Transformation

In the Training Room, Chen Chuan began another attempt at the Breathing Method.

But today was completely different from before. His breathing and body worked together in perfect harmony. It no longer felt difficult to mobilize them; everything had become open and smooth.

Yet this still did not count as true success, because there were no signs of the breath vibrations that had appeared when Cheng Zitong demonstrated it personally that day.

He recalled it carefully. When Cheng Zitong had guided him through the sensation, it should have begun from a single point in the body, gradually driving the remaining parts before spreading throughout the entire body, ultimately causing all the Mutated Tissue—and even the body itself—to resonate.

That point was the source of the "breath aperture." Breath arose from a single aperture, and qi moved with a single breath.

From beginning to end, Cheng Zitong had never explained this in concrete terms. Yet through that day's experience, Chen Chuan had naturally come to understand it. What he had comprehended for himself was far more vivid and profound than anything conveyed through words.

But knowing was one thing. How to actually achieve it still required him to grasp and control it himself. The difficulty was no less great.

At that moment, he looked toward his Second Self. Guided by his breathing, dense signs of phasing appeared there every time, but they were chaotic and irregular.

This meant that although his breathing could stir every part of his body, it was still scattered and fragmented, lacking a complete system. Although the Breath Regulation Method differed from the basic Breathing Method, it still had to form a unified whole.

But unlike the basic Breathing Method, it was not as simple as controlling one's strength. He needed to use one location—one "breath aperture"—as the starting point, then gradually expand outward to integrate everything.

He remembered that Cheng Zitong seemed to have activated it from the Dantian. That place would likely also become the point from which he exerted force in the future.

But it probably was not fixed, because everyone was different. Any location could serve as the starting point for exerting force, preventing one from being overly constrained. That was his own understanding, and he intended to proceed accordingly.

He first tried using the Dantian as the primary breath aperture. This was not difficult for him, because he could use the phasing signs appearing on his Second Self as a reference and correct himself at any time.

Thus, with each exhale and guiding breath, he gradually incorporated the rest of his body. The initial ripples were weak, but as his breathing drove them onward, their range slowly spread.

Cheng Zitong had been sitting to one side, watching closely and occasionally taking a sip from his thermos. Seeing this, he suddenly sat upright and stared intently at Chen Chuan.

After Chen Chuan used his Dantian as a breath aperture to vibrate his entire body, he did not stop. He began trying other locations as starting points. With the phasing signs as reference and his strengthened control over his body, this step instead went very smoothly. Once he succeeded with another point, he immediately moved on to the next.

As more and more of the Mutated Tissue became breath apertures, those tissues seemed to awaken and resonate together. Gradually, a strange rhythm emerged from his breathing.

Cheng Zitong could not help rising in surprise. He then stepped closer and placed a hand on Chen Chuan's back, fully relaxing as he sensed it. In only a short while, even his own breathing was drawn along, trembling faintly in rhythm.

He looked at Chen Chuan a few more times, thinking in astonishment, Had he really comprehended a deeper level of "transformation" on his own? Good. Very good.

He did not disturb him further. He merely stepped back two paces and waited patiently to one side.

The day passed just like that.

Chen Chuan finally finished breathing. He felt extraordinarily comfortable all over, but when he looked outside, he suddenly realized that it was already evening.

He was startled as well. It was this late already? Then Cheng Zitong's voice sounded. "Not bad. You're really something, kid. You can be considered to have initially mastered the Breath Regulation Method."

Chen Chuan looked over. "Teacher Cheng?" After thinking for a moment, he bowed slightly toward Cheng Zitong. "Thank you for looking after me, Teacher."

Every time he practiced the Breathing Method over the past few days, Cheng Zitong had watched over him at his side. He could imagine that this time had been no different, that Cheng Zitong had waited from morning until night. Chen Chuan truly appreciated the kindness.

Cheng Zitong said, "Let's see. From the day you started practicing until today, it has been exactly nine days. Nine days—that's quite fast. Those medicines weren't wasted on you."

Chen Chuan asked, "Teacher Cheng, how long does it usually take to master the Breath Regulation Method?"

