62: Azure Dragon Stele

They arrived at the third floor.

"Teacher Qian, our free usage quota for the Upper Academy's meditation rooms is calculated by sessions. Isn't 10 sessions a bit low? You should know that even the Spiritual Energy Tower provides at least 80 hours of free quota."

Qian Yi said, "I don't need to answer that question. You will soon discover that 10 sessions is already quite a lot."

Next, Qian Yi led the group into a meditation room of nearly six hundred square meters.

After entering.

In the center of the meditation room stood a circular stone pillar; the surrounding area was completely empty.

"Each of you take a prayer mat, form a circle, and sit down facing the azure dragon stele."

"azure dragon stele?"

Xiao Weiqing sized up the circular stone pillar in the center. It was covered in inscriptions and patterns, pitch-black and looking somewhat blurred to the naked eye, making its true appearance difficult to discern.

Two minutes later.

Everyone was settled.

Qian Yi introduced, "This is a Rank 2 azure dragon stele. If you complete the entire visualization, it means your Mental Energy has reached Level 20."

"If anyone feels discomfort later, report it immediately. You can go downstairs and visualize the Rank 1 azure dragon stele with the Lower Academy Trainees."

"However, remember to keep your heads down. Don't let people recognize that you are from the Upper Academy."

Everyone: "..."

Xiao Weiqing had truly come to realize how sharp-tongued Qian Yi was.

Xue Cheng asked, "Teacher Qian, how do we visualize this azure dragon stele?"

"Utilize your Mental Energy, focus your attention, and concentrate your spirit."

Xiao Weiqing felt a bit skeptical, "Is it really that magical?"

He then began to try, closing his eyes, casting aside distracting thoughts, and focusing his attention ahead.

Suddenly.

A touch of azure appeared in his mind, followed by several lines. Without any warning, they barged into his consciousness.

The more he concentrated, the brighter the azure became.

His Mental Energy followed the lines, moving faster and faster. Before long, it sketched out a horn—no, a pair of horns.

"Is this a Dragon?"

The dragon's head and eyes slowly began to manifest.

Abruptly.

The dragon's eyes shifted, filled with an innate majesty, and looked toward Xiao Weiqing, causing his consciousness to freeze.

"Holy crap!"

Xiao Weiqing snapped awake, discovering that his palms and back were drenched in sweat.

Looking around, some people were dripping with sweat, some were vomiting, and some had even collapsed to the floor.

Xiao Weiqing glanced at his Wristband and found that 15 minutes had already passed, though it had felt like less than 3 minutes just now.

At that moment.

"Ah!"

Wei Lan, who was beside him, also snapped awake, clutching her full chest.

"Brother Qing, the dragon, the dragon... it's so scary."

Xiao Weiqing said, "I was startled too. In just that short while, I feel like my Mental Energy has been drastically depleted."

Qian Yi saw that everyone had woken up and smiled, "How was it? Nobody was scared to tears, I hope?"

"Visualizing the Azure Dragon with Mental Energy becomes more difficult the further you go. Right now, the Azure Dragon is just static. Later on, the Azure Dragon will move and fly. In high-level Cultivation, it might even engage you in combat."

Xue Cheng panted, "Is being a Spirit Cultivator this difficult?"

Qian Yi said, "Indeed. Whether it's meditation for Spirit Cultivators or Body Tempering for Martial Cultivators, neither is easy."

A Body Cultivator Trainee asked, "Teacher Qian, I'm a Body Refiner. Is it necessary to torture myself like this?"

Qian Yi shook her head, "If you want to go far on the Path of the Supernatural, you must Cultivate Essence, Qi, and Spirit simultaneously."

"Strong Mental Energy allows you to perform internal inspection, helping you open your Dantian and later break through the three major gates of the human body."

"So even for a Body Cultivator, although the requirements for Mental Energy are lower, it's best to Cultivate it to Level 40."

