The changes in Peter's eyes goes unremarked upon, but not unnoticed. Sudden changes to the iris or sclera is a sign of possession in many cultivator stories as well, and Shen Yuan isn't sure how to interpret the fact of Paimon's silent listening. It's a simple and unfortunate fact, however, that he can't say anything to Peter right now without also saying it to Paimon, and so he can only hope that the lack of overt interference is a positive sign that won't come back to bite him later.
"It was something I learned how to do as an adult." He fans himself slowly, considering his next words. "In the world where I was born, cultivation -- all forms of magic, actually -- only existed in works of fiction. I was a big fan of fantasy books of all kinds -- like Miss Lovegood's story, which I enjoyed very much -- but my favorites were all cultivation novels." He smiles sadly. "When I was around your age, a book I'd been following passionately ended suddenly and, I thought, very badly. Around the same time I fell terribly ill, and eventually fell into a deep sleep -- I may even have died, it's impossible to be sure. But when I woke up, it was in a world full of people and places that shared names and precise descriptions with those in the book, and a voice in my head told me it was my responsibility to learn cultivation and 'fix' the plot. I lived in that world for about...four years?" Yes, that sounds about right. "And then woke up in the sea outside Trench. I no longer hear that voice, for which I will always be grateful to the powers that rule this world, and I continue to practice cultivation for both survival and my peace of mind."
"As for whether anyone can learn how to do it, the answer is yes, but with some caveats. Different people have different levels of aptitude for cultivation, just as different people have different levels of natural ability for mathematics or sports. While nearly anyone can master the basics through hard work alone, some degree of natural talent and a bit of good luck is necessary to reach the highest levels of skill. People who began their training as children also tend to see more success than those who started later; it's generally accepted that by the time a student turns twenty-five or so, if they haven't already formed a golden core than they probably never will. But there are exceptions to every rule, of course."
no subject
"It was something I learned how to do as an adult." He fans himself slowly, considering his next words. "In the world where I was born, cultivation -- all forms of magic, actually -- only existed in works of fiction. I was a big fan of fantasy books of all kinds -- like Miss Lovegood's story, which I enjoyed very much -- but my favorites were all cultivation novels." He smiles sadly. "When I was around your age, a book I'd been following passionately ended suddenly and, I thought, very badly. Around the same time I fell terribly ill, and eventually fell into a deep sleep -- I may even have died, it's impossible to be sure. But when I woke up, it was in a world full of people and places that shared names and precise descriptions with those in the book, and a voice in my head told me it was my responsibility to learn cultivation and 'fix' the plot. I lived in that world for about...four years?" Yes, that sounds about right. "And then woke up in the sea outside Trench. I no longer hear that voice, for which I will always be grateful to the powers that rule this world, and I continue to practice cultivation for both survival and my peace of mind."
"As for whether anyone can learn how to do it, the answer is yes, but with some caveats. Different people have different levels of aptitude for cultivation, just as different people have different levels of natural ability for mathematics or sports. While nearly anyone can master the basics through hard work alone, some degree of natural talent and a bit of good luck is necessary to reach the highest levels of skill. People who began their training as children also tend to see more success than those who started later; it's generally accepted that by the time a student turns twenty-five or so, if they haven't already formed a golden core than they probably never will. But there are exceptions to every rule, of course."