Meditation

Seeing Yan's solemn expression, as if he were announcing some major life event, Jiang Bai nearly laughed out loud.

Good grief, had Pleasant Goat's traits awakened this early?

He was still so young, yet he was already planning for the future? And wasn't this warning a little too early?

He had no interest in that foolish, love-struck fox.

So Jiang Bai did not even look up and replied even more perfunctorily, "Got it, got it."

Then he lowered his head again and focused on the food before him, as though that plate of stewed meat was more appealing than any beauty.

Yan seemed to want to say more, trying hard to find a topic that might interest Jiang Bai.

"You don't know this yet, do you? Nana isn't just pretty—her talent is incredible too! On the day she awakened her martial spirit, the Saintess took a liking to her and accepted her as a disciple! Don't you want to..."

Halfway through, he seemed to feel that words like "curry favor" or "make friends" were inappropriate, so he swallowed them back down.

But the meaning was already obvious—Hu Liena had an extraordinary background and limitless prospects. Did he not want to take the chance to get acquainted and build some connections?

Jiang Bai finally lifted his head from his meal, picked up his soup bowl and took a sip, then looked at Yan with calm, unruffled eyes and clearly spoke two words.

"Don't want to."

"..."

Yan was left speechless. He opened his mouth, looked at Jiang Bai's utterly uninterested expression, blinked, and filled his gaze with uncertainty.

He truly could not understand how someone could remain unmoved by such a dazzling person. Could this roommate really only know how to eat?

But Jiang Bai did not seem to be pretending.

Yan scratched his head and finally decided to give up persuading him.

He sighed, picked up his chopsticks, and began working on his own meal, which had already gone somewhat cold. Still, his gaze drifted from time to time toward Xie Yue and Hu Liena.

Jiang Bai was happy for the peace and quiet and quickly, efficiently finished his dinner.

After eating, he placed his utensils in the designated collection area and said to Yan, who was still eating slowly with his eyes wandering everywhere, "I'm done. I'm heading back to the dorm first."

"Ah? Oh, alright..." Yan replied absentmindedly.

Jiang Bai walked out of the dining hall alone.

The evening breeze carried a chill, dispersing the heat and smells of food from within the dining hall.

The warm light shining from the dormitory windows stood out especially clearly against the deepening night.

Three days later.

The first day of classes arrived.

Before eight o'clock, Jiang Bai and the other two had already washed up, changed into the academy's standard gray uniforms, gathered simple paper and pens, and headed for the classroom of Primary Department Jia Class.

The classroom was spacious and bright, with wooden desks and chairs arranged neatly inside. More than a dozen children around their age were already seated there.

When the bell rang, a refined-looking male teacher in his forties entered the classroom.

He wore a dark gray teacher's robe. His features were gentle, yet his eyes carried the wisdom and clarity of experience.

"Hello, students. I am your class's Bishop Instructor, Zhang San."

Zhang San's voice was calm and clear as his gaze slowly swept over every face below—some nervous, some curious, some eager to try.

"For the next six years, I will mainly be responsible for teaching your theoretical courses and guiding your foundational cultivation. I hope we can spend a meaningful time together."

After the brief introduction, Instructor Zhang San did not waste time on further opening remarks and went straight to the point.

"As everyone knows, a soul master's foundation lies in Soul Power. The accumulation and growth of Soul Power depend on persistent meditation cultivation."

Standing before the lectern, his tone became serious and focused.

"Today, in our first lesson, I will teach you the Basic Meditation Method, which Spirit Hall has refined over many years and which is suitable for the vast majority of soul masters."

At those words, many students below, Jiang Bai included, had their eyes light up.

The instructor then began explaining the principles of the meditation method in detail.

How to adjust one's breathing rhythm to synchronize with the fluctuations of Soul Power, how to focus the mind to sense and guide the free-floating Soul Power between heaven and earth, and how to circulate Soul Power through specific meridian routes...

He explained everything thoroughly, from the most basic body posture and breathing techniques to the key points of mental focus, then the sluggish sensations that could arise during Soul Power circulation and the initial ways to resolve them.

The explanation lasted nearly two hours.

Afterward, Zhang San had all the students try it on the spot. He came down from the lectern and walked between the seats, correcting each student whose posture or state was obviously wrong.

Once most of the students had grasped the basics, Zhang San returned to the lectern and solemnly said,

"This Basic Meditation Method is the starting point of your path as soul masters. You must practice it diligently; it cannot be omitted each day. Today is the first and last time I will teach it systematically."

"If you do not understand something in the future, you may come ask during my office hours, but I will not repeat this explanation in class. Cultivation is ultimately a personal matter. Understanding and practice must rely on yourselves."

After emphasizing the importance of meditation, he briefly introduced the future class schedule.

"Mornings will mainly be for theoretical courses, including General History of the Continent, Geography and Humanities, Basic Knowledge of Soul Beasts, Introduction to Spirit Theory, and so on."

"Afternoons will be free cultivation time. You may choose to meditate or train on your own in the dormitories, meditation rooms, training grounds, and other locations. The academy will occasionally issue simple practical assignments or organize activities, and you will be notified in advance."

Jiang Bai was quite satisfied with this arrangement.

The first lesson ended around noon.

There were no other arrangements that afternoon, making it the perfect time to put the meditation method into practice.

After hurriedly eating lunch in the dining hall, Jiang Bai did not return to the dormitory.

Yan seemed to want to pull him along to check out the training grounds, but Jiang Bai politely declined.

He needed to find a quiet place free from disturbance and properly experience a complete meditation session.

Relying on his familiarity with the academy over the past few days, Jiang Bai went to the academy's back mountain.

There was a relatively secluded area there, thick with trees and tranquil in atmosphere, far from the main teaching and activity areas. Few people came by in ordinary times.

He sat cross-legged in an open patch with his back against a rock and the shade of the forest before him. There, he could enjoy some warm sunlight filtering through the leaves while remaining well hidden.

Adjusting his breathing and clearing away distracting thoughts, Jiang Bai slowly entered a meditative state according to the method he had learned that morning.

Unlike his brief attempt in the classroom, this time he had ample time and a quieter environment.

His consciousness gradually turned inward, and his senses seemed to become sharper.

He could clearly sense the tiny, free-floating specks of energy in the air, each filled with spiritual vitality.

That was the Soul Power of heaven and earth.

Guided by his thoughts, those pale blue motes slowly gathered toward his body, passed through his skin, merged into his meridians, and circulated along the specific route outlined by the Basic Meditation Method.

Wherever the Soul Power flowed, it brought a warm, soothing sensation, as if a parched riverbed had been nourished by a clear spring.

Cultivation made one forget the passage of time.

When Jiang Bai naturally awoke from deep meditation, the afterglow of the setting sun had already dyed the woods a warm golden hue.

He slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed through them before they quickly returned to their usual clarity.

After carefully sensing the state of his body, he found that his Soul Power had increased noticeably. Though he was still quite far from breaking through to the next level, that tangible sense of progress was gratifying.

His dantian felt pleasantly warm, his entire body seemed lighter, and his mind was especially refreshed.

"At this rate..."

Jiang Bai silently calculated.

With innate rank-nine Soul Power, he should reach the rank-ten bottleneck in roughly another two and a half months.

Rank ten meant he could absorb his first soul ring, become a true soul master, and unlock his martial spirit's first ability!

At that thought, Jiang Bai felt both anticipation and a faint flicker of concern.