Chapter 35 - A Heavenly Cultivator

Max was sitting in the nice room he’d been using previously when King Durum entered with a small entourage at his back. The king took a look at the two assassins laying face down on the ground

“Looks like the High-King sent his regards,” Durum said dryly.

Max gave him a humorless chuckle.

“Fulgrum has told me in detail what happened in the ruins,” Durum said. “Your actions have indeed been beyond valiant.”

Max craned his neck down in a respectful bow.

“There will be rewards fitting your deeds,” Durum said. “I did not want to discuss your rewards after the wake. I felt it was a good time to reward the other men. They crave simpler rewards. But now I have time for you. Anything in particular that you want?”

“I want many things,” Max said immediately. “But right now I need information. I unlocked this “Cultivation” system and it seems you prepared me for it. I want you to tell me everything I need to know.”

King Durum smiled slyly. “Yes, I could sense your body has changed. Well, your patrons will explain the workings of the system probably as well as I know for now.”

Max felt a pang of disappointment. He had been hoping he’d gain an edge here.

“But,” King Durum said. “After a cursory reading of some of the books that you recovered, I know there is a lot of advanced knowledge hidden in those musty tomes. I just need time to read them. Time I don’t have now.”

“Because of the mess with the High-King?” Max asked.

“Precisely. But this mess will work to my advantage, if I move adroitly. Funny enough, the mess with the High-King is intimately related to the knowledge you have retrieved.”

“Huh? I’m not following.”

King Durum smiled. Seemed like he was having the best of days. “Many of the books you brought back have detailed descriptions of Cultivation techniques. Our ancestors might have even developed a Way.”

Max gave him a puzzled look.

King Durum waved a hand. “Something I’ll explain to you later.”

Later this, soon that. Kings sure make easy promises.

“The reason why the High-King wanted your life and the books was so he could maintain the status quo. He is the High-King. If some other fledgling king, like me, would discover something that would upset the balance of power, his comfortable life would be in jeopardy.”

“Makes sense,” Max said.

“But I want to take our people further. I want to teach them the old ways and enjoy the Heavenly gifts. But it is hard for our people. You might have noticed that we are very weak when compared to you.”

“You really are,” Max admitted.

Most of us have lost the Framework. All kings and their bloodlines carry it, and our kin is able to Cultivate. Rare gift, which is why you were rewarded so heavily by saving a seemingly insignificant member of royalty. He must pass his bloodline.”

“Wait, are you saying the Framework is an actual physical thing?” Max asked, suddenly alert.

“Yes,” King Durum said. “As far as we know, all of our ancestors used to have it. In the golden days everyone would have a class and everyone would Cultivate with the Heavenly Arts. But overtime our bloodline diluted and now only few possess the Framework, and thus the ability to Cultivate.”

“How is the Framework relevant to Cultivation?” Max asked.

“I do not know for certain,” Durum said. “But I do know this. Teaching Cultivation to a person without the Framework results in two different outcomes. Either nothing happens or their body is destroyed.”

Max nodded. He was eager to hear more, even though none of this was directly useful. But it did change his perspective. His stats and abilities were… etched into his DNA? How does that even work? Why did the aliens go through all this trouble? Just to make it a fair contest?

Maybe. What do you know about alien logic?

“So what is this Cultivation?” Max asked.

“It is harnessing the spiritual energy of the universe,” Durum said. “There are endless names for it, but the Framework translates it as Mana.”

“So it is just a new layer to the Framework?”

No,” Durum said, spreading his hands, clearly enjoying the conversation. Max glanced behind him at the aides and guards. They were shuffling their weight on their legs and doing their best to stand straight and still. “The Framework is simply training wheels. Or… maybe a vehicle for Cultivation. I do not know. I am eager to learn more from the books you have recovered.”

“So my Intelligence stat doesn’t mean… intellect?”

