Meanwhile, the flickering light of the bonfire reflected on Calm's steady face, yet it failed to conceal the fleeting shock deep within his eyes.
With his broader experience, he knew that Matthew had stepped onto the extraordinary path and possessed the potential of a Class holder!
“Such growth speed...” Calm muttered to himself. It far exceeded his initial expectations.
He had seen many talented youths, and it was not uncommon for them to make rapid progress during the basic training stage.
But Matthew's case was different. It wasn't just a matter of technical proficiency; his Strength, Constitution, and reaction speed all pointed to one fact—his basic physical attributes were undergoing a massive leap.
This was absolutely not something that could be achieved through mere hard training.
Only by truly touching the threshold of the “extraordinary” and beginning to draw upon the power hidden deep within the source of life could one undergo such a remarkable transformation in such a short period of time.
He had experienced this himself, so he was naturally well aware of it.
Yet, he was also somewhat puzzled.
He had never taught Matthew any knowledge regarding breathing techniques, and he could also tell that Matthew was not practicing one.
In Calm's understanding, the first step to drawing upon the source of life and embarking on the extraordinary path was to perceive and guide the latent “qi” within the body through a unique breathing technique.
Without such a systematic method, relying solely on basic training and sparring, no matter how high one's talent was, it would be extremely difficult to systematically trigger such a comprehensive leap in Strength, Constitution, and even Agility in such a short time.
“How did he touch that threshold?” Calm's gaze swept over Matthew once more, pondering in his heart. “Or perhaps... he possesses some rare talent or lineage trait that he himself has not yet noticed?”
Lineage awakenings or rare talents were not uncommon in this world. After all, on this vast and ancient land, the history of humans living alongside and intermarrying with various other races ran long and deep.
Deep within the bloodlines of many seemingly ordinary humans, there could lie dormant thin traces of lineage from elves, dwarves, beastkin, merfolk, or even more ancient entities.
These factors usually lay dormant. However, under certain special circumstances—such as a powerful will to survive, extreme pressure, or actions that happened to align with some ancient ritual—they could be accidentally triggered. This would cause a resonance with the source of life, leading to a rate of growth that defied common sense.
This thought eased Calm's doubts slightly.
What Calm did not know was that Matthew possessed a cheat that he could never comprehend.
For Matthew, his current physical state was merely the result of a skill breakthrough, where the system panel directly “infused” the enhancement into his basic physical attributes.
This method of improvement bypassed the initial process of “internal awakening.” It was simple, direct, and incredibly efficient.
Regardless, the result was right before his eyes. Matthew had indeed stepped onto this path, and his progress was rapid.
Thinking up to this point, Calm cast aside his lingering doubts.
He then called Matthew over.
“Matthew, come here for a moment.”
Matthew was talking with Fabian when he heard the call. He immediately turned around and walked quickly over to Instructor Calm. “Instructor.”
“I've seen all of your recent progress. It has already exceeded the scope of ordinary training.”
He paused.
“Do you feel it? That newly born, more condensed sensation in your body that goes beyond mere physical strength?”
Matthew was delighted to hear this, but he feigned hesitation and nodded. “Yes, Instructor. Lately, I've indeed felt stronger, and my body feels lighter and sturdier, but I haven't felt that more condensed sensation.”
Instructor Calm came to a conclusion in his mind. It seemed to be a lineage awakening or a special talent that allowed him to draw upon his source of life ahead of time, but he had not yet perceived the existence of “qi.”
His expression grew serious, and he said in a deep voice:
“Matthew, your situation is both an opportunity and a hidden risk. If skyrocketing power is not guided, tempered, and controlled through proper methods, it is like a child swinging a giant sledgehammer. Not only is it difficult to unleash its true power, but losing control of it could also damage your meridians, shake your foundation, and cut off your future potential.”
On the surface, Matthew nodded solemnly, but in his heart, he knew this was power granted by the system panel. It would not shake his foundation or cut off his potential.
Still, listening to Instructor Calm's words, a faint anticipation welled up in his heart.
Seeing this, Instructor Calm believed that Matthew had taken his warning to heart and continued:
“Since that's the case, I will teach you the Basic Breathing Technique. This method will help you systematically perceive and guide the newly born power within your body, transforming it into truly controllable ‘qi’, stabilizing your foundation, and laying the groundwork for your future path.”
His gaze swept over the surroundings, ensuring there would be no disturbances.
“Now, watch my movements.”
“The first step of the breathing technique is ‘stillness’. Cast aside distracting thoughts and feel the natural rhythm of your own breathing.”
With that, Calm took a gentle breath, then suddenly exhaled through his nose.
Two streams of white vapor shot straight out like snakes for about half a meter!
Calm inhaled again, and the white snakes wrapped around him as if they were alive.
“This is the second step—perceiving the rhythm and intensity of your breath, using your entire body's strength. The important part is to feel this rhythm.”
Calm used the white vapor to mark his breathing rhythm, accompanied by deliberately heavy breathing sounds, demonstrating the rhythm of the breathing technique.
Matthew watched this, completely dumbfounded.
The two streams of white vapor condensed without dispersing, shooting straight out for half a meter like living creatures before slowly fading into the air.
This was absolutely not something an ordinary person could do!
It contained a clear sense of power and rhythm, as if briefly materializing the invisible “qi.”
A few minutes later.
Calm finished his demonstration and said quietly, “Your physical foundation is very good right now, so you don't need to worry about injuring yourself, but you must still do your best.”
Though he said this, he had great faith in Matthew's comprehension. Matthew should be able to grasp the basics within half a month.
“Remember, the core of the breathing technique lies in ‘focusing the mind’ and ‘guiding’.”
“In the early stages, you do not need to excessively pursue the length and strength of your breath. The key is concentration and feeling the rhythm.”
“Focus your mind on your abdomen, ensuring the breath reaches deep into your body...”
“The mind leads, and the breath naturally follows...”
...
Upon returning home, Matthew was still pondering Instructor Calm's words.
He then immediately began to practice.
Setting down his sack, Matthew found a relatively clean and flat space in the room to stand. Following Instructor Calm's guidance, he stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, dropped his shoulders, tucked his elbows, relaxed his body naturally, and slightly drew in his chest while keeping his back straight, adopting the basic stance for practicing the breathing technique.
The room was dimly lit, with only the faint starlight filtering through the cracks in the door and windows, along with the distant glow of the bonfire. The environment was quiet, making it the perfect time to attempt his initial sensing.
Rate on N.U.
