THE CELESTIAL PATH

Chapter 11: THE MONK'S WISDOM

Chapter 11: "The Monk's Wisdom"

Liè Rén, Qián Chén, and Xiǎo Lóng sat in front of Fǎ Xiān, their eyes fixed on the wise old monk. He smiled, his eyes twinkling with knowledge.

"Ah, young cultivators, my name is Fǎ Xiān. And I sense that you are eager to learn about Qi."

"Qi?" Liè Rén repeated, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes, Qi is the life force that flows through all living things," Fǎ Xiān explained. "It is the energy that sustains us, that gives us life. And it is the key to unlocking our true potential."

The three friends leaned in, their interest sparked.

"Qi is divided into five levels: Chi Gathering Stage, Fundamental Stage, Condensing Stage, Golden Stage, and Transformational Stage," Fǎ Xiān continued. "Each level has ten sub-levels, and progressing through them requires dedication and hard work. But let me tell you, the difference between one level is like the distance between planets, and the difference between one sub-level is like heaven and earth. You can't defeat an opponent with even one sub-level difference."

The three friends nodded, their minds racing with the implications.

"As for me, I am currently at the Golden Stage, level 1," Fǎ Xiān said with a hint of pride.

The three friends looked at each other in awe, realizing the vast gap between their own abilities and the monk's.

"You see, young cultivators, the world of cultivators is different from that of normal humans," Fǎ Xiān explained. "We are not affected by common sickness, and we can live for hundreds of years. But we must be careful, for our powers come with greed and corruption. We live among humans, but we must change our identities once in a while to avoid suspicion."

The three friends listened intently, their eyes wide with wonder.

"Now, let us talk about resources," Fǎ Xiān said, his eyes sparkling with knowledge. "Spirit stones are the most common, containing concentrated world energy that can boost your Qi level when absorbed. But it requires a hundred spirit stones to increase your Qi by one sub-level in the Chi Gathering Stage, a thousand in the Fundamental Stage, ten thousand in the Condensing Stage, hundred thousand in the Golden Stage, and a million in the Transformational Stage."

The three friends gasped, their minds reeling with the sheer scale of the requirements.

"But that's not all," Fǎ Xiān continued. "There are other resources, like Mana geysers and dimensional amulets, that can aid in your cultivation journey. And of course, there are the challenges and trials that come with each level and sub-level."

The three friends nodded, their determination renewed. They knew the journey ahead would be long and arduous, but with Fǎ Xián's guidance, they felt confident they could overcome any obstacle and reach their true potential.