Chengyu yawned while giving instructions and then went upstairs, closing the door with a clatter to continue his sleep.
Zhang Chen glanced at the sky outside, lit the oil lamp on the table, and then moved around the room practicing some martial arts moves. He practiced the True Dragon Form several times but always felt mentally exhausted and couldn’t get his spirits up, so the results weren’t very good.
Just then, his Spiritual World suddenly flickered, and a Visualization Image of his own appeared in his mind, showing the Treasure Vase seemingly full of Moonlight, which poured out immediately.
The Moonlight fell upon his soul, bringing an indescribable comfort with waves of osmanthus fragrance spreading through his nostrils. As the Moonlight descended, Zhang Chen’s previously listless spirit suddenly became invigorated, and he felt he could stay awake all night without any problem.
That feeling was like being injected with adrenaline, making him energized but unable to sleep.
Since he couldn’t sleep, Zhang Chen practiced the True Dragon Form another dozen times. Apart from stretching his muscles, he gained no other benefits. Mastery of force relies on the Water Grinding Ink technique, which can’t be rushed. So he drew underground water to wash up and then sat cross-legged on the bed to continue visualizing the Heavenly Round and Earthly Square Diagram.
He insisted on understanding the Heavenly Round and Earthly Square Diagram, as this was his own Spiritual World, his soul. If something uncontrollable happened, it would be a significant problem.
Zhang Chen sat cross-legged on the bed, relaxed his body, and re-entered the Visualization Realm, where his Spiritual World transformed, taking him again to the dark void.
No need for words, just keep moving!
Zhang Chen continued to walk in the darkness. At this moment, his spirit was full, and he felt like he was moving quickly.
He didn’t know how long he had been walking, but the point of light before him gradually grew larger, from being almost invisible to the size of a peanut, flickering like a light spot in Zhang Chen’s Spiritual World.
At this point, Zhang Chen felt a wave of fatigue, and upon exiting the Visualization World, a stream of Moonlight poured in, filling the room.
Zhang Chen gazed at the Moonlight shining into the room, which sparked a thought, prompting him to get out of bed and walk slowly to the Moonlit window. He fully opened the window, allowing the Moonlight to envelop the room.
Zhang Chen looked up at the moon in the sky and found it extraordinarily bright.
The moon in this world was large like a lid, appearing very bright. Even in the darkest of nights, it was not truly dark, akin to a faintly glowing small bulb, dim yet perfectly sufficient to read the text in books.
Zhang Chen slowly walked under the window, gazed at the bright moon in the sky for a while, then sat cross-legged in front of the window. In the next moment, the silk cocoon of the Crystal Core within his body vibrated, and all the Moonlight within a meter radius around him twisted and was absorbed into his body.
With the Moonlight entering his body, the blood-red silk cocoon of the Crystal Core became active, and strange symbols began to flicker. These symbols were silvery-white and appeared extraordinarily strange.
"Absorbing the Moonlight can accelerate the evolution of the Crystal Core. So is this the shortcut to unlocking the evolution of my bloodline?" Zhang Chen pondered the silk cocoon of the Crystal Core absorbing Moonlight, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes: "But I wonder if my soul can absorb the external Moonlight as well."
Regrettably, he had no ability to manipulate the Moonlight, nor did he possess the skill to manipulate the soul. The only thing he could do was practice his Visualization Image under the moonlight.
As Zhang Chen entered meditation again, he noticed that the Treasure Vase Seal in his Spiritual World had also changed. The Treasure Vase Seal emitted a pulling force, and Moonlight appeared from the void, transforming into mist that was absorbed into the vase.
"The speed of absorbing Moonlight is at least thirty times faster! My physical body absorbing Moonlight somehow influences the speed at which the Visualization Image in the Spiritual World absorbs Moonlight?" This thought streaked through Zhang Chen’s mind as he contemplated whether practicing the Visualization Image under the moonlight accelerated the absorption, or whether propelling the Crystal Core to seize the Power of the Moon sped up the Crystal Core’s absorption.
