Cultivating a New Meditation Method

Luo Lin did not linger and immediately returned to his stone house.

Only after closing the door and activating the soundproofing array did he truly let out a sigh of relief.

The tension and danger of thirty days in the secret realm finally receded like a tide, leaving behind the relief of surviving disaster and the fulfillment of returning laden with rewards.

Luo Lin first carefully examined himself, confirming that no hidden dangers had been left behind by the teleportation or the secret realm.

Then, he began taking stock of his gains from this expedition into the secret realm.

The three most important items were the first ones he took out:

The Water Elemental Essence sealed inside a lead box,

The scroll containing the Star Source Meditation Method,

And that Mind-Calming Silverleaf.

Feeling the unique energy fluctuations they emitted, Luo Lin's heart filled with satisfaction.

Next, he laid out his other gains one by one:

Voidstone Shards, Dragonblood Ink, those mysterious metal plates of unknown purpose, various crystals and materials unique to the secret realm, and the incomplete Fading Light Meditation Method scroll.

These miscellaneous gains covered the entire table. Every single one represented the risks he had taken and the effort he had expended in the secret realm.

The Water Elemental Essence in particular was valuable enough to tempt any Official Wizard.

After finishing his inventory, Luo Lin carefully sorted and stored away all the items.

Next, he needed to make an important choice.

According to the notice issued before the selection, he could use the Elemental Essence to exchange for the qualification to obtain a First-Circle Meditation Method from a designated faction.

It was a safe choice. It meant he could immediately acquire an orthodox advanced method and, with the Mind-Calming Crystal, have a high chance of successfully advancing to an Official Wizard.

However, he now possessed the Star Source Meditation Method.

This path was far more difficult and dangerous, but its potential was limitless.

Should he choose safety, or take a gamble?

There was almost no hesitation before Luo Lin's gaze turned resolute.

He stroked the cold scroll, feeling the vast aura contained within.

With his panel and [Efficient Scholar], he was confident he could venture down this unconventional path!

Luo Lin decided to keep the Water Elemental Essence and the Star Source Meditation Method and give up the chance to exchange for an orthodox meditation method.

Once this decision was made, it meant he would lose the academy's support in regard to meditation methods and have to explore this ancient path entirely on his own.

But Luo Lin did not regret it. If he did not use his cheat ability in a situation like this, was he supposed to waste it on those utterly ordinary things instead?

After making his decision, he immediately began planning his next steps.

First, Luo Lin needed to return to Gray Tower Outpost as soon as possible.

The conditions there were harsh, but the environment was relatively simple, making it more suitable for him to conduct careful research and prepare for his advancement.

Besides, he had been gone for a long time and needed to return to hand over his duties.

Luo Lin did not hurry to report the details of the secret realm to Wizard Eric and Wizard Stone. He merely sent a brief message through a runestone, informing them that he had returned safely, his gains were decent, and he hoped to return to the outpost as soon as possible.

The two wizards did not ask further questions and simply told him to make his own arrangements.

Before leaving the Arcane Academy, Luo Lin visited the logistics office. He exchanged some less important secret realm materials for a large amount of contribution points and purchased a batch of basic materials for researching runes and brewing potions, along with several introductory books on astrology, ancient runes, and soul contracts.

He needed to build up sufficient knowledge for cultivating the Star Source Meditation Method.

Several days later, Luo Lin once again stepped onto the teleportation array back to Gray Tower Outpost.

When the familiar air, carrying the scent of blood and metal, filled his nostrils, he actually felt a strange sense of reassurance.

Captain Holm was delighted to see him return safely.

After hearing his brief account of the dangers of the secret realm, Holm regarded him in an entirely new light.

Returning to his crude stone house, Luo Lin immediately began seclusion.

He first spent several days completely healing the hidden injuries left by the secret realm and adjusting his mental state to its peak.

Immediately afterward, Luo Lin began an in-depth study of the Star Source Meditation Method.

This scroll was extraordinarily profound. Many of its concepts and methods of operation differed vastly from the modern meditation methods he knew.

Relying on [Literacy] and [Efficient Scholar], he interpreted and deduced it word by word, sentence by sentence.

