The first stage of cultivation is a genre defining classic in every xianxia. The Qi Refining stage. Where every untalented person spends a lifetime chasing after those with even a modicum of talent until they peter out into obscurity.
I sure fucking wish it was as easy as "Gather the Qi in the dantian and fill it up." That's horse shit, whoever decided to leave it at that clearly thinks the human body just has a metaphysical space pre-prepared for the Qi to settle.
Mark firmly believed that the stories that begin with using the Qi to refine each part of the body present the most correct path forward. But that's also where the problem lies, he can't actually refine his body for some reason. The body, especially the newly reforged body, simply doesn't want to actually process the Qi. It seems to think it's already perfect. But Mark's intuition is ringing, feeling like an itch that can't be scratched.
His frustration mounts as the cells seem perfectly content with letting the Qi wash over them and nothing else. How do I actually enable my body to utilize the energy I'm supplying it with?
Then it hits him. My DNA! I need to recode myself to be able to actually absorb it. God gave me the talent, I just have to unlock it.
With the breathing cycle in motion already, he tries his best to imagine his cells, past the membrane, taking note of the mitochondria, the ribosomes, deeper through the cytoplasm, into the nucleus, and finally into the tangled mess that is DNA. Arriving in this mental world of the basis of the body, he attempts to direct the Qi into his DNA.
Please don't turn me into the Hulk or something. Just a slight mutation... harmless, I promise!
The formless waves of Qi circulate and pass by the DNA strands without so much as a ruffle of the tangled mesh of nucleotides. Time passes with no activity, but Mark's patience persists… until finally, a twitch.
Wait, how is my imagination so good? With a mental slap, STUPID! Don't distract yourself. Lock the fuck in.
The waves of Qi stop proliferating randomly, they swirl and gather around the DNA. Mark's body starts vibrating, but he doesn't even notice as his concentration reaches unprecedented levels. The waves pulse and ebb in a mystifying and hypnotic manner as they fundamentally alter the DNA.
The transformation isn't as dramatic as his earlier metamorphosis, but more of a correction. It felt right, as if his body was always supposed to function this way. Mark's DNA was always supposed to accommodate Qi absorption.
Finally, a small click resounds in his ears and everything settles into place. The most satisfying feeling of rightness permeates his mind, body, and soul.
"Ahhhh~" a sigh of relief escapes his mouth. It was like a stiffness in the back being released after months of aching.
After settling down from the second fundamental change to his body in twenty four hours, Mark attempts to gather Qi once again.
Now is the time to actually refine the body. Let's start inwards and work our way out.
Before he can begin, his stomach rumbles. Checking the time, he sees 4 AM. Ah shit, I guess fundamentally altering the DNA of the human body for seven hours without stop might make you a bit peckish. I even missed calling Olivia, shit.
As he makes himself food in the dark kitchen, he makes a checklist of the process in which he needs to refine his body.
First, marrow cleansing, then blood purifying, organ tempering, muscle sculpting, skin forging, then somehow touch the brain without killing myself. I'll have to figure that out when I get there.
After a sumptuous meal fit for kings (cereal, peanut butter and jelly, and a banana), Mark decides to take a rest on cultivating for now and study up on the human anatomy. Visualization seems to be a key part of the process of cultivation. Thankfully, the recently enhanced brain, courtesy of God's restructuring of his body, seems to have insanely good imagination capabilities.
Was that my imagination, though? It felt too much like I was seeing my DNA in real time, rather than imagining what would happen. I mean, I'm mildly familiar with micro-biology, but yesterday, if you asked me to picture the inner structure of a cell, I'd be able to draw a circle with the nucleus and the powerhouse of the cell, but that's about it.
He'll keep note of it for experimentation later. However, it seems the future visualization will be less detailed than the actual cells, but more-so the overall structure of the organs, tissue, and bones. The brain, though… yeah, that will be a long period of experimentation.
…
Dawn came quickly and with it, the Knight household came to life. Both Grace and William decided to take the day off to wrap their heads around their son's recent proposition.
The smell of eggs, bacon, and home fries fill the house. Mark steps out of his room, full of energy and seemingly ready to take on the world. Every inhale fills him with Qi while every exhale releases the impurities that accumulate just by existing in modern Earth's atmosphere.
God damn, it really is nasty. I can't believe this was the air I considered fresh. Air quality is another thing to add to the list of stuff I need to fix once I'm powerful enough.
"Good morning! I have already figured out the initial steps to harness Qi. If you've come to a decision already, all you'll need to do is some quick studying and we can begin our plot to take over the world! MWAHAHAHAHAHAH" Cough. "Sorry. I am serious about taking over the world, though. Just not yet."
His parents just roll their eyes, not taking him seriously. They really don't understand the power that they will have one day. That's fine, when it becomes real for them, they'll get it.
"Enough, sit and eat." And sit he did, the tantalizing aroma of egg sandwiches on English muffins with home fries on the side was too good to resist. Mark's willpower fumbles as he digs in with gusto.
After two portions elegantly get shoved down his gullet, Mark wipes his mouth, washes his hands, and sits down in front of his parents with a serious expression.
"Now. I know I've offered you the choice to do this, but honestly? I never planned on letting you say no. When you experience a body made anew, you'll understand that our future, as a family, lies among the stars."
Understanding the gravity of his words, they look almost offended. "Mark, you can't just make that decision -" Grace can't even finish her words before Mark cuts her off.
"I can. And I will. I cannot and will not live in a world without my parents. Especially if that world is eternal."
With a sigh of resignation, they realize that there's no arguing with Mark. The kid who'd fall asleep crying about the fact that his parents were going to die one day at the age of 5. He'd never let them go.
William takes one last look at his wife, and with a nod he turns back to his son. "Alright, little man. But promise me one thing. Promise us that you'll take care of yourself. That you won't lose the light that makes you so special, no matter what. I love and trust you, son."
The look of relief and joy on Mark's face is enough to tell his parents that they made the right choice. They couldn't bear to leave him either.
"Awesome! So, let's just start right away. This will not be pleasant, so, go lay down in bed. You're gonna be out all day." A big, wide grin is plastered on his face, despite the torturous pain he knows his parents are going to endure. Growing pains.
As they make their way to the master bedroom, he stops his parents and gives them a big bear hug. "You won't regret this, I promise."
…
While his parents are in the process of joining him in the ranks of superhuman physiques. Mark continues his research of the human biology, beginning with the bone marrow and how it produces blood, how blood flow delivers nutrients and oxygen to the muscle fibers, and so on until a cohesive picture of the interconnected environment that is the human body forms in his mind.
This grand picture gives him the final spark of inspiration for how to continue the Qi Refining stage and ultimately influence the brain without accidentally killing himself. The answer? Meridians. I have to form Qi pathways that lead through all the major parts of the body and connect in the brain. It'll be like a new nervous system.