Night fell, and the little town grew quiet.
Black was the dominant color of night, yet even a faint candle flame could dispel that darkness!
Yang Tian carefully took out the book and began to read.
"Knight Meditation Primer. Within all things in heaven and earth, one can sense the presence of spirit. Transforming it into qi produces spiritual qi..."
The first step was to sense the presence of spiritual qi.
The second step was to draw in spiritual qi.
The third step was to absorb spiritual qi.
The fourth step was to assimilate spiritual qi...
To increase spiritual energy through meditation, one had to sense, draw in, absorb, assimilate, and filter spiritual qi before finally condensing it!
"Little Tian, get some rest early!"
"Remember to blow out the candle before you go to sleep."
Outside Yang Tian's door, his grandmother held a candle as she reminded him.
"Yes, I know, Grandma!"
Yang Tian answered, then threw himself back into his studies.
But once he became absorbed in this simple meditation method, he could no longer pull himself away!
The latter half of the book consisted of illustrations of little figures meditating.
The drawings were vivid and incredibly detailed.
Perhaps the people of the Holy Temple had taken such care because they feared beginners might go astray in their training.
The next day, on the second floor of the Odin Sub-Temple!
"Yang Tian, step out! Everyone else, start training!"
When training began, Instructor Balza called Yang Tian out directly.
The other boys began training while Instructor Balza studied the drowsy Yang Tian.
"Did you stay up late last night?" Balza asked sternly.
"Yes!" Yang Tian lowered his head as he answered, hardly daring to meet his eyes.
"If you're this listless at training again, I'll take back the meditation manual!" Balza said sternly when Yang Tian admitted it honestly.
It was the first time he had shown Yang Tian such a stern face.
There was nothing to criticize about this child in any other respect, but when it came to training and cultivation, he had a one-track mind. Once he made a decision, not even ten oxen could drag him back.
"Yes, Instructor!" Yang Tian knew that being unfocused during training would certainly affect him.
If I replace sleep with meditation after cultivating, won't I be even sleepier?
Could I have gotten one of the steps wrong?
"All right, go rest for an hour, then come back to train!"
After that, Balza had nothing more to say. Yang Tian looked so earnest that he could hardly treat him the way he treated the boisterous Zhang Hu.
If only he could give him a few kicks to vent his frustration.
Still drowsy, Yang Tian walked over to a shaded spot beneath a tree and lay down on the stone bench.
Soon, his breathing grew calm and steady!
With each rise and fall, wisps of qi seemed to be absorbed into him.
Different meditation methods produced different results.
Balza knew nothing of these subtle changes. After all, his professional rank was still too low.
Sensing, drawing in...
In an instant, Yang Tian successfully completed two steps, then moved on to absorption.
And so, he absorbed the spiritual qi around him.
After all, Yang Tian had spent the entire previous night trying without seeing any results.
In his dreams, Yang Tian slept soundly.
A beautiful, divine woman whose face he could not see seemed to be watching over him.
She was like a celestial maiden. Unfortunately, he simply could not see her face.
From her figure, her gentleness, and other little details, Yang Tian knew she must be very beautiful.
By the time Yang Tian woke again, it was already dark.
And he was sleeping in his own bed.
"I feel so refreshed!"
After getting up and lighting a candle, Yang Tian continued to study the meditation manual carefully.
This was the most basic meditation method the Holy Temple had selected, and the one best suited to beginners.
Normally, it would not have any major effects.
As a result, its effects differed from those of Long Haochen's method.
Long Haochen's meditation method had probably been modified by Long Xingyu.
Then he continued reading.
The words seemed to leap off the page. With no distracting thoughts in his mind, Yang Tian became immersed in them.
On the third day, training began!
Yang Tian fought off his drowsiness and finally completed the morning's training.
As soon as lessons ended at noon, he lay down on the stone bench again and fell asleep.
His dream felt very real. That divine, beautiful woman was like his mother, tenderly caring for him.
