the road till I can also see this smithy.
A short time later Qi did find the smithy as the horizon started to brighten up from the sun rise. course from the sound within the smithy and the smoke billowing out one of the chimneys he knew someone was already there hard at work.
Qi walked up and knocked on the door a few times. Then a Young man with short black hair and a honest face of average height and built looking to be from a common background; Opened the door.
Young man: Hey kid what are you doing here?
Qi: Hello I am Bao Qi here to see master Dong Juan.
Young man: Ahh hello I am Li Yong, please come in I'll take you to see master Dong.
Qi followed Li into the building that looked more like a compound. Once brought through a space that looked like a shop that wasn't open this early in the morning. Li was taken into the back to the work space and too a lit up area. Here he saw a short bald man with strong arms looking like he was nearly as wide in the shoulders as he was tall. Feeling someone approach this man turned around with a stern look in his eye to see who had come.
Juan: Li how is this kid that is following you?
Li: Master Dong this is Bao Qi.
With this Qi stepped forward and presented the bag his father gave him.
Qi: Master Dong my father said to look for you and give you this.
Juan Dong took the bag while sizing up Qi with a stare. Then with a shake of his head he said: So you are crazy Bao's kid I don't know why he figured he should send someone as young as you to me. You do look big enough to work the bellows and haul ore.. Li your working on some Martial level weapons today right?
Li: yes master I am.
Juan: Good Qi you will be giving Li a hand today with anything he needs.
Qi: Yes master Dong.
With this said Master dong turned back to his forge and resumed his work. Li signaled Qi to follow him and moved towards a forge further down. As they moved away Li started to point out some areas he needed to know about like where the ore and fuel was stored. As they approached a forge that had some materials ready to work Li turned and said.
Li: Ill let you know what I need you to do and explain some of the steps of forging as I go. Now do you have any questions?
Qi: Yes why are we making martial level weapons?
Li: Well most puppets used by Lower level cultivators have basic control methods and are often designed to simple battle task. As many creatures faced on the front lines aren't true demon beast artifacts are not always necessary. further more if you have to abandon your puppets to give you time to run away from a swarm the extra cost of the abandoned artifact can just be simply costly.
Qi: So throw away weapons for the meat grinder at the frontlines?
Li: Well yea if there is a retreat basic puppets usually are used to slow down the pursuers. Also what has your father been teaching you talking about the frontline when your just a child?
Qi: Literally anything he can think of mister Yong.
Li: You poor kid Just call me Li I'm only 19 with no real background like most outside the city wall.
Qi: Ok Li what do you need me to do.
With a grin From li a busy day at the forge started. Qi helped with preparing fuel and ore and worked the bellows as Li instructed. As Li took some time between the processes of forging to explain things to Qi after all he knew that this would be a junior apprentice of his masters. As Master Dong did not kick him out at the beginning of the day. Course as his father was known as crazy Bao there was a bit of pity to help people warm up to Qi.
Through out the day Qi did have a few breaks with Li and had a lunch provided by the workshop. Near the end of day Qi did gain a mortal level skill of forging as watching li and helping him did seem to be enough to gain entry level.
Of course with his high spirit comes the ability to comprehend skills easier as high level cultivators have an easier time remember information with their increased spirit.
In the evening Master dong dismissed Qi with enough time to make sure he could get home in time for supper.
On his walk home Qi had his other task his father gave him to worry about which was to become a cultivator as soon as possible.
Qi: I hope I can break through quickly and start getting some training in combat techniques soon as the stronger I am the safer I'll be.
With this thought Qi went home to study and cultivate. As he had many new books to look into as he wished to figure out what techniques he would want to prioritize learning. He was also excited to really embark on the path of cultivation as who wouldn't want the ability to challenge the heavens and chase after the path of immortality.
And with these plans in place his days passed by swiftly. Qi did find out that most people put strain on their meridians when cultivating and by increasing your understanding of a cultivation Technique you can decrease this strain. This was a bit bitter sweet as it did in turn delay him to start but it also gave him time to study up other techniques.
As he was very interested in Sword control and puppet mastery. As Who didn't want to fly on a sword or have a helping hand with chores.
Quan also wanted Qi to learn some of the Spirit plant Skills to help him look after the farm as well. Initially Qi thought this was Counter productive to his fathers earlier expressed desire for his cultivation path. However it seemed his father planned to have his son do basic chores of looking after the farm between planting seasons and harvest. To free him self up to go out for opportunities.
As he could accept task from the kingdom officials office or accept task from various other powers in the area for more spirit stones. As now if he took these task his absents from the fields could damage the crop yields.
And with these crops being their main and most secure source of income leaving for task may not make more than the cost.
So with all these thing to study and his work with Master Dong Qi had plenty to learn and study.
QI was able to add some basic entry's for some of the skills in the next couple months or at least unlock the skill as Entry 1/100. However he found he could not increase the skills levels without actually practicing them.
All the skills of course needed Spirit qi to preform making Qi attempt to grind up his experience on some of the basic life skills. This was to better under stand the progression of skills and their mastery.
So far Qi knew that the Skills so far seemed to have the progression of : Entry level, Intermediate Level, Advanced Level, Small Success, followed by Great success. He knew based on his status this wasn't the end and based on what he read in books he knew for sure there was a perfected level to skills.
But Qi figured maybe he would be able to prefect some of his basic skills and find there was still a progression progress to achieve. This would let him know if there was a level beyond what he learned in books. As he knew this could be a possibility based on what he read in stories from his last life.