Reincarnated As A Peasant - Book 2 Chapter 17: Levels of Cultivation

Second Day of Classes

Sakura

I sat in the lotus position cultivating. Circulating my chie in my dunchen to generate more, and purify the ambient life energy around me. The field I was on this early in the morning was filled with mana, life attuned mana to be specific. It was close enough to chie for me to be easily purified and added to the chie I was already generating through cultivation.

The effort was intense, as I was trying a new western technique I had never used before. It was slow compared to the basic methods I had learned in the sect school, and relied more on internal generation of chie, then from purifying mana and life energy from nature around me.

“Fifteen minutes left, then we have our sparring match!” The one eyed brute of a teacher, others named in harsh whispered as ‘coin lord’ shouted over the field of twenty some odd students.

“This technique is brutal,” Rayce said through gritted teeth. “I feel like my danchen is on fire.”

“Agreed. It’s like grinding two millstones together to create heat rather than using flint and tinder.”

“Having trouble?” The ‘coin lord’ said as he came up to us.

“Yes, teacher.” Rayce said through gritted teeth. Not giving up on his concentration. “I’ve practiced other methods that are more about purifying existing mana and turning it into Chie.”

“Life mana,” He corrected. The westerners had a strange hiccup about calling Chie life mana, and life mana Nature mana or something of the like. “But yes. Go on.”

“Yes, my apologies. Life mana. Why use this technique, when the others that pull and purify similar mana types are so much easier to use?”

“Good question son.” He lifted his voice for everyone to hear. “If you, or anyone else here ends up serving a stint as an adventurer, or even if you’re given lands that are less hospitable then others like those on the frontier? There will be many situations where life mana, and mana in general is going to be scares. And there are times when enemies, like those who are much higher in level then you if you ever happen to face one, can lock down the energies in the area around them. Making replenishing your stores of energy impossible. Lowering your endurance.”

He tapped his missing eye for emphasis. “I lost this eye in a dungeon run when I was only level seven, because our healer couldn’t replenish her mana where we were. If she had a greater mana pool, or regeneration ability, I’d still have two eyes.” He lowered his hand and produced a small image in the palm of his hand of a wizard casting a wide ranging spell.

“But that’s not all. There are others beings, and even some wizards who learn to use and manipulate ambient mana by infusing the surrounding mana with their own. There are some spells that can also still all mana in a given area, making it nearly impossible to cast spells using external mana sources, or in some cases, even magical weapons. Do you understand?”

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“I understand, thank you teacher.” Rayce bowed his head slightly, and I did likewise.

“Good. Now I want you and everyone else to understand. I’m not saying those other techniques are bad. In fact one of the three main techniques from the book that we will be practicing are similar to what you describe. But it’s important to have a wide variety of ways to regenerate your used mana, as well as increase your internal storage.” With that his mini-lecture ended everyone went back to what they had been doing. He looked at the two of us and smiled. “Good question lad.”

“Professor, I have another question. If you don’t mind.” It was my turn to get the man’s attention. He didn’t speak, only nodded his acknowledgement. “Thank you teacher.” I lowered my head in another sign of respect, while still cultivating. It was a difficult task and nearly painful.

“I was told a few weeks ago, that my current advancement level was near level seventeen in the western system.” The old man’s eyebrows went up in interest. “But now that I have my own access to your system through the gifted mind spirit, I have been told my level is actually nine or ten. In my home rankings I would be considered low gold. Can you help me reconcile this?”

He smiled. “Of course lass. Here.” he tapped something in the air I couldn’t see, and suddenly my vision was filled with a chart.

Stage – Level

Monarch Realm

Emperor – Level 30 +

King – Level 21-29

Prince – Level 20

Noble Realm

Duke – Level 19

Count – Level 18

Baron – Level 17

Knight – Level 16

Immortal Realm

Jade – Level 15

Gold – Between Levels 10 – 14

Silver – Between Levels 7 – 9

Mortal Realms

Steel – Between Levels 4 – 6

Iron – Between Levels 1 – 3

Copper – Between Levels 0 – 1

“I had this worked up a few days ago when I heard I’d have the honor of having both of you in my class. Just in case the theory classes haven’t covered it on your first day.” He nodded, and moved on to the next set of students.

So level ten matches somewhat with Gold then. Hmmmm.

“I guess I’m nearly too Jade,” Rayce said as his eyes defocused on me and on the information his mind spirit was displaying for him. “I’m level thirteen according to the system.”

“Interesting. I’m level ten.”

“You know, he never explained the discrepancy between what they said in the throne room about your level, and what the system is saying now.” Rayce said with a smirk.

I frowned. “You’re right. Interesting.”

“So what class do you have after this?” Rayce asked, as he slowed his cultivation. The coin lord had started to call a five minute warning for the class.

“We have mana theory, and then this afternoon I have the path of the weapons master. You?” I asked curious. I had two classes with my brother, but I didn’t know what his other selections had been.

“Celestial spirit rearing. Tosh is the teacher’s assistant. I have it daily in the afternoons. It was largely stuff I already knew. But I can tell with the pace they’re going to take they’ll soon push past what I know. How is the path of the weapons master?”

I shuddered. “It’s a fun class. But the teacher is . . . eccentric.”