54: Practice of Mianyu Jue

Jia Gu Yi Yan was originally a very diligent person.

Recently, he seemed to have become even more diligent.

Even...

White Feather watched Jia Gu Yi Yan, who was lifting weights and eating lunch at the same time.

Jia Gu Yi Yan had previously mocked her for violating regulations and getting a pay cut, saying he would help her out.

So, she started following Jia Gu Yi Yan every day, ordering the most expensive lunch and dinner at the cafeteria.

The Monster Countermeasures Center's cafeteria was no less than a top-tier restaurant.

Meal prices ranged from cheap to super expensive.

"If you keep building muscle like this, will the Fire Finch Armor still fit you?"

Jia Gu Yi Yan's weightlifting motion paused for a moment, then he continued.

"If it doesn't fit, I can find a tailor to alter it."

With the Summoner's amplification, Jia Gu Yi Yan's training results were far beyond what they were before.

Coupled with the [Potion] card, the fatigue and injuries from training could quickly subside.

Now, he trained during the day, covered in weighted belts.

At night, he practiced the Basic Breathing Technique until he fell asleep.

"Are your previous injuries healed?"

"With the [Potion] card, injuries of that extent heal in two days, don't they?"

For an ordinary person, even with a [Potion] card, it would take a week to recover from such injuries.

But at this moment, Jia Gu Yi Yan's body, both in terms of recovery ability and physique, had already surpassed human limits.

The higher the [Constitution] points, the stronger the vitality and resistance.

"..."

White Feather recalled how Jia Gu Yi Yan had looked when he returned to the Monster Countermeasures Center earlier.

He was covered in blood, looking like he was about to die.

She had given him the Summoner, forcing him to bear the fate of fighting monsters and the responsibility of saving humanity.

Putting his life on the line for it.

Was it really a good thing?

"You won't die, will you?"

"..."

"I'll definitely die after you, after watching you get married, then divorce due to your terrible personality causing family discord."

"You won't get much property, and you'll grow old alone."

"Finally, you'll enter a nursing home and be isolated by other elderly people."

"You'll only be able to cry under your quilt at night, boohoohoo, how pitiful."

Even with Jia Gu Yi Yan's taunts, White Feather wasn't angered away; instead, she finished her high-class lunch before leaving.

Only after White Feather left did Jia Gu Yi Yan stop his dumbbells.

"...No."

...

Early the next morning.

Jia Gu Yi Yan bathed in the sunlight on the balcony, sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, performing breathing exercises in the first ray of morning light.

[Basic Breathing Technique proficiency +1]

[Basic Breathing Technique (Second Layer)] Proficiency: 1000/1000

[Basic Breathing Technique (Second Layer) → Basic Breathing Technique (Third Layer)]

[Spirit +1]

[Mastered Skill: Minds Eye (Beginner)]

As the Basic Breathing Technique reached its highest layer, Jia Gu Yi Yan exhaled a stream of hot, turbid air in the sunlight.

Instantly, it felt as if every air sac in his lungs expanded, every airway cleared, becoming incredibly smooth.

With each breath, the muscles of his entire body felt as if they were soaking in a hot spring.

Restrained, comfortable, yet fully stretched and contracted, unleashing every ounce of muscle strength.

He slowly rose, closing his eyes.

In the world within his Minds Eye, even the floating dust in the air became exceptionally clear.

Even without circulating the breathing technique, at this moment, with every inhale and exhale, he could feel his body becoming exceptionally relaxed through his breathing.

Each breath was several times more efficient than before.

Under this relaxation, his body could always maintain its best state.

His physical strength recovered most fully.

At the same time, he felt as though he could control every inch of his body, capable of unleashing his full strength at any moment.

This was merely in his normal state.

If he were to circulate the breathing technique...

As the breathing technique circulated, Jia Gu Yi Yan felt his body temperature rise.

His lungs felt as if they held a flame, spreading to his limbs and bones.

"Is this what the highest layer of the Basic Breathing Technique feels like?"

Jia Gu Yi Yan tried it a few times, then sat back down on the meditation cushion, took out his Summoner, and looked at the items inside.

[Mian Yu Technique E] 70 Light Energy points

[Fire Finch Manifestation E·card] 100 Light Energy points, summons the beast form of the Fire Finch Armor, a phoenix bathed in fire, assisting in combat

[...]

"New card, looks pretty good."

"Too bad I can't afford it."

Jia Gu Yi Yan continued to browse other items.

Most were skills, martial arts, and the like.

However, since the Basic Breathing Technique had reached its highest layer, he could try exchanging for the Mian Yu Technique.

Having made up his mind, Jia Gu Yi Yan quickly spent 70 Light Energy points to exchange for the Mian Yu Technique.

As the Light Energy points were consumed, a golden figure sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion appeared in his mind, and a stream of Qi surged from his body.

Jia Gu Yi Yan's consciousness, guided by the golden figure, circulated within his body.

The Mian Yu Technique was far more complex than the Basic Breathing Technique.

But perhaps because of the foundation laid by the Basic Breathing Technique, Jia Gu Yi Yan had no difficulty remembering the circulation route of the Mian Yu Technique.

The Basic Breathing Technique was solely based on the lungs, with the lungs as its core, gaining power beyond the body's limits through breathing.

Although the Mian Yu Technique also started with breathing, its circulation path was no longer limited to the lungs.

Instead, a stream of "Qi" was circulated into the meridians, mobilizing "Qi" within the meridians.

Such a complex cultivation method, to be mobilized in combat, just at the beginner level, would probably be very difficult to achieve.

[You have successfully entered the beginner stage of the Mian Yu Technique]

[Mian Yu Technique E (Beginner)] Proficiency: 1/10

As one cycle ended, the Mian Yu Technique successfully entered the beginner stage.

As the Fire Finch Summoner, Jia Gu Yi Yan did not experience any attribute conflict with the Mian Yu Technique.

However, it was unclear whether the Fire Finch Armor would be affected by the Mian Yu Technique after transformation.

The Rainstorm E card is also a water attribute. Would circulating the Mian Yu Technique to activate this card have any effect?

Jia Gu Yi Yan drew the Rainstorm E card from his card holder.

As a natural-attribute card, this card could activate a portion of its power even without using a Summoner.

However, since Jia Gu Yi Yan was the Fire Finch Summoner, he was not proficient in using this card.

Holding the Rainstorm E, he continued to sit cross-legged, circulating the Mian Yu Technique.

He awkwardly circulated it for one cycle.

[Mian Yu Technique proficiency +1.5]

Hmm?

The proficiency increased by an additional 0.5.

This card can accelerate the Mian Yu Technique's proficiency gain!

This is truly something.

Jia Gu Yi Yan looked at the Rainstorm E card, finding it more and more pleasing to the eye.

He hadn't expected it could also be used as an accelerator.

Then, Jia Gu Yi Yan did not put the Rainstorm E back into his card holder; instead, he carried it with him and began diligently cultivating the Mian Yu Technique.

While Jia Gu Yi Yan was diligently cultivating, an anomaly once again appeared in the safe Lai Guang City.

The anomaly came from a special card.