The Fifth Illustration: The Art of Guiding Breath

Sangsang owed much to those games designed for fine mental manipulation. In Maze City, she trained the steady output of her spiritual power; in King of the Insectoids, its division; in Finding the Murderer, the discernment of spiritual fluctuations; and in Saving Private Soldier, her reaction speed. These four games formed the foundation of her becoming a master of the mind. After the games leveled up, she used them to hone her telekinesis, which was why her control over it remained quite impressive.

A crackling sound echoed through the air as the crystal orb shattered. Sangsang stepped out from the thick mist, and Little Gold shot forward, landing on her shoulder and tugging at a strand of her long hair.

Inside the sixth hall of the Germination District, a gathering of mentors was underway. Aslan stood in a corner, arms folded and leaning against a stone pillar, clearly out of place amidst the lively exchanges and boasts taking place at a distance. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened; he set his hand aside, looking toward home, and murmured with a hint of surprise, “So soon?”

“So soon for what?” A tall figure emerged from behind the pillar—a long-haired, green-eyed elf with pointed ears, carrying a plate of fruit. He offered it to Aslan. “A little something from home. Try it. No matter how generous the temple’s benefits, you’d never get your hands on the World Fruit. Mine are fresher than what those on stage are eating.”

“Boya? You’re back as well?” Aslan set down his hand, surprise in his eyes as he looked at the newcomer.

“Just arrived. The selection for the Holy Maiden was moved up. Carrying the title of mentor, I had no choice but to return.” Boya’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he smiled. “I heard you took a primitive human as your student. If you came to the mentor gathering today, it must be true. So, the title of ‘strongest in the Heavenly Rank’ has finally gotten under your skin, and you want to train someone to put them in their place?”

“I walk my own path, heedless of rumors and idle talk.” Aslan shook his head. The two of them skirted several pillars, heading toward a corridor entwined with blooming purple vines. “You know I’m only a mentor here in name. I’ve never actually taught students before. This time, Lord Anthony recommended her personally, and Sang Hongye isn’t the delicate type.”

Boya casually snapped his fingers, summoning two vine chairs and a vine table from the ground before seating himself with a wave of his sleeve. “Good thing she’s not delicate. Children these days are harder and harder to handle, especially those from advanced civilizations.”

Aslan held a World Fruit and said gravely, “Sang Hongye is from a Level Two civilization—already developed. Don’t keep calling her a primitive. Who knows, she may one day outrank all those others.”

“You’re defending her already!” Boya stared, then asked, “You think so highly of her—how talented is she?”

“Her aptitude is average, but her comprehension is remarkable,” Aslan replied. “Her attitude toward cultivation is commendable, and perhaps she has other merits I’ve yet to discover.”

“Aptitude can be improved; comprehension is what matters.” Boya sighed. “To earn your praise, she must be special indeed. Some people are bound to eat their words.”

“You know how it is. When trouble broke out among the higher-ups, Lord Anthony used his special authority to bring her back via long-range teleportation. Originally, she was to receive a seed quota, but had to forgo it due to time constraints. Still, she was granted the highest possible personal resources. Naturally, she is highly regarded.” Aslan traced a circle in the air with his fingertip, forming a painting card within, shaped by energy. “This is a healing painting she created herself. Its telekinetic properties are quite peculiar—well concealed and highly infectious. I can’t fully replicate it.”

If Sangsang had been present, she would have found it most peculiar. The best healing card in her deck, “Awakening Waterlily,” was still in her card pouch—so why was there another, indistinguishable from the original, one that even she herself could not tell apart?

“Even you can’t replicate her telekinesis? Her soul attributes must be extraordinary. I’d like to see her for myself someday. And this painting is fascinating—painted on a flat surface, giving it a unique charm. The pigments aren’t synthesized from elemental energy, but are purely natural blends. Heh, lower civilizations have their own wisdom. The healing telekinesis forms an array diagram; the law imprints are rough but can still attract faith. The faith channel is too crude and the effective distance too short…”

Boya chuckled, slipping the healing painting card into his sleeve. “I heard she’s only twenty-one, which isn’t comparable to the academy students, but for a lower civilization, that’s planetary time—twenty years is only two temple years. To achieve this in the wild starfields is genius indeed. Congratulations on such a talented student. If she passes the physical trials next year, I’ll give her my recommendation slot.”

