Enlightenment!

"...?"

"...?"

"Wait, wait, wait..." Fulvio's eyes widened as he spoke in shock.

"Rockheart Contemplation? Is that the same method our dad spent most of his life pondering to temper mental will?

How long have you guys been here?

He taught you his ultimate legacy already?

Even if you're VIP students, there's no need to rush this much, is there?

And what's this about Contemplation Technique? Shouldn't it be 'Imagining the Concrete Object'?"

"Ugh!" Teresa beside him bared her teeth and retorted, "Dad taught us 'Mind-Heart Fantasy'!"

Merlin glanced at them with a strange expression. "The meaning is the same, isn't it? It's just a different name.

Both involve holding an image in your consciousness and consuming mental energy to contemplate it long-term, thereby tempering your mental will."

The siblings pouted in unison after hearing this, then said simultaneously:

"How can that be the same? Even the names are different, so how can it still be called our family's legacy?"

Merlin felt speechless and a bit weary. At this moment, Fulvio stroked his chin in thought, then looked at Merlin and asked:

"Let's not dwell on you changing your name for now. I changed mine too, so what's said is said.

Why don't you explain your situation in detail first!"

So, Merlin explained how he contemplated a Lynx and was influenced by its playful nature.

Teresa looked at Merlin in surprise, her lips first curving into a slight smile, then she scoffed unhappily:

"Another deviant path, even more deviant than Fulvio's. You actually fantasized about an animal. Fulvio at least transformed from rocks into Waves."

Fulvio glared at her beside him. "You're not even calling me 'brother' anymore?"

But then he looked back at Merlin, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "So that's what happened! It seems you've researched the Lynx creature very deeply!

You've integrated it into your heart and mind, no wonder you're being influenced."

Speaking of which, he glanced at his sister beside him, then chuckled:

"I think I know what your problem is, Merlin.

Just like this foolish sister of mine, she fantasized about Sea Swallow Mountain. A few times at sea, she even watched the Sea Swallows flying in the storm.

She told me that those storm Sea Swallows really resembled Sea Swallow Mountain behind our dojo, which looks like it's about to spread its wings and fly.

And my sister, she also succeeded in her fantasy not long ago."

"Our family's legacy, in general, is to fantasize in consciousness using one's mind, which is what you call contemplation.

Although it can temper mental will, mental will is also very closely related to the heart and mind."

At this moment, as he heard his explanation, a light flashed in Merlin's eyes, and a sense of instinctive understanding emerged. He then continued his words:

"Mental will can also be said to be the external manifestation of the heart and mind. Perhaps by contemplating the Lynx to temper my mental will, I went too deep, or perhaps I didn't firmly hold onto my human heart, and thus was influenced from the outside in.

And appearances arise from the heart. Because of this, I was inadvertently affected."

At this moment, Merlin didn't notice the astonishment of Yol and the other two. He continued to speak on his own:

"Contemplation is to temper one's mental will through an external object, thereby training one's heart and mind more deeply.

Rather than tempering mental will, it's more about using one's own will to confront and thus temper and strengthen oneself against external objects.

The influence can be mutual, but this influence requires self-awareness."

As Merlin spoke, the look in his eyes began to shine.

"While contemplating and tempering myself, I must also constantly contemplate myself. I must embrace the benefits of contemplation while rejecting its negative influences.

Humans are truly greedy.

However, human greed is precisely the strongest driving force towards power."

Merlin's eyes shone at this moment, having figured out the matter that had been troubling him.

At this moment, Merlin felt that his [Lynx Contemplation Technique] seemed to have become more deeply understood.

His mental state seemed to have become more comfortable, and his belief seemed to have become firmer.

Thus, the equipment slot interface appeared before him with a thought.

And then, as expected.

[Basic Lynx Contemplation Technique]: Through communication with others, you have gained a flash of inspiration and understood the essence of the Contemplation Technique. From this moment on, your cultivation of contemplation to temper mental will will result in a slight increase in your mind's resistance to external interference.

The level of the Lynx Contemplation Technique had increased, and a flicker of surprise flashed in Merlin's eyes:

"Can skill specializations understood through oneself be leveled up through personal insight and practice?

That's right, that's normal.

So, after the introductory level comes basic? Then what are the levels after basic? This is getting more and more interesting!"

Fulvio looked at Merlin's current spirit and energy, which seemed to have undergone some wonderful changes. A hint of envy flashed in his eyes, and he couldn't help but sigh:

"I finally understand why Dad taught you this method so early. You truly have astonishing comprehension skills!"

