He had just finished choosing.
Fang Qingyu's vision suddenly plunged into darkness.
Ripples spread across his sea of consciousness.
Gray mist swirled into a vortex at his dantian, while the tiny specks of light along its edges looked like stars torn apart by gravity.
Some traced the arcs of a Tai Chi Diagram, while others formed the array of the Big Dipper.
In the end, they were all devoured by the gray mist and turned into primordial energy.
As his contemplation deepened, five faint phantoms gradually emerged from the center of the vortex.
The phantom at the very bottom showed a blurry Tai Chi Diagram. The black and white fish were breaking down the absorbed energy into hard and soft qi.
When Fang Qingyu tried to peer into the second phantom, the entire Contemplation Diagram suddenly trembled, and the gray mist along its edges shattered into countless runes.
"So that's how it's supposed to circulate."
He instinctively adjusted the rhythm of his breathing, and the speed of the gray-mist vortex changed with it.
It seemed as though countless fine streams of energy, like iron filings drawn to a magnet, were slowly seeping into his pores.
Under the guidance of the Contemplation Diagram, Fang Qingyu "saw" the energy enter his body and flow toward his dantian along a specific route.
When that tangible energy touched the gray-mist vortex, it was instantly crushed into chaotic gray particles.
Suddenly, a stabbing pain shot down from his Baihui Acupoint.
His consciousness returned to reality.
At the same time, many realizations surged through his mind.
By the time Fang Qingyu opened his eyes again, most of the people had already left the gymnasium.
"Are you all right?"
Only Coach Zheng remained. After seeing Fang Qingyu look as though he had fallen asleep, she had stayed by his side.
"I'm fine. I didn't get enough rest yesterday."
Fang Qingyu stood up and smiled as he shook his head.
Zheng Lin nodded. "That's good. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Martial arts training requires both tension and relaxation."
"I'll be going now."
"All right. Take care, Coach Zheng."
After seeing her out the main entrance, Fang Qingyu returned to the martial arts gym alone.
The Nine Heavens Primordial Contemplation Method was divided into five stages.
What he had just seen was merely the first-stage Contemplation Diagram.
It was so clear that it took his breath away.
Its core essence was to condense a Qi Core and build an Inner Sea.
Its force effect was Dragon-Tiger Force. When striking with his fists or palms, it would enhance his force, as well as the strength of his flesh and bones.
For example, he had just shattered several stake arms with his bare palms.
It had looked impressive.
In reality, his palms were nearly numb with pain.
With this overbearing force, that problem would not occur.
It could also be infused into weapons, strengthening both his force and the weapons themselves.
However, he would have to wait until he trained it to find out exactly how much it could enhance him.
It was an extremely mysterious kind of force.
Just like Bloodrage, once he chose it,
it became as instinctive as breathing.
He simply knew how to use it from birth.
The Contemplation Diagram required by the Contemplation Method had also been firmly branded into his mind.
What had just happened could be considered the diagram guiding him through the process once.
So if he truly wanted to absorb that energy,
he had to start from here?
Fang Qingyu took out the Life Pearl and tentatively circulated the Contemplation Method he had just learned.
The next second,
a new prompt popped up on the diagram before his eyes.
Class Core Skill "Nine Heavens Primordial Visualization Method" is activating (0/100)
Nearly half an hour passed.
When Fang Qingyu felt that he could no longer absorb any more energy,
the Life Pearl in his hand had already vanished.
At the same time, the activation experience had gone from 0
to 1.
Fang Qingyu stared at his empty palm.
Was this really right?
Judging from Coach Lin and the others' reactions that morning,
fifty Life Pearls should have been a lot. They ought to have been enough to quickly get him through the beginner period.
Yet judging from the current situation,
all the Life Pearls he had could barely push the Contemplation Method past the halfway mark.
He still needed a full forty-nine Life Pearls
just to enter the beginner stage.
Fang Qingyu was at a loss for words.