Luo Lin learned that the first step in constructing a Natal Star was to select a Star Core position within the Mental Sea. Then, using his own spiritual power as a guide and combining it with a specific visualization secret art, he would attempt to communicate with the Starforce of the corresponding star, draw it down, merge it with the Star Core, and gradually ignite and construct it.

This process was fraught with extreme danger.

Starforce was vast and domineering, far beyond ordinary energy. The slightest mistake—drawing down too much Starforce or losing control of it—could cause the Star Core to collapse and damage the Mental Sea.

The scroll emphasized that for the first drawing of Starforce, he had to choose a star with relatively gentle energy and perform the process in an environment where his spiritual power was full, his mind tranquil, and external interference minimized.

Luo Lin turned his gaze toward the collected crystal pebbles and the Mind-Calming Silverleaf.

Following the arrangement method for the [Dim-Light Star-Gathering Array] recorded in the scroll, he carefully used those crystal pebbles to set up a simple array inside the stone house.

The moment the array took shape, the energy within the room seemed to become slightly more orderly, and its affinity with stellar power rose by a faint degree.

He also prepared the Mind-Calming Silverleaf to hold in his mouth while drawing in Starforce, using it to steady his mind and resist any possible mental shock.

As for which star to draw from, he repeatedly studied the simple star chart attached to the scroll and the descriptions of several basic stars. In the end, he chose a star named "Dawnstar."

According to the description, this star's power was relatively gentle. It symbolized beginnings and guidance, making it suitable as the starting point for constructing a star chart.

All preparations proceeded in an orderly manner.

Luo Lin knew that attempting to construct a Natal Star would be the greatest risk he had taken since setting foot on the path of a wizard.

But his will was firm, and he feared nothing.

Before officially beginning, there was one last matter to handle.

The Water Elemental Essence and the Mind-Calming Crystal.

He did not intend to use them directly for advancement, but such pure sources of energy might serve as a stable external energy supplement when constructing the Star Core, or be used to stabilize his Mental Sea at a critical moment.

Luo Lin placed the two items within easy reach. Then he slowly closed his eyes, sank his consciousness into his Mental Sea, and began his first attempt at drawing in Starforce according to the Star Source Meditation Method.

Inside the stone house, the [Dim-Light Star-Gathering Array] emitted a hazy glow. Baha stood quietly at the doorway, his dark golden eyes filled with vigilance.

At that moment, Luo Lin sat cross-legged at the center of the array, his eyes tightly shut and his breathing long and steady. His consciousness had completely sunk into the Mental Sea, which had already reached its limit and lay calm without a ripple.

Luo Lin did not rush to begin. Instead, he first followed the method recorded in the Star Source Meditation Method, repeatedly purifying and organizing his spiritual power.

The foundation laid by the Perfect Meditation Method displayed its enormous advantage at this moment. His spiritual power was condensed like the finest threads, tracing an arcane path through the Mental Sea under the guidance of his will. This was the foundational preparation for constructing the Star Core.

At the same time, Luo Lin visualized the Dawnstar Chart recorded on the scroll.

It was a star that was not dazzling, yet constant and clear, as though it could dispel fog and guide one's way.

His will became intensely focused as he attempted to cross the endless void, to sense and capture that unique fluctuation of Starforce belonging to Dawnstar.

This process consumed an enormous amount of mental energy.

His Mental Sea became a vast resonance chamber. His will was like a stone cast upon calm water, continuously spreading invisible ripples outward in search of that faint response.

Time passed bit by bit. The depletion of his spiritual power began to intensify, and fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

If not for the support of the Perfect Meditation Method, an ordinary apprentice would likely have already exhausted their mental strength.

Baha stood guard at the doorway. Sensing the condensed yet ethereal fluctuations of will radiating from Luo Lin, his dark golden eyes filled with tension.

No one knew how long passed. Just as Luo Lin felt that more than half his spiritual power had been depleted and his will was beginning to scatter, an incredibly faint yet strange fluctuation carrying an ancient, cool, guiding quality seemed to pierce through the barriers of endless time and space, producing an almost imperceptible resonance with the ripples of his spreading will.

Found it!

Luo Lin's mind jolted. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately followed the method recorded in the scroll and locked all his focus onto that thread of resonance. His spiritual power condensed to an unprecedented degree and surged madly into the position he had previously outlined at the center of his Mental Sea.

Construct the Star Core!