It was effectively a sort of halberd, and Alex had no doubt it could be used to devastating effect against even armored foes.
An assumption quickly proven when a smirking Liu Li pointed to a helmet affixed to a post.
“So far, Father and I have taught you how to handle yourself with both long spear, short sword, and dao, and you're not too terrible for a beginner. But there are other weapons that properly trained soldiers learn how to defend themselves with, or against, and the fangtian ji is one of them. They are very useful, for example, when your forces are engaging opponents in a push of pike. If you can get your ji in position to tear into the enemy's flanks while their pikemen are tied up with your own, you can quickly shatter their formation and secure yourself a decisive victory. They're also damn effective against armored opponents. Even foes set up with a shield wall are vulnerable when you can hook their shields back with the crescent axe heads before thrusting forth with your spear point, hopefully skewering them on the spot."
She gestured toward the helm. “Good quality hammered bronze, much like our own helmets. Reinforced with quilted padding, almost any arrow will skip off, and any spear thrust that doesn’t hit our vulnerable eyes, nose, or mouth straight on, very hard to do in the ebb and flow of combat, will bounce off the natural curves of the helm. But against the ji...”
She winked, her casual pose of rest transformed into explosive action with a battle-cry as she whipped her weapon around, the steel blade cleaving the bronze helm completely in half.
Alex blinked, “You see, shit like this is why I would like a helm of solid steel.”
Jiu Li’s eyes twinkled, her sudden laughter making Alex’s cheeks burn while sending shivers down his spine. “As if that was even practical! The empire is larger than you could fathom, with more soldiers than you could shake a stick at. The cost alone would set the price of steel so dear you’d be spending gold to keep up.”
Alex blinked. “Just how many Royal Soldiers are there?”
She shrugged. “You know how many people live in this city you now call home, right?”
He nodded. “About 10 million?” A fantastically huge number. Were it not for the brilliant use of plumbing and sewage and, Alex was fairly certain, the benefit of an incredible bounty of food assuring everyone who survived their daily struggles were well fed, to say nothing of the advantages of healing magics or at least, herbal tinctures infused by natural Qi, he knew there would be no way any historical Earth city could have supported a population this size without malnutrition and disease taking their deadly tolls. Until very recently, most cities lost more people to illness than they gained through births at a certain point, limitations that had no place in this miraculous world.
She nodded. “During the Golden Era, a royal survey showed that, on average, 1 in 10 people people could cultivate, and 1 in 40 people could achieve the third rank as a cultivator, which you, much to my amazement, seem to be on the cusp of doing. That means that, on average, this city should support 250,000 third ranked cultivators, the minimum degree of talent needed to make use of the High Roads that allow you to travel between cities so much faster than you normally could, which is vital if you’re moving troops around a kingdom, let alone an empire the size of our own.” She frowned thoughtfully. “Of course, those numbers are a bit dated. Many governmental functionaries claim its closer to only 1 in a 100 people being able to walk the High Road, but I think that’s just an excuse, in case they can’t meet the royal quotas. But that still means our city should be able to supply the Golden Empire with at least 100,000 soldiers during times of war.”
Alex blinked. “Just how many cities this size are there?”
Jiu Li’s smile grew. “Within this principality, within the kingdom as a whole, or within the empire to which our kingdom is just the tiniest component?”
“Let’s keep it simple. Just the principality. And how large an area does this city control?”
“Ten cities the equal of our own, Alex. Each one commands a radius of territory extending at least half a thousand miles in all directions, if not considerably more. The kingdom has more principalities than the principalities do cities, and the empire, of course, has more kingdoms than any kingdom has principalities. For such is the will of Heaven and Earth, and so it must forever be." She flashed a teasing smile. "Or such is the official explanation. Really, it's all about conquest."
Alex blinked, suddenly dizzy with the true scope of this world. “And you’re saying this city alone is the chief population center for a thousand miles?” He shivered, awed. “That makes this principality, what, the size of the USA back home? Bigger? And this kingdom whose name I still don’t know might have the same surface area as my entire planet? And gods… I don’t even want to think about how massive this empire would be, let alone the entire world…”
He gazed up at the heavens, noting the clear blue skies and fluffy clouds he would expect on Earth, not the vast choking atmosphere of hydrogen and helium he’d expect in a planet that, his friend was implying, might have a surface area approximating that of Jupiter.
He blinked, hardly registering it when he fell on his rump, actually shuddering as he tried to come to grips with the sheer impossibility of it all, the immense vastness of this world that was now his own.
“This, this is impossible,” he whispered.
Jiu Li furrowed her brow, taking off her helmet, shaking her luxurious ebony tresses free. In that unguarded moment, Alex could see her cute snow-tipped fox ears arching forward with concern. "What's impossible, Alex? Are you okay? You made a major cultivation breakthrough, and if you need to rest a few more days... I won't push, and I'll make sure Father doesn't either."
