September 15, three days after the Heavenly Lotus attack incident.
Zhao Huo accepted Bai Ji's invitation and ca to visit Ren Suo's house. After Ren Xingi opened the door for him, Zhao Huo greeted her and then asked as he entered, "Wow, I heard Ren Suo went totally nuts. Is that true?"
He looked around and saw Dong Chengling and Bai Ji. Apart from Ren Suo's sister, three other female students were also present. However, the host, Ren Suo, was sitting on a ditation cushion in the corner of the living room, actively using a Spiritual Energy Aggregation Device and engaging in ditation Cultivation.
Ren Suo's sudden diligence didn't remain a secret for long. During lunch at Dong Chengling's ho, Ren Xingi had excitedly ntioned how her brother seed like a changed person since that morning. The news then spread wildly among their circle of friends.
If it had been his old self, it might not have mattered. But last night, Ren Suo, as a Healing Cultivator, had greatly distinguished himself. Although the Tactical Bureau also had Healing Cultivators, none possessed advanced Spells like "Surgical Thread" and "Pain-Relieving Therapy." Furthermore, Ren Suo had used the "Pure White Mini Holy Grail" during treatnt. His healing effect was visibly superior to theirs, compelling patients to give him a big thumbs up: Ren Suo's healing capacity was ample!
Even Vice Principal Yuan Chu believed Heavenly Lotus had found a gem. The Heavenly Lotus Academy's internal social dia account even hastily published this ssage: "A dic who does not wish to be a warrior is not a good Cultivator!"
After all, they had been suddenly attacked by foreign Supernatural Forces three days prior. Although it was an undeserved disaster for Heavenly Lotus, the fact that assassins had left them completely vulnerable was undeniable. If not for the help of a Fairy Palace Assassin, very few would have survived and escaped.
The attack incident was still under a news blackout. Dozens of foreign criminals had used firearms at the Superhuman Academy in the core city; this incident was exceptionally malicious. The Tactical Bureau was working overti to apprehend the fugitives, but the reasons for the incident remained undetermined.
Being a teacher at Heavenly Lotus Academy inherently ant being recognized as a talent with great potential for further Cultivation. Although no one would say it aloud, they all more or less entertained the idea that 'all great powers converge into one, and one person could withstand a million troops.'
Transcendent beings didn't only have fighting as a pathway (for instance, construction work was also very promising), but currently, combat power was indeed a simple standard to asure a Transcendent's strength.
The teachers, bewildered by the assassins, desperately needed a dose of motivational "chicken soup" to lift their spirits. Just in ti, Ren Suo's situation provided the perfect news material. It would be foolish not to use it!
The 'useless' dic rekindled his fighting spirit, crying and shouting his desire to cultivate and strive—what a perfect storyline for a hot-blooded ani series!
Not only did students need to diligently cultivate, hoping to achieve their First Turn soon, but now even Second Turn Cultivator teachers needed to cultivate seriously. Otherwise, they might not even be able to defeat a dic in the future!
Zhao Huo was naturally skeptical when he heard this news. Ren Suo could, at most, last two days before buckling, he thought. However, when Zhao Huo visited on the third day, he actually saw Ren Suo cultivating in broad daylight; it was utterly terrifying.
"How long has he been cultivating?" Zhao Huo asked Ren Xingi.
She replied, "He's been at it for three hours already, ever since lunch, without any rest."
Zhao Huo slightly raised an eyebrow. Cultivation according to the *Mysterious Sovereign's Secret Records* is extrely taxing on the mind and the active Spiritual Energy within the Qi Cyclone. One needs to complete a full Circulation to expand the Qi Cyclone; typically, people adjust their state after completing one Circulation.
Consecutive Cultivation wasn't just one cycle followed by another; it ant performing one Circulation right after the previous one with no breaks in between. This was known as 'Multiple Circulations.'
Although the Cultivation ti was the sa, according to data released by national departnts, Twofold Circulation was 25% more efficient overall than performing Two Cycles of Circulation. Threefold Circulation was 50% more efficient than Three Cycles of Circulation, and Fourfold Circulation was 100% more efficient than Four Cycles of Circulation!
As for Fivefold Circulation, it wasn't specified, probably because no one had managed to achieve it yet.
However, executing Multiple Circulations required consuming a vast amount of ntal focus and Spiritual Energy. If one lost ntal focus or control of their Spiritual Energy midway, it would be a complete waste of ti. Furthermore, the deeper one progressed into Multiple Circulations, the more tiring it beca. Zhao Huo himself had only succeeded with Twofold Circulation once.
Ordinary Cultivation was like an average person jogging for exercise; Multiple Circulations was like making an overweight person run a marathon to lose weight—the difficulty was incomparable.
With ordinary Cultivation, one could rest midway. However, performing Multiple Circulations was incredibly exhausting.
Sensing Zhao Huo's thoughts, Dong Chengling, who was sitting nearby, suddenly said, "Let's discuss official matters after Ren Suo completes Threefold Circulation."
