After Sheng Xuan came out, the rest soon followed. They were already the last bunch. Steward Zhang made the decision to take them to familiarize with cultivation chambers. They were situated in another corner of the estate that was more of a marketplace with shops that sold pills, artifacts, herbs, and offered various services. Sheng Xuan was quite familiar with this place. He especially liked the entertainment halls where some clan members sang and danced, captivating him with their curvy figures. He did consider it odd given they were of the same clan but if she was pretty enough, he did not care about all those cultural norms.
The moment everyone entered the cultivation chambers area, they began curiously looking at everything. Non-practitioners were not allowed here. Same went for Sheng Xuan. As he inhaled, he felt refreshed and more energized. Spirit energy was noticeably denser around here compared to outside.
The scenery was beautiful. Rockeries, ponds, beautiful trees were spread all around. Multi-storied white walled, red pillared pagodas with tiered grey-green glazed tiled roofs were the center of everyone's attention.
The interior was divided into halls and rooms. It reminded Sheng Xuan of a hotel but much bigger. The decorations showed careful effort. Then there was the added spirit nature impacting the whole establishment.
After Steward Zhang assigned a room, Sheng Xuan walked in and curiously inspected the plain, square room with stone tables, chairs, and a bed. He frowned. Was he to sit on these? Would not his butt hurt? Following that complaint, he took a deep breath, unconsciously moaning due to the sense of rejuvenation his nerves experienced.
"So, this is what a cultivation chamber is like. Marvelous."
Sheng Xuan took out a cushion seat and sat on it on the bed. He took out his cultivation art and followed the prescribed steps to draw in a wisp of spirit qi from the surrounding. It was dense enough to form a thin veil of white mist, so he had high hopes for succeeding fast. He wanted to feel the envious gazes of others.
He read the Sun Sea Art, specifically the part on initiation. Besides just words, it also had paintings. There was the Sun, sea and one with both in it taking up the whole page. Sheng Xuan did not find them particularly magical. They looked like any other paintings. But he knew it was more than what met the eye. So, he studied them for a while, trying to make use of those art-admiring skills of his past life which basically amounted to drawing nonsensical or sensible meanings from the most mundane of things.
After admiring them, he shifted his focus on the more important thing. Rhythmic breathing. The art detailed a manner of breathing he was to follow if he wanted to cultivate the aspects of Sun Sea Art. Having been exposed to some cultivation concepts early on, he knew this was an appetizer. True cultivators controlled their spirit veins in certain rhythms to truly cultivate. Compared to abstract nonsense, this made more sense to him.
He relaxed his body, closed his eyes, and began to meditate. Feeling the timing was right, he breathed in a certain rhythm specific to the Sun Sea Art. Hours passed, nothing new happened, making him annoyed and confused. He took out his watch that was shaped like a compass.
"It's 9 pm already," he muttered. "Wait!"
"It's already night, the Sun is not out. Of course, it's more difficult now to sense the spirit qi."
"So, what do I do now? Wait for tomorrow?"
He took out a vial from his storage ring. Milky liquid sloshed around in it, blocked by a wooden topper. This was spirit milk, rich in spirit qi and consummable even by non-cultivators. His parents had given him a bunch. Descendants of aristocratic families used these to quickly become cultivators.
Although tempted, Sheng Xuan wanted to try doing it the natural way. However, if it proved to be annoying, he planned to use a solar treasure as a reference. It was just that he might have to borrow from his parents which he was not sure about doing.
He spent the night in the chamber, meditating, studying and eating. At first it was boring, then as he read the visualization section of the Sun Sea Art, he came across descriptions on all kinds of scenes which interested him.
It did not clearly mention what intent or intents they leaned toward. It could be mixed or singular. Sheng Xuan had to figure it out and also visualize the scenery in his head, the closer it was the better the understanding of intents.
To his irritation, he could not do much when he had not even drawn in a wisp of spirit qi. This was all in theory. Still, he continued to study.
Early morning, right as the Sun peeked out of the horizon outside, he resumed his rhythmic breathing. As hours passed, this time, there was a vague, escaping feeling he could not fully get a hold of. It made him restless but he also knew the more anxious he was, the harder it would be. By the time midday rolled around, the frustration had only deepened with no sign of success yet. Sheng Xuan decided to take a breather outside and see how everyone else was doing.
When he arrived at the spot Steward Zhang was standing, there were several others from his cohort here, chit-chatting. A few surrounded Sheng Hun whose broad face was lifted high. Sheng Xuan's heart sank. When he came close, he heard words he did not want to hear.
