Mind's Eye

Mind's Eye

The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight crept up the window lattice, Feng Yao slowly awakened from deep meditation.

He carefully sensed the circulation of Soul Power within his body, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curved into a satisfied smile. Compared to yesterday, the effects of this meditation had clearly improved considerably—his Soul Power was more condensed within his Meridians, and its circulation was smoother as well.

"The wisdom left behind by my ancestors truly is extraordinary," Feng Yao murmured. His fingertips unconsciously tapped against his knee, as though imitating the vibrations of zither strings. He believed that as long as he continuously refined this cultivation method, once his Spiritual Power and control over Soul Power reached a certain level, he might truly achieve what Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill described: "Open the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, ascend to the heavens and descend into the earth, capable of anything."

After washing up, Feng Yao eagerly summoned Fuxi. Deep zither notes soon rang through the room, resonating with his breathing in a unique rhythm. As his cultivation deepened, fine beads of sweat gradually formed on his forehead, while his originally abundant Soul Power receded like the tide.

"Grrr..."

The protest from his stomach interrupted his cultivation. Only then did Feng Yao realize that he had been so absorbed that he had forgotten the time. Intense hunger forced him to forgo recovering his Soul Power as he hurried straight toward the Cafeteria.

The Cafeteria was especially quiet in the morning. It seemed that, no matter the world, students did not like getting up early to eat. Feng Yao was about to head upstairs when he suddenly heard a familiar greeting.

"Morning, Feng."

Turning around, he saw Tang San sitting alone in a corner on the first floor, with a simple breakfast laid out before him. Sunlight streamed through the window onto his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, reflecting a faint, shimmering green glow.

"Morning, Tang." Feng Yao smiled and nodded, his gaze lingering briefly on Tang San's somewhat weary face before he slowly went upstairs.

From the corner of his eye, Feng Yao caught sight of that ordinary figure downstairs and silently mused, Since zither music alone can aid cultivation, what effect did Yangchun Baixue have on him yesterday...?

The fragrance of food drifting from the second-floor dining hall, combined with the hunger in his stomach, quickly scattered Feng Yao's thoughts. Without dwelling on it, he took a deep breath and turned his attention toward the Cafeteria counter nearby. After all, ample stamina was the foundation for continuing his cultivation.

After a hearty meal, Feng Yao's extremely meager Soul Power had recovered by more than half. He strolled to yesterday's cultivation spot. The morning dew had yet to dry, crystalline droplets clinging to leaf tips and refracting rainbow-colored light beneath the rising sun like scattered gems.

He found a flat bluestone and sat down, his fingertips lightly brushing the zither strings. The music rose leisurely, clear as a mountain stream and lively as a morning breeze passing through the woods. It intertwined with the rustling of leaves around him to form a natural harmony. Unbeknownst to him, deep within the forest, a pair of sharp eyes was quietly watching his every move.

"He changed the tune." Tang San hid in the shadows, his brows slightly furrowed. He slowly sat cross-legged, attempting to use the zither music to enter that profound meditative state once more. Yet no matter how he adjusted his breathing, he could not recapture yesterday's feeling of merging with nature.

The music gradually faded. Tang San opened his eyes, confusion appearing on his childish face. His zither music clearly still has the effect of calming the mind. Why...? he pondered. Teacher said that yesterday, under specific circumstances, the zither music led me into deep meditation. But why doesn't it work today?

The observant Tang San noticed that Feng Yao's performance today was indeed subtly different from yesterday's. At certain unique notes, he deliberately infused Soul Power, causing the zither music to tremble faintly. The change was slight, yet it gave the entire piece a completely different effect.

"Could it simply be because he changed the tune?" Tang San shook his head, feeling that things were not so simple. He looked at Feng Yao, who was intently playing in the distance, and a complex glint flashed through his eyes. This peer of his seemed to be hiding far too many secrets he could not understand.

"Looks like I still need to ask Teacher." Tang San gently shook his head, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes.

With that thought, Tang San's figure flickered as he used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps, silently darting toward Yu Xiaogang's courtyard. In the morning light, he flitted through the forest like a ghost and vanished into the depths of the bamboo grove in the blink of an eye.

Feng Yao knew nothing of this. He remained immersed in the mood of the melody, his ten fingers dancing lightly across the strings. He calculated every scrap of Soul Power with painstaking precision, like a miser counting his last copper coin. He repeatedly considered the Soul Power required for every note, striving to achieve the best effect with the least consumption.

Feng Yao sighed helplessly. How could he not want to play with abandon? But with his current reserves of Soul Power, if he went all out, he would likely be exhausted before even finishing a single piece. This restrained feeling was like being bound by invisible shackles, leaving him both stifled and helpless.

