After talking for a long time, Wu Zhangkong stopped, turned toward Mu Ji Wu, and found him focused—half listening, half analyzing.
He asked, “Did you understand everything and remember it?” In truth, he didn’t expect much from that question.
“Yes,” but Mu Ji Wu’s reply made him reconsider.
“Really?
You remembered everything?” Wu Zhangkong asked again.
“Yes.
Because of my eyes’ ability, memory is enhanced.
Whether I hear something or see it, I can memorize it easily.” Saying that, Mu Ji Wu recalled when he was a poor student and decided to change himself.
He easily became one of the top students.
But after all these years, he’d forgotten that even his ability had limits.
The real reason now was his sea-like, evolved spiritual power.
Of course, it was still thanks to his eyes, which had evolved too.
“I see.
Then it will be easy to teach you most of the basics of the elementary cycle this week,” Wu Zhangkong said with understanding.
“Really?
Can all three years really be condensed into a week?” Mu Ji Wu asked, a little shocked, since he hadn’t expected that.
“Of course it can.
In fact, the elementary cycle is like human elementary school, where you learn arithmetic, reading, and most similar subjects.
The only addition is a class to teach newly awakened Soul Masters meditation, monitor their progress, and guide them in directing soul power from the world and breaking through.
There are also some combat exchange classes to strengthen control over their power and bodies from a young age.
In the end, they’re just six-year-old children without a first soul ring.
What else would they learn?
Real training only begins in elementary-middle school.
Anyone who only reaches rank eleven and obtains a soul ring can get a recommendation to our elementary-middle school.
The elementary school is called elementary for non-Soul Masters too, but the real elementary school is only for Soul Masters after the first soul ring.
That’s when real training truly begins.
Of course, after obtaining the first soul ring, you can receive a federal stipend of 1,000 federal coins per month, which is enough to cover school fees even if you’re poor.” “Oh, now that’s excellent.
The Federation knows how to run things.” This caught the attention of poor Mu Ji Wu, who didn’t want to ask Wu Zhangkong for money.
After all, he had dignity and couldn’t ask for more after what he’d already asked for.
He’d been thinking about finding work or something similar, but now this was enough to get him on his feet.
“Do you need money badly?” Wu Zhangkong asked, seeing where the child’s focus had gone.
“A wise man once said that money isn’t everything, but at the same time you can’t do anything without it.
Unfortunately, his words are true.
Look at me—I traveled a month and a half on foot because I’m poor,” Mu Ji Wu answered calmly, without shame in admitting his poverty.
“Wise words indeed.” Wu Zhangkong recalled the bankruptcy he suffered while building his battle armor when he was younger and agreed.
Then he said again, “Do you need some money?
I can give you enough.” “Thank you, Teacher Wu.
I was actually going to ask you for a little at the start of classes, but now with the Federation stipend there’s no need to trouble you,” Mu Ji Wu answered again, his precise thinking showing the maturity of his mind.
Wu Zhangkong thought for a moment before saying, “Then I’m sorry to disappoint you, but tuition is 900 federal coins per month.
Even if you have something left, it will only be 100 coins.” Mu Ji Wu’s usual deadpan expression didn’t change, but Wu Zhangkong felt his mood suddenly grow heavier.
The two were silent for a bit before Mu Ji Wu said after a while, “I’ll have to trouble you again, Teacher Wu.” “It’s nothing.
You’re already a student in my class, and it’s a teacher’s duty to ensure their students’ safety and secure their education,” Wu Zhangkong replied calmly as well.
After a few minutes of quiet silence, Mu Ji Wu asked, “What about meditation and training?” “Meditation technique is simply circulating internal soul power through certain meridians at a certain speed to achieve absorption of external soul power from the world into your body to increase your soul power until you break through your current level.
This is the training method known throughout the world.
There are both strong and weak meditation methods at the same time.
There are techniques exclusive to certain clans with inherited martial souls, like a technique that gives soul power the fire attribute, making fire attacks stronger and more lethal, and water techniques and others.
