Learning the Basic Cultivation Method

Cheongsim: Newbie? What's a newbie?

Dochi: A newbie is a beginner or novice in a particular field.

Cheongsim: Wow, Dochi can be helpful sometimes. That's surprising.

Dochi: ?? But how do I even know that?

"But is this really on-concept? How could they not know the word 'newbie'?"

This wasn't the reaction I wanted. They were focusing on the word "newbie" instead of me. Their responses were starting to feel genuinely like people from another world, which was making me suspicious.

"No, seriously, what the hell is cultivation, you guys?"

This was fresh. A chaotic world. Non-awakener. Orphan. Ten-thousand-year background character. Gallery addiction junkie. My life was a total bust no matter how you sliced it, yet here they were calling me heaven-sent. Even if it was bullshit, it felt good.

Average me in reality is a once-in-ten-thousand-years super genius in the cultivation world? What is this, some light novel? Fine, I'll play along and go with the flow.

Spirit Stones? I'd heard that somewhere before. Definitely on the internet once—

Tap tap tap.

"Oh? I do."

And it even supported rocket delivery. Super cheap compared to mana stones trading at ten million won per kg. But no matter how I searched, there was no Cultivation Art item.

I sat quietly in my chair, waiting for the desired reaction. Galleries always had at least one shit-stirrer.

Jackpot! Perfect for a newbie sleeve-in.

But the replies below were no joke.

The high-nics were splitting into factions and fighting. Looked like I'd accidentally started a shitstorm. The main mod who should stop this was... busy with work, probably. If they nitpick again, I'll just talk them to death. Watching fights is the next best thing after bonfires.

Even though it was my first time, I went full confident. Anonymous anyway. In galleries, I activate iron-face skin as a passive.

Even as I kept stirring shit, my hands were busy. Surfing search engines and wiki pages nonstop. Result: A 7,000-year-old cultivator is at least mid-realm. Mid-realm being between Cheon-in-gi and Jin-seon.

"My head hurts."

Anyway, high-nics are impressively big deals on concept. Summary complete.

"Believe it or not?"

I'm human too, so part of me was tempted. The idea of hidden talent I'd lived without knowing? Hard to buy. Never heard of cultivators before. My genre's clickbait lit, so I'd have jumped for joy if I'd awakened instead. Still, the buzz I caused was fun, so I joined in. This vibe was pure dopamine.

"Interdimensional transfer? Like a message?"

Shouldn't be weird, right? Spam or malware would suck, though.

But as soon as Myeolgeuk's post went up, the high-nics erupted.

Soon, notifications went nuts.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Fueled by Myeolgeuk's provocation, users chipped in with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠messages.

And light flared.

Whoosh—

Space rippled, and paper books thudded onto the floor before me. Thunk—thunk—clatter.

"Holy shit, you scared me!"

Among them were swords, talismans, and pouch-like items.

"What the hell? This isn't roleplay, it's real?"

Not cosplay cultivators, but actual powerhouses. I picked up a book from the floor. Rough, real paper texture.

But there was a problem. The text wouldn't read—

"It's starting to read bit by bit?"

This was the most amazing part. Like some transcendental principle interfering with reality.

Truly miraculous. After a bit, the translation finished.

Flipping open the Myriad Meridian Self-Genesis book revealed curly script.

"So pretentious."

Oddly, it wasn't incomprehensible. "Divine ability. Impressive." Not learned by reading, the training method auto-generated in my head. Training might be a hassle, but mastering this makes me superhuman? No reason not to.

"Let's give it a shot."

Oh, and besides the five main books, some extras came too. Beast-skin creepy ones, I left those alone. Cheongsim Wiki to the rescue!

Demonic path excluded. And Myeolgeuk lied! Checking messages, the creepy items were one short. Even if off-putting, lying's too much. Favorability toward demon lords plummeted. But thanks to Myeolgeuk, I got a gift barrage, hard to resent.

Korean trait: Skip tedious explanations, dive headfirst. Somehow it'll work, that mindset's deep-rooted. Proud son of Korea here.

"Let's see."

Eyes off the gallery, flipped the book. Quick skim summary: Myriad Meridian Self-Genesis specializes in meridian purification and self-recovery.

Maybe 'cause I'm a pervert who collects only passives in games? Always-active appealed. Less hassle than actives. Advances heal severed meridians and internal injuries too, worth learning.

"First: Assume lotus position and guide Spirit Qi as instructed."

Hit a snag right away.

"Urk!"

Lotus was harder than expected. That's why they said I need help? Still, twisted my stiff legs into a sloppy lotus.

No clue on Spirit Qi, so used Spirit Stones. Opened a pouch, semi-transparent stones poured out. Matched internet images perfectly.

"Next, guide to the acupoints."

Followed the anatomy diagram to direct the energy. But the high-nics must've been scaring this newbie. Miraculously, not as hard as thought.