Alex forced a shaky laugh, rubbing at an itch through his lamellar armor. “No, no, it’s okay. I’m just trying to get my head around everything. I guess it really hadn’t clicked, just how massive everything truly was. I’m guessing you could just pick any direction and start exploring, and you’d be find yourself encountering new wonders, lost cities, ancient relics and any number of adventures if you’re willing to travel far enough.”
Jiu Li nodded. "Of course. For all that our empire is the most glorious of all places to live, it is also vast beyond any single man's ability to traverse in a single lifetime without using the High Roads, and much of that land is still unexplored, filled with wonders and wild Qi and countless towns and villages that might not even realize they're part of an empire."
She smirked at that. "In fact, almost all small towns are left to their own devices, as long as they don't join up with nomadic raiding tribes or the like. It's just not feasible to send tax collectors to every village, unlike with a city this size, where we are all conveniently pressed in together behind our city walls."
Alex blinked. “Then how do you generate revenue to equal costs?”
Jiu Li grinned. “Easy. Since towns and villages are left to their own devices, that cuts down on direct costs, and the cities themselves are revenue generators. Of course, even with directly owned farms and all the wild beast hunters out there, there’s no way a city this size could feed itself without making use of countless scattered farming communities. Fortunately, most villages and towns still depend upon the major cities for trade. Farmers and traders band together in caravans and hire guards for the journey to major cities like Yidushi, a journey that can sometimes take weeks, even months, since very few of them can cultivate at all, let alone use the High Road. Their salable goods are taxed before they leave the markets, and the profit they make and the selection of goods and luxuries they can trade for here in the city has made many a rich caravanner, from what I understand, despite the costs.” She shrugged. “Good thing most villages establish their farms in areas so rich in Wood Qi that good quality produce takes years to spoil.”
Alex’s eyes widened in wonder. “Fruits and vegetables properly grown can take years to spoil in this world? That single tidbit explains so much, right there.”
She nodded. “Un
less you deliberately bury the produce. Then of course the Earth and Water Qi will naturally transform the produce into soil for the seedlings kept in stasis within the fruit or vegetable, thanks to the Wood Qi. Thus, Wood, Earth, and Water Qi work in a complex cycle of creation and destruction in the natural world. Metal and Fire? That’s more the province of Spirit Beasts and man. In fact, one popular theory is that Spirit Beasts, especially sentient ones, are the emblem of the Metal and Fire aspects of Qi seeking balance with the 3 elements we normally associate with the natural world.”
Alex grinned. “Fascinating.”
She nodded. “And that knowledge will help you become a better scholar, but it won’t make you any more proficient with the ji,” she said, swirling her deadly weapon in a complex series of patterns.
Alex nodded. "You're right, and I guess I should just get used to my mind being blown when I consider the vastness of this world. If you're equipping millions of men over a territory far larger than the entire world I once called my own, then sticking with bronze helms, shin guards, and lamellar armor comprised of spirit beast or animal hide boiled in water and glue really does make a lot of sense. The sheer logistics of replacing everyone’s gear…” He shuddered. “I don’t even want to think about it.”
She nodded. “To say nothing of constantly replacing rusting steel gear, whereas bronze armaments can easily last thousands of years with minimal upkeep. But remember, I did say that the front lines were kitted in steel; the turtle’s shell, so to speak. And since it’s mostly the sons of well-to-do families that earn that honor, often paying for the best quality armaments they can out of their own family coffers, a huge drain to the treasury is taken on by the clans that would protect their sons.”
Alex couldn’t help smiling at that. “Smart. Standard gear for all soldiers, and the wealthy can spend as much as they want protecting themselves and incidentally helping to protect the integrity of the entire legion.” He grinned at the fangtian ji she handed him, carefully inspecting the weapon. "Still, I can't help noting that the crescent axe heads and spear point of this ji are all made of good quality steel."
She grinned. “That’s because the empire is prudent, not stupid. And there is far less actual steel invested in a polearm’s head than in the pounds of armor you and I kit up in.”
She then placed a coconut head on the makeshift training dummy they were using. “Your goal is to split this in half.” She grinned at his expression. “First, let’s spend the rest of the morning teaching you the basics.”
And together they did just that. Thanks to his experience with the long spear or pike, thrusting with pinpoint accuracy against even moving targets, such as the coconuts she tossed his way, was a breeze. Cutting with it, however, was far trickier, being nothing like his use of the gladius that he had spent the last 2 months trying to master, or the dao, very much like a cavalryman’s saber, that they had recently incorporated into his training regime.
If anything, the ji reminded him of a cross between a battle axe and a quarterstaff, and though it took him several days before he could finally split the coconut, his ability to use it like a heavy quarterstaff, to read Jiu Li's intentions in the bind when they pressed shaft against shaft, to sense her feints and shifts in balance and fool her in turn, all steadily improved every morning to the point he didn’t feel utterly hopeless, though of course his laughing partner always trounced him with ease.
