Mind Movement

Xu Feng's eyes widened. He looked at Lu Fei and sucked in a sharp breath. "That expensive?"

Lu Fei paid no attention to his shock. "What's your blood-and-qi value now?"

Xu Feng glanced down at his wristband. "186c."

"186? That's so high! You're forty this year, right? Have you been practicing free techniques this whole time?"

Lu Fei asked in surprise.

"Yes." Xu Feng's expression remained calm.

"Not bad. Take these two vials over two days, with a day in between. They should be enough to get you to 200c."

"200c?" Xu Feng was shocked again. "I can reach 200c in just three days!?"

Lu Fei scoffed. "Why else do you think they're so expensive? There's a reason for the price.

You can't buy these even if you have the money out there. They're only available inside Martial University."

Xu Feng clenched the vials in his hand, unable to bring himself to let go.

"What about this manual?" Xu Feng asked, full of anticipation.

At last, Lu Fei's tone turned serious. "This manual is the only one that doesn't require a copyright fee, and the only one I'm authorized to give you.

It's a Psychic Secret Art of relatively low difficulty. Do you know what a Psychic Secret Art is?"

"A Psychic Secret Art? No." Xu Feng thought it over, but couldn't recall anything about it.

Lu Fei explained, "There are two kinds of martial artists in the world: close-combat fighters who rely on blood and qi, and long-range fighters who use spiritual power as a weapon. The latter are usually called Mind Masters.

Mind Masters are extremely rare, and they're often far stronger than martial artists of the same rank.

They can control their intangible spiritual power as if it were tangible. For example, they can wield swords with their minds. Do you understand?"

Xu Feng swallowed, his pupils trembling. "Wield swords... and fly?"

"They can fly, but it's not stable. Most Mind Masters have specialized flying weapons."

Lu Fei casually shared martial-artist secrets that ordinary people like Xu Feng would never know.

Xu Feng was naturally amazed. Then, excitement and anticipation filled his voice. "Can I use this book to become a Psychic Master?"

"Of course not. What are you even dreaming about?" Lu Fei's words instantly doused Xu Feng's hopes.

"Martial artists with the potential to become Mind Masters are incredibly rare, and their talent usually shows itself when they're very young.

For example, they might move objects from a distance, faint now and then because they can't control their thoughts, or sense what other people are thinking. Have you ever shown any of these signs?"

Lu Fei asked with a cold laugh.

"No." Xu Feng gave an awkward chuckle, even more confused about what she meant. "If that's the case, what use is this manual to me?"

"Although practicing Mind Movement won't turn you into a Mind Master, it can improve your spiritual power and enhance a martial artist's perception and alertness.

That way, when you're in danger, you'll be more perceptive and alert than other people. It can greatly improve your reaction speed and sensory abilities."

"Got it." Xu Feng nodded, only half understanding.

"Good. That's all I can do for you. I'm only doing this because of Xiao Dan."

As she spoke, Lu Fei crouched down and stroked Xiao Dan's head. "You have to stay alive. Your big sister still has to teach you martial arts."

"Mm." Xiao Dan showed a glimmer of her little tiger teeth and obediently nodded, then wrapped her arms around Lu Fei.

After they hugged for a while, Lu Fei stood up. "I'm leaving."

With that, she decisively pushed the door open and left without looking back.

Xu Feng watched her disappear beneath the dim streetlights before shutting the alloy door and continuing to dig.

"Go do your homework. Get on with whatever you need to do," he shouted from the tunnel.

Xiao Dan pouted. "There's going to be a fight, and I still have to do homework?"

"Even if the sky falls, you still have to do your homework. Hurry up." Xu Feng's head popped out of the tunnel, and he glared at her.

"Yes, yes, yes." Xiao Dan had no choice but to carry her little stool back to the desk and bury herself in her work.

By a little after ten that night, the tunnel had reached its intended depth.

Next, he would need to reinforce the structure with materials and widen the tunnel.

Fortunately, the soil around the base was reasonably firm. At least it wasn't so loose that it might swallow someone up at any moment.

But that wasn't something he could deal with tonight.

Xu Feng climbed out of the tunnel and cleaned up the dirt inside the room.

After taking a shower, he sat on the bed and picked up the book.

He'd barely turned a page when Xu Feng suddenly sat up and looked at Xiao Dan. "Message your Sister Lu and ask her how to use the liquid."

Xiao Dan glanced at Xu Feng, took the communicator off her wrist, and tossed it to him. "She's busy! Ask her yourself. Don't you often pretend to be me when you chat with Sister Lu?"

Xu Feng: "..."

"Smack!"

Suddenly, he raised his hand and slapped himself.

"??" Xiao Dan stared at Xu Feng, baffled.

"There was a mosquito," Xu Feng said calmly.

Xu Feng quickly asked Lu Fei about it. Of course, he was vague with his wording and didn't mention the vials.

After all, he didn't know whether this stuff was even legal.

Lu Fei replied with one word: "Drink."

But soon after, she sent another line: "Absorb it while resting."

"Pop!"

Xu Feng pulled the stopper from one of the vials and held it beneath his nose. "Sniff, sniff—"

No smell.

After a brief hesitation, Xu Feng looked at Xiao Dan. "If this is poison, remember to keep your head down and grow up before you kill Lu Fei to avenge me."

Then he tipped his head back and gulped down the vial.

"Gulp, gulp—"

He soon licked up the last drop.

Xu Feng set the vial aside, lay down on the bed, and closed his eyes, sensing for changes in his body.

The liquid felt cool as it entered his stomach, but soon turned warm and spread throughout his body.

Xu Feng felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring. His whole body was wonderfully relaxed.

After a while, Xu Feng gradually got used to the sensation.

As he curiously explored the feeling, his nose suddenly began to itch.

He opened his eyes and saw Xiao Dan holding a finger against his nose.

"Oh! You're not dead!"

Xiao Dan exclaimed.

Xu Feng: "..."

This little rascal. She walked without making a sound?

"Go on, go do your homework."

Xu Feng waved her away, then leaned back against the bed and picked up the book titled Mind Movement.

Ten minutes later.

Xu Feng tossed the book aside, his face crestfallen.

"Damn it, I really have no talent. Why couldn't I have been a genius?"

Just then, Xiao Dan began muttering softly at her foreign-language textbook. "Dream on, dream on, peaches, dream on..."

Xu Feng: "→_→?"

He suspected the little brat was doing it on purpose.

But he had no proof.

Sigh. I may not have any talent, but I can work hard. I'll practice. If I do it enough, something's bound to come of it.

"Mind Movement: a single thought stirs the mind; spiritual power flows.

Focus within the heart, let the soul move through the heavens."

Xu Feng began following the mantra in the manual, silently concentrating.

The manual wasn't difficult, so Lu Fei probably hadn't been lying.

Even if it was a low-level Psychic Secret Art, surely it could still have some effect if he practiced it to a high level?

(End of chapter)