Had he chosen a money-burning pit of a Contemplation Method?
Still, it was not entirely unreasonable.
Compared with the Contemplation Diagrams he had seen on the tablet—
mountains, animals, rivers, and lakes—
they were worlds apart from the magnificent sea of stars he had just seen.
He had to put earning Life Pearls on his agenda.
With that thought, Fang Qingyu went to the changing room and changed his clothes.
He drove to a club and enjoyed a full-service treatment.
After relaxing his entire body,
he headed to a completely new destination.
Rui Residence.
A genuine villa district.
In all of Qingjian City, it ranked as the second-best residential area.
It was surpassed only by Heaven's Mansion, a high-rise complex of standalone, single-level apartments.
It could be called exceedingly luxurious.
It was only a kilometer from Five Mile Street.
The previous night, Fang Qingyu had contacted one of the residents online.
They needed a personal bodyguard.
The working hours were from four to six in the evening.
Only two hours.
The monthly salary was fifty thousand.
The only requirement was that the applicant had to be able to fight!
The A8 slowly entered the residential compound.
It stopped in front of Villa No. 11, where quite a few vehicles were already parked nearby.
It seemed that there were many people here for the interview today.
After Fang Qingyu got out, a butler quickly came to greet him at the entrance.
"Hello. May I ask what name the appointment is under?"
"Fang Qingyu."
"All right, Mr. Fang. Please come with me."
The butler checked the notebook in his hand, then immediately extended an arm to usher Fang Qingyu inside.
As they walked in,
Fang Qingyu glanced around.
He had to admit,
this place did not look much like a villa district.
It looked more like a manor.
The driveway was paved with lapis lazuli, the podocarpus trees on either side had been trimmed into coiling dragon shapes, and even the Taihu stones scattered around the tree roots were veined with jade-like patterns.
Extravagant.
Soon, they arrived in front of the main building.
It was a three-story, modern Chinese-style villa. Its hilltop roof was covered with dark-glazed tiles, and wind chimes shaped like Bronze Bells hung from the upturned eaves.
"By the way, Mr. Fang, during this interview, you may need to spar with the other applicants. Would that bother you?"
Before they went inside, the butler asked one more question.
"Not at all."
Fang Qingyu shook his head.
When multiple people were interviewing for a bodyguard position, strength naturally became the only reliable test.
They could not exactly claim that they had killed someone in some region or rescued somebody. Words like that were too pale.
"All right. This way, please."
Seeing that Fang Qingyu not only did not mind but also seemed quite confident, the butler finally led him inside.
After entering, they turned left into a conference room.
Quite a few people were already seated inside.
When Fang Qingyu entered, they all began sizing him up with scrutinizing looks.
Fang Qingyu ignored them.
He found a random seat and sat down, then took out his phone and opened his chat with Old Jiao.
"Old Jiao, my strength has reached the required level."
"???"
Three question marks arrived almost instantly.
Fang Qingyu skipped over the Innate Martial Seed part, briefly typed out what had happened, and sent it over.
A few minutes later,
Old Jiao finally messaged him back, saying they would talk that evening.
Just then,
the conference room door opened as well.
A woman in her thirties entered and immediately began driving people away.
"Frauds, and anyone who thinks they can't fight five people at once, you can leave now. If you get injured later, there won't be any medical expenses."
Yet the dozen or so people in the conference room did not move.
Fang Qingyu put down his phone and swept his eyes over them.
They all had white job titles.
Most were professionals in various forms of combat, along with a few professional bodyguards and the like.
Seeing that no one had left,
the woman took out her phone and began timing them.
"Very good. I'll give you three minutes. After three minutes, the only person still standing will be hired. If more than one person is standing, all of you will be eliminated."
With that, the woman turned and left, even thoughtfully closing the door behind her.
Bang—
The dozen or so people remaining in the conference room looked at one another.
Fang Qingyu slowly rose to his feet and spoke first.
"Sorry, everyone."
Before you continue