A Faint Light

A Faint Light

"After ordinary people step onto the path of cultivation, their bodies will gradually undergo transformation under the nourishment of Cosmic Energy. The duration of this process depends on each student's usual cultivation results. During the transformation, hunger, auditory hallucinations, excitement, insomnia, and other conditions may occur."

"Students need not worry. This is a process everyone must go through, and you will adapt in a few days. Oh, and students with the means should buy Nutrient Solution to ensure their daily nutritional needs. That way, you can spend less time eating."

"Teacher Lin, we want to know how long we need to cultivate before reaching the first realm, Spirit Medium." A student asked a question inside the meditation room.

Lin Yue immediately said, "Before answering that, I want to ask everyone a question. Our bodies receive information from the outside world through all kinds of senses. Which of these senses do you think receives the most information? The nose, mouth, ears, eyes, or skin?"

"The eyes. The eyes receive the most information from the outside world." A student immediately answered.

Lin Yue nodded. "That's right, the eyes. The eyes account for the largest share of information received by the human body, roughly eighty percent of all sensory input. Therefore, during cultivation, the first thing that feels strange is that your eyes begin seeing things you normally cannot see."

"New cultivators often think they are hallucinating, but that isn't the case. Those things already exist in our world. Ordinary people's eyes can see only a very limited range of things, so they overlook the existence of things beyond their vision."

"For example, ghosts. Human eyes cannot see ghosts. Only when your cultivation reaches a certain level and your eyes undergo changes can you see these so-called ghosts."

"Also, within sealed Danger Zones, there are strange and terrifying creatures. Ordinary people cannot see those things either."

"As the medium connecting us to the outside world, the eyes are why the first realm of cultivation is called Spirit Medium. Of course, in ancient times, the transformation of the eyes had another name: opening the Heavenly Eye."

Hearing Lin Yue's explanation, many students were suddenly enlightened. Even Li Yi, who was eavesdropping on the lecture outside the door, understood much more at once.

Sure enough, cultivation was not simple. It involved a great deal of specialized knowledge.

"Oh, right. Let me quietly tell you all a secret that only those who have opened Spirit Medium know." Lin Yue's tone suddenly became extremely grave. "The world we live in is far more terrifying than you imagine. So everyone must cultivate diligently and never slack off."

"Alright, that concludes today's lesson. Next, everyone can begin meditating and cultivating. If there is anything you do not understand, you can come ask me. I'll be in the office outside the meditation room."

When Lin Yue walked out of the meditation room, she happened to see Li Yi listening outside the door. She froze for a moment, then smiled. "Li Yi, if you want to attend the lesson, just go inside. There's no need to stand outside."

"It's the same whether I listen outside or inside. Besides, I've already gotten started. Going into the meditation room wouldn't do me much good and might even affect the other students' cultivation." Li Yi shook his head. He already felt fortunate enough to be able to sit in on the lessons for free.

A membership would cost ten thousand yuan.

He could not bear to spend that much now.

Lin Yue said nothing. Suddenly, she took a few steps forward and leaned close, her clean, pretty face rapidly drawing nearer.

Li Yi jumped and instinctively backed away, but Lin Yue grabbed his shoulder and held him in place. Her strength was so great that he could not break free.

"Don't move. Let me look at your eyes."

Lin Yue's face revealed a trace of disbelief. "Haven't you noticed? A faint light is flickering in your eyes. Incredible, truly incredible. This is a clear sign that your body is evolving."

"Students in the meditation room might cultivate for a month without such a phenomenon appearing. How long have you cultivated? One day, or two? Li Yi, tell me honestly, did something suddenly go ding in your head when we first met, and you awaken some kind of golden finger?"

Li Yi was immediately astonished. He had not expected Lin Yue to see through his transformation at a glance.

Was the cultivation speed granted by a wondrous artifact really this terrifying?

Could one day equal someone else's month?

"I don't know either. I went back yesterday and cultivated for one night. When I woke up the next day, I was like this. It doesn't feel like anything has changed." He could only play dumb, not daring to reveal his secret.

He was far too weak right now. Possessing a damaged wondrous artifact would only bring disaster upon him.