But those techniques only suit certain attributes, so they don’t attract much interest.
There are leveled techniques and mental techniques where you understand the technique and its level increases according to the number of your rings.
These techniques are considered among the strongest in the world.” Saying that, he recalled his sect’s technique, which was of this type.
“And the techniques taught to ordinary children in the elementary cycle are the worst.
They just tell you how to circulate soul power in the easiest possible way without strain, but it’s slow.
After they reach our middle school, they’re taught better techniques until graduation, and when they join certain forces they might get better techniques depending on their level.
Talent is what matters in the end, and determination in training.
Even with talent, without determination and a strong spirit, growth will stop at a certain point in the end.
In the legend of the Ice Douluo, Huo Yuhao’s innate level was only 1—the worst level—but he didn’t give up and trained hard until he finally met a million-year soul beast.
And as you know, the rest of the legend says he eventually rose from the shell of humanity and became a god.” “Hoo?
A god?
What a strong word to describe just a powerful being,” Mu Ji Wu scoffed immediately, but didn’t change his expression and didn’t respond to the explanation of meditation techniques.
“What do you mean?” The look in Wu Zhangkong’s eyes changed slightly as he analyzed Mu Ji Wu’s words.
“You’re saying he became a god?
Then was he able to revive the dead?” Wu Zhangkong was silent for a moment and answered, “No legends describe that.” “Was he omniscient?” “No, but—” “Was he omnipotent and could see the past and present and became eternal?” This time Wu Zhangkong fell silent and found no answer.
The questions were strong and to the point.
Indeed, there was no mention of any of that.
In fact, there were legends of some powerful soul beasts being born from the death of certain gods.
Seeing this, Mu Ji Wu continued, “That’s why I said he’s just a powerful being.
He transcended humans, yes, but he’s not a god.
I don’t know how one reaches that level because, as you see, I’m just a weakling with one ring who doesn’t even have information before talking to you.
But it’s certain he’s not a god.
Wasn’t there someone else before him who ascended?
What was his name?” “Thousand-Hand Douluo, Tang San, founder of Tang Sect,” Wu Zhangkong answered immediately, introducing his sect’s ancestor and founder as he watched Mu Ji Wu, waiting for his words.
“Wasn’t there a legend about him?
Of the kind of ‘god’ he is?” Mu Ji Wu continued the question.
“It was said that he gained the Sea’s recognition and became Sea God.” “Exactly as I said.
He only reached a certain level of power, so he transcended the human level.
Sea God?
Closer to Sea Ruler than Sea God.
He just obtained dominion over a certain part of a certain aspect of the world, nothing more.” Wu Zhangkong fell silent at these shocking words he’d never heard before, but upon scrutiny they were clearly logical.
“So are you saying there are no gods?” Wu Zhangkong asked, drawn in by Mu Ji Wu’s analysis and his view of the strong.
“Of course not.
How can something come from nothing?
According to what the Federation has reached, isn’t our world just one of the planets in the universe?
Who knows how many other creatures are on infinite planets?
Is all of this alone?
Impossible.
There is one who created this entire universe and set its physical laws in it, and he is the only true god worthy of being called a god.
The rest, no matter how strong they are, as long as the universe is above their heads, they’re just powerful beings in his world.” Mu Ji Wu continued, an explanation that split Wu Zhangkong’s mind like earth struck by thunder.
“Mu Ji Wu, who are you?” Wu Zhangkong asked, heaviness in his voice.
The words he heard weren’t something that should come from the mouth of an ordinary child.
At his age, children dream of becoming powerful Mecha masters or joining the army and obtaining strong soul rings.
What child suddenly analyzes the existence of the universe?
“I’m just an ordinary, weak person who can be killed, as you see.
True, I have some secrets, but unfortunately I have no intention of telling you now.” “Haa, your previous words make sense.
But even for me there’s no evidence to confirm any of this.
Even I’m an ant compared to the strongest being in the human world, so there’s no need to talk about one who transcended humans and went off-topic,” Wu Zhangkong replied lightly after some time, finally changing the subject professionally.
