Senior Brother Injured

The Spirit Refining Instruction's principles had not changed at all after No. 01's optimization. Yi Xuan still had to visualize a substance in his sea of consciousness. But No. 01's simulations showed that, at its current strength, Yi Xuan's sea of consciousness could not withstand any hammering at all. It could not even bear the light tapping of something like cotton.

Finally, after a month of tireless effort, No. 01 produced a cultivation method that Yi Xuan's sea of consciousness could withstand: grinding.

According to No. 01's calculations, Yi Xuan could currently use his Divine Sense to construct a stone slab and an iron rod in his sea of consciousness. Then, just as in the tale of grinding an iron pestle into a needle, he would grind the rod against the slab without stopping.

Once Yi Xuan had ground the iron rod in his sea of consciousness into a fine needle, it would mean that the strength of his sea of consciousness had made a qualitative leap. Then he could switch to a new cultivation method. Of course, that was a matter for later.

Sitting cross-legged in the secret chamber, Yi Xuan began visualizing an iron rod and a stone slab for grinding in his sea of consciousness. Visualizing objects with such simple structures posed no difficulty for him.

The two objects soon appeared in Yi Xuan's sea of consciousness. Next came the most important part: grinding. Yi Xuan controlled the iron rod, carefully bringing it into contact with the stone slab. Nothing happened when the two touched, and his anxious heart settled somewhat.

He then guided the rod up and down the slab. As it began to grind against the stone, Yi Xuan felt as though his brain had been placed between the rod and the slab and was being rubbed relentlessly. The sensation was excruciating, but not unbearable.

Yi Xuan knew this should be the cultivation method No. 01 had described, one that approached the limits of what his sea of consciousness could bear. With no other choice, he could only grit his teeth and continue cultivating.

Fifteen minutes later, Yi Xuan, who had been tormented nearly to madness, felt as though his sea of consciousness had reached a critical point.

As the iron rod rubbed against the stone slab once more, Yi Xuan's consciousness went black, and he was forced out of his introspective state.

"Congratulations, boss. Your first cultivation session was a great success!"

As Yi Xuan opened his eyes, No. 01's voice sounded in his ear at the same time.

He sensed his Divine Sense and found that it did seem considerably more condensed. Although the whole process had not been pleasant, Yi Xuan was still very satisfied with the result.

"No. 01, it looks like we succeeded!"

"Yes, boss. The optimized cultivation method now allows you to cultivate normally. Would you like me to optimize it further?"

Yi Xuan was tempted by No. 01's suggestion, but after thinking it over, he decided against further optimization.

Simulating the Spirit Refining Instruction was rather taxing for No. 01 at present, leaving it with no computing power to control anything else in the secret chamber.

Yi Xuan did not want his grenade business to grind to a halt because of the Spirit Refining Instruction. At the same time, he realized it was time to give No. 01 a partner. For Yi Xuan at present, one computer was indeed being stretched too thin.

Over the next half month, life returned to its previous routine. The secret chamber came back under No. 01's control, and grenade production resumed. At the same time, No. 01 worked on a new artifact-refining cauldron to increase grenade production.

Liang Shi also continued learning from No. 01. Although the boy's aptitude for cultivation was nothing special, he seemed to have a natural interest in technology. Whatever the subject, he could understand and master it in a short time.

This had once made Yi Xuan wonder whether his disciple had been born into the wrong world. With an intellect like that, he was actually living in this scientific wasteland.

Fortunately, Yi Xuan had come to this world, allowing him to find a place where he could put his talents to use.

That day, Yi Xuan sat at the stall outside his courtyard with his eyes closed, resting his mind. In fact, he was cultivating the Spirit Refining Instruction in his sea of consciousness.

Half a month was not long, but Yi Xuan could be said to have made rapid progress with the Spirit Refining Instruction. At first, he had only been able to endure for fifteen minutes, but now he could last an hour. Moreover, after each session, he only needed to rest for an hour or two before he could continue.

This made Yi Xuan especially glad that the simulation of the Spirit Refining Instruction had originally been constructed around the characteristics of his own sea of consciousness. The new Spirit Refining Instruction produced through optimization was thus highly compatible with him, allowing him to cultivate so smoothly.

As the iron rod gave one final rub against the stone slab in his sea of consciousness, Yi Xuan was once again kicked out of his introspective state.

Keeping his eyes closed, Yi Xuan took a moment to sense his Divine Sense and was very satisfied with its progress. He was just about to open his eyes when he caught a faint scent of blood.

Someone's here? Yi Xuan thought.

The smell of blood had appeared suddenly, which meant someone who had been injured was passing nearby.

He opened his eyes and saw a person in a black cloak standing in the previously empty alley.

Seeing the embroidery on the cloak, Yi Xuan let out a long breath. He had thought someone had come to cause him trouble, but it turned out to be an acquaintance!

It was none other than Yi Xuan's senior brother, Shi Zhenghao.

Although his senior brother was completely shrouded in his cloak, the faint smell of blood on him could not escape Yi Xuan's nose.

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

No sooner had Yi Xuan spoken than Shi Zhenghao suddenly collapsed in the middle of the alley. Startled, Yi Xuan hurried over to check on his senior brother.

Apart from the blood at the corner of his mouth, Yi Xuan could find no other wounds on him.

With no other choice, Yi Xuan hoisted Shi Zhenghao onto his back and carried him to the bedroom in the courtyard.

That evening, Liang Shi emerged from the secret chamber after a day of study and immediately saw Yi Xuan tending to Shi Zhenghao, who lay on the bed with his life or death uncertain.

"Master? Who is he?"

Seeing Liang Shi close the entrance to the secret chamber, Yi Xuan waved to her and said, "This is my senior brother, which makes him your senior martial uncle-Shi Zhenghao!"

"Senior martial uncle?"

Liang Shi was somewhat puzzled. His master had never told him who his own master was. He only knew that Yi Xuan was a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, but he had not expected a senior martial uncle to suddenly appear.

Yi Xuan did not want to explain too much to Liang Shi. He simply told him to keep his senior martial uncle's presence secret and not tell anyone.

Liang Shi was already used to this. Ever since he had become Yi Xuan's disciple, everything he had encountered had been secret. Liang Shi also understood that if the things in his master's hands were exposed to the world, they would surely have an earth-shattering impact.

Until the master and disciple were strong enough to protect those things, it was better to keep a low profile!

"All right, you've studied with No. 01 all day. Go get some rest! There's no need to rush over tomorrow morning. Go to Fatty Lin and get a bottle of Origin Returning Pills first!"

Liang Shi nodded and left Yi Xuan's courtyard. Having been his disciple for so long, Liang Shi had naturally come to know Fatty Lin as well.