Luo Beichen looked at his mentor.
"Observing Mountains and Seas?"
Wei Fenghua coughed twice. "Although every cultivation method is broadly similar, each has a different focus."
"Some emphasize rapid advancement. Breaking through in a single day isn't impossible."
"Some focus on the amount of Primal Energy. The more Primal Energy you have, the greater your endurance."
"As for 'Observing Mountains and Seas,' it emphasizes the foundation."
"They say that a towering building rises from level ground. When cultivating this method, you may progress more slowly than others at first."
"But your foundation will be solid. The further you cultivate, the easier it will become."
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Suddenly, Wei Fenghua began coughing violently.
He hurriedly took out a bottle of Inhalant, took a puff, and only then continued.
"Next, I'll formally explain how to cultivate 'Observing Mountains and Seas.' Don't interrupt me."
"If you have any questions, I'll give you time to ask them later."
Without waiting for Luo Beichen to respond, Wei Fenghua took out a remote control and pressed it. The large screen on the Training Hall's wall lit up.
A painting appeared on the screen.
It seemed to be an enlarged mural of some kind.
Within the painting,
the mountains rose ten thousand ren high, stretching endlessly in undulating ridges.
The boundless sea rolled with ten thousand miles of emerald waves.
The mountains stood in front, and the sea behind them.
The mountains and sea reflected one another.
Majestic and magnificent.
Wei Fenghua said, "Memorize this scene. When cultivating, visualize this painting in your mind."
"But at this stage, the focus is on the 'mountains.'"
"Concentrate on visualizing those strange peaks and the shape of the mountains."
"Visualize the stability and majesty of the high mountains."
"Use this to settle your Primal Energy and make it merge into your skin, flesh, sinews, bones, and even your entire body's organs."
"When you develop the vision of 'a thousand layers of mountains and ten thousand ridges,' you will have reached the Perfection stage of the elementary Visualization Technique."
"At that point, you can attempt a breakthrough and enter the 'Observing Sea' stage, which is also the cultivation of the intermediate Visualization Technique."
Next, Wei Fenghua guided Luo Beichen on how to coordinate his breathing during visualization, how to sense the Essence Energy of Heaven and Earth, and how to guide it into his body through inhalation and exhalation.
This lecture
lasted nearly two hours.
Throughout it, Luo Beichen kept his mentor's instructions firmly in mind.
He did not interrupt.
Even when he had questions, he held them back.
"In short, the Observing Mountains and Seas cultivation method can take you through elementary and intermediate cultivation."
"All right, that's everything I wanted to say. Ask your questions."
After speaking, Wei Fenghua began coughing again.
Luo Beichen did not ask his questions immediately.
He silently walked to one side of the Training Hall.
He brought over a folding chair, opened it, and placed it beside Wei Fenghua.
Wei Fenghua glanced at the chair but did not stand on ceremony. He sat down.
Only then did Luo Beichen ask his questions.
"How many levels does the Visualization Technique have?"
"How many stages are there in each level?"
"Do different levels of Visualization Technique require different cultivation methods?"
He asked seven or eight questions in all.
Wei Fenghua smiled and said, "According to what we discovered in that 'world,' the Visualization Technique is divided into realms such as Foundation Establishment, Aperture Opening, and Sea Gathering."
"But we found that too cumbersome, so we changed it to levels such as elementary, intermediate, and Advanced."
"Above Advanced, there are also levels such as Mystic Mastery, Blade Awakening, and Winged Ascension."
"But you're still far from coming into contact with those, so I won't go into detail for now."
"As for the stages, each level is divided into five stages, plus one 'Perfection' stage."
"But even without cultivating to Perfection, you can still break through. It depends on the circumstances and can be handled flexibly."
"Different levels do indeed require different cultivation methods."
"However, the Academy can provide, at most, Advanced Cultivation Methods, and only if certain conditions are met."
"As for those beyond that, you'll need to obtain them through other channels. You may even have to explore that 'world' to have any hope of acquiring them."
Wei Fenghua answered Luo Beichen's questions one by one.
After memorizing them, Luo Beichen nodded. "I have no more questions."
"Then begin cultivating."
Under Wei Fenghua's watchful gaze, Luo Beichen used the method he had just been taught.
He consciously controlled his breathing while visualizing the magnificent painting of the mountains and sea in his mind.
At first, he had to split his attention between two things. Either his breathing rhythm went wrong, or he could not maintain the painting in his mind.
Wei Fenghua patiently corrected him.
Gradually, Luo Beichen found the knack.
His breathing slowly changed. At the same time, he felt traces of warm energy in the surrounding air slowly burrowing into his body and flowing throughout it.
Following his mentor's instructions, Luo Beichen consciously guided these traces of energy toward his skin.
He made them seep into every inch of his flesh.
