Chapter 4: Cultivation method
"Sacred Flame" mantra was just as effective as it was for old Shen Yue, which means the soul within remained the same. Soul crystal test confirmed that the color of my soul was still green and the soul force was approaching the bronze-rank. It also revealed an image, which I simply couldn't properly decipher, so I simply sketched it among my notes. I've looked at it from different angles to understand it better.
Knowing that image didn't change the effectiveness of my mantra. But once I stopped using the mantra and imagined that sign within the crystal I got notable results. My own soul force began reforming and compressing into a stronger, purer state with some sort of black miasma escaping with my exhales.
Once the process has stopped, my soul force volume has dropped to a tenth of my previous level, my control over it increased proportionally and my body became stronger. On top of that, I could sense the energy in the air much better, allowing me to draw it much faster.
When I opened my eyes, I found Xiao'Yue looking at me with interest from the outside, not daring to enter and disturb me. Once she caught my stare, she finally entered.
"I came as you said, young master!" - she said with a glint in her eyes.
"Sit there and pay attention." - I replied beginning my lesson. - "You must understand that these lessons are secret if anyone learns of your cultivation, they would accuse you of thievery (from me and Sacred Family). My family would kill you in place, outsiders would blackmail you, using you spy on me, raping you, forcing you to steal and kill for them, just to set up me and my family."
"I understand, young master" - she replied fearfully.
"Call me Master, from now on, your loyalty should belong to me alone." - I corrected her.
"Yes, Master, this Xiao'Yue is yours." - she answered bowing her head.
"I need neither bows nor groveling, just keep a low profile if you want to live." - I explained.
"Soul Force cultivation is a method of nurturing one's own soul with natural energies of the world. There are three steps to it: sense the energy within your body, assimilate part that you can, release the rest." - these were basics as Shen Yue knew them. - "Any questions?"
"I get the idea, not how it works in practice. How do you sense that energy?" - she replied calmly.
"Beasts do it naturally, humans have a trick called Awakening. Exhaust your breath with physical activity and keep your breath for a few seconds, then you would feel this energy within. Then you should start breathing, you will notice how energy responds to it. With a bit of practice, you would learn how to control the flow and notice slow assimilation of energy and your own inner reserve." - it was an easy process, refined by practitioners of martial artists. - "Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master, it sounds quite easy." - she answered with a bit of excitement.
"Good," - I pointed at a free space - "let us do it right there: push-ups, sit-ups whatever you like, begin!"
It took a few minutes, but in the end, she awakened. I told her to take a seat and observe the energy within herself for an hour. I spent that time cultivating in the yard to regain my Soul Force. I only got ten points back in that time, then returned to Yue. She said that she can feel her soul force and can even control it a bit. I gave her used soul crystal and asked to put a bit of her energy inside it. Turns out she had a red soul and 11 or 12 soul force (more than double Nie Li's number). After that, we checked her soul attribute with a fresh crystal. I told her to memorize how it looks from different angles and sketched it myself. There was a distinct difference from my sign, still wasn't clear what it means. Then I told her to imagine it during cultivation and told her to go to sleep and avoid cultivating without me to avoid detection. Then I went to sleep myself - the first day in this dangerous world has to the end.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Verynew
Verynew Don't try it at home, it all just a useless mystic mumbo jumbo.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone