Chapter 4: The Hidden Turtle
Chapter 4: The Hidden Turtle
Bai Yun came to a halt.
Before her, in the Meditation Chamber, a solemn, ancient aura lay coiled and contained, immense as a mountain, like the Black Tortoise resting in slumber.
“The Turtle Breathing Technique may not be famous, but it is definitely not ordinary, no less than secret arts,” Bai Yun considered quietly. “This technique mimics the breathing method of the ancient sacred beast — the mountain-bearing Dragon Turtle. It’s described as ‘The greatest method knows no boundaries, the greatest form has no shape.’ But this person… they managed to cultivate the Turtle Breathing Technique to such a level? Their talent must be exceptional.”
Flipping through the roster, she froze slightly.
“This person’s name is… Yan Zhao? He wasn’t one of those three? That is unexpected. In terms of natural gifts, he shouldn’t be inferior to those three.”
She noted the name, a thoughtful expression settling on her Yun’s face.
“Where did this guy come from? He seems to have no prominent background… Might be worth befriending…”
Moving forward, a gleam of brilliant white light pierced through the solid wall. It shone like a morning star, dazzling and bright.
“Su Xuan’er!” Bai Yun gasped, her eyes widening further in disbelief. “She awakened a ‘Spirit-God Aperture’ at just thirteen? That girl’s talent is terrifying…”
The Su Clan’s bloodline, “Prophecy of Opportunity,” ranked among the elite Hundred Family Names, a superior lineage.
The “Spirit-God Aperture” was one of the abilities granted by this bloodline.
Each Spirit-God Aperture greatly enhanced meditation efficiency and strengthened the power of spellcasting. In Su Clan history, there was even a monster who awakened eleven Spirit-God Apertures!
For Su Xuan’er to awaken a single “Spirit-God Aperture” at thirteen already showed the frightening potential to rival even her legendary predecessors.
Compared to this, Bai Yun felt her own “White Jade” bloodline and its ability, “Spotless Body,” were far inferior.
For reasons unknown, a faint sliver of envy stirred in Bai Yun’s heart.
Her enthusiasm abruptly waned, and she lost all interest in looking further.
But then again… that was the Zhangsun Clan from Luoyang!
An offspring of the Zhangsun Clan—how could they possibly be inferior?
Just moments after Bai Yun left, a fair-skinned, elegant young woman slowly opened her eyes in one Meditation Chamber.
The girl was beautiful, especially her large, dove-like eyes. Her fluttering eyelashes seemed expressive, as if they could speak. As she opened her eyes, they radiated countless charms.
“Was that… Zhangsun Shenji?” The young woman slightly furrowed her willow-leaf brows. A flicker of fighting spirit glinted in her pale purple pupils. “Coming to Dawn Cliff was the right choice! An opponent like this… well, it won’t be boring…”
The Meditation Chambers were situated quite close together. During deep meditation, mental resonance occasionally occurred, minds unknowingly touching.
She had distinctly sensed someone meditating faster than her!
It wasn’t just Su Xuan’er; quite a few students had felt this ripple.
“Was that… the Zhangsun pretty boy?” Yan Zhao curled his lip, sounding somewhat sour. “Tst, tsk. Keeping a low profile—what’s so hard about that? That kid shows off way too much. Isn’t he afraid of becoming everyone’s target?”
“Zhangsun Shenji! And Su Xuan’er!” Yu Qian said through gritted teeth, malice clear on his face. “Sooner or later, I’ll crush you both beneath my feet!”
None of them knew that Zhangsun Shenji himself was currently reclining on his bed. He was absentmindedly flipping through a copy of the ‘Tao Te Ching’, occasionally popping a lychee into his mouth with his free hand.
“In my Zhangsun Clan,” he said lazily, with his mouth full, “we cultivate consciousness first, power later. Hard, sweaty meditation? That’s what muscle-heads do. Perfect way to hide my strength.”
He had no idea that his carefully cultivated laziness had pinned a huge unwanted “merit” squarely onto someone else’s back.
Meditation Chamber — Ninety-Five.
Outside this chamber, the flowing magical currents along the Mana Circuit sparked like swirling stars. Elements violently trembled! All clear signs of being unable to sustain!
Inside this Meditation Chamber sat Li Yi.
He was sprawled flat on the ground, like a giant turtle clinging to rock. His body rose and fell in a strange, divine rhythm.
This meditative pose was bizarre, to say the least.
The recognized best meditative posture for communication with elements and attaining Heaven-Earth Resonance was the “Lotus Position with Five Centers Upright.”
Other styles like the Sleeping Buddha, the Coiled Dragon, or Saint’s Prayer had their own profound mysteries. But a turtle-flat pose like this? Unheard of.
This method resembled a magical beast way more than a human!
Yet, its meditative effects were astonishing.
In the Five Centers Upright posture, five points—two palms, two soles, the crown of the head—serve as furnaces to refine Mana. However, the Turtle Hibernation Art instead utilized nine distinct apertures on the back as its refining furnaces. The placement of these nine holes faintly resembled the pattern of the Luo River Script!