Only after becoming strong enough could he reveal the fact that he possessed a wondrous artifact with his head held high.

Lin Yue stared at Li Yi's eyes for quite a while before letting him go. Then she said doubtfully, "That's impossible. Your cultivation aptitude can only be considered average. One or two days absolutely cannot produce such results. Could there be something special about your home?"

"What could possibly be special about my home? There are plenty of houses like mine in the Old Town District," Li Yi said.

"You don't understand. The world is so vast, and wormholes are not equally active everywhere. In some regions, wormholes open frequently, allowing people to obtain more Cosmic Energy. Other places are the opposite. I've even heard that certain special areas have wormholes that open at fixed times and locations, leaking massive amounts of Cosmic Energy. Cultivating there is comparable to possessing a wondrous artifact."

Lin Yue explained, "You know Golden Academy, right?"

"I've seen it online. It's the country's most authoritative and elite cultivator school." Li Yi nodded.

Lin Yue said, "A few years ago, Golden Academy opened a wormhole through experimentation, connecting it to another world and intercepting the Cosmic Energy from that world. Thus, within Golden Academy's grounds, pure Cosmic Energy is exceptionally active. Cultivating there is much faster than in other places."

"Something like that exists?" Li Yi was very surprised.

"Of course. Otherwise, why does every cultivator want to enter Golden Academy? No, I've decided. In a few days, I'm going to your home to investigate and see whether its location is special. If it really is a problem with your house, then I'll be going there every day to cultivate. Don't refuse me when the time comes."

Lin Yue was deeply interested now. She wanted to get to the bottom of it and find herself a better place to cultivate.

Li Yi did not know how to refuse her, so he could only agree through gritted teeth. "Th-then, alright."

"Oh, right. Can cultivators be identified just by looking at their eyes? What is the difference between a cultivator's eyes and an ordinary person's eyes? Can you tell me?"

As he changed the subject, he asked the question that had been weighing on his mind.

Lin Yue said, "Since you asked, I'll answer according to what I've learned. Cultivators are people who have set foot on the road of evolution, so naturally their eyes change. The most obvious sign is that their eyes begin to glow. That is because Cosmic Energy gathers in the eyes. Thus, the stronger the cultivator, the brighter their eyes. Eventually, even their pupils will change."

"So that's how it is." Li Yi finally understood.

No wonder when he first met Old Crow, his eyes had faintly glowed in that dim room. He had looked like a wild beast lurking in darkness, making one's heart tremble.

"You came so early today, so aside from cultivation matters, you must have something else going on, right?" As a woman, Lin Yue was more attentive and sensed that Li Yi had something on his mind.

Li Yi immediately felt a little embarrassed. "Actually, I wanted to ask what kind of work cultivators can generally do to make money. Sister Lin, you know my family's circumstances, so a major reason I cultivate is to find a better job."

"So you want me to introduce you to a job."

Lin Yue immediately smiled. "Cultivators do indeed have many special jobs. For example, joining a studio, taking commissions from the Investigation Bureau to clear dangerous things from certain areas, going to the Ruined City to capture wanted criminals and rescue people, or entering Danger Zones to try hunting special creatures that have invaded from other worlds. But you have only been cultivating for two days. You cannot do any of those jobs. If you opened Spirit Medium, then at the very least, you could go read feng shui for people."

Li Yi smiled awkwardly. He knew Lin Yue was right.

As a newcomer like him, cultivator work was not his turn to do yet.

"But there is one job you can try." Lin Yue's smile faded, and she spoke seriously.

"What job?" Li Yi immediately asked.

Lin Yue said, "A guide."

"A guide? I know that. It means guiding Cosmic Energy into someone else's body to help them cultivate, right?" Li Yi immediately said.

Lin Yue said, "Correct. I'm currently studying for a guide certification myself."

"You need certification too?" Li Yi's face instantly fell when he heard that.

Lin Yue smiled. "You can still do this job without certification, but the pay will be lower. Still, the money from it should be enough for you. However, before that, you must advance your cultivation until, after entering meditation, you can sense other people around you. Otherwise, you cannot guide Cosmic Energy into other people's bodies."