And so, Yang Tian lost himself in it.
His heart seemed to be washed clean, becoming ever purer and brighter!
Perhaps when Yang Tian reached such heights, he would understand the changes taking place today!
For now, Yang Tian remained ignorant, merely sensing something subtle.
Watching the sleeping Yang Tian, Balza picked him up once more.
"This little fellow!" He felt helpless and did not know what to say.
The fact that Yang Tian had managed to finish the morning's training already showed tremendous willpower.
At Yang Tian's home!
"I'm so sorry, Instructor. You've had to bring our Little Tian home again!"
Yang Tian's grandmother apologized to Balza and thanked him.
"Please keep a close eye on Yang Tian and don't let him stay up late," Balza told the elderly woman as he carried Yang Tian inside.
Yang Tian's condition was far from good.
Having his days and nights reversed was extremely bad for a growing boy like Yang Tian.
These were the hours when he should be strengthening his body. Spending them asleep was far too much of a waste.
"Yes, yes. Thank you, Instructor!"
Yang Tian's grandmother agreed repeatedly.
After seeing Balza off, she returned to the room and sat beside Yang Tian's bed.
"You silly child!"
Looking at Yang Tian, who was deep in his dreams, his grandmother shook her head and gently scolded him.
Then she softly stroked the hair at his temples and kept watching him, as though she could see her own son as a child...
Eventually, the elderly woman struggled to stay awake, her eyelids drooping.
"Grandma!" Yang Tian woke and noticed his grandmother keeping watch beside him.
"You're awake!" The elderly woman smiled kindly, without reproaching him.
"Have some noodles in a moment. I added an egg for you!"
"If you're staying up tonight, Grandma will stay with you..."
As she spoke, she brought over a bowl of noodles that was still warm.
The elderly woman was stubborn too.
Yang Tian smiled wryly. He had already slept enough during the day, so he could not fall asleep at night.
"Grandma, go to bed first. I'll sleep earlier tonight!" Yang Tian urged her.
He did not know why he had become so absorbed in meditation.
Sleeping during the day left him feeling deeply content. There was the warmth of sunlight, and a mother's love...
"No, I'll watch over you. Grandma won't sleep until you do!"
"You're still little. If you stay up, these old bones of mine will stay up with you!"
The elderly woman insisted, yet she was so kind and endearing.
A glimmer of tears moistened the corners of Yang Tian's eyes. He did not feel hungry at all.
"Grandma, I won't do it again!"
"Little Tian will listen to you from now on!"
Yang Tian gave her his promise.
"Good boy. As long as you get your routine back to normal. Grandma doesn't know what's been happening to you lately, but your eyes look even purer now!"
"But sleeping by day and staying awake at night goes against the natural rhythms of many living creatures!"
"We humans should be active during the day and rest at night!"
The elderly woman began to fuss over him.
Yang Tian was very fond of this endearing old woman too.
Then he fetched another small bowl and shared some noodles with his grandmother, dividing the egg in half as well.
"Grandma, you should eat too. You have to tell me when it's time to sleep!"
"I might read a little more later, so you can't fall asleep first!"
Yang Tian said this with a smile.
The elderly woman nodded and ate a little too.
That night!
The elderly woman tried to hold out, but in the end, she fell asleep first. Yang Tian did not spend the whole night reading either.
He had already committed the knowledge to memory!
He looked at his endearing grandmother, who had fallen asleep leaning against the head of his bed.
Yang Tian eased her into a comfortable position and tucked the blanket around her.
He was careful throughout.
Finally, Yang Tian smiled as he looked at her face and whispered, "Grandma, it's my turn to watch over you..."
Four thousand words completed. I hope to hear from the editor again.
Thank you to all the readers who bookmarked the story and cast recommendation votes. I'm heading back to my hometown today, so tomorrow's update time is uncertain, but I'll make sure to post updates of four thousand words plus five thousand words. Thank you for your support!
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