The Journey to Cultivation - Genshin Au (Mainly Cynonari in the beginning.)

Chapter- The General

Cyno's eyes were closed. 

The general laid in a large gold chair, embedded with spiritual crystals capable of purifying even the most corrupted energy. This way of cultivation had originated from (in this case) Celestia, while some practiced demonic cultivation, a practice derived to oppose Celestia. Of course, using demonic cultivation could take a toll on your body. Establishing your connection with Celestia (like what only a sect leader can do) is a shortcut to the Tribulation stage. Most could only dream of reaching the Tribulation stage, but others have the spiritual potential to. Apart from the Sect Leaders, there is only one other who has reached the Tribulation stage.

"Reporting to General Mahamatra. Cultivators Al Haitham and Dehya request an audience with the General."

"Let them in." Cyno said, waving his hand carelessly. His eyes were still closed, as he regained focus on his dantian* (where a person's spiritual energy would be circulated from, medical practices were also derived from there).

"General." They both said, bowing their heads in a form of respect. Cyno smirked, finally opening his eyes.

His eyes flashed a shade of purple, before returning to their original states. Cyno winced, a sudden burst of pain hitting him.

Dehya looked up, her face reflecting both concern and boredom.

"General Mahamantra-, '' She started, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "We have brought you a gift."

"Oh?" Cyno lifted an eyebrow, ignoring the obvious sarcasm. "What do you mean by that?" He asked, leaning forwards.

Al Haitham sighed, and signaled a servant nearby him.

"We've brought you a cultivation vessel*."

(A cultivation vessel is used by another cultivator to strengthen themselves through dual cultivation, or otherwise known as,,, intercourse.)

Cyno sat back down and sighed.

"Honestly, what do you take me for?" He asked, pressing his fingers against his forehead tiredly.

"A dirty, womanizing-"

"No, not what you think I'm like. I meant-"

"Cyno, do you think we want you to do this?" Al Haitham broke in. 

"You're the Top cultivator of Sumeru at the moment, with the Vice Leader gone. The other cultivators? We've all reached our limits in terms of our levels. You're the one who has more potential than any of us, which will allow you to reach greater heights." 

Cyno crossed his arms, his expression sour.

"The war between the Liyueans and the Inazumans are negatively impacting us, especially because of their cultivators." Al Haitham continued, ignoring him. 

"As powerful as you are, you're only of the Void level. The Liyuean Sects have produced cultivators of the Reunion level, and even one Tribulation cultivator. In fact, if not for the fact that he had gone missing, we'd all be dead. I'm not saying using a cultivation vessel is completely necessary, but it would help your cultivation increase by quite a bit."

"To be completely honest, it's not too practical for him to use a cultivation vessel. Can't we just get him some of those Qi pills, or something?" Dehya asked.

Cyno snorted. "Well, you seem behind on the latest news. It's said that along with the Liyuean Vice Leader, the remaining effective Qi pills have disappeared as well."

Before Dehya could respond, the doors opened again.

"The vessel has arrived." The servant said, bowing their head before heading outside again.

An unconscious girl (??) in white robes was tossed on the floor. "Her" long green and black hair practically covered "her", while "her" pearly skin practically emitted light.

"She" didn't seem like the type to have even stepped a foot outside "her" sheltered life, let alone become a criminal.

And yet the seal of the Sumerian Sect glowed brightly on "her" shoulder.

A traitor from the Sect, perhaps?

Had Cyno seen "her" before? 

"Hey." Cyno said, standing up and prodding the "girl" with his foot. "Wake up."

However, when he approached "her", a strange reaction occurred. 

Their seals glowed, and the "girl" woke up.

And it seemed "she" had a rather sharp tongue.

And that they had misgendered him.

"Where the fuck am I?" The boy asked, wincing as he looked around.

Cyno immediately noticed the disturbed circulation of Qi and spiritual energy inside the boy's body, a teal colored layer of spiritual energy sealing the boy's dantian.

"Hey. You were poisoned weren't you?" He asked, bending down. "And why were you in the Sumerian black market?"

The boy glared at him. "First of all, I-!" He stopped mid sentence, suddenly unable to talk.

Al Haitham's eyes widened. The boy's throat had suddenly been blocked, preventing him from speaking and breathing for a solid few seconds.

"He's definitely been poisoned." He said to Cyno, who had observed the same thing.

"Well, that's rather obvious. We should have the antidote either way, but the poison seems to have affected his spiritual core as well."

"Ugh- First of all, your basic antidotes wouldn't be able to cure a poison this advanced. Secondly, my name is Tighnari, so quit treating me like some random kid you found on the street." Tighnari spat out, massaging his throat.

Cyno tilted Tighnari's chin up, observing his features.

"Hmph. What makes you think that I'm unable to treat you?" He asked lightly, yet his voice hinted at some malicious intent.

"Heh. Because you're only of the Void stage, are you not? Although you have the potential to reach Reunion, you're stuck at a bottleneck. And until you reach Reunion, you're unable to treat anyone." Tighnari said, wrenching away from Cyno's grip.

Before Cyno could retaliate, Dehya placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Cyno. Be careful. That poison was created with the blood of a Tribulation level cultivator."

His eyes widened, finally understanding how this Tighnari told him he would be unable to treat him.

Because the only ones who could even withstand the pressure of a Tribulation Cultivator had to be a Reunion cultivator or higher.

"But, how did-?" He started, before Dehya stopped him.

"Be careful. If the creator of the poison discovers that you know of them, then Tighnari is sure to die. It makes sense, they poisoned him for his great cultivation base to make him fit to be a great vessel. How he ended up on the black market unknowingly though, is confusing."

Cyno thought for a second, before finally realizing.

"If a Tribulation poison is in his veins then he has to be at least of Reunion level."

Al Haitham nodded, his face slightly pale.

"That's the highest level a known cultivator is in our sect so-"

Cyno stopped, finally realizing the danger that they were in.

"This Tighnari, is the Vice Leader?"