"I imagine you must have gained quite a bit!"

A smile appeared on Merlin's lips, and he humbly shook his head. "This time, it's all thanks to my senior brother's guidance. Otherwise, it would have taken me a lot more time and effort to figure it out!"

Fulvio immediately waved his hand and said speechlessly:

"What guidance did I give you? You got nothing from me! This is all the result of your own intelligence."

At this moment, Yol said to Merlin with a delighted look in her eyes, "It seems you've figured it out!"

Merlin nodded, then chuckled, "It seems the saying 'a good teacher produces a great student' is indeed true!"

Teresa, who was standing nearby, heard this and immediately snickered, then burst into laughter:

"If you know how to talk, say more. I find you quite interesting."

As she spoke, she sized Merlin up, and a spark appeared in her eyes:

"Since your comprehension is so good, how about we spar? Having a deep understanding of sword principles is good, but you can't neglect your swordsmanship skills either. After all, out here on the sea, the strong reign supreme!"

Her eyes were eager. She had been observing Merlin for quite some time and found that this new student her father had taken in wasn't as simple as he seemed.

She couldn't help but want to test him a little.

Merlin hadn't spoken yet, but Fulvio on the side spoke up first, saying with a speechless expression:

"Don't think about bullying my junior brother Merlin. How long has he even been studying the sword?"

However, as he said this, a smile curved his lips. "Can I call you Merlin? Do you want to spar with your senior brother?"

Merlin's gaze shifted slightly. He had already witnessed Fulvio's strength, which was considerably greater than Teresa's. However, Merlin nodded slightly and chuckled, "Then I'll trouble you, senior brother."

Fulvio laughed and said, "Just call me Fohr from now on. Based on your comprehension just now, I believe it won't be long before you're no weaker than my little sister.

We can spar and exchange techniques often in the future, to help each other grow."

Teresa's eyes narrowed, and her gaze turned unfriendly:

"Fohr, who are you looking down on?"

"Let's go to the training ground outside! They have training weapons there. I don't have a suitable sword with me right now."

Merlin said to him.

Fulvio chuckled.

Teresa, ignored, scowled.

Before long, the four of them arrived at a pavilion in the outdoor training grounds.

Placing his rapier on the weapon rack, Fulvio picked up a training rapier, drew it from its scabbard, and swung it.

"It's a bit light, but it'll do. I won't use my Hua Lang to bully you, as it's a fine-quality blade."

Merlin glanced at his sword, then picked up a Katana and gripped it:

"Then I thank you, senior brother."

The two quickly took their positions in the arena.

Yol, Lami, and Teresa stood under the pavilion, watching the two in the arena, who were about five meters apart and ready.

"You don't seem worried about junior brother Merlin at all, Yol."

Teresa asked Yol curiously, turning her head. Yol's lips curved into a gentle smile. For a moment, this beauty left Teresa slightly dazed: This woman is truly radiant.

But she quickly shook her head, shifting her gaze back to the two in the arena.

Yol shook her head, her smile unwavering. "Of course, I'm worried, but Merlin isn't weak. I believe in him."

Beside Yol, Lami watched the two in the arena with unblinking eyes. She also spoke up, "Brother Merlin is very strong! As strong as Sister Yol! He won't lose to your brother, Big Sister!"

Teresa burst out laughing, "Lami, is it! I saw you this morning. You're a very diligent little sister."

And as the three chatted.

In the arena.

Fulvio met Merlin's gaze, a hearty smile on his lips:

"Merlin, you go first! For this spar, let me see what your skill level is like."

Merlin smiled, "Senior brother Fohr, you jest. What skill do I have? How long have I even been practicing swordsmanship!"

"But since Senior brother Fohr is sincerely letting me go, I won't hold back."

With that said.

Merlin's eyes instantly sharpened.

He bent his knees, gathering power, leaned his body slightly forward, then pushed off the ground forcefully. He charged rapidly towards Fulvio.

The five-meter distance vanished in the blink of an eye. Merlin, his right hand gripping his Katana, appeared before Fulvio.

At that moment, the Katana slashed out from his right side in a diagonal upward cut.

"Wh-what..." Fulvio's eyes snapped shut in that instant. Almost as soon as Merlin lunged in front of him, he instinctively raised his rapier to block the diagonal slash.

Clang--

A dull, hammer-like clang of steel rang out.

Fulvio's eyes widened. Driven back by this sudden burst of brute force, his entire body was abruptly thrown backward.

Merlin, meanwhile, took a deep breath. Then, with a shift of his body, he charged at Fulvio once more.