Monster? No, I'm a Cultivator! (Percy Jackson): Chapter 94 (Patreon)

Ocean Song watched as his fellow Daoist Cheese sat cross-legged, meditating. 

“Good, you’re doing good.” Ocean Song reassured him. “Just like that, take the Qi and circulate it into your body. Find your Meridians and use the Qi to attack the blockage. Your body right now is that of a human; therefore, you must be careful. Be confident, but don’t be arrogant.”

Aristaeus listened to him, not arguing.

Perhaps if it were days prior, he would have questioned it or thought he was crazy.

Yet right now, in this moment, he realized that something was working. He wasn’t human; there were many things about being human he didn’t understand. He never delved into the intricacies of the human body. The fact that everything Ocean Song spoke was confirmed by him through his own effort made him believe that this was a real set of actions.

He was, of course, using strange terms and language, but after some trial and error, Aristaeus was able to grasp what he was talking about.

He could feel the world’s magic flow into him. He wasn’t a magic-based god, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know a thing or two. Every god, big or small, at least understood the very basics of magic, as it was an intricate part of their world.

The former god, now mortal, could feel it. He could feel his mortal body strengthening. Due to the absence of his Divine Nature, he could feel it even more obviously. It was like his empty cup of water now had a few drops enter it, making it clear to him.

“In the beginning, there was chaos. The Chaos was split open, dividing Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang beget Heaven, Earth, and Man. One begets two, two begets three, three begets all things. Man harmonizes with Heaven and Earth to draw upon the world’s spiritual Qi.” Ocean Song was lecturing. “You become the link between Heaven and Earth, the bridge that draws upon the spiritual Qi. Do not just command it; let it flow, and become one with the current.”

Ocean Song watched, nodding to himself every so often.

“You’re doing good; your Qi is becoming more abundant. Build it up now; this is the last hurdle. Let the wave build into a torrent to let it crash down upon the barrier of your first Meridian.” He could see the happenings inside Aristaeus’s body as he approached the first level of the Qi Condensing realm. “Remember, the purpose is not to refine Qi; refining Qi is merely the tool. Through the refinement of Qi, we obtain a Golden Core, becoming indestructible and undying. This opens up the path to allow us to seek the Dao.”

Aristaeus was only half listening as sweat poured down his brow.

It was getting difficult for him; he felt bloated, and he felt like his insides were on fire. But even so, he was following directions and doing his best.

The energy surged into him as he felt like he reached the limit and forced it forward. The blockage—what Ocean Song called the Meridian—was pushed open, allowing the energy to flood inside.

Aristaeus’s eyes snapped open as he gasped for breath, feeling like he had just been submerged underwater for a long period.

“Well done, Fellow Daoist! You have officially entered the first stage of the Qi Condensation Realm!” Ocean Song praised. “Everyone give our fellow Cheese Daoist a round of applause.

The members of the sect gave a half-hearted clap for him that seemed to ruin the atmosphere.

Aristaeus stood up, confused but excited at what he was experiencing. “What is this? I feel strength filling me up. Is this some type of new magic? Why haven't I heard of this before?”

“This is Cultivation, Fellow Daoist. Using the body as a furnace, we refine ourselves into the perfect catalysts to harmonize with Heaven and Earth," Ocean Song explained. “You opened your first meridian, the pathways inside your body. There are several more to go before you can attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.”

Aristaeus’s head spun as Ocean Song spoke. He only understood some of those words, but they sounded impressive.

He suddenly wondered if this is how Demigods felt.

No, now that he recalled it, even with his daughter, isn’t this exactly how Demigods exist? With the domains of a god combined with a mortal body, they are intertwined with the aspects of the physical world and the domains of their parents.

But rather than a domain, it was like he was being stuffed with magical power to fill the gaps, empowering himself instead.

“I can get stronger??” He asked.

“Much stronger.” Ocean Song nodded.

Suddenly, the strength Ocean Song showed before had made sense to the former god.

