Dragon's Roam Step, Soul Gate Opening

Guangling City, Jiangnan Avenue.

Luo Mansion!

In the training room, Luo Beichen, dressed in a Taoist robe, arrived early.

He waited for about the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn.

He heard footsteps.

He looked over.

The old man who had appeared in his father's study that morning had arrived.

Luo Beichen bowed deeply, "Greetings, Elder Gao."

"Just call me Sir."

Gao Lin, with his hands behind his back, walked around Luo Beichen once.

"What is your current Visualization Technique level?"

Luo Beichen answered truthfully, "Primary Level Three."

Gao Lin grunted, "You are cultivating Swift Wind and Thunder, this technique focuses on rapid completion."

"It seems the instructor who chose this technique for you had great insight."

Luo Beichen respectfully said, "Yes, my instructor Huang Yong said that if I wasn't fighting a Death Match."

"Then I should cultivate a technique that focuses on fundamentals, like Observing Mountains and Seas."

"But if I'm fighting a Death Match, being one level higher gives me a slight advantage over that Luo fellow."

Gao Lin said calmly, "That makes sense."

"Even if the foundation is shaky due to rapid completion."

"You can cultivate other techniques later and then return to reinforce your foundation; it's not too late."

He paused and then asked, "Do you know what technique your opponent is cultivating?"

"And what is their level?"

Luo Beichen replied fluently, "That Luo fellow is cultivating Observing Mountains and Seas, and as far as I know, he is currently at Primary Level Two."

"He received quite a few academic credits upon enrollment."

"After he sent me the challenge, he exchanged them for a large amount of 'Calming Agents'."

Gao Lin smiled, "A Death Match is imminent, and he's still cultivating Observing Mountains and Seas."

"It seems his instructor has a lot of confidence in him."

"It's not surprising that he could cultivate to 'Primary Level Two' with the help of 'Calming Agents'."

"Although there is only a week left, you must prepare for the worst. He might break through to 'Primary Level Three' before stepping onto the stage."

Luo Beichen narrowed his eyes.

"Since he was recommended by Di Zheng, he might have personally learned combat techniques from Di Zheng."

Gao Lin sat down cross-legged.

"Di Zheng's combat techniques are derived from two 'basic forms'."

"One is 'Startling Thunder', which is a Sword Skill."

"The other is 'Bone Shatter', which is a fist technique."

"Both of these have spawned multiple combat techniques."

"Such as 'Startling Thunder.Chaos', 'Startling Thunder.Flash'."

"And 'Bone Shatter.Seven Kills', 'Bone Shatter.Heart Split'."

The old man seemed to know Di Zheng very well, and Luo Beichen listened attentively, not daring to miss a word.

"Considering the time, and your classmate's Visualization Technique level."

Gao Lin smiled, "Di Zheng wouldn't have taught him derivative combat techniques; he probably only taught him the two 'basic forms'."

"I won't teach you combat techniques anymore."

"There's only a week left, and it's too late to teach you."

"However, I will teach you a set of footwork, or evasive techniques."

Luo Beichen was a little confused.

Footwork?

What can footwork do?

Gao Lin smiled faintly, "Footwork cannot defeat enemies, but it is an important auxiliary method."

"At the same time, it can also evade attacks."

"And some advanced footwork even has other marvelous uses."

"Like 'Bewildering Steps,' which can interfere with an opponent's judgment."

"'Void Treading Steps' allows one to tread on air and move without a trace."

Luo Beichen listened, his heart shaken.

He realized he had underestimated footwork.

Gao Lin stood up and said, "The footwork I will teach you is called 'Dragon's Roam Step,' allowing you to move with ease under your opponent's assault."

"Then, find an opening to counterattack and defeat them in one move!"

He raised his hand.

And brought it down heavily!

Afternoon.

Training hall.

As Luo Yan entered, he saw Wei Fenghua talking with someone else.

The person had sharp and stern facial features, and was the commander of the Surface Exploration Legion.

Di Zheng!

"Luo Yan is here."

Wei Fenghua clenched his fist and coughed twice, asking, "Have you picked out your weapon yet?"

Luo Yan nodded.

He handed the tablet computer back to Wei Fenghua.

It had the options he had selected on it.

"'Star Splitter'?"

Wei Fenghua nodded, put away the computer, and said, "Alright, I'll go get it for you."

"For this afternoon's class, Di Zheng will instruct you."

With that, the instructor left.

Di Zheng sized up Luo Yan from head to toe.

Then he reached out and pressed down heavily on his shoulder.

Luo Yan couldn't help but straighten his back.

From the force in Di Zheng's palm, he felt encouragement.

Di Zheng must have heard about what happened in the Forbidden Zone.

But he didn't mention it.

Instead, he asked, "What is your progress with the Visualization Technique cultivation?"

Luo Yan did not hide anything. "Primary Level Three."

"I just broke through not long ago."

A hint of surprise flashed in Di Zheng's eyes.

Then he said, "What I will teach you today is not a 'Combat Skill,' nor a 'Profound Technique.'"

"It is a 'Secret Technique' that stimulates yourself to unleash your potential in a short period of time."

"Its name is 'Soul Gate Opening.'"

Luo Yan remained silent but was fully focused.

"The Daoist text 'Cloud Pouch Seven Scrolls' states that humans have seven souls, which are Corpse Dog, Lying Arrow, Sparrow Shade, Devouring Thief, Non-Poison, Removing Filth, and Stinking Lung."

"These seven souls correspond to the seven Gateways in the human body: Essence, Nether, Spirit, Strength, Qi, Wisdom, and Impact, respectively."

"The so-called 'Soul Gate Opening' is to stimulate and open these seven Gateways, thereby temporarily unleashing greater potential."

Luo Yan nodded, finding that he could easily remember this knowledge.

Di Zheng continued, "You have a Death Match in a week, so I can only teach you how to open one of the Gateways."

"If there's time in the future, I'll teach you the others."

He paused, then said gravely, "What I will teach you is the easiest to get started with, and the foundation of this 'Secret Technique.'"

"'Opening the Essence Gate'!"

"Now, I will demonstrate once."

Di Zheng extended his hands, tapped his shoulders on both sides, and finally lightly pressed his index finger to his brow: "To open the 'Essence Gateway',"

"We need to use Essence Energy to stimulate the 'Jianjing Acupoints' on both sides, and then stimulate the 'Yintang Acupoint' to open it."

"Beginners, due to lack of proficiency, need to use external stimulation to assist."

"Once you're familiar with it, you just need to channel Essence Energy to open the acupoints."

"And this is the state after opening the 'Essence Gate'."

BOOM!

A surge of Essence Energy suddenly erupted from Di Zheng's body.

The Essence Energy overflowing from him was visible to the naked eye.

Bright yellow light surged upwards, causing his hair to flutter.

At the same time.

Di Zheng released an astonishing pressure, forcing Luo Yan almost to the ground.

As Di Zheng took a deep breath.

That pressure, along with the surging Essence Energy, quickly subsided.

"After opening the Essence Gate, all your bodily functions, including the strength of your Essence Energy and the power of your combat skills and Profound Techniques, can be increased by about two times."

Di Zheng explained, "Therefore, the more solid your foundation, the greater the potential for improvement."

"But at the same time, opening the 'Soul Gate' requires a price."

"Opening different 'Soul Gates' requires different prices."

"The price for the Essence Gate is that while the state is active, your physical strength and Essence Energy will be rapidly depleted."

"So, it's better not to open it at all."

"But if you do open the 'Essence Gate', you must decide the outcome in a short period of time."

"Decide life and death!"