Zhao Mu wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked Bu Yanhuan with a smile, "How long did it take me to finish one Meditation?"
Bu Yanhuan sighed. "So-so. One Meditation and you spent twenty minutes! Battle Rank 1 really is slow at Meditation."
She took a swig of liquor and said proudly, "After my first Awakening, this old lady only needed five minutes for her first Meditation—hahaha!"
Black lines crept across Zhao Mu's forehead, yet he wasn't discouraged in the least.
"No problem, I can keep going!"
He stared at the demon clown proficiency and, eyes closed, focused again; soon he began his second Meditation.
With the first experience under his belt, the second round was indeed much faster—an entire minute quicker!
The proficiency of [Spiritual Energy Introduction] had already reached 2.
But this time Zhao Mu felt even more exhausted.
"So tired. Though it's mental, it feels like I've pulled an all-nighter."
Bu Yanhuan told him, "At your current stage you haven't learned to control the flow, so Meditation wears you out—because what Meditation consumes most is Mental Energy."
She suddenly stepped in front of him, sat cross-legged opposite him, and an enticing glimpse of spring peeked out from beneath her loungewear.
Zhao Mu's face reddened and he quickly lowered his gaze.
"Come, stretch out your hands."
She extended her soft, fair palms toward him.
Zhao Mu reached out as well; their fingers soon interlocked, and to him it felt as though he were holding two fluffy clouds.
Bu Yanhuan barked in a low voice, "Close your eyes and focus! Keep circulating the Meditation Technique now!"
Zhao Mu hurriedly shut his eyes, took several deep breaths, and began clearing his thoughts.
When he once more channeled spirit energy from Subspace, he felt another unique force flow through his hands.
Bu Yanhuan's Spirit Power was strong yet gentle, guiding his energy step by step, letting it race through the meridians inside his body.
It was like running a marathon with someone breaking the wind up ahead—suddenly his Meditation speed jumped by nearly double!
Overjoyed, Zhao Mu realized that at this pace, before Qingfeng Camp's Entrance Trial arrived, he could likely push [Spiritual Energy Introduction] proficiency to 100 and enter the second stage.
What changes would that bring about?
He was eager to find out.
Yet her guidance also made him see that if you're born into a powerful Family, with strong Ability Users mentoring the juniors, cultivation speed can multiply many times over!
If Meditation Techniques alone could do this, then once Combat Techniques, weapons, and connections were added, the gap between common folk and scions of great clans would only widen.
Even more terrifying, Spiritual Energy Talent can be passed through bloodlines; a mighty expert's descendants have a much higher chance of becoming mighty themselves, while ordinary people's children will mostly remain ordinary.
To break through the classes, only one possibility exists—genetic mutation.
That is why, for centuries, the Xuanfeng Empire's strata have almost solidified, and stories of humble youths rising in the world are rarely heard.
Zhao Mu dared not ponder further; he steadied his mind and kept Meditating.
Under Bu Yanhuan's guidance he soon completed five more Meditation cycles.
After each cycle, the next Meditation became slightly faster.
The improvement wasn't huge, but it was steady.
At this rate, finishing one Meditation in mere tens of seconds might one day be possible.
Yet today his Mental Energy had truly reached its limit; he could barely concentrate.
Still, he could clearly sense that the spirit energy in his Spirit Sea had grown noticeably stronger.
Bu Yanhuan released his hands and said, "Running seven cycles on your first day of Meditation—pretty impressive."
The demon clown panel's proficiency number leapt to 7.
Each Meditation added one point of proficiency.
Zhao Mu said happily, "I'll try to push my Meditation Technique proficiency to 100."
Bu Yanhuan flicked his forehead again.
"Blockhead! Meditation alone won't make you stronger! Consider cost-effectiveness."
Rubbing his brow, Zhao Mu stared at her in puzzlement.
Bu Yanhuan raised a finger and lectured earnestly, "Mighty Spirit Power is like great physical strength—you need the right technique to bring out its full potential."
"If you possess great Spirit Power but can't apply it in combat, you're just an embroidered pillow—pretty but useless."
"So, to guarantee you enter Qingfeng Camp, in the next seven days you must improve your physical strength, Spirit Power, and the proficiency of the [Seven Kills] Combat Technique all together."
Her words poured like cold water, dousing Zhao Mu's eagerness to raise Spirit Power at all costs.
"You're right—Spirit Power is the foundation, but Combat Technique is equally crucial."
For now, though, until he formally joined Qingfeng Camp and became a certified Spirit Power User of the Xuanfeng Empire, he couldn't legally obtain Combat Techniques to Cultivate.
Zhao Mu wasn't in a hurry; at this stage [Seven Kills] was enough for him.
Seven Kills wasn't a single skill but a combat philosophy.
It covered fists, grappling, and weapon use—plenty to handle the entrance training in seven days.
Zhao Mu lay on the floor to recover his spirit, switching the demon clown panel to [Breathing]; his Breathing skill was now in the second stage: [Turtle Breathing Technique].
Each breath he took was extremely long and drawn-out.
Gradually he realized this Breathing method had a remarkable effect on restoring both stamina and Mental Energy!
His exhausted body and mind eased under the steady, prolonged Breathing.
He hadn't expected the Breathing technique to possess such benefits.
He immediately focused even more on his Breathing.
[Turtle Breathing Technique: Life Skill, proficiency 135.]
After the second tier, skill proficiency clearly slowed, and the progress bar required 1,000 points before unlocking the next stage.
Still, the skill demanded no extra effort—so long as he breathed, it automatically Cultivated itself.
Zhao Mu was secretly delighted.
Seeing his drained look, Bu Yanhuan smiled dotingly.
"So tired? Want Auntie to help you with her feet?"
Zhao Mu wondered if his ears were playing tricks.
Could something this good really happen?
The next instant her snowy foot kicked him over.
Then—thud—she planted her sole on his back.
"Hiss…"
Zhao Mu clearly heard his bone crack.
"Relax; it'll hurt a bit at first, but you'll feel great soon."
Bu Yanhuan smiled as she increased the pressure.
Before long, under the weight, his muscles relaxed and a wonderfully comfortable sensation spread through him, body and mind.
"Mm, a bit higher please—thanks."
Eyes closed in bliss, Zhao Mu was promptly greeted by a heavy stomp on his head.