Meditation Method

Back at his lodgings, Karl could hardly wait to open the book containing the wizard's Meditation Method.

Deep Sea Meditation Method

According to Adolf, this Meditation Method came from a wizard organization called the Natural Society.

It was considered an entry-level Meditation Method, but it was sufficient to train all the way to the Formal Wizard level.

In fact,

even Adolf cultivated this very Meditation Method.

"By meditating, you enter the mysterious place hidden deep within your consciousness and gradually strengthen your mental power."

"Then you use your mental power to construct Spell Models, allowing you to cast spells."

"Hmm..."

Karl considered this.

"Looks like practicing witchcraft is a rigorous, complicated process. There's no room for carelessness. No wonder it takes a year or more."

As far as he could tell, wizards were more like scholars conducting research. Meditation Methods and witchcraft were both means of pursuing knowledge.

Research

demanded precision above all.

Take constructing a Spell Model, for example. The slightest error could make the spell fail; at worst, it could drive you insane.

And more than a few had even died in the process.

Of course, it was best to be extremely cautious.

His predecessor had been impulsive and reckless, with no patience. Even with talent, he probably wouldn't have been able to learn witchcraft.

Karl was different. He could settle down and focus, but there was no way he could master the Meditation Method in a short time.

"First, I have to meditate on the deep sea and steady my mind in the endless darkness."

"Forget it!"

Karl shook his head. Rather than slowly working it out bit by bit, he closed his eyes and entered the mysterious place directly.

Upon a stone chair carved with ancient, mysterious patterns, a blurred figure gradually came into focus.

Karl opened his eyes.

His brown eyes were utterly calm, like those of a timeless Deity, concealing boundless wisdom.

"Rustle..."

He opened the book.

Here, with the aid of mysterious power, the knowledge that had once taken effort to understand flowed into him as easily as water.

"The deep sea?"

Karl murmured. After finishing the book, he pondered briefly, then let his consciousness sink into his Mental Sea.

The next instant—

Boom!

The depths of the Mental Sea, also known as the Sea of Consciousness,

were far less peaceful than its surface. Every stray thought was magnified countless times, gathering into endless waves that crashed over him, one after another.

Any beginner attempting a Meditation Method for the first time would find it difficult to hold on to their True Heart.

Only through repeated attempts and gradual adjustment could they find a suitable position.

But Karl—

His faint consciousness was like a Sea Calming Needle. No matter how the stray thoughts washed over him, it remained unmoved.

He even had enough capacity left to sense other things.

"When my consciousness sinks into the Sea of Consciousness, I seem to form a deeper connection with this mysterious place."

"Or rather..."

"Control!"

"The mysterious place?"

Karl opened his eyes and shook his head gently.

"No!"

"Here, my mental will is like an indestructible god. I should call this a Divine Domain."

"Or perhaps a Divine Domain Fragment."

For some reason, an inexplicable thought surfaced in his mind.

"Hmm..."

"Did I just take my first step in cultivating the Meditation Method?"

According to the book, Deep Sea Meditation Method, all you had to do to reach the entry level was steady your mind in the depths of the Sea of Consciousness.

Next, he needed to absorb the stray thoughts in the Sea of Consciousness, strengthen his "Righteous Thought," and increase his mental power.

There was no surprise, no delight—only unchanging calm.

Back in the real world,

Karl eagerly tried to practice the Meditation Method, hoping he could reproduce what had happened in the Divine Domain.

Clearly,

he had been too optimistic.

The knowledge and memories were still there, but when his Divine Sense struggled to sink into the Sea of Consciousness, it was immediately blasted back out.

"It won't work!"

Karl sighed, but he wasn't too discouraged.

"Even if I can't do it yet, according to Adolf, I'm clearly doing better than other beginners. I'm sure I'll succeed after a few more tries."

"Level Four Talent..."

"Doesn't stop me from practicing!"

Karl rubbed his chin and turned his attention to the other books.

Though he hadn't managed to cultivate the Meditation Method here, he had reached the entry level in the Divine Domain.

Could he practice witchcraft now?

If he mastered a spell in the Divine Domain, would he be able to use it in the real world?

The most important part of practicing witchcraft was constructing Spell Models, and to construct a Spell Model, he needed to understand the principles behind it.

He didn't have to understand them in depth, but he had to understand them.

Take Lesser Force Field, for example.

At the very least, he needed to read Comprehensive Knowledge of Force Fields and Arcane Principles before he could construct its Spell Model.

The days that followed were both exhausting and fulfilling for Karl.

He spent his time brewing Secret Potions, practicing martial arts, cultivating his Breathing Technique, and on top of that, working on his Meditation Method and constructing Spell Models.

The Meditation Method was especially difficult.

It was one thing to practice in the Divine Domain. Every attempt in the real world was an ordeal for Karl.

Meditation drained his mental energy. He could only try three times a day at most; any more was not only useless but also harmful to his mind.

Fortunately, as his proficiency grew, and especially with his experience in the Divine Domain, he could finally glimpse the threshold of the Meditation Method.

"Karl."

At the Patrol Hall,

Kaili munched on a snack that looked like sunflower seeds and asked,

"Why have you been so listless these past few days? Have you been going somewhere to have a good time?"

"If you have, remember to invite me."

"No." Karl lay back in his chair, eyes closed as he rested. Sunlight fell on him through the window.

"I've been busy training. It's bound to take a lot out of me."

"If you ask me, there's no need to train in martial arts or swordsmanship at all." Kaili pursed his lips and tossed aside a seed shell.

"Look at Aubrey and the others. See how they ended up? Their families still haven't had a moment's peace."

"Sometimes, working too hard isn't a good thing."

He knew about the operation that night. He hadn't taken part because he was overweight and not very capable.

Unexpectedly, that had let him escape disaster.

The stronger ones, on the other hand, had either been killed or injured.

That experience had given Kaili an excuse for being lazy and gluttonous, and now he was trying to talk Karl into doing the same.

"I know."

Karl gave a muffled reply. He barely made it through the rest of his shift, then put on his coat and headed out.

"Karl!"

A familiar voice called from behind him.

"Don't leave yet."

"Officer Dina." Karl raised an eyebrow.

"Officer." Kaili ducked his head, his face breaking into an ingratiating smile.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."

"You two talk!"

He shot Karl a look that said "good luck," then hurried out of the Patrol Hall, off to who knew where.

Lately, Dina had been repeatedly reprimanded by her superiors. The families of the dead had also been coming around more often, demanding answers. She wore a cold expression all day, and no one dared get close to her.

Everyone at the Patrol Hall, from top to bottom, was keeping their heads down.

"Do you have time?"

Dina walked over.

"Come have a drink with me."

"..." Karl furrowed his brow slightly, then sighed.

"All right."

Karl's predecessor had been a regular at the tavern, but since Karl had taken over, he hadn't gone once. Now that he was back, the place felt strangely unfamiliar.

"Sit."

Dina took off her coat, revealing the fitted clothes beneath. Her tight top and trousers outlined her mature figure.

Thud!

A large mug of ale landed heavily in front of him. Dina raised her mug first.

"Drink!"

"Bottoms up!"

She tipped her head back and downed the entire mug of ale in a few gulps, showing off her boldness.

"Impressive." Karl applauded lightly and drank along with her.

"You didn't bring me here just for a drink, did you, Officer?"

"Can you withdraw the complaint you filed against me?" Dina turned to look at him, her eyes slightly red.

"If you do, I'll do anything you ask."