The first thing I did upon returning to the dormitory was brew a pot of Mind-Calming Tea. The high-end single dorms at the military academy were top-notch, provided with everything one could possibly need.
After pouring myself a cup of tea, I took out the book titled 《Balance Meditation Method — Translated by Zhang Jingping》 and began reading.
The opening of the book introduced Daxia's current research on mental strength, all of which was based on a super dungeon officially named 【Akhan Dynasty】.
This 《Balance Meditation Method》 was also a widely circulated general meditation technique within the 【Akhan Dynasty】.
A meditation method was essentially a way to mimic natural sleep, actively constraining mental strength within the soul core to allow the physical body to rest. On this basis, one would use special mental strength manipulation methods to continuously temper and refine their mental strength.
The core concept of the Balance Meditation Method was to divide one's mental strength into multiple portions, using the soul core as a scale to balance the mental willpower on both sides, thereby training one's control. Entry-level mastery required dividing it into two equal parts, while advanced mastery involved as many divisions as possible. At high levels, one could attempt to cut mental strength into portions of different sizes while still keeping the scale balanced through various combinations.
At the end of the book, there were notes left by Zhang Jingping.
【The path of mental strength is divided into three major directions: Control, Command, and Destruction. Commanders are mostly Martial Artists and warriors who use their will as a lead, fusing mental strength and the physical body into one.】
【Destroyers are mostly those born with divine anomalies. According to the historical records of the Akhan Dynasty, some people possess rare treasures or exotic beasts within their souls, giving their mental strength inherent special properties. In extreme cases, the landscapes of heaven and earth are reflected within them. The mental strength of such people is as vast as heavenly majesty, capable of easily obliterating physical matter.】
【Controllers represent the most common and most complete path of mental strength specialization. Throughout history, those born with divine anomalies have been few and far between, a path not meant for ordinary people. The path for ordinary people lies in inheritance and innovation. The Akhan Dynasty has ten thousand years of history, and there were unknown ages before it. The path of the Controller is the crystallization of the wisdom of ordinary people over tens of thousands of years. When practiced to the peak, it can certainly contend with Destroyers.】
At the very end of the notes was a passage of untranslated Akhan script, which Chen Xu translated directly using Fuxi.
"Body Freedom Entering Micro No Fluctuations Natural."
"What on earth is this?" Looking at these nonsensical words, Chen Xu was at a loss.
"Detecting professional researcher version translation for this passage of Akhan script. Would you like to switch?"
"Switch. From now on, don't use machine translation. Default to the researcher version."
It turned out to be a machine translation, no wonder Chen Xu couldn't understand it.
【Effortless Control, At Will, Minute Precision, Breathless, and Unity of Heaven and Man.】
After reading the meaning-based translation, Chen Xu fell into silence.
It wasn't that Chen Xu failed to understand these five stages of the Controller path, but rather that he suddenly remembered Zhang Jingping's mental strength operations back at the research institute. He had clearly been controlling objects to move, yet there hadn't been a single ripple of mental strength. He had also directly ignored the Black Tortoise Shield to force a soul message into Chen Xu's mind. Looking at it now, Zhang Jingping was actually a powerhouse of the Breathless Stage.
After finishing the book, Chen Xu immersed himself in the practice of the meditation method. Curing his headache as soon as possible was the only way he could consider the upcoming, most critical Advancement Ascension mission.
Seven days later, Chen Xu concluded his mental strength cultivation. When a person is completely immersed in something, they truly lose track of the passage of time.
If he hadn't received a notification from Xia Qiming stating that all personnel for this year's Dragon Seed Program had been confirmed and asking everyone to meet and get to know each other, Chen Xu would have thought only two or three days had passed.
During these seven days, he had mastered the Balance Meditation Method, and his headache had been cured.
At the same time, Chen Xu spent time studying 《Runes and the World》 and 《Runes and Spirit》, upgrading his original nine low-level runes into three mid-level runes.
Chen Xu had learned his lesson this time and stopped blindly pursuing quantity. After all, according to the books, runes possessed the power to construct everything in the world and were the language of nature. Therefore, the grade and quantity of runes weren't the most important factors; what mattered most was how they were combined.
Low, mid, and high-level runes were like vocabulary of different depths, while a rune combination was like a beautiful essay.
So Chen Xu only condensed three mid-level runes and then continued to delve into high-level runes and Transcendent mental strength application techniques.
If it hadn't been for Xia Qiming's message, he would probably still be reading about high-level runes.
He washed up as usual and took the opportunity to select the level 30 exclusive enhancement for Raise Skeleton.
Since he wasn't entering dungeons and lacked combat, and because he was busy studying the path of mental strength, his skeleton soldier count remained at 600,000, so the skill's leveling speed wasn't particularly fast.
【Raise Skeleton (Level 31): Summons a skeleton. If a corpse is consumed for the summon, receive an additional bonus based on the quality of the corpse. Current enhancements: Cold Enhancement, Aura of Cold.】
【Skeleton Hero: Bone Guard One (Level 19)】
【Skeleton Hero: Bone Guard Two (Level 19)】
【Skeleton Hero: Not yet converted】
【Raise Skeleton has reached level 30. 996 talent triggered. Gained effect: Overtime Pay (Please, I beg you, take a rest. This tiny amount of money really isn't worth it.). Choose one of the following three enhancements.】
【Special Curse: When skeleton soldiers deal damage, they apply an Amplify Damage curse to the enemy. The curse level is equal to the Raise Skeleton level. (Amplify Damage: Cursed enemies take double physical damage.)】
【Toxic Attack: Skeleton soldiers' attacks carry poison damage and will spread toxic gas to the surroundings, poisoning nearby enemies.】
【Extra Strong: All attributes of skeleton soldiers are comprehensively increased.】
The moment he saw Special Curse, Chen Xu ignored the other two enhancement affixes and picked it instantly.
