As soon as Conan gave them that option, the others refused, looking away or simply staring at the floor.
"We can't, everyone is watching us. As soon as we try anything, they'll kill us," said Ghislaine, still remembering their previous escape attempt.
"So we can just sit here and do nothing?" asked Conan, looking at the others in astonishment.
"...Even if we focused more on training, they would start to suspect... But there is something we can try," said Anna, who had remained silent until now.
"What is it?" asked Ghislaine, who already suspected what Anna would propose.
"We can try to open our dantians," Anna suggested, her voice uncertain.
"That's suicide," said Ghislaine. "Most of us aren't even old enough to transform mana into Qi. And even if we could, few of us are in good enough shape to try." When she finished speaking, everyone looked at each other, seeing their bruised or otherwise malnourished bodies.
"We'll have to try. Last time we almost managed to escape, if we use this, we can do it," Anna said decisively.
"I want to try," Conan said, raising his hand.
"Anna, do you know how to open the dantians?"
"I know, but it will be painful, since you don't even use mana," confirmed Anna, who seemed reluctant to let Conan be the first to try, although she later decided to do so.
Hearing Anna, everyone looked at Conan, who had a serious look for his age, seeming determined to try to open his dantians.
"All right, if that's what you want, we'd better get ready. So, every time someone fights Conan, let him win; we need him in the best possible condition," Anna told the others, seeing them nod at the same time.
Although no one felt good about letting Conan be the one they would use to escape the place, no one else would volunteer, as the process Conan was about to undergo was a desperate measure, skipping several essential steps or requirements to advance as a warrior.
<<<>>>
Three months had passed since the meeting with everyone in the rooms. During this time, everyone followed the agreed-upon steps, letting themselves be defeated every time Conan was paired up in sparring, explaining concepts or tactics for winning fights in the library. They also spread the word throughout the place, getting all the other slaves to join in, even those who seemed to side with the supervisors and those who wanted to win their favor.
The help of the slaves who had won the favor of the supervisors was a great help, as the adults had taught them techniques to increase their growth, and they explained it to the others, helping them practice mana circulation, accumulation, and transforming it into Qi.
Obviously, seeing that the slaves seemed happy or motivated, the slave owners began to suspect something, taking some of them away for questioning, even beating them or threatening them with death, but none of them spoke, increasing the slave owners' frustration.
One quiet night, it was decided to gather together, and with everyone's help, they prepared to encourage the chosen slaves.
"Everyone sit down and relax, this is going to hurt a lot," said Anna, who had sat cross-legged on the floor.
In front of her was Conan with his back to her, and there were other slaves in the same position, with others behind and in front of them waiting for Anna's orders, for she had discovered that there were others on the farm who knew how to open the dantians, convincing them to explain it to others, helping them with their progress.
Another thing that surprised Anna was that there were three magicians on the entire farm, which made her happy, as it was rare for a magician to be a slave due to their control over mana. Although they could not be helped in controlling mana, they could be helped as warriors, so, in another desperate move, they would be helped in their opening and experience.
"Well, let's get started," said Anna, placing her hand on Conan's back, closing her eyes, and concentrating as hard as she could. Like Anna, everyone else concentrated, beginning the process.
"First I'll prepare the mana channels, and then I'll start with the opening," Anna said to herself.
Slowly, everyone began to inject their mana into the warriors' bodies. This first step was not difficult, as everyone had practiced and no body rejected the foreign mana. Conan, like the others, began to transform the accumulated mana and the injected mana into Qi, strengthening all his meridians to the maximum possible.
After completing the first two steps, they began the last and most difficult step. The volunteers began to open their dantians, starting with the lower one. As they did so, the slaves' bodies began to feel the consequences; some moaned in pain, while others' noses bled from the effort.When they opened the lower dantian, everyone felt lighter, and enduring the pain, they moved on to the second dantian.
When they opened the central dantian, they were able to facilitate the entry and flow of Qi, but none of them, except Conan, could endure it; falling to the ground and coughing up blood, they were helped by the other slaves. It was no better for the helpers, as they exhausted all their strength and fainted instantly.
"Shit... I have to stay conscious or Conan won't be able to continue," thought Anna, who was bleeding from her nose and close to fainting.
Although Anna tried to resist, she slowly began to lose strength, stopping supplying Conan with mana and guiding him in the opening. Conan, who was opening the last dantian with his last ounce of strength, suddenly stopped feeling Anna's hand, who had fainted and was being helped by the others.
"Anna is unconscious... I have to do this with my last ounce of strength," Conan said to himself, enduring the pain and opening all three dantians completely. "I did it! I was able to... open...!" Before he could finish speaking, all of Conan's orifices began to spill blood, causing him to faint.