347: Chapter 347 Magical Advancement, Greater Power

Morning light just climbed the walls of Qiming Plain, and the lingering echoes of falling hammers still resonated deep within the Technology Workshop.

Chen Wuwang stood at the edge of the Heat Dissipation Test Zone, staring at the new Shockwave Hammer as it slowly cooled, the armor on his shoulder feeling slightly hot.

He raised a hand to wipe his face, his fingertips catching a thin layer of dust, and the blue light of his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye flashed briefly in his pupil.

"Data stable," he said softly. "Send word down: all mecha maintenance today proceeds as usual, but the Main Team will rotate for a thirty-minute break."

The duty officer responded, and the sound of footsteps faded away.

He didn't move, his gaze falling toward the Martial Arts Arena. It was unnervingly quiet there—normally, there should be the whistling of Sword Cultivators sparring and the muffled explosions of runes, but now there was nothing.

Just as he was thinking this, a silver shadow descended from the sky, landing lightly and kicking up a circle of dust.

"You're back?" Chen Wuwang turned his head.

Bai Ling nodded, the stray hairs on her forehead stuck with sweat, and the mechanical components on her left arm were still glowing slightly red, as if they had just undergone high-intensity operation.

"I entered a Triple Barrier and was almost dragged down by a Memory Illusion Realm." She took a breath and pulled a translucent crystal from her robes. "But I got it."

"The 'High-Level Nature Codex - Incomplete Manual'?"

"Mm." She handed the crystal over. "It's not the full version, just a copy of the core cultivation section. I used a Nano-cache for wave conversion, so it can be projected directly."

Chen Wuwang took the crystal; it felt cold to the touch, with fine light patterns flowing inside like the breathing of a living thing.

"You went in alone? Didn't call for backup?"

"The ruins' entrance only recognizes the Elf Bloodline." She smiled. "Besides, you know my current body; it's steadier than a pure-blood's."

He looked at her and didn't ask further.

He knew the micro-machines in her body were implanted by his own hands, all so she could survive and bring back these nearly lost artifacts.

"Let's go," he said. "To the Martial Arts Arena."

The two crossed the main road. The clansmen they met along the way stepped aside, some whispering:

"Lady Bai Ling is back!"

"Look at that crystal, is it the legendary ancient codex?"

No one stopped them, and no one asked questions. The rules were set by Chen Wuwang—during research, no interruptions, no spectating, and no private inquiries about the contents.

A Psionic Projection Array had already been set up in the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

Bai Ling embedded the crystal into the base, her fingers quickly sliding across the rune panel several times as she softly hummed a short tune. The syllables were clear and crisp, with the moisture of morning dew in a forest.

Buzz—

A pale green light screen rose from the ground, hovering in mid-air, displaying twisted Ancient Elven script that grew like intertwining vines.

"I can't read it," Chen Wuwang frowned.

"Of course you can't." Bai Ling adjusted the frequency. "This is high-dimensional magic fluctuation. Looking at it directly would burn your Divine Sense. I have to 'translate' it into a form we can understand."

She closed her eyes, and the mechanical interface on her left arm emitted a faint hum as the data stream was imported into the System through her neural links.

A moment later, the light screen vibrated, and the script began to reorganize, turning into lines of clear Human Race common tongue.

"Wind-Whisper Instant Step... Earth Vein Healing Array... Lightning-Inducing Energy Ring." Chen Wuwang read them out one by one. "Are they all practical techniques? No offensive spells?"

"This isn't a declaration of war." Bai Ling opened her eyes, sweat beads forming on her temples. "It's a way of survival. Ancient Elves didn't rely on slaughter to endure; they relied on coexisting with heaven and earth."

"These three—one for speed, one for healing, and one for energy storage—are all low-consumption, high-efficiency advanced basic arts."

"Perfect." The corners of his mouth curled up. "What we lack most right now is a foundation for fighting without relying on equipment."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dozen clansmen filed into the field. They were all core members responsible for elemental manipulation and spiritual power perception.

Some wore training uniforms, while others still had their mecha gloves on.

"Patriarch." A young female cultivator at the front cupped her hands. "I heard there's new magic to be taught?"

"More than just taught." Chen Wuwang looked at Bai Ling. "It must be mastered through practice."

Bai Ling nodded and walked to the front of the light screen. "I will first demonstrate the basic rhythm of the 'Wind-Whisper Instant Step.'