"Threefold Circulation is that harsh?" Zhao Huo was taken aback. Threefold Circulation isn't just a chubby guy running a marathon. It's more like a chubby guy who's taken laxatives, his legs are weak from diarrhea, and he's running that marathon surrounded by plates of luminous food—a true dual tornt of body and soul!
"It's not too bad, it's just a bit exhausting. Ren Suo has persisted for three days now," Dong Chengling said indifferently.
Zhao Huo was speechless. Dong Chengling's Cultivation speed far exceeded her peers, and it wasn't just due to longer practice ti.
For Dong Chengling, performing Multiple Circulations might be as simple as cooking rice; only Threefold and Fourfold Circulation presented any real difficulty to her.
"Multiple Circulations?" Lin Xianyu, who was eating cake nearby, listened in confusion. Bai Ji then briefly explained Multiple Circulations to the students.
Gu Yueyan exclaid in shock, "No one ever told about this technique! Sister Ling—"
"Because it's a technique only usable by those who have reached Second Turn, and you haven't fully learned the *Mysterious Sovereign's Secret Record Chapter One*, so you can't use it," Dong Chengling explained. "Even at Second Turn, only a very few can perform Multiple Circulations, as it requires trendous willpower and determination."
Bai Ji also sighed. "Indeed, I can only manage Twofold Circulation myself. But after Ren Suo made his decision, he managed to reach such a level—truly worthy of being my…"
Bai Ji unconsciously glanced at Dong Chengling, "…the man I care about."
The atmosphere suddenly turned a bit strange. Everyone else thought Bai Ji was implying Ren Suo was his rival in love. Only Dong Chengling knew Bai Ji's words actually carried no hidden aning…
"Why have you all co?" A weak voice suddenly ca from the corner of the living room.
Having finally completed Fourfold Circulation and erged from his cultivation isolation, Ren Suo opened his eyes to see a large group of people in the living room.
He instinctively asked the question, then suddenly grew animated. Dragging his weak limbs, he walked over, excitedly grasped Bai Ji's shoulders, and asked, "Is the academy going to assign a task? Don't be polite, just give the order! Whether it's a business trip or a duty shift at the school hospital, I can handle it!"
Everyone exchanged glances. Even Zhao Huo had to believe the content being touted on social dia—this dic had truly beco a different person, almost a male version of Dong Chengling!
You, a Healing Cultivator who stays ho every day, now actively yearn for work—could work really bring you happiness?
Under everyone's admiring and appreciative gazes, only Ren Suo himself had sorrows he couldn't express. Indeed, work *did* bring him joy!
Over these three days, his ti was primarily divided among training, studying, and Cultivating. Only eating and defecating offered him so relief. Ren Suo had once considered spending these days in the bathroom. However, he hadn't expected that when he used the toilet, after the first ten minutes, the warm Energy within his body would take control of all his sphincters, forcefully making him finish within three minutes!
Ren Suo had no choice but to drink more water, hoping to prolong his bathroom breaks. Sweating ant taking a bath, and bathing three tis a day had beco routine. However, even bathing could only last for half an hour, after which he was forcibly ejected from the bathroom, regardless of whether he was dressed.
Fortunately, eating was allotted an hour. If Ren Suo ate slowly, he couldn't eat past the hour. If he ate quickly, he didn't have to resu his schedule prematurely either, because he was dining at Dong Chengling's ho. Leaving early would seem impolite; at the very least, he had to wash the dishes.
So, were training, Cultivating, and studying really that painful? They truly were.
Training aside, both Cultivation and studying took place in a small, isolated room that blocked all external sounds and light. This 'Little Black Room' forced Ren Suo to complete specified tasks within a set ti, or his rit Points would be deducted. The rightful source is n̷o̷v̷e̷l̷f̷i̷r̷e̷
He'd never been this diligent, not even in his senior year of high school! There was absolutely no slacking off. He had to study intently every single minute, or the study ti would be extended!
Ren Suo had considered just letting his rit Points run out. But while in the 'Little Black Room,' a problem suddenly occurred to him—
He had a Player's Privilege called "Plucking Feathers from a Flying Goose".
If this deduction of rit Points didn't trigger the Player's Privilege, he'd simply lose all his rit Points. But if it *did* trigger…
**Plucking Feathers from a Flying Goose**: 50% chance to reduce required rit Points by 1; 30% chance to reduce by 10 rit Points (cannot cause the other party to owe you); 19% chance of no rit Points consud; 1% chance to trigger the 'Swindler' special effect. Each deduction of rit Points only subtracts 1 point.
This ant if Ren Suo triggered this Player's Privilege, he could theoretically stay in the 'Little Black Room' until he went insane without losing all his points.
If it didn't trigger, Ren Suo would have to stay in the 'Little Black Room' for countless hours, watching his rit Points drain away. If it *did* trigger with the 1-point cost reduction, he might as well be in the 'Little Black Room' until he died.
What could Ren Suo do? He was in Despair. Unable to even slack off like a Salted Fish, he could only study through his tears.
Cultivation was similar but harsher than studying. The requirent was for Ren Suo to cultivate continuously. At that ti, he didn't even know the concept of Multiple Circulations. However, much like with physical exercise, the Energy controlled within his body also assisted his Cultivation.