“Of course, let’s continue where we were,” and Mu Ji Wu followed him, unconcerned by the terrifying conversation he’d just had or the kind of shock he’d brought to the teacher in front of him.
“Let’s talk about soul power inside the body.
In your case now, your soul power in your body is in the form of transparent mist, right?” Wu Zhangkong continued after a while.
“Indeed,” and Mu Ji Wu confirmed his words.
“This is what I told you about before—the density and state of power, and it’s the fundamental difference between ranks.
If we classify the power of a person’s soul ring skill at rank 11 as 1, then with each rank increase it goes up by 0.1, making the power of that skill 1.9 at rank 20.
Density here makes the soul ring skill stronger and more lethal, and with density and increased quantity, consumption decreases slightly and endurance increases.
So even at the same ring level there’s a difference in power between them.
Upon obtaining the second soul ring, the light mist that became a little dense at rank 20 turns into high density at rank 21.
If power at rank 20 is 1.9, then power at rank 21 doubles to become 5.
What do you think of the difference?
3.1 levels.
It nearly tripled, and the gap only increases with each level, The above figures also apply to soul energy density and quantity، What comes after rank 20 we’ll leave for later, since you have enough information for now until then.” Continuing his words, he stood up and sat on the floor and said, “Come and sit in front of me.
I’ll teach you meditation now.” Mu Ji Wu stood up and sat in front of him without a word, listening intently.
Wu Zhangkong placed his hands on Mu Ji Wu’s back and said, “I’ll start by moving your soul power through your body’s meridians in a certain way.
All you have to do is memorize that path until you’re able to circulate your power yourself.
Remember it well—mistakes can cause injury to internal organs due to energy deviation.” “Alright,” Mu Ji Wu replied curtly.
Wu Zhangkong said nothing and focused his soul power on Mu Ji Wu’s body to see his meridians and know how to move his power.
Wu Zhangkong’s soul power entered Mu Ji Wu’s body and began guiding the gaseous power with his crystalline, solid power slowly.
Mu Ji Wu also focused his spiritual power and began memorizing and watching the path the soul power moved through.
It was difficult at first due to the many branches and small cycles each time, but he kept watching intently.
The soul power moved from the dantian to his right shoulder, down to the right leg, then returned to the left and rose to the left hand before descending lightly again into the dantian, clearly avoiding the head.
And so Wu Zhangkong kept helping Mu Ji Wu circulate his power for a full five hours without fatigue or boredom, to the point his clothes were soaked with sweat from the intensity of exhaustion.
The same for Mu Ji Wu from the intensity of consumption and fatigue.
Controlling his soul power and spiritual power so as not to harm Mu Ji Wu while circulating through his entire body for five hours exhausted even a Soul Emperor like him.
As for Mu Ji Wu, his brain was also boiling as he analyzed and watched the meridians and memorized them slowly.
Wu Zhangkong lowered his hands after that cycle and exhaled a breath of stale air, raising his hands to wipe sweat from his face as he said, exhausted, “Don’t stand up or open your eyes.
Focus now and try to circulate your power slowly so the progress we made doesn’t disappear.” This is why stronger meditation techniques are rarer.
Besides the difficulty, the person must be strong to transmit and teach them.
Basic meditation techniques just circulate power through the torso area and only the major meridians, making them almost useless for density and power after rank 11.
That’s why they’re easy and taught to children so they get used to it until later.
But what Wu Zhangkong taught now was a stronger technique.
And if not for Mu Ji Wu’s memory power, maturity, and calmness, he wouldn’t have taught him a technique like this.
An ordinary child has no patience and might rush and kill himself.
But Mu Ji Wu wouldn’t do that.
Of course, children who went through three years of basic education after awakening would have experience, and even if he didn’t teach them directly like Mu Ji Wu, they’d learn slowly.
But Mu Ji Wu had never learned meditation, so circulating the power was deliberately slow so he could memorize those meridians.
Wu Zhangkong left Mu Ji Wu to focus on himself and went to shower and change his clothes.