Nether Gate Opening

It was the same night.

Jiangnan Avenue, Luo Mansion.

In the study.

Luo Tianyi and his eldest son, Luo Nanxing, were playing chess.

Go.

Luo Nanxing lowered his head, his eyelids drooping, hands resting on his knees, breathing slowly.

He adopted a humble posture, but it was one of respect, not inferiority.

Luo Tianyi picked up a chess piece, placed it down slowly, and smiled faintly, "Nanxing, you've been learning chess for fifteen years now, haven't you?"

Only then did Luo Nanxing slightly raise his head and smile gently, "Fifteen years and three months."

Luo Tianyi nodded, "Good. Now, when you play, your demeanor, presence, and etiquette are all in place."

"All that's missing is experience."

Luo Nanxing knew his father wasn't just referring to chess, but to other matters.

"Your turn," Luo Tianyi said with a smile.

Luo Nanxing made a move, purely defensive.

Luo Tianyi narrowed his eyes, "A steady playing style isn't a bad thing. Steady progress builds a solid foundation."

"However, sometimes, you also need a bit of aggression."

"Especially when you reach a point where you need to exchange life and death with your opponent. If you only defend, you'll easily lose your composure under their relentless pressure."

Luo Tianyi looked up meaningfully, "It's like this in life, and even more so in how you handle things."

Luo Nanxing retreated a little, resting his forehead on the ground, "This son has learned his lesson."

A knock sounded at the door.

Luo Tianyi raised his hand slightly.

Only then did Luo Nanxing sit up straight.

"Enter."

With Luo Tianyi's permission, the door was opened, and the old butler, who had served the Luo family for many years, walked in.

"Master, Chen Kang'an is here."

Luo Nanxing's expression turned thoughtful.

Luo Tianyi said faintly at this moment, "Chen Kang'an? Who is that?"

Luo Nanxing replied while kneeling on the floor, "He's the Bureau Chief of the Yongping district's Local Security Bureau."

Luo Tianyi glanced at him and smiled with satisfaction.

He had intentionally tested his son just now.

For people like them, no matter how many subordinates they had, they needed to remember everyone.

This way, their actions would be targeted and not chaotic.

Luo Tianyi picked up another chess piece, "What does Chen Kang'an want?"

The old butler replied, "He said he recently encountered a student from Hundred Battles Academy, Luo Yan."

The hand that was about to place a chess piece paused. Luo Tianyi then made his move, "Interesting."

He looked at his son, "Go and meet him. Handle it as you see fit."

"Yes." Luo Nanxing stood up and backed out of the study.

A moment later.

Luo Nanxing returned and said, "Chen Kang'an said that on Friday night, members of a Giant Beast smuggling group were apprehended in his district."

"To cause confusion, they released a Giant Beast parasite, but it was killed by Luo Yan and his classmate Zeng Shan."

"Afterward, members of the smuggling organization took a woman hostage, but she was silenced."

"We still haven't been able to identify the killer."

Luo Tianyi looked up, "Did Chen Kang'an say anything else?"

Luo Nanxing shook his head, "No. He just said he was passing by and decided to pay his respects and share this news with us."

Luo Tianyi smiled, "A district bureau chief who knows his place. He's a smart man."

"So, how will you handle it?"

Luo Nanxing respectfully said, "I recall you saying before, Father."

"'You want to promote that student Luo by overpraising him.'"

"Therefore, I've taken the liberty of asking Director Chen to act on our behalf. Find a time to present the two students with a banner of honor and award them work points."

Luo Tianyi pressed, "How will you award them?"

Luo Nanxing said word by word, "Student Luo gets work points, and the other student gets 1000."

Luo Tianyi nodded, "Agreed."

"With comparison comes dissatisfaction."

"And those from poor families will be even more envious."

"If someone is envious, our student Luo won't have peaceful days."

"But it's not enough."

"We must also find an opportunity to make him a celebrity, a popular figure in Guangling."

"The kind of person whose name, when mentioned, makes people want to kill him immediately."

"Remember this, our dealing with Luo Yan is just incidental."

"Luo Yan is just a tool, just a lever."

"What we ultimately want to pry up is Di Zheng!"

Snap.

Luo Tianyi placed a piece, his move decisive.

Monday afternoon.

Training hall.

As Luo Yan opened the door and entered, he saw Di Zheng.

He was wearing training clothes, his stern face devoid of a smile, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes, like autumn sunlight, clean and bright.

Di Zheng handed Luo Yan a book, "Old Wei gave this to you."

Luo Yan took it and saw it was the Encyclopedia of Divine Treasures that Wei Fenghua had promised when they were in the Forbidden Zone.

Di Zheng said directly, "I'm here today to fulfill my promise."

"I will teach you the 'Nether Gate Opening' secret technique!"

Luo Yan's eyes lit up with anticipation.

Di Zheng first pointed to several acupoints on his body, explaining the Qi circulation path, then elaborated, "Unlike 'Opening the Essence Gate,' 'Nether Gate Opening' will not increase your immediate combat power."

"'Nether' means nothingness, and it also refers to darkness and depth."

"In our daily activities, whether sitting or lying down, the pores all over our body are in an open state."

"When pores are open, they naturally release Qi."

"Some Giant Beasts are very sensitive to Qi."

"'Nether Gate Opening' allows us to conceal our Qi from the entire body, but remember, you cannot breathe while using 'Nether Gate Opening'."

"If you breathe, the Qi will leak."

"However, with more practice of this secret technique, the duration of holding your breath will naturally extend."

"Furthermore, when using 'Nether Gate Opening,' Qi will be suppressed within the body, and Essence Energy is no exception."

"This way, the Essence Energy will enter a state of contraction."

"When you finish 'Nether Gate Opening' and immediately switch to 'Opening the Essence Gate,' the contracted Essence Energy will enter a state of explosion."

"It will be a much greater explosion than simply using 'Opening the Essence Gate'."

"It should be noted."

"This will also consume more than simply using 'Opening the Essence Gate'."

"Therefore, you should use it depending on the situation."

Luo Yan listened, forgetting to breathe.

After composing himself, he asked, "If other spirit wheels are opened in a different order, will they also combine to produce different effects?"

Di Zheng nodded with a stern face, "That's right."

"Also, secret techniques and divine treasures can be used in combination, and sometimes they are the activation conditions for certain combat techniques."

"For example, my 'Startling Thunder. Flash' is activated by the combination of a divine treasure and 'Opening the Essence Gate'."

"In the future, you can also delve into this aspect to create your own unique combat techniques or Profound Techniques."

Next.

Di Zheng patiently guided Luo Yan through the essentials of this secret technique.

An entire afternoon passed like this.

"Let's go eat."

To Luo Yan's surprise, Di Zheng didn't leave after finishing the teaching this time.

Di Zheng patted his shoulder, "I haven't eaten cafeteria food in a long time, I miss it."

"However, I don't have academic credits, so you'll have to treat me."

The cafeteria is free for students within the academy, but friends from outside need to purchase meals with academic credits.

Luo Yan naturally agreed.

So the two headed to the cafeteria.