The sacred turtle carried the Script!
Li Yi’s expression was calm, utterly composed, yet with an underlying firmness easy to miss.
Stuck conspicuously to the back of the door was a ripped-out page from the Nine Provinces Chronicles:
— “In the twenty-third year of Qian Yuan, the Emperor shattered the Void with his fist. In that moment—mountains shook, thunder fell like rain, countless beasts crouched in fear, deities cried out in astonishment! Long after the storm subsided, the world fell silent. Only a final chuckling shout echoed through space: ‘Old Sun takes his leave!'”
“If Xiao Changkong could do it,” thought Li Yi, “who says I can’t?” The power of example was boundless. Burning, indomitable fighting spirit filled his chest. “No matter if it takes ten years, twenty years… an entire lifetime!”
Dawn broke.
The Super Magic Array—Well of Stars— gradually ceased its operation.
“The sun’s scorching your hind end! Still not up?”
Li Yi had hoped to catch the last flickers of the array’s power for more cultivation. But Yan Zhao’s incessant, pounding kicks at the door forced him to relent.
Outside stood a swaggering Yan Zhao, alongside Zhangsun Shenji, who was regarding their companion with clear distaste.
“A sharp axe helps with chopping firewood, get it?” Yan Zhao adopted a lecturing tone, part instruction, part warning. “Working during the day gives you half the reward for twice the effort. Earning some Magic Crystal is the smart move. Come on, eat first. Got to be full to work.”
Only then did Li Yi realize how much the night’s meditation had cost him. His stomach rumbled like thunder. Intense, all-consuming hunger spread through his entire body.
…
“What jobs pay Magic Crystal… fastest?” Li Yi asked between huge bites of food. “I really need Magic Crystals. The more, the better!”
Last night, he too had experienced the phenomenon of mental resonance, sensing the minds of other students.
He distinctly felt his own meditation speed leading the pack!
That feeling of standing above the crowd, looking down on mountain peaks… it was incredibly satisfying, honestly.
This Turtle Hibernation Art… it was extraordinary!
And within his Heavenly Prophecy Ring, a new pale silver radiance hung suspended.
It clearly stated its price: Alligator-Resting Art, One Hundred Magic Crystals.
By the principle of “equivalent exchange,” wouldn’t this Alligator-Resting Art be ten times more powerful?
Anticipation soared in Li Yi’s heart. Yan Zhao and Zhangsun Shenji, however, exchanged a fleeting glance, a flash of pity in their eyes.
—Looks like he got hit hard during last night’s meditation. Why else chase Magic Crystal so desperately?
—But innate gift determines the peak of a Mage’s path. Magic Crystal is just pretty decoration. Wealthy tycoons exist since days of old—but how many piled up Magic Crystal to become Heavenly Decree Powerhouses?
“‘A small setback’?” Yan Zhao slapped Li Yi’s back encouragingly. “What’s that to a man? We bounce back! Better still, the tougher it gets, the harder we fight!”
He had planned to impart some basic knowledge about “Secret Arts,” “Bloodlines,” and “Metamagic Specializations.” Seeing Li Yi’s state, he decided against it.
Better… to set a small, manageable goal first.
Yanzhao sighed inwardly.
Li Yi looked thoroughly confused. Realizing his meaning wasn’t clear, he hurriedly added: “I don’t mind difficult work… Cleaning dragon dung, sweeping monster pens—I can do it.”
Zhangsun Shenji couldn’t help but scoff, shaking his head. Yan Zhao burst out laughing.
“What?” Li Yi was bewildered.
“You think cleaning dragon dung and mucking out pens is ‘difficult’? Those are the most coveted jobs in the whole academy!”
“Huh?” Li Yi felt his brain malfunctioning.
“Kid, do you even know what dragon dung is worth? It’s premium alchemy material! Especially when it comes from an Apocalypse Dragon at Dawn Cliff?” Yan Zhao wagged his finger. “The rights to clean it are auctioned off every year! Fights break out every time…”
Li Yi felt his jaw strain under the weight of this revelation.
“I’ve got a plan. Heading to Molten Rock Valley as a ‘Hammer Swinger’. Earn three Magic Crystals a day.” Yan Zhao grinned, rubbing his chin. “Though… that kind of work isn’t for you…”
“‘Hammer Swinger’? Why not?” A flash of challenge sparked in Li Yi’s chest. “Aren’t we all just two arms and a head?”
“A fifty-pound hammer! Swung a thousand times a day!” Yan Zhao flexed, his arrogant pose making Zhangsun Shenji roll his eyes violently. “Think you can handle that?”
“Yeah… that I really can’t.” Li Yi mentally weighed his slender frame, raised his hands in surrender, and chuckled.
“Still… I do know one other job paying well.” Yan Zhao hesitated. “Though… it has its own… minor issues…”
“Stop with the circles! Spit it out!”
“Beast Attendant!”