Qian Yi added, "Don't fail to appreciate the blessing you've been given. Ordinary Supernatural Universities only have Rank 4 or 5 azure dragon steles. Even among the other 64 Great Academies, not every academy possesses a Rank 6 azure dragon stele."

Xiao Weiqing asked, "Teacher, do you mean that azure dragon steles are rare in the outside world?"

"Of course. The azure dragon stele itself is not easy to manufacture. The azure dragon steles in our academy don't belong to us either; the production method is held by the authorities."

At this point.

Fei Xiaobao raised his hand, "Teacher Qian, in that case, wouldn't controlling the azure dragon steles be the same as controlling the path of advancement for supernatural cultivation?"

"Especially for Spirit Cultivators."

Everyone nodded.

Qian Yi smiled and asked, "What is your name?"

"My name is Fei Xiaobao."

"Alright, Trainee Fei Xiaopang."

Qian Yi approached with elegant steps, looking down at him with a harmless smile on her face.

"Within Luo Jiang Academy, do not say things that are detrimental to unity."

"Do you understand?"

Fei Xiaobao's scalp tingled under Qian Yi's gaze, "Understood, Teacher."

"Very good. Once you leave Luo Jiang Academy, you can say what you like, but do not mention the academy's name."

"..."

"Alright, continue your cultivation. Act according to your capabilities."

As noon approached.

The hundred Trainees of the Upper Academy walked out of the Meditation Tower with dizzy heads.

They finally understood what Qian Yi meant when she said that 10 sessions in the Meditation Tower was actually quite a lot.

If they came every day, no one would be able to handle it.

All the Upper Academy Trainees returned to Ziwei Courtyard and went to the cafeteria.

"Master Li, what's for lunch today? Is there anything for the brain? My head hurts like crazy right now." Fei Xiaobao craned his neck.

"There is. Phantom Fox Brain-Refreshing Soup."

"Butler He sent word this morning saying you would be going to the Meditation Tower, so it was specially prepared. It's very effective for recovering Mental Energy."

"You all sit down first, I'll have someone bring it over."

Everyone sat down.

Soon.

The cafeteria staff brought out a stew pot.

Even before it was opened, everyone caught a fresh scent that immediately refreshed their spirits.

Xiao Weiqing opened the lid.

A delicate fragrance wafted out, and the throbbing in his head eased slightly. The temperature was also just right; one could only say that Butler He and the chef were very thoughtful.

He picked up the stew pot and almost drained it in one go.

"Comfortable."

"Brother Qing, you can have mine too."

Wei Lan pushed her brain-refreshing soup toward Xiao Weiqing.

Xiao Weiqing smiled and said, "No need, you drink it yourself. There's bound to be more in the cafeteria."

Since Butler He had anticipated this, he wouldn't have prepared only one serving.

He then called out, "Master Li, is there more?"

"Yes, plenty to go around."

"Master Li, give me another pot."

"Give me one too."

Xiao Weiqing drank three pots in a row and felt much better.

"Brother Qing, are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, much better. How about you?"

Wei Lan rested her chin in her hands and said, "I'm fine."

"Actually, my head doesn't feel that bad," Wei Lan whispered, leaning in.

Xiao Weiqing smiled, "Impressive."

In fact, one could tell from her state; although Wei Lan's complexion had looked a bit off when she left the Meditation Tower, she wasn't stumbling like the others.

"Brother Qing, the teacher said just now that she wants me to go see her this afternoon."

"That's great. Teacher Qian probably wants to give you some private tutoring."

"What about you this afternoon? Are you going to the Spiritual Energy Tower to Cultivate Spiritual Qi?" Wei Lan asked.

Xiao Weiqing looked at Wei Lan with a gentle expression, "I'm going to find Teacher Zhao this afternoon to learn Saber Techniques. I'll go to the Spiritual Energy Tower in the evening; we can go together then."

"Okay, it's a deal." Wei Lan smiled, like a peach blossom in full bloom.