The First Class

"Phew..."

"It's only been a little while since he went out."

"There are so many monsters downstairs..."

"Did he kill all of them in one go?"

A series of barely restrained gasps rang out, followed by disbelieving murmurs.

Everyone's gaze immediately gathered on the seven crystals.

Shock, longing, curiosity, and a faint, barely concealed fervor... All kinds of emotions silently spread through the crowd.

Lin Yi walked over to a round table that had been cleared off and gently set down the seven Spirit Shine Crystals in his hands.

Gray light flowed across the polished tabletop, forming a small focal point that seemed to contain limitless possibilities.

"Everyone, we can talk about everything else later. There's something more important we need to do first... A Yu."

Lin Yi turned to Chen Yu, who was still caught up in his excitement. "Help set up the phone. Point it... right at me and this pile of crystals."

He took a deep breath and forced down his exhaustion.

"Let's get started recording while the internet's still working."

"Right, right. Let's take care of business first."

Chen Yu answered and quickly set up the phone, aiming it steadily at Lin Yi and the pile of "spoils" before him. Then he nodded firmly at Lin Yi to signal that they could begin.

Lin Yi adjusted his stance slightly, then looked straight into the camera. His gaze seemed to pierce through the screen, reaching the countless places where people were struggling in despair.

"Fellow countrymen, my name is Lin Yi. I'm an ordinary student who just finished the Gaokao. The person in that battle video just now was me."

He turned slightly to let the camera capture the imposing but damaged Dark Armor he wore, smeared with blood.

"This armor was a graduation gift from a friend. It was originally just a cosplay prop, but I never thought it would become equipment that saved my life."

Lin Yi's voice carried a complicated note. "Until today, I was just like everyone else. I thought the world was peaceful and safe."

His gaze settled on the camera again, his tone growing heavy.

"Then disaster struck. The authorities have called it the Abyssal Tide. As for the monsters I encountered, because of their appearance and habits, I'm temporarily calling them Abyssal Wolves."

"Based on my experience fighting them twice, these monsters don't just look like wolves—they have similar habits, too. They work together tactically, test their opponents, and call for their companions. They can also feel fear and run away..."

Lin Yi briefly described the habits he had observed in the Abyssal Wolves and some things to keep in mind when fighting them.

"Also..."

Lin Yi pointed to the pile of crystals on the table.

"After Abyssal Wolves are killed, their bodies turn to ash, but they leave behind these Gray Crystals. I got lucky the first time. I killed two Abyssal Wolves and got two crystals."

He picked up a Gray Crystal and held it up for the camera.

"One of them contained a cultivation method called the Basic Source Energy Guidance Technique. I spent some time trying to understand it and managed to learn it."

Next, he picked up another crystal with a slightly different shape.

"The other contained an energy block known as a Level 1 Source Energy Crystal Body. Using the knowledge I gained from the Guidance Technique, you can absorb it and try to cultivate Source Energy."

At this point, Lin Yi paused, as if recalling the feeling of that violent force surging through his body.

"The process was extremely painful, but the result... You saw that at the end of the video."

"I gained an initial grasp of Source Energy."

He raised his right hand. A flash of Blue Radiance lit up at his fingertip.

"The power of Source Energy is beyond anything I imagined!"

Lin Yi's voice suddenly rose. "It can greatly strengthen the body and form powerful attacks. Cultivated to a high enough level, it can even extend your lifespan! I've only just begun cultivating Source Energy, and I'm still a beginner, but I think this might be the key to surviving the Abyssal Tide—and even fighting those monsters."

"I suspect that monsters killed elsewhere might also drop similar crystals! They may contain cultivation methods, energy crystals, or other resources..." Lin Yi's voice was full of urgency. "Whatever they are, time is life. The sooner you master Source Energy, the greater your chance of survival!"

He took a deep breath, set the crystal in his hand back on the table, and leaned forward slightly, his expression serious.

"Next, I'd like to share some of the key difficulties I encountered while practicing the Basic Source Energy Guidance Technique, along with the solutions I worked out. I hope this will help anyone who gets a similar crystal avoid some unnecessary detours."

