The Spirit Radiance Crystal shattered with a crisp sound. A wisp of gray light rose from the fragments like a living mist serpent, coiling upward before shooting into Lin Yi's brow like an arrow!
"Ugh!"
Lin Yi groaned and lurched backward as if he'd lost control of his body, slamming into the cold wall with a thud.
Of course, it was all an act. With the strength of his soul, absorbing this basic technique wouldn't cause even the slightest ripple.
Still, Lin Yi kept his eyes tightly shut, his brows furrowed into a deep crease as tiny beads of sweat quickly formed across his forehead.
He was doing his utmost to recreate the feeling he'd experienced in his previous life when his soul first encountered the Guidance Technique—a sensation like being torn apart.
Lin Yi remembered it clearly. It had felt as if someone had driven a red-hot iron spike deep into his temple. Then twisted it hard.
Time seemed to freeze. Only after three minutes did Lin Yi manage to lift his eyelids. He deliberately kept his pupils unfocused and clouded with confusion, his gaze dull and lifeless.
"Xiaoyi, how are you feeling?"
His father, Lin Ruiming, sounded as if he were speaking through a heavy curtain, his voice hoarse with concern.
Lin Yi blinked slowly, as though trying to sort through the information exploding in his mind.
"It's like... someone crammed every textbook from elementary school math to advanced calculus into my head."
Lin Yi spoke in halting fragments on purpose. "It seems like I've only memorized it by rote. I'll have to spend time studying and understanding it. Yeah... it's a completely unfamiliar system."
The analogy left the several soon-to-be college students present deeply shocked.
The class monitor, Zhou Yuxuan, was especially surprised. He'd already studied some college material in advance and knew how difficult advanced calculus was. Now he stared in astonishment.
"Shouldn't you just learn it all at once? You still have to study it yourself? Then... wouldn't it take at least three or four months to get the hang of it?"
Zhou Yuxuan had scored even higher than Lin Yi on the college entrance exam and had also been accepted to Qingteng University. Judging by his own standards, he figured it would take at least three or four months to get started. He had no idea that plenty of people might spend their whole lives without ever learning it.
"It's not too bad." Lin Yi wiped the sweat from his temple. "It doesn't feel all that difficult. Wait... let me try to understand the most basic parts first."
He said no more and began his long journey of individual exploration.
His brows furrowed and relaxed by turns. Now and then he gestured in the air, muttering and mumbling to himself without pause.
The entire banquet hall was affected by the atmosphere he'd created. Everyone unconsciously softened their breathing, while the sounds of moving and dismantling chairs were kept to a minimum. Even the faint scrape of metal came with careful restraint, as if they feared disturbing his progress.
Nearly three hours slipped by in a flash.
A narrow band of sunlight crept through a gap in the heavy curtains and slowly shifted across the floor.
"About time."
With that thought, Lin Yi took a deep breath. Like a diver finally breaking the surface, he slowly and steadily used the wall to help himself to his feet.
Three hours—that was the length of time he'd carefully calculated. Drawing on the stories he'd heard in his previous life about Star Core Level geniuses, he'd set himself a benchmark.
After all, just flipping through the Basic Source Energy Guidance Technique once in his mind would take about two hours. Anything less would look suspicious.
The moment he stood, everyone's eyes turned to him. Almost all work stopped at once.
Ye Qingyu, who'd been keeping half an eye on him the entire time, instinctively grabbed the water bottle Lin Yi had left half-empty by his feet and hurried over.
Concern showed on her face as she held out the bottle. "Would you like some water first? Maybe take a break before—"
Before she could finish, Ye Qingyu suddenly sensed that something was off.
She looked up sharply and found everyone watching her.
Lin Yi's mother, Zhou Jinghua, was also carrying a full bottle of mineral water. She'd just walked a few steps closer, but now she'd stopped halfway, wearing the same concerned expression and a hint of helplessness.
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.
Ye Qingyu's face flushed red.
She shoved the bottle into Lin Yi's hand, then turned and fled back to her copying station.