A smile flickered in Aslan’s eyes. “We may truly need it.”

Boya was amazed. “The records say she has no foundation in physical arts. Are you planning to use the Great Prayer Technique? Alan, you’ve always despised shortcuts.”

“No need for the Great Prayer Technique. My student’s cultivation may be modest, but her spirit must be second to none!” Aslan stood up. “Her foundation is solid. The Guidance Art is more about telekinetic manipulation skills—if she’s perceptive, she’ll master it swiftly. As for physical arts, mastering the basics in a year isn’t impossible. I recall you once said you’d bring back some World Tree root essence.”

Boya’s expression darkened. “A yield of ten milliliters in ten thousand years—I have only three drops, meant to heal your wounds.”

“Using it won’t heal me completely. Better to give it to a child, to let her go further in the future.” Aslan raised his hand to stop Boya’s protest. “Don’t try to dissuade me. I haven’t given up—my spiritual intuition tells me she has a destiny. Perhaps my own fate lies with her.”

Boya’s face was grim for some time before he finally said, “I’ll trust your intuition this once. But if her purification concentration is below fifteen hundred, you’ll only get the leaf essence. Hmph, compared to those children using common World Essence, that’s already extravagant.”

The normal purification concentration is one hundred; fifteen hundred is fifteen times that. In advanced civilizations, tenfold is the mark of true genius. Those who endure purification at tenfold concentration have a fifty percent chance of reaching the Profound Rank, while fifteenfold raises the chance to ninety percent. The highest record in history is twenty-one times, held by the founder of the Divine Court, while the current record stands at nineteen times, set by the Lord of Ten Thousand Flames thirteen thousand years ago.

When Aslan returned, he found Sangsang practicing the Guidance Art, a faint mist of energy swirling around her. He frowned.

Little Gold poked his head out from behind Sangsang’s long hair, eyed Aslan, then jumped fully out to stand on her shoulder, arms crossed, orange eyes flashing with wary light.

“Teacher,” Sangsang greeted, cupping Little Gold in her hand.

Aslan frowned. “Hasn’t anyone told you that the more mixed the energy you absorb, the more chaotic the spiritual power you condense? Not only does your body struggle to assimilate it, but you also risk losing control and triggering an energy backlash?”

Sangsang was momentarily stunned.

Without waiting for her reply, Aslan continued, “Even if you’re compatible with multiple energies, you shouldn’t funnel them all in at once. In the future, just select one or two types.”

Sangsang looked down at Little Gold and nodded. “I understand.”

Little Gold hugged Sangsang’s finger and stamped his feet: You can’t blame me, Sangsang. Your constitution is special—you can accommodate multiple energies. Others might suffer an energy backlash, but you won’t.

Sangsang stroked his little face with her fingertip: I know, but my constitution isn’t common, right? Even he didn’t notice it. Could you help me investigate when you have time?

Little Gold nodded: Already searching. The temple’s archives are vast. I’ve barely gotten through a thousandth of the available data.

Aslan handed Sangsang a pink butterfly-shaped crystal card. “I’ve reserved the top-grade purification trial machine for you. Here’s your number. Go to the trial hall yourself. When you’ve found your limit, come see me and I’ll prepare the purification potion.”

Back at her dormitory in the Forest of All Living Things, Sangsang used the device to test her physical strength progress. The black butterfly nanny flitted about preparing food.

Little Gold muttered discontentedly nearby: Being a mentor is so easy. I could do it too.

Sangsang smiled at the doubled numbers on the display. “You already are my mentor, part-time. You’ve always handled my cultivation questions; from now on, I’ll still rely on you.”

Little Gold turned his head away, yellow eyes twinkling with delight. “Then I’ll focus on searching for cultivation-related information and put off everything else for now.”