Unique Cultivation

Unique Cultivation

"Classmate."

Just as Feng Yao was about to enter the Cafeteria, a low call suddenly came from behind him. He slowed his pace and turned around, only to see a middle-aged man with a crew cut watching him. The man stood with his hands behind his back, his brows carrying a trace of weariness and melancholy. The little tail following beside him was none other than Tang San, whom Feng Yao had met that morning.

Feng Yao raised his brows in feigned confusion. "Were you calling me?"

Yu Xiaogang's body seemed not to have fully recovered yet. He walked over to Feng Yao with slightly sluggish steps. Tang San introduced him at the right moment. "We met this morning. This is my teacher."

"You may call me Grandmaster." Yu Xiaogang's voice was soft, yet it carried an especially obvious pride. A strong thirst for knowledge flickered in his somewhat sickly eyes.

Feng Yao gave a polite slight bow, a perfectly measured smile hanging on his lips. "My name is Feng Yao." His gaze drifted inconspicuously between the two of them. He noticed that although Tang San stood respectfully at the side, the way he looked at Feng Yao was filled with curiosity.

A faint smile was forced onto Yu Xiaogang's somewhat stiff face. His voice was low and gentle. "Student Feng, might we have a chat?"

A trace of confusion flashed through Feng Yao's eyes. After a brief hesitation, he nodded. "Of course."

"Let's go." Yu Xiaogang spoke softly, then walked into the Cafeteria on his own with his hands behind his back. Tang San naturally followed his teacher, though he did not forget to glance back at Feng Yao before leaving.

Feng Yao frowned slightly as he watched Yu Xiaogang's pretentious, profound-looking back. A disdainful curve formed at the corner of his lips. His more than thirty years of experience from his past life allowed him to see through such posturing at a glance, but he was no child.

The voices inside the Cafeteria gradually became clearer. Feng Yao followed at an unhurried pace, his gaze sweeping across the students eating their meals. The food on the first floor was rather simple, and it was mostly Work-Study Students dining there. Meanwhile, richer aromas of food drifted faintly down from the second floor.

Yu Xiaogang had already slowly climbed the stairs and was preparing to head to the second floor. Tang San hesitated before saying quietly, "Teacher, perhaps I shouldn't go up."

Yu Xiaogang looked back at Tang San and said gently, "Come with me. Listening in will benefit you as well."

The three arrived on the second floor, where Yu Xiaogang chose a quiet corner by the window and sat down. Tang San skillfully poured his teacher a cup of hot tea. The fragrance of tea curled upward, turning misty beneath the lights.

"I like tea as well." Yu Xiaogang took a light sip, his gaze passing through the tea mist toward Feng Yao. "I've heard a little about Student Feng's reputation."

Feng Yao waved modestly. "It is just an empty reputation, merely a means of making a living."

"Student Feng." Yu Xiaogang set down his teacup, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Have you considered what sort of Spirit Rings your Martial Soul should choose?"

Feng Yao smiled faintly, his tone carrying a touch of helplessness. "I come from a commoner's family. As for Spirit Rings, I can only see what luck brings."

Yu Xiaogang lifted his teacup and carefully studied Feng Yao. "If you are willing, I can teach you how to cultivate your Martial Soul." Yu Xiaogang did his best to make his voice sound approachable.

Feng Yao looked at Yu Xiaogang with slight surprise. A barely noticeable disdain flashed deep in his eyes as he asked calmly, "What direction does Grandmaster believe I should take as a Spirit Master?"

Yu Xiaogang confidently lifted his teacup and slowly delivered the speech he had prepared long ago. "Whether it is Zither Sound or zither music, neither is suited for direct combat. Although zither music does possess the ability to influence emotions and has some potential for development as a Control System Spirit Master, a complete piece requires too much time. It is simply impractical in rapidly changing combat. The most suitable path is the Support System. Only with teammates protecting you in a team can your abilities be brought to their fullest potential."

Tang San, sitting nearby, nodded thoughtfully.

Understanding flashed through Feng Yao's eyes. Recalling their earlier chance encounter, he could be certain that his zither music had produced some special effect on Tang San. Yu Xiaogang's purpose was also obvious now. He hoped Feng Yao would take the Support System path and help Tang San grow better.

Feng Yao gently shook his head. The gesture brought obvious surprise to Yu Xiaogang's stiff face. "Student Feng has a different opinion?"

"Zither Sound may not be unable to take the Assault System path." Feng Yao met Yu Xiaogang's eyes directly. "Often, invisible power is the deadliest."

Naive. Yu Xiaogang sneered inwardly, but his expression remained patient. "Student Feng, you are right. But you have overlooked one crucial point—regardless of the Martial Soul, great power requires substantial Soul Power to support it, and you do not possess that condition."

