Dark Breath

"Dark Breath?" Mu Fan chewed on the four words.

"Yes, a martial skill of exhaling and inhaling, and also a skill for self-training." The Fighter withdrew the metal short staff and spoke softly to Mu Fan, "For example... watch me."

A scene that made Mu Fan's eyes widen occurred! Breathing... exhale... inhale... The previous breathing sound was still there, but the next second, he watched the Fighter in the tattered gray robe in front of him gradually disappear before his eyes. It wasn't a direct retreat, but a gradual disappearance right under his nose.

The person just vanished?

A sudden voice startled Mu Fan, "I'm still standing here, you just can't perceive me."

"I can't see you, is this the effect of Dark Breath?" Mu Fan asked excitedly, but was a little confused. This skill just made him disappear, it didn't seem to have any use.

"Of course not." A staff suddenly appeared, and before Mu Fan could react, he was knocked down by a single blow. Mu Fan, sitting on the ground clutching his head and groaning, looked utterly dejected.

"Breath, as the name suggests, is breathing and inhaling. What you see is just a trick of the eye. What you hear, smell, and perceive in all aspects is the reality." The Fighter, holding the staff, reappeared in front of Mu Fan.

"Dark Breath is about adjusting the muscles in every detail of your body, controlling your breathing, closing your pores, and then achieving a state of being in the night. With some tricks of the eye, it gives people the function of 'invisibility'." The Fighter fiddled with the short staff in his hand, creating mysterious green trajectories that attracted Mu Fan's gaze.

"But this is just the basic use. The most fundamental thing about this martial skill is that it can keep your mind absolutely calm and greatly enhance your five senses. In the language of this era, it has a direct effect on improving your mental power!"

Mu Fan only knew about strength levels now. He vaguely felt that mental power should be related to his previous state under the blood-colored vision, that feeling of clear control over himself.

"The martial skill is divided into ten layers. The effect of each layer, converted into the Federation's values, is roughly 2 levels. When you cultivate to the fifth layer, you will find that this martial skill will significantly improve your control over your entire body's muscles. You will understand then."

Mu Fan was bewildered. How could he know that the martial skill the Fighter Instructor was talking about was something that simply couldn't exist in the Federation... The brain is still an unknown area of the human body, and the application of mental power has just entered the initial stage. A martial skill that can directly improve mental power is absolutely impossible!!

If others knew, how many geniuses would be shocked! How many major powers would fight tooth and nail for this!

Why? Because level 10 is the first Mental Lock!! Less than 0.1% of people in the Federation have unlocked the Mental Lock! The Mental Lock completely restricts a person's understanding of themselves. When you feel that you have reached the limit of martial skills and mecha operation, you unlock the first Mental Lock and will find that all of this is merely the beginning!

The Mental Lock is the key to surpassing one's own limits!

"You are currently only at Mental Power level 3. Explaining it to you is still too far off. Alright, start learning with me."

"Slow down your breathing, use your will to control the muscles you can perceive the most, soothe them, let them relax, control your heartbeat to synchronize with your surroundings, use your spirit to assimilate your body. When darkness descends, I am the night..."

The Fighter slightly raised his head, his deep eyes looking at the young man in front of him who had been hypnotized into a state of meditation. His eyes flickered with vicissitudes, relief, liberation, and a hint of hidden burning anticipation!

Suddenly, he raised his left hand, wrapped in ancient armor plates. A soft, dark green light floated in his palm, quietly suspended, and then pressed directly towards the top of Mu Fan's head, who was standing with his eyes closed. The moment his palm touched Mu Fan's forehead, the light cluster disappeared. In reality, Mu Fan's eyebrows suddenly furrowed and then relaxed.

"Heh... heh, compatibility. The kindling can actually be continued in this world... the inheritance of my race..."

Mu Fan opened his eyes, awakened by Fatty's private message. Looking around, he had already left the training field and was standing in the corridor. The Fighter Instructor had run off again. Every time he came here, he felt like he was dealing with someone mysterious, but there was nothing he could do. This instructor was too powerful, he really couldn't beat him.

