Class

"Phew."

"How long were they even gone?"

"There are so many monsters downstairs."

"Did they kill every last one of them in one go?"

A wave of barely suppressed gasps broke out, followed by disbelieving murmurs.

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to the seven crystals.

Shock, longing, curiosity, and a faint, almost feverish excitement silently spread through the crowd.

Lin Yi walked over to a cleared round table and gently set the seven Spirit Radiance Crystals down.

Gray light shimmered across the polished tabletop, forming a small focal point that seemed to hold endless possibilities.

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

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

He took a deep breath, pushing down his exhaustion.

"While the internet's still working, let's hurry and record a video."

"Right, right. Let's take care of the important stuff first."

Chen Yu answered and quickly set up the phone, pointing the camera steadily at Lin Yi and the pile of "spoils" in front of 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 pass through the screen, reaching countless corners where people were struggling in despair.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Lin Yi. I'm an ordinary student who just finished the college entrance exams. The person in that battle video just now was me."

He turned slightly, letting the camera take in the imposing but damaged Dark Armor he wore, stained with blood.

"This armor was a graduation gift from a friend. It was originally just a cosplay prop, but I never expected it to become life-saving equipment."

Lin Yi's voice carried a complicated edge. "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 grave.

"Then disaster struck. The authorities have named it the Abyss Tide. As for the monsters I encountered, I've tentatively named them Abyss Wolves, based on their appearance and behavior."

"From my two battles with them, I've learned that these monsters don't just look like wolves; they also have similar habits. They work together tactically, test their opponents, and call for reinforcements. They can also feel fear and run away."

Lin Yi gave a brief account of the Abyss Wolves' behavior that he'd observed, as well as some tips for dealing with them.

"Also..."

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

"After an Abyss Wolf is killed, its body turns to ash, but it leaves behind one of these gray crystals. I got lucky the first time I killed two Abyss Wolves and got two crystals."

He picked up a gray crystal and showed it to the camera.

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

Next, he picked up another crystal, which was slightly different in shape.

"The other contained a type of energy block called a Level 1 Source Energy Crystal. Using what I learned from the Guidance Technique, you can absorb it and try to cultivate Source Energy."

Lin Yi paused, as if remembering the sensation of that violent force surging through his body.

"The process is extremely painful, but the result... you saw it at the end of the video."

"I've gained a basic grasp of Source Energy."

He raised his right hand, and a glimmer of blue light lit at his fingertip.

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

Lin Yi's voice suddenly rose. "It can greatly strengthen your body and unleash powerful attacks. At higher levels of cultivation, it can even extend your lifespan! I've only just begun cultivating Source Energy; I'm still a beginner. But I believe this may be the key to surviving the Abyss Tide—and even fighting back against those monsters."

"I suspect that when monsters are killed elsewhere, they may also drop similar crystals! They might contain cultivation methods, energy crystals, or other resources." Lin Yi's voice carried an urgent edge. "Whatever they are, time is life. The sooner you master Source Energy, the better your chances of survival!"

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

"Next, I want to share some of the key challenges I encountered while cultivating the Basic Source Energy Guidance Technique, along with the ways I figured out how to deal with them. I hope this can help anyone who's found similar crystals avoid some unnecessary detours."

Lin Yi began his explanation.

Rather than reciting the obscure, abstruse terminology from the Guidance Technique, he used the simplest language he could, carefully breaking down its core challenges: sensing Source Energy particles, initially building a circulation pathway inside the body, and delicately coordinating the mind with the flow of energy.

"The hardest part is the first step: sensing the 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 describes it pretty vaguely. In my experience, find somewhere relatively quiet and try to sink your mind deep into the space between your brows. Imagine a warm Vortex at its center, and patiently try to catch a very faint tingling sensation, like the warmth of the winter sun."

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

Ye Qingyu pressed her lips together and quickly jotted down key terms on the back of the menu. She didn't understand, but she still tried her best to make sense of every word.

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

When he explained how to build a basic Source Energy circulation pathway inside the body, Lin Yi even raised a finger and slowly traced a diagram in the air, showing a few key points and the paths connecting them.

"Once Source Energy has begun to gather in your body and you try to release it in an attack, the key is coordinating focused intent with an instantaneous burst."

Lin Yi's voice was stern. "Don't try to release all your energy at once. You'll only blow your fingers off. First focus your mind and figure out how much you can control perfectly. Then gather it at one point on your fingertip. Imagine it as an extension of your will, and then... release it instantly, as if pulling a trigger."

"Strike hard, and commit with all your will!"

As he spoke, he unconsciously mimed pointing his finger.

There was no blue light at his fingertip, but it still gave off a sharp, imposing air. Chen Yu, standing right in front of him, instinctively shrank back.

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

"Lastly, one very important thing!"

He picked up a crystal that contained Source Energy and looked from the camera to the people in the hall. "Absorbing one of these energy crystals is incredibly painful! It feels... like countless red-hot steel needles are running wild inside you, tearing through your muscles and nerves."

Everyone had seen Lin Yi absorbing Source Energy before. Hearing the warning again, they couldn't help but look uneasy.

"So before you decide to absorb one, make sure you're prepared!" Lin Yi's voice was heavy. "Make sure you're somewhere safe, and if possible, have someone stay by your side. Get your breathing and your mindset in order, and be ready to endure tremendous pain! And..."

He paused, his tone utterly grave. "Once you begin absorbing one for the first time, you absolutely cannot stop halfway through! The Guidance Technique mentioned that once a Source Energy Crystal is activated and absorbed, it's like a reservoir with its gates thrown open. If you force the process to stop, the energy inside won't politely wait for you to be ready. It'll go berserk and surge out of control inside your body. 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 nodded lightly toward Chen Yu.

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

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

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

"Of course. Even if you hadn't said anything, I was going to ask you to help. If we want it to spread quickly, my blank account won't cut it." Lin Yi smiled and gave Chen Yu a light pat. Then he pointed to the pile of crystals. "Hurry up and get it done. We'll have to figure out what to do with these things next."