Lin Yi began his explanation.

Rather than reciting the obscure, mysterious terminology from the Guidance Technique, he explained its core challenges in the simplest possible terms: sensing Source Energy Particles, initially constructing a circulation route inside the body, and coordinating the flow of energy with one's intent.

"The hardest part is the first step: sensing the extremely faint Source Energy Particles drifting through the space around you."

Lin Yi closed his eyes slightly, as if sensing Source Energy. Then he opened them again. "The Guidance Technique's description is pretty vague. In my experience, find somewhere relatively quiet and try sinking your awareness deep into the space between your brows. Imagine it as the center of a warm whirlpool, then patiently try to catch an extremely faint tingling sensation, like the warmth of the winter sun..."

Everyone in the hall stared intently at Lin Yi. Whether or not they understood, they strained to remember every word.

Ye Qingyu pressed her lips together and quickly jotted down keywords on the back of a menu. She didn't understand the material, but she still tried her best to grasp every word.

Zhou Yuxuan quietly repeated Lin Yi's words to himself, excitement shining in his eyes.

When he reached the part about building a basic circulation route for Source Energy inside the body, Lin Yi even raised a finger and slowly sketched out a diagram of several key points and the paths energy traveled between them.

"When Source Energy has initially gathered in your body and you try to release an attack, the key is coordinating focused intent with an explosive burst."

Lin Yi's voice was very serious. "Don't try to release all your energy at once. You'll just blow your finger off. First, focus your intent. Work out how much you can control perfectly, then gather it at a single point on your fingertip. Imagine it as an extension of your will, and then... release it in an instant, like pulling a trigger."

"The force must be fierce, and your intent unwavering!"

As he spoke, he unconsciously made a finger-pointing gesture.

There was no Blue Radiance at his fingertip, but it still seemed to carry a sharp, cutting force. Chen Yu, standing right in front of him, instinctively shrank his neck.

Once his explanation came to an end, Lin Yi's expression grew even more solemn, almost warning.

"Lastly, there's one extremely important point!"

He picked up a crystal that represented a Source Energy Crystal and swept his gaze across the camera and the people in the hall. "Absorbing this kind of energy crystal is extremely painful! It feels... as if countless red-hot steel needles are racing through your body, tearing apart your muscles and nerves."

Everyone had seen what Lin Yi looked like while absorbing the Source Energy Crystal. Hearing the warning again, their faces couldn't help but change slightly.

"So be sure to prepare properly before deciding to absorb one!" Lin Yi's voice was heavy. "Make sure you're in a safe place, preferably with someone watching over you. Get your breathing and mindset under control, and be prepared to endure tremendous pain! And..."

He paused, his tone grave. "Once you begin absorbing one for the first time, you absolutely must not stop halfway through! The Guidance Technique mentioned that once a Source Energy Crystal has been activated and absorption begins, it's like a reservoir with its floodgates open. If you force it to stop, the energy inside won't politely wait for you. It'll run rampant through your body, escaping out of control. At best, you'll be seriously injured. At worst... you'll explode and die!"

After a moment of silence, Lin Yi finally let out a breath. "That's all I know for now, everyone."

He gave the camera one last look. "I hope this helps. If you can, please share it with more people."

With that, Lin Yi gave Chen Yu a slight nod.

Chen Yu immediately pressed the stop button. Looking at Lin Yi's tired but determined face on the phone screen, with the pile of crystals glowing mysteriously gray behind him, he let out a long breath. His palms were drenched in sweat.

He hesitated for a while, then gritted his teeth and asked Lin Yi:

"Brother Yi, once I put the battle video at the beginning, we can post it... Um, should I post it from my account? You know, I do have a few followers."

"Of course. Even if you hadn't said anything, I was going to ask you for help. If we want it to spread quickly, my blank account won't cut it..." Lin Yi smiled and patted Chen Yu lightly, then pointed to the pile of crystals. "Get it done quickly... We'll need to figure out what to do with these things in a bit."