Cheng Zitong said, "According to the academy's records, the fastest was around five days. There's only one such case. But there may be even faster ones nationwide. The rest of the quicker ones were around your level, eight to ten days. For the slower ones, some took several months, even half a year or a year. But that does not necessarily mean they were poor learners. It could also have been an issue with their instructors."

Chen Chuan deeply agreed. His ability to master it at this speed was not solely due to himself; it was inseparable from Cheng Zitong's care and flexibility. He truly was a conscientious and responsible teacher, yet not rigid or inflexible.

After some thought, he asked, "Teacher, does the speed at which one masters the Breathing Method affect later training?"

Cheng Zitong waved a hand. "It doesn't really determine anything. It only represents how quickly a student adapts. Combat arts involve many things, and they're rather scattered. You can't conquer everything with a single talent.

"Besides, no matter what it is, the higher you go, the harder it gets, and the gaps between people grow closer. How far you can go in the future is not decided by these few days. Being a little earlier or later makes no great difference."

Chen Chuan nodded to show he understood, then said, "Teacher Cheng, can I officially begin learning force now?"

Cheng Zitong said, "That's right. You completed the Breathing Method quickly, so we can begin training force sooner. That will allow your Mutated Tissue to truly grow in an orderly manner.

"But you've only just succeeded. On the one hand, you need to balance work and rest; on the other, you need to consolidate your results. Tomorrow and the day after are the academy's Rest Days, so I'll give you tomorrow off. Take care of your personal matters. You're from Yangzhi City, right? You haven't been home since school started, have you? Go back and see your family. Your teacher can relax a little too, and prepare your upcoming training courses."

"Thank you, Teacher Cheng," Chen Chuan said.

Cheng Zitong patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "You're always so polite and courteous. Oh, right, your classmates next door have come looking for you a few times. You'll be together for three years, so since you're free today, go talk with them and get acquainted. Relax a little while you're at it."

Chen Chuan said, "All right."

"Then it's settled. I'll come see you again the day after tomorrow."

"I'll see you out, Teacher."

"Ah, no need, no need. You really are something, kid. I'm leaving."

After Cheng Zitong left, Chen Chuan did not go home to rest. Instead, he headed straight to the Administration Building. Along the way, everyone who saw him greeted him warmly, and he responded with a smile.

When he reached the Recruitment Office, he knocked on the door and said to Gao Shi inside with a smile, "Chief Gao, is there a cup of tea for me here?"

Gao Shi glanced at him. "There's some in the cabinet. Help yourself."

Cheng Zitong did not stand on ceremony. He walked over and took out a canister of tea. Looking at it, he said, "Oh, Da Bai Feng. Chief Gao, you're generous."

Gao Shi said, "I can't exactly act generous in front of the academy's second steward. Say what you came to say. Stop beating around the bush; I have work to do."

Cheng Zitong said, "Don't you want to hear about that student? Call the other two over so we can discuss it together."

Without wasting words, Gao Shi picked up the receiver and dialed an internal number. "Have Yue Hong and Bian Feng come to my office."

Before long, Yue Hong and Bian Feng arrived at the office. When they saw the two men, they greeted them, "Gao Shi, Director Cheng."

Gao Shi said, "Sit and listen to him." Yue Hong and Bian Feng exchanged a glance, then went to sit off to one side.

Cheng Zitong straightened his posture, cleared his throat, and said, "Senior Brother Gao, you asked me to be Chen Chuan's instructor, so I've come to report the results to you today."

Yue Hong smiled. "Director Cheng, impressive. You have results after just nine days?"

"Well, it wasn't all thanks to me. The main thing is the student himself." Cheng Zitong cleared his throat again. "Under the guidance of this instructor, student Chen Chuan has already initially mastered the Breath Regulation Method. Next, he can begin force training."

Yue Hong was extremely surprised. "Nine days? That's fast. There aren't many cases like that in the records, are there?"

Bian Feng said gravely, "His upper limit for Mutated Tissue seems very high. He needs to master force as soon as possible, or it will have too great an impact on him."

"Exactly. That's what I came to discuss with you..." Cheng Zitong's expression turned serious. "What direction should he take next, and what kind of force should he cultivate?"