But helpful as it was, Ren Suo still had to endure the ntal and physical Exhaustion produced by Cultivation. Every ti he finished practicing, he nearly collapsed into a puddle of mud on the ground.
However, his schedule had no concept of 'rest,' so he could only proceed to the next arranged activity.
Compared to his rigorous schedule, work was truly a joy. That was why Ren Suo was so excited to see Bai Ji.
Ren Xingi couldn't help but remind Ren Suo, "Bro, Teacher Bai and Teacher Dong called in the morning, saying they would co to see you this afternoon. I already told you, did you forget?"
The morning? Ren Suo recalled. He had been studying English in the 'Little Black Room' that morning. He only rembered opening the dictionary and the first word he saw was 'abandon'; he was completely unaware of any external disturbances.
However, hearing Ren Suo eagerly volunteer for work, Bai Ji was very touched. He then declined, "Right now, the academy hasn't assigned you any work, and the school hospital has enough staff. Just diligently practice Cultivation at ho! I will do my best to reduce your workload!"
Zhao Huo, standing nearby, also nodded repeatedly and sighed, "Ren Suo, you've already beco a mature Cultivator. You no longer depend on us and have learned to strengthen yourself. Amazing!"
Hearing this, Ren Suo sat down, despair evident on his face. Without any urgent work assignnts, even if he wanted to throw himself onto a battlefield, he couldn't. He could only continue to exhaust himself in the 'Little Black Room.'
But his friends' visit was an unexpected event, so Ren Suo could finally rest for a bit. He mustered his spirits, forced a smile, and asked, "So, why are you all here?"
"Cheng Ling and I ca to tell you a technique for advancing to Third Turn." Bai Ji smiled and pointed to the cake on the table. "We also made a cake to cheer you up a bit."
Ren Suo looked towards his sister and the three other young won, then suddenly exclaid, "Qin Lian?"
Apart from his sister, Gu Yueyan, and Lin Xianyu, Qin Lian was also there.
"Hello, Brother Ren," Qin Lian said politely. It wasn't their first eting; Ren Suo had treated Yu Kuangtu at Qin Lian's house during a previous dical visit. When school started, Ren Suo had also greeted Qin Lian, telling her to approach him if she needed anything at school.
"The academy finally lifted the restrictions today, allowing students to move freely on campus, so we ca to visit you imdiately. We also bought so fruit."
Lin Xianyu, with cream around her mouth, earnestly pointed to the waterlon on the table, "Big Brother Ren, let's put the waterlon in the fridge and eat it together later?"
"You clearly just want to eat waterlon," Ren Suo said, seeing through Lin Xianyu's ploy instantly.
Lin Xianyu just giggled sheepishly and said nothing. Qin Lian looked at Bai Ji and Dong Chengling, then asked, "Should we step out…?"
"No need, it won't hurt for you to listen in too." Bai Ji turned to Zhao Huo. "It seems Teacher Zhao is also nearly ready for advancent, so we took this opportunity to invite you over to discuss this together."
"Thank you," Zhao Huo said seriously, but he couldn't help asking, "Is this a very important secret? Sothing that shouldn't be shared?"
Bai Ji and Dong Chengling exchanged a glance. Then Bai Ji smiled wryly. "Rather than a secret… it's more of our conjecture."
"It's not that we don't want to publicize this technique; it's just that we can't be 100% certain of its practicality. We've already reported this technique through the academy, but Sky Capital hasn't reached a verdict on it yet."
"But I believe this technique will be useful for those of you about to advance to Third Turn," Bai Ji said, looking earnestly at Ren Suo and Zhao Huo.
"So, before a decision is made by the higher-ups, I wanted to tell you first. Otherwise, if you miss this chance, it's truly missed. Of course, if you incur any losses because of this, I'm willing to take responsibility…"
"Absolutely not!" Zhao Huo exclaid. "We are the ones listening to your advice, and we are the ones who will make the choice. Even if sothing happens, we would never bla you."
Ren Suo glanced at Dong Chengling, who nodded slightly. Thus, he also said, "I trust you and Cheng Ling."
Bai Ji was very pleased with Ren Suo's and Zhao Huo's responses. He had co with Dong Chengling, naturally harboring good intentions.
The reason for inviting Zhao Huo was due to Zhao Huo's good relationship with Ren Suo.
Bai Ji knew that relationships needed frequent contact to deepen. However, as the head of the university's teaching departnt, he was usually too busy. So, he chose an indirect approach.
If even Ren Suo's friends were friendly towards him, then all barriers would be gone!
He hadn't expected the students Ren Suo was familiar with to co over as well, nor that Ren Suo's sister would be there. Still, it was fine; raising the goodwill of so many people at once wasn't bad.
However, up to now, Bai Ji had been carefully hiding his true intentions—even Dong Chengling had only heard him say, 'I just want to understand Ren Suo a bit more.'
First, beco best friends, then take it further!
Sitting in the living room today, maybe lying in his bed tomorrow night!
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