Cultivation System: Elder Edition

Chapter 354

Changes (XI)

There's something I've been curious about ever since I learned of the existence of 'Demonic Qi'. As I recall Elder Qin explaining it, it almost sounded like antimatter to matter, anti-Qi to Qi. Not evil, just reversed.

Which made me further curious about their relationship. I've seen Wan Lan fight quite a few times, and even when she's not actively concealing Demonic Qi (pretty much only when 'sparring' with Long Tao), it doesn't look like two antithetical energies having a proper clash.

So, in that sense, they aren't like matter and antimatter--they can coexist and occupy the same space. The question is... to what degree, then?

Honestly, I feel like if I shared my idea with anyone, even Long Tao, they'd look at me like I'm crazy (even more than they already do on occasion). Some things get so deeply embedded as 'common knowledge' that, even when they are unequivocally proven as wrong, they just sort of... stay?

Like, I believed well into my twenties that carrots, indeed, did make your eyesight better. Or that having wet hair would always give you a cold. Or a million (well, not a million; I wasn't that stupid, at least) other little things that, while not necessarily life-altering, do invoke a certain image of a common human conscience.

I imagine that the idea of Qi and Demonic Qi rings that way here, too; they are opposites, invariably destined to always clash, to always seek the other's destruction. But I watched Wan Lan attack with Demonic Qi and I watched Long Tao respond with 'ordinary' Qi, and all I got to see was... well, him winning, because he was stronger.

But... was he strong enough to prevent the reaction similar to matter and antimatter clashing? Yeah, I don't think so.

That's why I had myself entertain the idea for a little while, and now it was the perfect time to test it. Wan Lan had a sturdy body and even sturdier meridians; if anyone was able to contain two types of Qi that were supposedly antithetical to one another, it was her. And if she couldn't? Then mine was the dream of pipes, or however that expression goes. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Pulling up the creator's window yet again, I took a deep breath and got down to the experiment.

Selecting the type as Martial Art, I pondered for a moment on the number of forms, electing to go for something mid-tier, choosing 4. It's easy enough to change, but as this was supposed to be a relatively simple offensive art, I didn't want to make it too convoluted. I did make the internal logic cohesion Profound, however, and I expected I might even have to push it up to Law-Integrated if I wanted the art to have the capacity to handle both Qi and Demonic Qi.

Even with profound, however, I was already out 100 points, so I had to conserve anywhere I could.

The next step was crucial: Energy Type. This part has always confused me, as other cultivators didn't consider 'Fire Qi', for instance, different from Qi, just its extension, while the system categorized it separately.

I added Standard Qi and spun for a while to find Demonic Qi, but when I tried to add it... I got an 'error' screen for the first time since coming to this world.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

[--error. Two types of energies are incompatible. Searching...]

[System has found a fix for the compatibility issue. Spend 300 CP to learn it?]

[Y/N]

... was I going to stop now? Of course not! Spend 300 points!

[--300 points spent]

[To allow for coexistence of Standard Qi and Demonic Qi, a third type is necessary to act as a bridge. Recommended types of energy: Dharma Qi (7,000 CP), Pure Spirit Qi (120,000 CP), Primordial Qi (???), ???... As the host cannot afford any of the unlocked energy types, a secondary option is offered: add Enduring Temperance (200 CP), a moderate Conceptual Imbuement. This will allow for temporary coalescence of Qi and Demonic Qi. Note, however, that of the host's current disciples, only Wan Lan and Xing Feng will be able to endure the backlash. It is recommended that the Host not teach the art to any of the other Disciples]

... back up, back up, back up.

What do you mean, Xing Feng? Is the system implying that the boy has just as strong of a body as Wan Lan? Is... is Martial Body that overpowered a technique? Huh. Turns out that me using Enlightenment solely on him to help him catch up with the rest might not even have been that terrible of an idea...

Anyway, I did want to see how the experiment would turn out, so I used the system's suggestion, adding Enduring Temperance and shooting up to 300 points. With the remaining 100, I went back to the specific effects and added a few.

I added 'Explosive' for 50 points, which will immediately shoot out the mix of Qi and Demonic Qi, and I actually added 'Recoil' for 40 points. The discharged momentum of the attack will push back the attacker the equivalent distance.

... sounds kinda stupid, I guess, but safety first. If it turns out to be worthless, I can always just remake the art without it.

With nothing else to add, I checked through it all one last time and pressed confirm. Not before naming it, of course.

[Congratulations, Host, on creating the 'Equilibrium Strike' Martial Art]

[...]

[Equilibrium Strike]

[Type: Martial Art]

[Rank: low-Myth]

[Host Comprehension: Minor (it is recommended that the Host not attempt to use this art before achieving Path of the Ancients)]

[...]

[A moderately successful attempt to fuse the opposites, though far from the first and even far from the most successful, it touches upon the deepest principles of Dao. Though Qi and Demonic Qi stand on opposite ends of the spectrum, they diverged from the same source. Under Dao, all energy is One. This art attempts to mimic the true nature of energy, though in a rather barbaric way, as attempting to use it will wreak havoc through one's meridians and body. However, unlike most other arts of this nature that turned toward softening the berserk nature of Demonic Qi, and gently coiling it with Qi, this art does not shy away from the nature of Demonic Qi, allowing its berserk and explosive output to remain. Though still not the first to attempt it, it stands as the most successful iteration across eons of time. Note that the art consumes an exuberant amount of Qi and will make the martial artist temporarily paralyzed after the fact if used at full output]

[...]

[Creation Points Value: 390/400]

[Comprehension Difficulty: Prodigious]

[...]

[Tinkerer (Epic) has triggered! A new effect has been added]

[Dispersion (???) -- the art naturally disperses energy barriers of all types, including Imperial-tier ones. However, the higher the tier, the greater the Qi consumption. Can be supplemented from secondary sources during use]

[...]

[Creation Bonus: Blood-Devouring Robe (Legendary), Meridian-Tempering Array (???) + x3 sets of materials]

[...]

[Blood-Devouring Robe (Legendary) -- robe of Ancient Sage Wu, said to have been worn by him during the Heavenspan Massacre. Having soaked in the blood of countless writhing souls, it was sealed away in the depths of the mausoleum, never to be worn again. The cultivator wearing the robe will passively consume blood around them to restore their wounds and Qi; however, the more blood is consumed, the greater the risk of a Heart Demon developing and the person going berserk, which is why the robe was sealed away]

[...]

[Meridian-Tempering Array (???) -- a one-person array that draws concepts from the depthless Dao, bathing the body with harmony and discord, using the repelling forces to temper meridians. Note: Experience is excruciating, especially for cultivators who have never undergone any type of meridian strengthening]