But also, another thought suddenly filled his mind like a thunderclap. What if…what if he didn’t have to give up being ‘mortal’ but could regain his strength? What if he was never bound by the previous shackles of godhood anymore but didn’t have to give up his status?

Greed filled his heart, but it was quickly suppressed by the thoughts of his wife and daughter.

“Fellow Daoist Daedalus, why don’t you show Fellow Cheese Daoist what the Peak of Qi Condensation Realm looks like?”

Daedalus grunted. “Fine, I’ll show off a bit.” He pulled out his sword and swung it up at the sky. It connected with a passing bird as its head was severed cleanly and the bird fell from the sky.

The bird also landed square on Medusa’s head.

The Gorgon stood there, completely still as the bird rolled off, leaving a trail of blood and guts dripping down her face.

"...you did that on purpose.” She said slowly.

Daedalus looked at her and grinned.

Just like that, she grabbed her sword at all but jumped at him as the two of them began fighting. 

“Oh, very good! Fellow Daoist Medusa and Daedalus are sparring for your benefit, Fellow Daoist Cheese!” Ocean Song patted the shoulder of their newest recruit.

Though, Aristaeus just stared blankly at the bird, then backed up at the sky. “Can…. I do that too?” As a god, it wasn’t that impressive, but Daedalus was a mortal. A demigod, but still a mortal, and that was…not something he expected of a demigod like Daedalus, who didn’t use his parent’s godly domain.

“Don’t be misled; Daedalus used most of his Qi in that attack," Ocean Song explained. “However, for a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator, it was still impressive and shows how deep his Sword Dao has become. Now, take out your sword; we will start sword lessons again.”

“Can I do more of what I was just doing instead? Wouldn’t it be better for me to do that so I get stronger?” Aristaeus asked.

Ocean Song shook his head. “You have much to learn, Fellow Daoist. Do you think that swinging a sword is just about training your physical body?”

“...yes?”

“Come, pick up your sword; I’ll show you.” Ocean Song took a stance. “Copy me.”

Aristaeus hesitantly complied as he mimicked the ocean song.

“Now, start to absorb Qi like you are meditating, but don’t worry about focusing it, don’t direct it, let it just flow, and then empty your mind.” He told Aristaeus as he started to go through the beginning movements of their sword techniques. “Follow along; you don’t have to go too fast, but with each movement, feel it. Meditation is not the only way to bridge heaven and earth. All paths point to the Dao; the Sword is no different.”

Aristaeus got into it, following along with the techniques of the sword art.

To his surprise, just as when he was meditating, the power surged into him, yet it was directed by his movements even without mental or physical urging.

It was different than his meditating, but it seemed to also have an effect.

“Meditation is important, but only meditating will not be enough. Feel the world through your sword; let your sword become your heart. When there is a sword in your heart, then the path of the Dao opens up.”

Aristaeus didn’t know what that meant, but it sounded profound, and he just nodded along.

Besides Daedalus and Medusa, who were ‘sparring’, everyone else started their own practice.

Ocean Song clasped his hands behind his back as he watched with contentment. The Sword Heart Sect finally felt like it was a proper sect now.

@***@

High up on Mount Olympus, the gods had gathered again.

In recent times, it was as if they had been having gatherings like this more and more recently. Unfortunately, it's like problems kept arising that forced them to do so.

While they often held meetings, it was mundane matters that they deliberated over.

It was another such situation that forced them all to attend.

“Alright, it’s done. I kicked Chiron to the curb; I’m sure this will only go well.” Dionysus said flippantly to all the gods in the room.

“It was a needed measure to take," Athena spoke evenly.

“Right, needed.” He snorted.

“Silence.” Zeus all but hushed him. “His connection to him is known to all; we must take precautions.”

“Oh, does that mean you’re also stepping down, pops?” Dionysus looked at him, only to receive a death glare in response with a booming of thunder above. “Alright, alright, point taken.”

“For the record, I don’t agree with this decision.” Apollo stated.

“Your opinion has been noted, Apollo.” The Goddess of Wisdom acknowledged him. “However, this is the best method to preserve order. We know that the Tree at the border of the camp was poisoned, and it was done in a way that points to Chiron. Whether he did it or not is irrelevant; we have to secure our side first.”