"Brother Hun is so talented. You have already sensed spirit qi!"
"Haha. Brother Hun, you are so impressive. You did it in a day. You must invite us for celebration!"
"Of course. It's not a big deal. You guys can too!" Sheng Hun humbly said.
Sheng Xuan furrowed his eyebrows. He had to have used boosting consumables to have done it so fast. Besides, he was cultivating a triple-intent art unlike them. He relaxed even more. They were never in the same league.
Sheng Xuan snapped out of his thoughts when he saw Sheng Hun approaching closer.
"Brother Xuan, how is it going?"
Sheng Xuan's face soured in disgust. Surely, he was coming to show off. He held onto a plain smile. "Not so bad, Brother Hun. I see you have succeeded already. Congratulations!"
Sheng Hun laughed heartily. "Just a stroke of luck. If Brother Xuan has any difficulties, you can come to me for help. Some people are not made to be equals. I might be better than you in some things. You might not be far off in others. We can combine our strengths, mostly mine, to stand strong and support the clan!"
His smile deepened. "Thank you, Brother Hun. Can you help me with a few spirit stones? I am short on them."
Sheng Hun blinked his large eyes. He looked around at the few people staring at him, including his "followers." He regretted saying he would lend help. Now, was he going to back down in front of these people? Would not he lose face? He did not expect Sheng Xuan would be so blatant.
"What do you need spirit stones for? You are not even a cultivator yet," Sheng Hun retorted.
Sheng Xuan shook his head. "I wanted it for the future. If you don't want to help, don't. Why talk big?"
"Who was talking big?" Sheng Hun glared at him, coming closer. But Sheng Xuan himself was tall, as much as him.
"You know who it is. Stop playing dumb," Sheng Xuan calmly said.
Sheng Hun was about to retort when Steward Zhang cut in. "Alright, you two, don't fight now."
Sheng Hun snorted, casting a cold glance, then he left. The two men who had flattered him looked at him, then at Sheng Xuan, hesitating. Finally, one of them followed behind Sheng Hun. The other acted oblivious and went to meditate. Sheng Xuan kept a note of the chaser.
"Young Master Xuan, there was no need to instigate him," Steward Zhang sighed.
Sheng Xuan furrowed his eyebrows in displeasure. "Go tell him that."
Steward Zhang was tongue-tied. He complained inwardly. Dealing with high-ranking young masters was not easy at all!
"Please calm down, Young Master. With a clear mind, it will be easier to sense spirit qi."
"I know."
Steward Zhang skimmed a quick glance around before he handed him a wooden box.
"What's this?"
In a low voice, Steward Zhang said, "It's just some incense sticks. Helps with focus."
"Oh, not bad," Sheng Xuan smoothly stored it in his ring.
Steward Zhang felt a headache coming on. He did not want to get on the bad terms of these young masters.
Sheng Xuan bid farewell, strolling around the area, and basking under the Sun. It was bustling with people coming in and out. These chambers were hot commodities. Daily use meant you were always ahead of your peers. Sheng Xuan was sure it brought in a ton of profits. If he could set up his own business, he imagined how much he would be earning, feeling greedy.
During his wandering, he caught a glimpse of a figure. Sheng Feng. A young man from another cohort was beside her.
Curious, Sheng Xuan snuck close, hiding behind some bushes.
"Sister Feng, is not this place nice?" Sheng Ping said.
"Yes, it's nice," Sheng Feng calmly said, moving a step away, only for him to also come a step closer.
"Are you doing well in there? Unfortunately, we did not get in the same cohort. Is anyone bothering you?"
Sheng Feng was thinking of leaving but she wanted to take a closer look at this pond. She flatly said, "I am alright." She held onto a talisman in her sleeves.
Sheng Ping did not seem to get the hint. He was more focused on continuing to talk with her. He went on a ramble, only to get dry responses from her which made him want to chase her more.
"Sister Feng, are you busy this weekend?" Sheng Ping suddenly asked, hope in his eyes.
"Ah, yes. I have a lot to do," she quickly said, creating distance again.
"What about-" Sheng Ping was about to say something when a voice cut in.
"Is that Sister Feng?" Sheng Xuan's voice echoed as he walked toward her.
Both turned their heads to his direction. Sheng Feng unconsciously felt like she had found an escape route whereas Sheng Ping tensed up, displeasure making his eyebrows furrow.