The Gods' Decree 198 Calm Within The Storm

At this point, even the most minuscule of distraction could not be afforded. So he once more sat in the lotus position as he pondered this quandary.

'So evidently my qi control is poor."

He then deactivated his iron body as he sought another means. Another few hours passed after which his thought process changed.

Before he focused externally with his art. Perhaps this was the wrong approach, hence he revised by prying internally at his qi flow. 

What he noted was when no art was in place his qi was calm and perfectly circulating throughout.

'Shouldn't it be an easy means to then send my qi to one focal point of the body?'

He thought before once more activating his iron body. As expected his body now had an iron sheen replacing his dark skin.

Yet when Taf once more looked within what he saw was contrary to its previous state. In comparison, his world qi was quite volatile and overbearing.

'So there lies the problem. With my world qi in such a vulnerable state, it hinders me from arriving in a state whereby I have complete control.

This is furthered by the internal conflict of the Devil and spirit qis.'

Taf observed his dantian and witnessed what has become the norm. His qis battling it out for dominance even though he previously separated them.

The conflict between the two was a problem he knew the current him couldn't fix. Therefore Taf focused on his world qi which was the main driving force in the qi realm.

🌟World qi the amalgamation of all qis. Both devil and spirit are not focal within the qi realm. They are filtered into the source of all qi, world qi.🌟[1]

'How do I train qi?'

Taf questioned himself as he became stumped for an answer. His elemental art he knew how to train but qi was a completely different scenario.

One day soon passed as Taf sat in the lotus stance beside a lake as he contemplated his predicament. He had tried different scenarios alas nothing seemed to fit.

His eyes then idly drifted on the lake watching a leaf. Its movements were seemingly one with the tides. 

Back and forth it swayed as it yielded all its will to the changing currents. Taf watched the leaf seeing all its movements daring not to look away.

At that moment he felt he was on the cusp of a sudden epiphany. Sometimes nature can be the best master and all you have to do is keep your eyes open for the clues.

"That's it!"

Taf exclaimed in glee.

' Through the use of the tides perhaps this is the means to soothe the turmoil within.'

Taf hurriedly made his way to shores of the lake discarding most of his attire. Before long he swam to the center of the lake. He then calmed himself as he attempted to float on the surface of the water.

There he drifted while closing his eyes to medicate now in the lotus stance. His mind was calm as he sought to be that leaf sailing in the tide.

'Too calm.'

 He thought after an hour of training. He then commanded the space stone to conjure a mild storm.

Soon gayle force wind bombarded Taf on the lake. Even waves started to form as he found it extremely hard to keep his composure.

Countless times he plunged beneath the waves in defeat.

"Again!"

He yelled defiantly without a trace of yielding.

Once more the days changed as a bare-chested Taf could now be seen drifted on waves. They grew so large he was utterly dwarfed, riding up and down the mighty swelling lake like a leaf.

Soon though he became submerged once more but there was only a smile.

As he readied to once more regain his stance he felt there was a new presence inside of the space stone.

"It seems you have a liking for ignoring this lady."

May uttered with obvious discontent from the distance as she saw Taf upon the violent wave. The current world felt hellish as violent wind shredding trees bare.

Soon a calm flooded over the lake as the previous storm withdrew and Taf made his way over.

"Miss me huh? I knew my charms were the highlight of your day big flower."

With a smile, he teased as he smelt the aroma of perfectly mouth-watering beast meat.

"Your sweet-talking won't get you out of this one. I haven't seen you for a week, sir, Now what gives?"

She questioned evidently ignoring his previous words.

Taf could only wryly smile as in truth he had no clue a week had passed. In his mind perhaps two days the most. He was truly engrossed in his training.

No wonder May was this upset with him. He too would have reacted the same if he were in her position.

"Oh damn, I didn't know a week had passed. Guess there is a need to keep track when I am within this world."

He then uttered with a bit of apology in his voice. Finally, a smile grew on May's previously grumpy face. She then responded,

"Private training to beat this lady, huh? I am flattered."

Taf could only laugh as he hurriedly grabbed her arm bringing her to the lake.

"Hey remember I can't swim you brute!"

She yelled as her feet became wet and a slight fear overtook her.

"Yes and that is why you will learn today."

As Taf spoke May saw a wicked smile form at the side of his cheek. She tried to bolt but he held her firmly in place with his muscular arms.

He then jumped in the water with May firmly in his grasp as she screamed.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

"You, you brute! Next time I'll let you starve."

May cursed as she saw her clothing which was soaked while Taf laughed it up.

"I couldn't resist."

 He chuckled as the temperature began to change and May's pupils became crystal blue. The water temperatures were now freezing as Taf began to shiver.

"You seemingly have forgotten where you were sir."

With obvious vengeance in her eyes May utter as ice particle could be seen forming on the water.

"Ok..., ok!"

Taf shouted as he knew this was a battle he chose wrongfully. He was within a lake for crying out. His defeat was but written in stone.

" There is really a need for teaching you how to swim. You will need it for your training."

He hurriedly made his case as May slowly alleviated the temperature. Still, Taf knew she would seek revenge in the future for his prank.

The next few days were focused on teaching May the means to swim. Then it was tailored her to learn the means to find Taf previous state.

Soon both could be seen in the lotus stance on the surface of the raging violent wave. Yet they were the seeming calm within the storm.

"Now it's the next step."

Taf uttered to May at his side. The two in unison then ignited their qi before immediately submerging.

"Damn this is like we are back to stage one Taf!"

May uttered once more regaining her previous position. Taf too did the same as he assessed what previously unfolded.

"This I feel will be the hardest and most crucial part of the training. It won't be so easily grasped like the previous stages. Let's try to find that calm."

Taf cautioned May being the most experienced with this form of training. She nodded knowing his words were true.

They turned out to be seeming prophetic words as the two struggled similarly to when they initially started.

They trained each day only taking small intervals for food and other necessities. Soon the two had lost track of how many days they were inside the space stone training.

However, as the days turned to weeks both slowly grasped what they sought. 

"Perfect!" Taf uttered with a smile as he looked internally at his qi that was now soothed.

Unedited Version

To be continued.....

[1] Previously mentioned this in an earlier chapter but just reemphasizing.

Chapter end