What A Dream Wants

"Alright, kiddos! Today, we're gonna do real, good ol' fashioned cultivation. I may have confused it with growing plants yesterday..." Captain Baker acknowledged shamelessly. "And I don't wanna hear no scuttlebutt 'bout this or y'all gonna get some flogging."

Everyone sat on the floor.

"I was also informed by the principal that not all of you rubber socks know cultivation. Cause something, something, whatever."

He rolled his eyes.

"Alright soldiers, I'll be explaining cultivation today! They're all labeled phooey and what not by different cultures and places so I'll get underway with the basics."

"First, you gather something into your body... I think." Captain Baker mused. "Wait, let me check the book."

He checked the book and read:

"You gather this special energy from nature, that's referred to as Qi, Mana, Vital energy, and more, into your body. By gathering enough of this energy, condensing it, and purifying it, you're able to break through the boundaries of a normal human."

"Of course, some humans are born with a strong affinity to qi, or sometimes even born with qi already in them. This is called "Primordial" or "Genuine" qi. This inborn energy usually comes from the kidney, but can also be derived from other areas of the body."

"We also have acupuncture points. Each time a pathway is made by your qi, through these points, your strength grows by leaps and bounds. Once again, there are people with innate opened meridians- but also those who have broken meridians. Truly life is not fair." Captain Baker commented.

"There are actually as many as 2000 acupoints in your body, 12 main pathways, and 8 secondary- which are called Meridians. There are three Yin channels and three Yang channels. The rest are related to the limbs and organs."

"There's also Pectoral qi, which is the qi you get simply from breathing and eating. Some people are able to gather energy fast this way. Others, no matter how hard they try, simply will not. It's also nourished by food."

"Nourishing qi is an internal qi that flows through your blood. Also known as Yin Qi, it can be gained through cultivating at night, sleeping, and by other yin substances. This is why girls, who innately have more talent for yin, are able to make faster recoveries than boys and can heal others proficiently."

"Defending qi is an external qi. Also known as Yang Qi, it can be gained through cultivating during the day, and by other yang substances. This is why boys, who innately have more talent for yang, are able to defend better than girls. When sleeping, it naturally retreats into the body- which is why nourishing qi, or Yin qi, is easily cultivated while sleeping. This is also why sleeping is so helpful in healing."

"Together healing and defending, these qi's are essential to one's health. Yin qi is inside the channels, while yang qi is outside. If you maintain a proper balance, you can utilize them together to create "Yin Yang" qi. But in order to do that, you need the same amount of yin qi as yang qi, which is hard to do for either gender, unless you're a hermaphrodite. Also please don't search up what a hermaphrodite is. The principal will kill me. So will your parents."

"The food you eat also nourishes the qi that you have." Mr. Baker continued.

"Speaking of yin and yang, yin is material, heavy, cold, and passive. While yang is immaterial, light, hot, and active. Contrary to popular belief, yin and yang are not opposites. They complement each other. After all, both defense and healing help maintain the body- one by preventing the problem- one by solving it."

"During cultivation, there are many types of situations you will face with qi. Ascending, Descending, Entering, and Exiting. The qi in the spleen ascends, while the qi in the stomach descends. Inhaling is qi entering, and exhaling is unwanted qi exiting. Some qi can be really impure. When these four actions are done harmoniously, one can cultivate. However, if done unharmoniously, eventually, a Qi Stagnation can occur. This can occur because your qi is not pure enough; you cannot gather enough, or you are not allowing your qi to flow in the correct way."

"But luckily, this book is here to show you how to cultivate!" He read.

Mr. Baker closed the book.

"Nobody's gonna remember that."