Feng Yao smiled calmly. "Perhaps you are right. My Innate Soul Power is only rank four. But friends will not accompany me for a lifetime, nor am I willing to rely on others for a lifetime. I still hope to possess the strength to protect myself, no matter how small it may be."

Yu Xiaogang fell silent upon hearing this. He had wanted to rebuke Feng Yao for indulging in fantasies—how could someone with mere rank-four Innate Soul Power dare speak of controlling his own fate? Yet when the words reached his lips, he could not say them.

Now nearing fifty, had he not persisted all these years because of that same determination? If he denied the boy before him, would that not be the same as denying himself, who had spent most of his life struggling against fate?

Seeing Yu Xiaogang remain silent, Feng Yao chuckled. "If Grandmaster is interested in my zither skills, you may visit the teahouse and show your support. I perform there every day during the afternoon rest."

Yu Xiaogang slowly rose to his feet. No emotion could be seen on that face that had been stiff for years. He silently turned and left.

"Teacher!" Tang San hurriedly stood up and looked at Feng Yao with slight apology. "My apologies, Student Feng."

Feng Yao smiled composedly. "It is fine. Gentlemen seek harmony while preserving their differences." He lifted his teacup for a light sip, his gaze calm as water.

Tang San hurried after him, leaving Feng Yao sitting alone. Watching the teacher and disciple depart, Feng Yao shook his head with a smile, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes.

At that moment, the waiter brought over the carefully prepared dishes one after another. Feng Yao did not stand on ceremony. Picking up his bamboo chopsticks, he began tasting them at a leisurely pace.

"Mmm, the flavor is not bad, though it is still a little inferior to the meals at Shopkeeper Ning's teahouse." Feng Yao gave his assessment with a soft laugh.

After his fill, Feng Yao strolled along the tree-lined paths of Nuoding Academy. Dusk deepened, and the early spring evening breeze still carried a slight chill, yet it could not blow away the thoughts lingering in his mind.

Although Yu Xiaogang's words had carried the usual arbitrariness of a theory Grandmaster, they were not entirely without reason. Feng Yao knew very well that many of this "Grandmaster's" theories contained errors and were even suspected of plagiarism. Yet speaking strictly of the matter at hand, the other's analysis of the development path for a zither Martial Soul had indeed struck at the heart of the issue.

"Assault System..." Feng Yao murmured, his fingertips unconsciously tracing through the air as if plucking invisible strings. If he chose this road, the first problem to solve would be the fatal flaw of insufficient Soul Power. The advantage of Zither Sound attacks lay in their speed and invisibility, but the nature of sound waves meant they weakened with distance and obstacles. To inflict real damage, he would need Soul Power reserves far greater than those of Spirit Masters at the same rank.

Moonlight passed through gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows upon the ground. Feng Yao stopped and looked up at the starry sky. A bold idea gradually took shape in his mind—he would draw upon the concepts of Spirit Tool Masters ten thousand years in the future and develop every Spirit Ring toward the ultimate direction of Soul Power Amplification. Not only would this grant him Soul Power far greater than Spirit Masters of the same rank, but such an extreme and singular route might even compensate to some extent for the deficiency of his Innate Soul Power.

"Only..." Feng Yao frowned slightly. This plan had one obvious drawback—all of his Spirit Ring slots would be occupied by Soul Power Amplification. That meant he would have to create every one of his attack methods himself. It would be as difficult as holding an unparalleled zither in his hands, yet having to compose every piece of music himself.

"I'll give it a try. With my current rank-four Soul Power, I should be able to produce some effect even against a child." Feng Yao murmured, eagerness shining in his eyes.

After returning to the dormitory, he immediately sat cross-legged on his bed and summoned his Martial Soul, "Fuxi." His slender fingers gently stroked the strings. As Soul Power flowed into it, a faint blue glow appeared on the zither's body.

Clang! A clear high note echoed through the room. Feng Yao suddenly felt an inexplicable excitement surge through him, and his eyes lit up. "High notes have small amplitudes but high frequencies. Their light membranes can vibrate rapidly, producing delicate sounds. After adding Soul Power, high-frequency sound waves can stimulate the nervous system and create an excitatory effect..."

Yet he soon frowned again. "Unfortunately, a single note lasts too briefly. It is not practical in actual combat. Then what about Bass Notes?"

With that thought, Feng Yao abruptly increased his Soul Power output. Bzzzz— A dull Bass Note suddenly exploded outward, making the air in the entire room tremble. Because the distance was too close, the powerful sound waves rebounded against him. Feng Yao instantly became dizzy, his chest tightened, and he nearly toppled from the bed.