“No,” Durum scoffed. “It is a representation of your ability to understand the spiritual power of the universe. I don’t know why the Framework translates that stat as “Intelligence” for you. How stupid. For my people it is called ‘Spirit Power’”

“Makes sense,” Max simply said.

It’s probably Intelligence because it's that in all the games, isn’t it?

“Now let us make a simple analogy to help you understand how Cultivation works. Let us say you started with 2 points in Strength. Do you have 4 or more now?”

“Yeah, I do,” Max said.

“Your score has doubled, but your physical strength has not, has it?”

“I wish,” Max said, chuckling dryly. “I think I am a tiny bit stronger, though.”

“That sounds right. I think around 50 Strength is needed to double the baseline strength of a species. But with 50 Strength, a medium level Cultivator using a Path of the Body can shatter a tree trunk with his fist. With 1000 Strength a Medium level Cultivator could shatter a mountain. But a God-level Cultivator could shatter a planet with just 500 Strength.”

“So Cultivation is a multiplier?” Max asked.

“Yes and no,” Durum said. “It is not that simple. It is also a matter of control. A Class like your gravity magician is a way for a low level Cultivator to give form to the universal spiritual energy. But a God-level cultivator can simply manipulate the pure energy itself, essentially manifesting his will into reality.”

“Manifest reality…” Max said distractedly, trying to comprehend. “This is all kind of… a lot.”

“There is a lot of theory around it,” Durum said. “I don’t expect you to understand it all immediately.”

“So what is Mana exactly?” Max asked.

“Mana is the baseline. It is the One. It is the Endless Heavens. It is beyond this game of yours and beyond the Framework. It is the consciousness that created existence.”

“So it is God?”

“God? Not gods..?” Durum asked quizzically. “The translation is… No. Gods are just powerful cultivators that play with a planet. From what I understand about this ICCB you have told me, I assume playing with a planet like that is illegal. But I do not know. Just know this. Mana is the endless beginning and the beginningless end. It was here far before ICCB and it will be here far after they are but dust and memories. Mana is the lifeforce of the body and the consciousness of the mind. It is life, but at the same time it is death, in a perfect paradox, perfect cycle. And this is what you must study.”

Max blew out air and rubbed his face. “Sounds like I will need a patient teacher…”

Durum nodded amiably like a kindly godfather. “I will teach you more later. I can at least give you the basics after I have studied the texts of my ancestors. But let us focus for now. I still need things from you. I will reward you for your heroics in the ruins as promised. You have already made a friend in a king. But now I ask for more help.”

Max regarded him for half a moment. He could refuse, he sensed it. It would upset Durum, but there would be no trouble for Max. He could just go back home to the camp and figure out his next move. But no. His instincts told him he wasn’t done here just yet.

“As long as I will get more rewards.”

Durum laughed heartily. “You speak with such open greed. Just like my people. Just like a Cultivator. I like you, Max. Very well. We shall help each other further.”

“What do you need from me?” Max asked.

King Durum gestured towards the dead assassins on the floor. “Testify against the High-King for me.”

Max laughed. [The Maverick] seemed to share his mirth. “I would have done that for free.”

Durum gave Max a serious look. “You will?”

“You agreed to cough up something good, so not anymore,” Max said and grinned.

The king scoffed, but it was in good humor. He was rich and he needed Max.

“Tell me what to say and do, and I’ll do it,” Max said. “Meanwhile , you tell me where to start with this Cultivation business, so I will have something to fill my time while you do your politics.”

“Very good,” Durum said. “I will teach you the basic theory of cycling techniques. You can practice with that and use the pills I gave you.”

“Sounds good to me,” Max said.”

“I will need some time to set up an audience with the five kings and to prepare the case. Even though you seem perfectly capable of dealing with threats of the High-King, I will set up a guard and have your food be tasted for poison.”

“Oh, how fancy,” Max smirked. “I’ve never had a food taster.”

King Durum was confused by the offhand comment, so he opted to bow to Max. “Now then, let me teach you about the flow of Mana within your body…”