There were a few eye rolls.

“I took a look at the tree, and there’s no saving it without breaking the rules.” Demeter spoke up. “It will have to be left to the children to take care of.”

Despite the gods not being directly affected by this development, it put a wrench in their greater goals. Not only that, but this was a clear provocation against them. They all had heard certain whispers about a certain entity stirring, but they had hoped it was just rumors.

The unfortunate matter was that it was something the Demigods had to deal with, as annoying as it was for everyone.

The vast power and authority the gods wielded also came with certain rules.

Mortal matters had to be settled by mortals as the gods stepped away from the world; it was one of the major concessions they gave up as they attached themselves to the west.

It was the primary reason they put effort into ‘raising’ their demigods in the first place. They needed agents to work on behalf of their will when they were restricted from outright interfering.

“Artemis, tell everyone what you found.” Zeus commanded.

“I’ve been tracking several monsters lately because of the rumors we’ve been hearing. And all of them confirmed the same thing: the Crooked One has been whispering into the world.” She spoke rather bluntly. 

It was perhaps the major reason that Zeus ordered Chiron be fired from his position at the camp. As paranoid as he was, he couldn’t risk Chiron having had a change of heart over the years and disrupt any plans they make.

There were mixed reactions amidst the council. Some already expected it; others were frowning at the revelation.

It was the confirmation from another source that sealed it.

“We will suspend all other operations for now.” Zeus declared. “Our priority will be to find information and weed out any spies we have in our midst.” Because it was clear they had spies if the camp was infiltrated so easily.

“Does that mean you want me to stop trying to find that Cyclops?” Hermes raised his hand.

“Have you still not found him?” Artemis asked. “Do you need me to do it for you? I can track him easily.”

“It’s not my fault!” Hermes quickly defended. “Someone’s hiding him!”

All eyes turned to Poseidon.

“Hey, don’t look at me; I haven't done anything.” He denied immediately as well. “If you want to summon him, then go summon him; I don’t have a problem with it.”

“Then who’s hiding him from me!?” Hermes intoned. “I swear, it’s like I can’t find him anywhere most of the time. Then suddenly, I notice where he’s at, rush to him, and something happens to distract me or keep me away.”

“Like what?” Dionysus asked curiously.

“The other day, I picked up his trail over in the south and was rushing that way, then all of the sudden, a boat smacks into me!”

"...a boat?” Dionysus repeated, and nearly everyone did a double take, even Zeus. “Were you sailing?”

“No, I was flying.” Hermes made sure to state plainly. “And a full-sized yacht came flying through the air and smacked me into a mountain. After I got up, I lost track of him again!”

"My…how…strange," Aphrodite said evenly.

He never noticed that the boat was named Love Conquerors All.

“Enough of that nonsense.” Zeus waved it off. “It doesn’t matter; ignore it for now. We have something more important to focus on. Hermes, I need to take a call of where every god is and what they’re doing. Do it secretly.”

“Sure thing, pops.”

“Hepheasteus, light the forges, prepare for the worst; I want weapons being created without pause. You have permission to open the treasuries to fill in what needs you have.”

“Sure thing.” The God of the Forge complied.

“Apollo, send down a prophecy to the Oracle. Let the children handle the matter with the Tree.”

“On it.” Apollo nodded.

“If someone is lurking in the shadows, then so be it; we will draw them out. They will not stand by while a quest is underway.” Zeus stated firmly, showing the rare prestige of a king.

A quest was one of the rare occasions where the gods were a bit more…loose with their restrictions.

The quest details were obvious to the King of Gods.

There was only one item that could heal Thalia’s Tree, and that was the Golden Fleece.

While they wouldn’t know the contents of the Prophesy until it was given, they could direct it towards the retrieval of the Golden Fleece, wherever it was hidden.

@***@

A/N

The next book officially starts, and it’s much earlier than the canon version. Also did a bit more with Ocean Song teaching at the sect and getting their not-god on the path of cultivation.