"Cough, cough, cough..." He held his forehead and took a long while to regain his clarity, but excitement still gleamed in his eyes. "Bass Notes have large amplitudes and low frequencies, capable of moving more air. Strong low frequencies can not only cause dizziness; if the Soul Power is sufficient, they may even rupture the cochlea and affect the internal organs..."

Feng Yao stared at the Seven-stringed Zither in his hands as an unprecedented idea gradually became clear in his mind. "If I can precisely control the combined use of high and low notes, allowing different targets to hear different melodies according to changes in distance and environment, then perhaps I can become the first truly all-round Spirit Master in the history of Douluo Continent." His fingertips brushed the strings as Soul Power flowed in like a gentle stream. The Zither Sound shifted between high and low notes like a moonlit brook, rushing at times and gentle at others.

"I can amplify allies, selectively control or attack enemies, and even trigger melodic resonance..." Wisdom shone in Feng Yao's eyes. "The essence of sound is energy, and the precision of energy control will determine the heights I can reach."

He slowly lay down, one hand unconsciously rubbing his still-tight chest. Suddenly, his movement paused, and his gaze fell upon his own chest.

"High notes affect the nervous system, while low notes can resonate with the internal organs... Then could I use Zither Sound to temper my own body?" The thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Memories from his past life surged forth like a tide—the ancient theory that the five tones of the zither corresponded to the five internal organs. The Jue tone connected to the liver, the Zhi tone to the heart, the Gong tone corresponded to the spleen, the Shang tone was linked to the lungs, and the Yu tone harmonized with the kidneys. The ancients had even used melodies to regulate the body, cure illness, and heal injuries.

"Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill opens the Meridians through the circulation of Soul Power... Could the invisible power of melody achieve even greater efficiency?" Feng Yao's eyes suddenly brightened like the brightest stars in the night sky.

He abruptly sat up, summoned "Fuxi," and lightly plucked the strings. Bzzzz— A deep sound wave echoed through the room. This time, he did not use Soul Power, yet the rich Bass Note still produced a wondrous sensation of resonance in his chest, as if his five organs and six bowels were all faintly trembling along with the sound waves.

Feng Yao held his breath and sensed the subtle changes inside his body. Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows across his focused face. At this moment, he seemed to have touched upon a cultivation method beyond his era, a unique path belonging only to him.

Feng Yao's slender fingers moved continuously across the strings like those of a precise tuner, searching for the melody that could resonate perfectly with his body. As a Zither Master with profound musical attainment, his keen musical sense quickly captured that subtle point of balance—when the Zither Sound harmonized with the vibrational frequencies of his five internal organs, a peculiar warm current began circulating through his Meridians.

At this moment, Feng Yao's cultivation system formed a perfect closed loop. While playing, his Soul Power tempered the Martial Soul "Fuxi" like a gentle stream. Meanwhile, the special vibrations produced by the Zither Sound in turn tempered his body. This process of two-way strengthening continued without pause. Once his Soul Power was exhausted, he would naturally enter a meditative state to recover.

This unique cultivation method was filled with the crystallized wisdom of Feng Yao himself. It was built upon the mysterious relationship between music and bodily resonance, requiring precise control over every note's force, frequency, and duration. Like a custom-tailored garment, only Feng Yao himself could perfectly command every detail within it—from the rhythm of his breathing to the force of his fingers, from Soul Power output to the selection of melodies. Such a highly personalized cultivation method was destined to be unable to spread widely like the Meditation Method or Mysterious Heaven Skill, yet it was precisely the path most suited to Feng Yao's growth.

When the last wisp of Soul Power was exhausted, Feng Yao slowly opened his eyes, an unsatisfied look appearing on his face. He gently stroked the strings, feeling the faint tremors beneath his fingertips, as though he could still hear that mysterious resonance echoing within him.

Without the slightest hesitation, Feng Yao withdrew "Fuxi" into his body. As the Martial Soul vanished, the lingering aftertaste of the Zither Sound seemed to remain in the room. He sat cross-legged, his hands naturally resting upon his knees, and slowly closed his eyes. His breathing gradually became deep and even, every breath seeming to harmonize with the rhythm between heaven and earth. In his mind, he visualized Fuxi's form.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Feng Yao felt that after the tempering of the melody just now, his body's affinity for the energy of heaven and earth seemed to have increased slightly. This subtle change made the corner of his lips rise unconsciously, but he soon calmed himself and devoted his entire being to meditation.

Outside the window, the night breeze gently brushed the treetops, producing a soft rustling sound, as though it were playing a lullaby for this unique young man.