"If you can do that, call this number. He is an acquaintance of my friend at the Cultivators Association. I'm not familiar with him, but if you go looking for work, he should give me some face."

As she spoke, Lin Yue gave Li Yi a phone number.

"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Sister Lin." Li Yi memorized the number and spoke gratefully.

"You're welcome. It's only a trifling matter. Alright, I have things to do. If you have any questions, call me. Oh, you don't have my contact information yet, so remember that too while you're at it," Lin Yue said.

"Sister Lin, go ahead and get busy. I need to buy Nutrient Solution too. I'm truly very grateful this time. When I have the ability in the future, I'll definitely repay you," Li Yi said with utmost sincerity.

Lin Yue smiled and rolled her eyes at him. "Then you'd better work hard."

With that, she turned and walked into the meditation room.

Li Yi did not disturb her any further. Lin Yue had already helped him enormously by spending two days teaching him and guiding him onto the road of cultivation. He had to walk the rest of the road himself.

With that thought, he left Uncle Biao's meditation room.

"First, I'll buy Nutrient Solution." Li Yi headed to a relatively large pharmacy nearby.

Business at the pharmacy was somewhat booming. Many people were lining up to buy Nutrient Solution. Sure enough, cultivation had become popular again recently.

"I want to buy six doses of No. 1 Nutrient Solution."

When it was Li Yi's turn, he did not hesitate and directly bought a month's supply for his parents. Fortunately, he had earned ten thousand yuan from Old Crow that morning. Otherwise, they would definitely have run out of food today.

After paying six thousand yuan, he thought about it, gritted his teeth, and spent another two thousand yuan on a dose of No. 2 Nutrient Solution.

No. 2 Nutrient Solution was used by cultivators to supplement their nutrition. Although it was the lowest grade, Li Yi wanted to test its effects.

The money in his hand quickly dwindled to just over three thousand yuan. Li Yi did not dare spend any more. He prepared to leave the pharmacy, buy some food to store at home, then cultivate diligently at home for a few days and strive to reach the threshold soon so he could work as a guide.

However, just as he was about to leave—

Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure among the people lined up at the pharmacy entrance.

It was a woman in a slip dress, her figure somewhat graceful and curvaceous.

"That is... Liu Yan?" At that moment, Li Yi suspected his eyes were hallucinating, and his entire body could not help but shudder.

But wasn't Liu Yan already dead?

She had died after witnessing something, blood flowing from all seven orifices as her body lay outside that building in the Ruined City.

Amid the crowd, Liu Yan, who was waiting in line, seemed to notice Li Yi's gaze as well. She slowly turned her head with slight stiffness, and that bloodless, deathly pale face gradually entered his view.

Li Yi instantly felt every hair on his body stand on end. He hurriedly withdrew his gaze, quickened his pace, and fled the pharmacy as though escaping for his life.

Some instinct within him told him never to let that Liu Yan set her sights on him.

Only after walking several kilometers away from the pharmacy did Li Yi stop and begin gasping for breath.

It was not from exhaustion, but from excessive tension.

"Have I already opened Spirit Medium and started seeing unclean things? Or was that Liu Yan really there?" His heart was still chilled, and his mind was a complete mess.

He looked back and only relaxed after confirming that Liu Yan had not followed him.

After calming down, Li Yi was certain that he had not opened Spirit Medium yet. That meant he really had seen Liu Yan just now.

"What exactly is that Liu Yan now? And she is living in the city like this, yet no one has noticed. Even the cultivators waiting in line just now did not find anything wrong."

"I think I understand what Lin Yue meant. Our world is far more dangerous and terrifying than what we can see."

Li Yi did not dare linger outside any longer.

Because he could no longer be sure whether, among the people walking outside, there was only one existence like Liu Yan—or many such existences.

Once he opened Spirit Medium, how many strange and terrifying things would he see?

No wonder people in the Old Town District died inexplicably every moment.

Perhaps they had not died normal deaths. Perhaps they had encountered some unknown terror.

With all these thoughts swirling in his mind, Li Yi hurried home as though fleeing for his life.