At least his Twin Paths purification was going smoother than ever, Alex feeling absolutely no drain as he spent entire afternoons separating the strands of dark and Light Qi from the pearl-like blockage along his Third Meridian Gateway that he was so close to breaking through. Far from feeling at all drained or dizzy, he felt nothing but invigorated and energized with every passing hour, though he still made himself pause and get a good night's sleep every evening, knowing this had subtle benefits in addition to the profound boons to be found in Cultivation.
Best of all, he could literally feel the difference in his body every day.
His steps were lighter, his movements naturally fluid and graceful, his energy limitless. Even after he was panting, breathless, after a good training session with Liu Li, within minutes he would be breathing easily, ready for yet another rematch.
He knew he had improved, but he still wasn't quite where he needed to be. He promised himself he wouldn't even glance at his character sheet until he had finally achieved Rank 3 cultivation.
By the end of the week, he had managed to trip Liu Li twice with his padded practice ji, compared to the dozens of times she had mock killed him with her own.
Congratulations! You have achieved Rank 2 with Fangtian Ji!
You have synergistically achieved Rank 2 with Short Spear and Rank 1 with all cutting polearms.
As ebullient as he felt that day, Liu Li regaling her father with their daily bouts in the back yard, the older man was gazing almost critically at Alex, his normal bemused smile nowhere to be found.
“Master Liu, is everything alright?” Alex eventually forced himself to ask.
The older man furrowed his brow. “Let’s just say an old acquaintance stopped by today to remind me of certain… obligations.” He shook his head with a sad sigh. “I’m sorry, Alex. I had so wanted for you to be able to accompany us. As for your astounding rise as a cultivator, performing in weeks a feat I thought might take you decades, truly I am impressed. Now I know I said I would give you time to achieve yet another breakthrough and open your Third Meridian Gateway, but, unfortunately, time grows short.”
His smile was apologetic. “I know how absolutely absurd it is for me to suggest you do anything more than you already have. The last thing I’d want you to do is hurt yourself, pushing too hard, after all you’ve done to beat the steepest of odds.”
Alex grimaced. “I understand, sir. As much as you’d like to make allowances, time grows short, and I sense your… customer is not a patient man.”
Liu Jian flashed a bleak smile. “You could say that. And I’m glad you understand, Alex.” He turned to his daughter. “We leave in three days’ time, Daughter. Prepare yourself accordingly.”
Liu Li bowed her once-more covered head. “It will be as you say, Father.”
Alex grimaced, bowing his head as well.
He had gotten the message.
Three days to break through.
When he didn’t show up for practice the following morning, Alex knew that with a single glance into his quarters, Liu Li had instantly understood, quickly darting away with a hopeful smile.
And how he was able to sense that so acutely when he was embracing a tidal wave of cultivating, he didn’t know, only that he had.
He suspected it was the tiny place in his heart that his beautiful little fox had claimed as her own, and she didn’t even know it.
And he spared no further thought for anything save his own blossoming spirit, exhilarating in the crashing waves of black and white Qi sending shivers through his soul, as if he were swimming under icy falls in the dead of winter.
A part of his mind was screaming at the alien intensity of the power flooding through him, yet more and more of his soul was learning to embrace the furious flood of Qi that defined this world.
Embrace it, and make it his own.
Congratulations! Your Third Meridian Gateway is cleared! You are now a Level 3 Basic Cultivator! Strength, Vitality, Quickness & Finesse have all improved by 1 point. Your Qi pool has increased by 2 points.
Alex gasped, eyes snapping open, overwhelmed by the warm rush of energies flooding through him. He spent long moments lost in ecstatic triumph, his heart pounding with the force and fury of the tidal wave of Qi now percolating through his body before taking a deep breath and finally accessing his interface-linked condensed character sheet, eager to spot all the ways he had changed.
___________________________________________________________________
Alex Hammer
Class – Cultivator: Disciple of the Dual Path (Unlimited pot
ential. This is a Divine path.)
Rank 3 Basic Cultivation Achieved
Physical Characteristics
Strength 13 (Exceeds 83% of Population)
Vitality 13 (Exceeds 83% of Population)
Finesse 12 (Exceeds 74% of Population)
Quickness 12 (Exceeds 74% of Population)
Spiritual Characteristics
Scholarship 11 (Exceeds 62% of Population)
Perception 13 (Exceeds 83% of Population)
Willpower 14 (Exceeds 90% of Population.)
Qi pool 6 (3 Meridian Gateways open.)
Health Points: 152
Perks
Insightful – Rank 2
Charismatic – Rank 1
Skill of Significance
Terran Grappling – Rank 2
Terran Fencing – Rank 1
Terran Capitalism – Rank 3
Mathematics – Rank 2
Poison Spitting – Rank 3
Golden Realms Kung Fu – Rank 2
Dagger – Rank 2
Dao (Saber) – Rank 2
Gladius (Short sword) – Rank 2
Fangtian Ji (Halberd) – Rank 2
Long Spear (Pike) – Rank 2
Short Spear – Rank 2
Cleaving Polearms – Rank 1
Interface Enhanced Skills
Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior Reborn: A LitRPG/Wuxia Novel - Book 1 Page 22