Note, this isn't about rushing out with brute force, but gliding with the wind. Your soles must be three inches off the ground, and your breathing must synchronize with the airflow."

After she spoke, she took a deep breath, and her figure suddenly blurred. When she reappeared, she was ten meters away, landing soundlessly without even disturbing the grains of sand beneath her feet.

"Wow!" someone blurted out.

"Do it again!" another shouted.

"Don't be in a hurry." Chen Wuwang raised his hand to quiet the commotion. "She just returned from the ruins, and her condition is unstable. You will form groups of five and try the broken-down movements first."

Training began.

Some tried to imitate the breathing rhythm but ended up coughing from a choked breath; some kicked the ground hard trying to leap out but stumbled; others crashed into their companions as soon as they started, drawing a burst of laughter.

"It's not working..." a male cultivator slumped on the ground. "This is completely different from using thrusters to dodge."

"Exactly," someone nearby agreed. "Mechas can calculate trajectories, but this thing relies entirely on feeling."

Bai Ling walked over to them, her voice gentle. "It's always like this at the start. You're used to technological assistance, so suddenly disconnecting is like making someone walk barefoot on gravel. It hurts, but the more you walk, the more calluses grow on your soles."

"But can we really learn it?" someone hesitated.

"You can." Chen Wuwang walked over and stood on the high platform. "Every one of you has spiritual power within you; you were just too lazy to dig for it before. Now, it's time to take those skills back."

He scanned the field. "From now on, suspend individual enhancement training and switch to group collaboration. Those who know it will lead those who don't; veterans will lead newcomers. There is only one goal—by the end of today, at least half of you must master the basic flash-shift of 'Wind-Whisper Instant Step'."

Once the order was given, the atmosphere changed.

The originally loose teams quickly reorganized. Some took the initiative to act as junior instructors, while others lay on the ground drawing out the rhythm of the steps.

Bai Ling walked back and forth, correcting postures and occasionally using her mechanical arm to strike out a blast of wind pressure to simulate a real airflow environment.

Time passed bit by bit.

The sun rose overhead, and heat waves shimmered over the Martial Arts Arena.

Suddenly—

"I did it!"

A clear shout rang out.

Everyone turned to look. The female cultivator who had stumbled earlier was now off the ground, her figure gliding out ten meters like willow catkins. When she landed, her knees bent slightly, and she stood firm.

"I succeeded!" She turned around and laughed loudly. "I really flew!"

A thunderous burst of applause erupted.

This was like opening a floodgate.

In less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, three more people completed the flash-shift in succession. Though the distances were short and their postures stiff, they had indeed done it.

"Seven people." Chen Wuwang counted in a low voice. "The Elementary stable release phase has been reached."

Bai Ling walked back to his side and sat down against the stone steps, heat still rising from the cooling vents of her left arm.

"I've recorded all the data into the cache, including everyone's failure points and Breakthrough moments."

"Very good." He nodded. "Archive it all later and create a 'Magic Study Sub-library' with graded access."

"You really plan to teach this systematically?" She tilted her head to look at him.

"Why wouldn't I?" he countered. "The tinder has been found. If we don't lay out the firewood, are we just going to wait for it to burn through the winter on its own?"

She smiled, revealing a row of small white teeth. "I thought you only knew how to deal with mecha stuff."

"Technology can't save every life." He watched the figures still practicing on the field. "Sometimes, being one step faster can dodge a fatal blow. This kind of skill must be possessed by everyone."

As they spoke, the female cultivator who was the first to succeed dashed again. This time it was smoother, and she even kicked up a whirlwind as she landed.

"Again!" she shouted.

Others followed suit, roaring, "Again! Again!"

The voices echoed over the Martial Arts Arena like spring thunder rolling across the wilderness.

Chen Wuwang stood on the high platform, his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye constantly refreshing the recorded data. He raised his hand and took out a Communication Token from his waist, his fingertip hovering over the activation button.

"Preparing to convene them?" Bai Ling asked.

"Mm." He stared into the distance. "Tie Zhu will handle the equipment, and Xiao Dao will lead the Sword Cultivators. This matter must be pushed forward together."

"So all that just now was only the beginning?"

"Of course." He pressed the button, and the Communication Token lit up with a green light. "This is just the start."

The sunlight shone on his face, reflecting the three old scars on his right cheek.

The wind blew, bringing a faint lingering warmth of metal, like a furnace fire that hadn't gone out from the night before.