Everyone was consumed by the threat of death and worry for their families. Otherwise, there would surely have been a wave of good-natured laughter.
As for Ye Qingyu, Lin Yi remembered that in his previous life, both of her parents had survived the first wave. Judging by how relatively calm she seemed now, she'd probably gotten in touch with them.
From what Lin Yi had observed since returning to the banquet hall, those still in the mood to talk were most likely the ones whose families were safe.
As for those with bloodshot eyes, ashen faces, and vacant expressions—like Chen Yu's girlfriend, Su Xiao—they'd probably already lost relatives.
"Xiaoyi."
His uncle, Zhou Jianjun, interrupted Lin Yi's thoughts.
Zhou Jianjun had been quietly watching Lin Yi's progress. Seeing Ye Qingyu hurry away, and recalling Zhou Yuxuan's earlier estimate of "three or four months," he couldn't help looking worried.
When Lin Yi turned at the sound of his voice, Zhou Jianjun set down the half-finished wooden handle of a short hammer. He brushed the dust off it and spoke in a gently reassuring tone.
"Xiaoyi, the worst thing you can do when studying is get impatient. Now that you know the method, there's no need to rush. Take your time. Don't wear yourself out."
Lin Yi didn't answer right away. First, he picked up the bottle Ye Qingyu had shoved into his hand and tilted his head back for a long gulp. Only then did he seem to catch his breath. His voice was still a little hoarse as he replied.
"I'm fine, Uncle. I think I've more or less learned it! In a bit... maybe I'll be able to try cultivating this so-called 'Source Energy.'"
Learned it?!
Those words landed like a stone dropped into still water.
"Holy crap, that's awesome! As expected of Brother Yi!"
Chen Yu, a poor student, pumped his fist. He hadn't given the difficulty a second thought. He simply took it for granted that Lin Yi could handle anything academic.
Most of the others didn't know enough about advanced calculus to understand what it meant, and Lin Yi had always been a top student. They mostly just looked impressed and pleased, as if it were only natural.
Only the few other students around his age who also had decent grades felt a little uncertain.
Zhou Yuxuan, another top student, was particularly skeptical. He froze for a moment, then doubt flickered through his mind.
"How could he have learned it already?! Even a genius has limits. Could he have... misunderstood what it means to 'learn' it? Maybe he's only just gotten a tiny grasp of it. Perhaps it isn't that hard to understand after all?"
He instinctively tried to find an explanation for what he'd just seen—one that wouldn't turn his understanding of the world upside down.
"Wait!"
Zhou Jianjun's brows hadn't relaxed once. He stepped forward and gripped Lin Yi's shoulder. "You're still pale. Take a moment and catch your breath! You don't look fine to me."
Lin Yi forced a smile, managing a weary, slightly irritated grin.
"I really would like to lie down and rest for three days and three nights, but, Uncle..." His tone abruptly changed as his gaze swept toward Chen Yu by the window. "I've got a bad feeling about this. Ah Yu!"
Lin Yi raised his voice a little. "What's happening outside? Any movement?"
While everyone else had been busy with their assigned tasks, Chen Yu had helped make short clubs and shields. He'd also been given the job of keeping a constant watch on the windows.
When Lin Yi called his name, the slight ease that had shown on Chen Yu's face after their earlier conversation vanished at once.
He unconsciously licked his dry lips, then went back to the narrow gap in the curtains and carefully scanned outside. Finally, he pulled his head back and spoke in a low, muffled voice.
"Something's wrong. Damn it, something's really wrong! A few of them are gathered nearby and aren't leaving. And when I looked just now, there was another one!"
"Just as I thought." Lin Yi's eyes narrowed, the weariness on his face instantly replaced by grim focus. "It's probably trouble brought here by the beast that ran off earlier!"
His fingers tightened unconsciously around the water bottle.
"So I have to hurry. We can't wait any longer!"
His voice was firm and decisive. "From the information I got from the Basic Source Energy Guidance Technique, I know that successfully cultivating Source Energy can greatly strengthen the body. That's going to be crucial for us from here on!"
Before you continue