At that thought, Feng Yao's fingertips moved across the strings with even greater focus. Every note carried his understanding of music. At times, the zither music flowed like a clear spring; at others, it resembled waves of wind sweeping through pines. Empowered by Soul Power, it faintly stirred the surrounding air, making even the grass on the ground sway gently.

By noon, the blazing sunlight had long since evaporated the morning dew from the grass. Feng Yao lay on his back upon the soft lawn, allowing the breeze to brush across his face. He raised a hand, sunlight slipping through the gaps between his fingers and casting mottled shadows across his palm. At the sight, a satisfied smile unconsciously rose to his lips.

"With extraordinary power like Soul Power, things truly are completely different," Feng Yao murmured. "At this rate, I'll soon surpass the level I reached at my peak in my previous life."

Nourished by Soul Power, he could clearly feel that his current self was worlds apart from his former life. His state while performing had reached an unprecedented level of focus, and his fingering had become exquisitely precise, as though every note had gained life. More wondrously, he seemed able to vaguely sense the condition of Fuxi, his Martial Soul—a closeness linked by blood, as though he could hear his Martial Soul breathing.

Feng Yao closed his eyes and allowed that profound sensation to flow through his body.

Who knew how much time passed before Feng Yao abruptly opened his eyes? A sharp light flickered within them, as though he had suddenly grasped some ultimate truth.

"So that's it. So that's it..." he muttered, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "What Martial Soul is there? Martial Soul is merely a name given by Spirit Masters. Its essence is the manifestation of the power within a Spirit Master's bloodline!"

This realization was like lightning tearing through the fog. Feng Yao finally understood why Ji Juechen had been able to become a Title Douluo despite possessing relatively low Innate Soul Power—the key lay in continuously using Soul Power to temper one's Martial Soul. In essence, that meant constantly strengthening the power of one's own bloodline. The purpose of Spirit Rings was merely to accelerate this beneficial cycle. Spirit Rings and Spirit Bones were also manifestations of Spirit Beast bloodline power.

"As long as one continuously tempers both Martial Soul and body during the growth stage, most Spirit Masters should be able to achieve something," Feng Yao said to himself. "That saying, 'There are no worthless Martial Souls, only worthless Spirit Masters,' is actually true. It's just that ordinary people never realize it, because most of them do not know what a Martial Soul truly is."

Thinking of this, Feng Yao could not help but feel regret for Yu Xiaogang. The effort he had put in was no less than Ji Juechen's. Yet this Grandmaster had gone entirely down the wrong path. He placed too much faith in the decisive nature of Innate Soul Power while neglecting the shaping effect of later cultivation on one's bloodline. He had spent the best years of his youth on theoretical research instead, missing the greatest opportunity to change his fate.

Cultivating from half-rank Innate Soul Power to Rank 29 was enough to prove how hard he had worked.

Sunlight shone over Feng Yao, coating him in a golden outline. He raised a hand and summoned Fuxi, lightly brushing the strings as he felt the seamless connection between his Martial Soul and bloodline. At this moment, he was more certain than ever—he had chosen the right path.

If someone like Yu Xiaogang dares call himself a Grandmaster, shouldn't I be called a Great God? Feng Yao laughed inwardly and gently shook his head.

He looked up at the sun, then rose and brushed the grass clippings from his robe. He had taken leave yesterday to handle his enrollment, but after lunch today, he still had to perform at Shopkeeper Ning's teahouse. With that thought, he put away Fuxi and headed toward the Cafeteria.

Nuoding Academy was exceptionally lively on the first day of school. Before Feng Yao even reached the Cafeteria, he could hear the waves of noise coming from inside. He went straight to the second floor, which was much quieter than the first. After casually ordering several dishes, Feng Yao chose a secluded corner and sat down to wait.

"Feng, do you mind if I sit here?"

A somewhat hoarse voice suddenly sounded. Feng Yao looked up and saw Yu Xiaogang standing before the table, trying hard to force a gentle smile.

Feng Yao was slightly taken aback. His gaze lingered briefly on Yu Xiaogang's wrinkled face, and an imperceptible trace of regret flashed through his eyes. He thought, If this Grandmaster could truly change his fate, Bibi Dong, the Spirit Hall Pope, would probably be taken for everything she had. After all, Beast Martial Souls capable of physical manifestation are already rare, let alone a genuine Dragon Spirit.

But on second thought, misfortune and fortune went hand in hand. If Yu Xiaogang had truly achieved something, there likely would not have been the Golden Iron Triangle later on.

"Feng?" Seeing Feng Yao lost in thought, Yu Xiaogang called again.