With this in mind, Zhang Chen exited the Visualization World, then allowed his consciousness to return to his body, halting the Crystal Core’s absorption of Moonlight before entering the Visualization World again.
Indeed, as Zhang Chen’s spirit returned, he immediately sensed a difference: his soul’s absorption of Moonlight slowed down again, returning to its normal pace.
"My Crystal Core’s absorption of Moonlight and the Visualization Image in the Spiritual World absorbing Moonlight seem to be connected in some mysterious way, but how exactly, I don’t know. I haven’t figured out this connection yet." A thoughtful look flashed in Zhang Chen’s eyes as he activated the Crystal Core to absorb Moonlight again. Re-entering the Meditation Realm, the vase within filled with Moonlight, which poured directly onto Zhang Chen’s soul, revitalizing his previously listless soul, filling it with boundless energy, as if possessing inexhaustible strength, sprinting towards the light spot.
The darkness was endless, yet Zhang Chen felt an inexhaustible reserve of power. He transitioned from walking to running, and when his soul fatigued, Moonlight mysteriously descended again, infusing Zhang Chen’s soul with a new surge of vitality, filling him with vigor.
Zhang Chen had no idea how long he had been running; he only knew the Moonlight replenished five times, restoring his soul five times.
By now, the light point which was initially the size of a peanut had become the size of a fist. However, the distance between the two was vast, and Zhang Chen could still not see clearly.
Zhang Chen continued his run when suddenly a familiar voice pierced the darkness within his Spiritual World, awakening him: "Zhang Chen! Get up and do morning practice."
Little Xiaodouding upstairs had woken up again.
"I’m coming," Zhang Chen exited the Meditation Realm, looked up at the moon, and saw it was only about three or four in the morning. Despite staying up all night, he didn’t feel tired at all.
He saw Xiaodouding neatly dressed, leading Zhang Chen to the largest training ground in the Daoist Temple, where three thousand disciples were lined up, practicing martial arts under the moonlight in uniform precision.
However, the disciples were drowsy and lacking in energy, clearly not in good form.
Zhang Chen only knew three movements, standing at the back with Xiaodouding, randomly mimicking them.
After cycling through the boxing forms three times, their blood was circulating, and the disciples dispersed to wash up before doing their morning lessons, gathering outside the main hall to chant scriptures together.
Being new, Zhang Chen didn’t know the scriptures and could only hum along next to Xiaodouding.
"We’re chanting the Huangting Scripture. When we have time, I’ll teach you to memorize it," Xiaodouding explained to Zhang Chen, then began chanting praises alongside the other disciples in a peculiar tone.
Zhang Chen listened attentively, but was disappointed to find no skills were recorded.
Once the chanting ended, the dawn had broken, and the disciples, each with a rice bowl, dashed toward the cafeteria.
Seeing Xiaodouding moving slowly, Zhang Chen picked him up. Now, carrying Xiaodouding with two wooden bowls in his hand, they were the fastest!
After all, Zhang Chen possessed the Bloodsucking Technique, never knowing fatigue. Whether it was a sprint or a long run, who could outperform him?
Zhang Chen ran swiftly, and breakfast was abundant, consisting of two coarse steamed buns and wild vegetable porridge.
"Zhang Chen, you’re doing great! I didn’t expect you to run so fast!" Xiaodouding, satisfied with a big bucket of rice porridge, followed behind Zhang Chen, his voice filled with praise.
Zhang Chen chuckled, "Isn’t that obvious? Without boasting, when it comes to running, there’s probably only a handful in the world who could match me."
After breakfast, the two went to clean the dust in the main hall.
Zhang Chen was responsible for a not-so-large room, and seeing the statue there, Zhang Chen refrained from using the Water Control Technique, as the whole of Huangli Temple seemed peculiar, and he preferred to keep a low profile.
After tidying up the Daoist Temple, the tasks for the day were completed, followed by martial arts practice time.
Time flew by, and a month passed. One day, as Zhang Chen dipped back into the Meditation Realm, a tremendous wave surged within his heart.