As for the Dark Breath the Fighter mentioned, while practicing, he felt like he had... fallen asleep? Uh, Mu Fan scratched his head awkwardly, it seemed that was indeed the case.

However, now that he thought back, he could feel the practice method of that martial skill naturally appearing in his mind. It was difficult to describe in words, but it felt as if he had already mastered it. He always felt that his mind was different from before he came to find the Fighter. He couldn't quite pinpoint where, but if he had to summarize, the world in his senses was clearer, and he himself was also clearer.

Unfortunately, before he could fully experience it, he was interrupted by Fatty's call. Mu Fan suppressed the remaining doubts in his heart and exited the Light Brain.

Fatty was gnawing on a fat Milo he had gotten from somewhere, the juice splashing everywhere, which Mu Fan, who had just exited the battle network, saw clearly. So, he unceremoniously snatched the other one from Fatty's hand and started attacking it.

"Mu Fan, why haven't Broken Axe and the others made any moves yet? This is driving me, your Fatty brother, crazy. I've exercised more in the past few days than in the past six months. Dad is quite satisfied with me now, but the key is that I'm not satisfied."

Mu Fan squinted his eyes and gnawed on the Milo, casually replying, "I have a premonition that they will definitely come. I hope they don't interrupt the Federation Grand Exam."

"What are you kidding about? No matter what, these Star Pirates wouldn't dare cause trouble on those two days. Those two days are some of the most heavily guarded days of the year in the Federation. When we go there, there will probably be patrolling Mechas all over the streets."

"I hope so," Mu Fan said noncommittally, then showed a look of longing. "Harry, do you know? If I hadn't met you, my world probably wouldn't be this exciting."

These sincere words made the little Fatty Harry, who was diligently devouring the fatty Milo, stop. He looked at Mu Fan and said seriously, "That's because we're friends! If you're free in a couple of days, come over to my place. My dad has wanted to meet you for a long time. There's a gathering then, you should come and see."

Mu Fan hummed in agreement, accepting Fatty's invitation.

"There will be lots of girls!" Fatty leaned over with a lecherous look, but Mu Fan pressed his face and pushed him away.

All Mu Fan wanted now was to have a good fight with those Star Pirates, finish it quickly, and then hurry to the Federation Grand Exam!

What about stealing military mechas? Black said it would handle it.

What if he couldn't win? He'd use the Dark Breath that the Fighter Instructor had just taught him to escape. No one should notice.

Thinking about it, Mu Fan felt like there were many ways out, unaware that in others' eyes, he was truly courting death!

After spending the afternoon with Fatty's wailing, Mu Fan excitedly returned to his base. He put on his helmet, eager to practice and see if his APM had improved.

Taking a deep breath, he sat down, put on his helmet with a solemn expression, and pressed the start button.

"Mecha Piloting Training."

"Beep, entry failed. Please listen to the message - Lord Black is busy today, taking a day off. Mu Fan, go practice by yourself."

Don't you know the Star Pirates are coming?! Mu Fan's face was full of black lines.

The data stream that Black had transformed into was carefully cracking the Luoqie Star government's dedicated network, interspersed with several ports connected to the military.

Having conquered a node without triggering an alarm, Black immediately became smug. "If it weren't for my planetary-level main body not being here, would I need such troublesome cracking? Occupying a little more resources would trigger an alarm, it's really annoying. Mu Fan, Mu Fan, it's really considerate of me to clear the way for you here while you rest at home. Relax, relax. The APM I measured for you that day was 30 less. With the Disordered Folding Step, I estimate you'll be walking sideways here. I'm truly too understanding."

Black, who didn't feel insidious at all, chattered on in the virtual space, a complete chatterbox. "Hmm, this data stream is interesting. I'll track it."

Several military dedicated data streams appeared in the administrative network at the same time, all pointing to the same time point, June 2nd...

***

PS: Thanks to "Tian Wei Xia Tian Wei Liang" for the 10 coin reward.

Someone finally answered the bounty. Student "Xiao Xiang Yue Yu", please reply in the pinned post in the discussion area as soon as possible. The book's extra character building is officially open, everyone who wants to make a cameo appearance is welcome to sign up enthusiastically.