"Of course." Feng Yao came back to his senses and made a welcoming gesture. "What can I do for you, Grandmaster?"

Yu Xiaogang pondered for a moment before slowly asking, "Are you going to the teahouse to perform later?"

Surprise appeared on Feng Yao's face, but he nodded. "That is indeed the case. Grandmaster, is there..."

"I would like to ask you for a favor." Yu Xiaogang's voice lowered slightly as he gently rubbed the edge of his teacup.

Understanding flashed through Feng Yao's eyes, and he smiled. "Please, go ahead. If it is within my power, I will certainly help."

"When you perform at the teahouse today, could you play the piece you performed when you met Xiao San?" Yu Xiaogang asked softly.

Feng Yao gently shook his head. "You mean Yangchun Baixue? I'm afraid I cannot agree. The pieces played at the teahouse have always been chosen according to the audience's preferences." He paused, feigning curiosity. "Could it be that yesterday's piece had some special effect on Tang?"

Yu Xiaogang's brows furrowed slightly. After a moment of silence, he slowly nodded. "It did have some special effects. That is precisely why I advised you to take the Support System path. You possess a unique talent in support."

Feng Yao sneered inwardly. He understood Yu Xiaogang's little scheme perfectly well—he had simply taken a fancy to the benefit Feng Yao's zither skills provided Tang San and wanted to find himself a free servant.

"Grandmaster, there is no need to persuade me further." Feng Yao elegantly lifted his teacup. "No matter how good one's support talent is, it cannot compare to the ability to protect oneself. If you wish to hear Yangchun Baixue, you may visit Shopkeeper Ning's teahouse. As long as you have enough gold coins, I will naturally perform for you."

Just then, the server placed the dishes on the table one by one. Feng Yao said nothing further and focused on enjoying his lunch.

Yu Xiaogang's face grew increasingly gloomy, his brows knitted tightly together. He had not expected this seemingly immature boy to be so difficult to handle. After a long silence, he finally said, "How about this? As long as you are willing to cooperate with my arrangements, I can take responsibility for obtaining your future Spirit Rings. What do you say?"

Feng Yao's chopsticks paused slightly, then he smiled and shook his head. "You see, this is exactly why I chose the Assault System path—because even the choice of Spirit Rings would depend on others."

Yu Xiaogang secretly shook his head, thinking that Feng Yao was ultimately just an ignorant country child. He adopted a profound tone and said, "Even among Assault System Spirit Masters, most cannot obtain the optimal Spirit Ring configuration. But if you follow my arrangements, I can guarantee that every Spirit Ring you obtain will be the most suitable one."

Feng Yao raised his eyes and looked at Yu Xiaogang with a faint smile that was not quite a smile, his gaze seeming capable of seeing through the heart. "Grandmaster, although I come from the countryside, I know there is no such thing as a free lunch. What exactly do you want me to do? Surely it is not merely to hear a single piece of Yangchun Baixue?"

Yu Xiaogang was instantly left speechless. Silence descended between them like a heavy curtain. Feng Yao continued eating at an unhurried pace, and only after a while did he vaguely ask, "Grandmaster, aren't you going to eat something?"

Yu Xiaogang slowly stood, went to a nearby counter to buy a chicken leg and steamed bun, wrapped them in oiled paper, and hurried away.

Watching that retreating figure, contempt flashed through Feng Yao's eyes. He sneered inwardly, He really thinks he's somebody. He even requested a tune.

Feng Yao ate with great enjoyment. Yu Xiaogang's arrival had not affected his appetite in the slightest. If Yu Xiaogang had been more straightforward, playing a few pieces for him would have been effortless—he could have considered it a good connection. But if Yu Xiaogang wanted to play mind games with him...

Feng Yao put down his chopsticks. Sunlight streamed through the window onto his slightly furrowed brow, casting a cold smile utterly unsuited to his age across that still-childish face.

Feng Yao then rose and left the Cafeteria, heading straight for the dormitory. Sunlight filtered through the plane trees lining the path, casting mottled shadows over him. Feng Yao thought for a moment. Though he was not afraid of Yu Xiaogang playing mind games with him, he still felt it was a waste of time.

"Rather than wasting time here, I might as well focus on cultivating. Should I stay at Shopkeeper Ning's place? But Shopkeeper Ning is from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and that favor would not be easy to repay." Feng Yao murmured, unconsciously rubbing the money pouch at his waist. The payment Shopkeeper Ning gave him was generous enough to support a long-term stay at an inn, but an inn was not suitable for cultivation.

"Forget it. I'll go work at Shopkeeper Ning's first. Maybe he'll back off once he realizes the difficulty." Feng Yao muttered. Then he headed out of the academy.