The final preparations

He pressed his palm against the glass canopy of the Game Pod and gave it a gentle push.

The glass felt cold against his hand. As it slid open and air rushed in, Xia Lun slowly sat up, savoring the insight into "Force Dissipation" he had just gained. A quiet joy filled his heart.

He closed his eyes, silently feeling the air brush against his skin and the blood flowing through the vessels in his brain, while deliberately focusing his attention on predicting the "echoes of force" produced by both.

A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes, his black pupils brimming with satisfaction.

"Looks like I do have some talent for swordsmanship." He grabbed the handrail beside the Game Pod, exerted a little force, and leaped straight out.

Air circulated through the underground darkroom. Xia Lun caught a faint fragrance and searched his memory for a moment before realizing it was the scent of plum blossoms.

He had never paid attention to it before. But after today's breakthrough in swordsmanship, he felt unusually calm and peaceful, and so noticed the delicate fragrance unique to this winter flower.

"Only a quiet mind can make full use of its talents and achieve a breakthrough."

Half reflecting, half reminding himself, Xia Lun murmured those words, then straightened up and walked over to the table in the darkroom.

It felt wonderful to increase his strength bit by bit through his own efforts. That tangible sense of accomplishment was both reassuring and addictive.

Aside from his swordsmanship teacher's tireless guidance in his dreams, the key to this breakthrough had been remaining patient and levelheaded. Rather than sinking into dejection or frustration after a setback, he had kept his composure and slowly thought through the problem, ultimately seizing that subtle, fleeting spark of inspiration.

"Time