When Luo Beichen was fully focused on cultivating, he failed to notice that his skin was faintly glowing and had taken on subtle rock-like patterns.
No one knew how much time had passed.
Luo Beichen heard Wei Fenghua prompt him, "That's enough."
Thus, he ended his first cultivation session after entering the Academy.
He found that his body was already drenched in sweat. The sweat smelled sour and foul, with a faint fishy odor.
Wei Fenghua stood and said, "Go back and take a shower. From now on, cultivate on your own. Tell me when you reach 'Primary Level Two.'"
Luo Beichen raised his hand and asked, "How will I know when I've reached 'Primary Level Two'?"
Wei Fenghua coughed twice and said lightly, "You'll know when you get there."
"Remember, cultivating this first level requires you to let the Primal Energy completely permeate every inch of your skin."
"Start with your limbs, then your torso. Ultimately, every part of your body from head to toe must be permeated by Primal Energy."
"Even your eyelids cannot be left out."
Luo Beichen nodded and committed it to memory.
After leaving the Training Hall, he returned to the dormitory alone.
Along the way, he saw quite a few students returning.
Most of them wore smiles on their faces.
Clearly, they had all gained something from the afternoon's lessons.
When he reached the Dormitory Area, he saw Luo Beichen. The latter smiled and nodded at him.
It seemed he had forgotten the unpleasantness from that morning.
Luo Beichen ignored him, walked along the wall, and quickly disappeared into the distance.
Luo Beichen withdrew his gaze, smiled, and walked into the dormitory.
At that moment, his phone rang.
The pink-faced young man happened to come in.
Luo Beichen glanced at him.
The latter slapped his forehead. "Oh no, I think I left something behind."
He turned and left immediately, not forgetting to close the door.
Only then did Luo Beichen take a deep breath and answer the call.
The call was from Luo Tianyi.
Luo Beichen called out, "Dad," but there was no sound from the other end.
Several seconds later, Luo Tianyi's voice finally came through.
"Fool!"
Luo Beichen's expression changed slightly, but he did not respond.
Luo Tianyi continued, "Who told you to meddle? Did I need your help?"
"Do your studies properly. That would be a huge help to me!"
"But look at you. On your first day at the Academy, you were already plotting to kill someone."
"Do you really think killing some wild boy from the surface will be enough to bring down Di Zheng?"
"If he were that easy to bring down, he would have fallen from power long ago."
After a tirade,
Luo Tianyi fell silent again.
Only then did he say, "You're not your elder brother. You don't have his vision or ability."
"So I've never demanded much of you."
"Why can't you even meet that small demand?"
Luo Beichen's face suddenly flushed red. His breathing quickened, and he gnashed his teeth.
Yet he still said nothing.
Luo Tianyi continued, "Forget it. You've already decided to fight a Death Match, so I won't say anything more."
"I'll do my best to provide you with resources, but remember this: if you lose on the arena, or even get butchered by someone..."
"That will be your choice."
"Afterward, I won't—and can't—avenge you."
"Or..."
"Should I arrange for you to leave the Academy?"
Only then did Luo Beichen say grimly, "I'm not leaving the Academy."
"I know you've always looked down on me."
"I'll make you change your mind."
"Right here!"
He pointed forcefully at the ground.
"Good."
Luo Tianyi left him with that brief reply and hung up.
Luo Beichen put away his phone and adjusted his expression.
By the time knocking sounded at the door, he was already smiling.
"Come in."
The next day.
There were still cultural classes during the day.
This time, the teacher was a woman.
She looked to be in her early thirties, with long hair tied into a high ponytail.
A strip of medical tape was stuck to her face. She wore a tank top, with a shirt tied around her waist.
She also wore a pair of work gloves.
She looked as if she had just stepped away from a workbench.
"My name is Zhao Yidan, and I'm in charge of your Mech General Knowledge Class."
Zhao Yidan swiftly wrote several words on the blackboard.
Frame! Joints! Outer Armor! Engine! Power Source!
After finishing,
she turned around and tossed the chalk aside.
Then she said,
"The frame of a mech is similar to an animal's skeleton or a vessel's keel."
"It supports the mech's form and serves as the internal primary structure that drives its movements."
"To a great extent, it determines the mech's mobility."
"In battle, a mature pilot must consciously protect the mech's frame."
"Even if the outer armor is damaged or destroyed, you must do your best to keep the frame intact and undamaged."
"Because if the outer armor is damaged, a simple repair or replacement can restore the mech to its original condition."
"But if the frame is damaged, not only will maintenance costs skyrocket, it will also be extremely difficult to repair in many cases."
"So, you little brats, all of you had better pay attention."
"If you dare damage the frame, watch out—I'll butcher you!"
Zhao Yidan opened her eyes wide, her Aura fierce and threatening.
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