With Cold Enhancement, Aura of Cold, and Special Curse combined, a front-line cannon fodder that might not be the strongest but was definitely the most annoying had been born. Enemies entangled by skeleton soldiers would be cursed before the fight even began. During the fight, the Aura of Cold would constantly deal ice damage. Even if they managed to defeat the skeleton soldiers, they would have to contribute one last bit of effort as a brilliant Ice Ring exploded upon the skeleton's death. Even if it didn't kill the enemy, it would annoy them to death.
There was still one skeleton hero slot left, which Chen Xu converted as well.
【Skeleton Hero conversion successful. Obtained Skeleton Hero. Type: Blade and Sword Warrior. Please bestow a name.】
"Bone Guard Three."
Bone Guard Three was three meters tall with exceptionally long arms, holding a bone blade in each hand. In terms of appearance, he wasn't as impressive as Bone Guard One or Bone Guard Two.
【Skeleton Hero: Bone Guard Three (Level 1)】
【Skills: Soul Roar, Whirlwind Slash, Blade and Sword Master】
【Soul Roar (Level 1): The skeleton hero lets out a soul-piercing roar, becoming briefly immune to crowd control and slightly increasing all attributes.】
【Whirlwind Slash (Level 1): A spinning dance of death, an elegant yet lethal dancer on the battlefield.】
【Blade and Sword Master (Level 1): The skeleton hero specializes in blades and swords, fusing intent with the weapon to unleash blade/sword qi.】
After finishing his preparations, it was 7:50 AM. The meeting time was 8:00 AM.
He checked the navigation and saw that the meeting point was the military academy dungeon preparation base, only three kilometers from the dormitory.
After his mental strength had ascended to the epic-tier and he had practiced the meditation method, Chen Xu's mental strength perception range had reached five kilometers.
He could teleport there in an instant.
Since there was still time, he decided to go to the cafeteria to buy some breakfast first. To avoid scaring the cafeteria ladies, Chen Xu chose to teleport outside the cafeteria and walk in.
"Auntie, I'll take three meat buns, two vegetable buns, three tea eggs, a large cup of soy milk, and an order of beef chow fun."
"Coming right up!"
After becoming a Professional, one of the most practical hidden traits was a massive appetite.
He took his breakfast and checked the time. It was 7:55 AM, perfect.
Aiming in the right direction, he stepped through space and arrived in front of the military academy dungeon preparation base gates in the next instant.
Chen Xu's sudden appearance gave the people around him a start once again.
Chen Xu took a look and saw several familiar faces. Lin Chen, Qin Xixi, and Su Qinghe were all there, along with a few others he didn't recognize.
"Morning. Want some?"
Chen Xu took the initiative to greet them.
"No thanks, we've already eaten," Lin Chen replied.
"You guys know each other? Won't you introduce us?" Beside them, a bald young man wearing black and gold exercise clothes tilted his head toward Lin Chen, signaling for an introduction.
"He's the Necromancer Teacher Xia mentioned, Chen Xu. He was the first person in our year to pass the assessment."
"Oh!" The bald man's eyes lit up as he stepped forward and extended his right hand. "Zhao Wuji, Martial Artist."
Chen Xu was currently holding his breakfast in his left hand and the beef chow fun in his right. Seeing Zhao Wuji approach, he quickly summoned two skeleton arms from the Necrotic Space to take the breakfast and the chow fun. He then wiped his hand on his backside before shaking Zhao Wuji's hand. "Chen Xu, Necrotic Lord."
Although Chen Xu's trick with the skeleton arms was indeed bizarre, upon hearing the words 'Necrotic Lord', Zhao Wuji couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration. "You've already completed your first Advancement Ascension?"
"No, no. It was just a stroke of luck. I happened to have a dungeon item that let me advance," Chen Xu said with a wave of his hand.
"Luck is also a part of one's strength."
After the greeting, Zhao Wuji returned to Lin Chen's side.
Just as Chen Xu was about to take back the chow fun and continue his breakfast, the others stepped forward one after another.
"Gu Bai, Scholar."
"Hello, hello."
"Shen Mengqi, Cultivator."
"A Cultivator? I've heard much about you."
...
"Jiang Hong, Thousand-Machine Artisan."
"Hello, hello."
It wasn't until the remaining nine people had introduced themselves that Chen Xu had the chance to continue eating his breakfast.
He had barely taken two bites when Xia Qiming's voice came from behind. "Since everyone is here, let's head inside. The purpose of gathering you today is to set the agenda for your first Advancement Ascension."
Xia Qiming walked up to Chen Xu and glanced at the only person on the field still eating breakfast. Seeing him smile while shoveling food, Xia Qiming shook his head and said nothing, leading the way into the base.
The others followed behind Xia Qiming, while Chen Xu walked at the very back as they all entered the base together.
Rate on N.U.
