Chapter 13: In the Midst of Teaching

Who could have imagined that Wang Yue’s fortune would be so vast, even the Tiger King was envious. The spatial pouches containing water sources, rare minerals, and more were all of at least high grade, with even a few extremely rare top-tier ones among them. Yet, what shocked people most was not these treasures. Among all of Wang Yue’s legacy, there was actually a spatial ring!

In the prehistoric world, cultivators had a profound understanding of space. Some rulers could craft spatial pouches to carry with them, and once one reached the level of a Traveler or a Marquis, their mastery grew truly extraordinary. But it generally ended there. Only by breaking through again and reaching the phase of a Responder could one forgo the pouch and instead craft a ring. That required far deeper comprehension and a powerful spiritual foundation. Even Responders had to expend vast time and effort, which was why spatial rings were called minor artifacts.

No one expected Wang Yue to have such a treasure in his collection.

“You’ve really lucked out,” the Tiger King said enviously.

Du Gu Bieli slipped the ring onto his finger with casual ease. “Thanks to you,” he replied, “I won’t hold back. Oh, by the way, about that so-called Responder No Shadow—what’s his story?”

The Tiger King immediately put on airs. “You’re asking the right person! When it comes to this No Shadow Responder, few in the arena know more than I do… This entire territory belongs to the Butterfly Queen, a truly powerful monarch—let’s leave her aside for now. Just among her subordinates, there are three great Responders, each formidable in their own right, each with unique abilities. No Shadow is especially skilled in concealment and spatial transposition, and he’s the foremost of the three under the Queen’s command… Impressive, isn’t it? That he would lend you a hand is your good fortune, Du Gu. Don’t let this chance slip by. Be sure to thank him well. It’ll make your days at the academy much easier and more peaceful…”

Heeding the Tiger King’s advice, Du Gu Bieli gathered up his gains, confident he now had enough to pay the tuition, and, accompanied by his little sister, the child, and the wolf, he left the arena and hurried towards the academy.

...

The academy gate had returned to its usual tranquility. Those responsible for registration had vanished. The gate stood open, and inside was empty, with only a handful of figures drifting about. Clearly, the post-registration competition had already ended.

“Are we too late?”

The four of them stood before the gate, dumbfounded.

“Come with me.” At this crucial moment, No Shadow revealed himself and led them into the academy, instructing others to help guide them. The little sister was settled in the alchemy division according to her interests, and even the child was placed in the prodigies’ class.

Du Gu Bieli and the wolf were both sent to the first-year class.

This year’s first-year class had already begun lessons. A teacher stood in the middle, speaking passionately about the fundamentals of cultivation and the key points for those at the Warrior stage, among other topics. He was just getting into his stride when he was interrupted. Inevitably displeased, his expression softened only when he saw it was No Shadow himself bringing them in, but he quietly made note of the wolf and Du Gu Bieli’s names.

Upon entering, Du Gu Bieli and the wolf saw that the center was already crowded, with hardly any space left, so they had to remain at the back. The wolf, being tall, could easily stand on tiptoe to see inside and even spotted an old acquaintance, Xiao Hua.

Du Gu Bieli, having cultivated the Tenfold Body Forging Technique, had shrunk even more, now a full head shorter than the wolf. He could hear the teacher’s words but, with only the backs of the assembled students blocking his view, found the experience utterly uninteresting.

“Earlier I mentioned single-fold battle power. What exactly is single-fold battle power, and how is it measured? A single-fold battle power refers to a Warrior, in their normal state, unleashing their full strength at maximum output. This is the basic definition of single-fold battle power…” The teacher explained in detail, expounding on the principles of combat strength.

Some students from prominent families, possessing broad knowledge, occasionally interjected with questions, creating a seemingly harmonious atmosphere.

Yet, Du Gu Bieli, for reasons unknown, felt ill at ease. It was as if something inside him was quietly brewing, ready to erupt at any moment. He struggled to suppress himself, probing inward with his mind, only to find the battle energy in the five springs of his body surging forth, the power circulating on its own.

At the same time, countless sparks burst forth in his consciousness, manifesting a unique, fervent emotion.

“So, it’s the aftereffects of consecutive battles, my emotions still running high and excited, not yet cooled down.”

...

“There are five locations of the Spring of Power, called the Five Springs: two at the soles of the feet, the Yongquan points; two in the palms, the Laogong points; and one at the heart, the core. If these are not properly opened, the surge of power may cause an explosion, resulting in disability or death.”

“First, you must focus your attention, guiding your power through the meridians to the Yongquan points in the soles… Once within, use your accumulated strength to expand the internal space of the acupoint… If your power isn’t sufficient, it’s best not to attempt this. If you can persist or have ample strength, remember to proceed gradually, opening the space bit by bit until a stable space is formed… Once successful, power will continuously arise…”

“Because the Yongquan at the soles are closest to the earth, they can quickly absorb energy from the ground and transform it into your own strength. This is why the Yongquan are opened first… With the power from both springs at your feet, after a period of rest, you can attempt to open the Laogong points in the palms. The process and method are the same…”

The teacher continued his explanation, but Du Gu Bieli barely listened. In just a brief moment, the fervor within him erupted uncontrollably, spreading through his entire body and spirit like a wildfire. Outwardly, everything appeared normal, but inside, it was as though a great volcano had formed!

The blazing fire ignited by battle bathed both his body and spirit. Du Gu Bieli felt himself rapidly swelling, filling with power. If this continued, it might well threaten his very life. Yet he had no idea what to do, how to guide it, or by what means to extinguish the flames.

“When you become a peak Warrior, you must keep fighting, and in battle, comprehend the true meaning of cultivation. Each person’s understanding is unique. Once you grasp it, you can integrate the strength within your Springs of Power into a single whole. Every time you circulate it, you’re at full power—that is when you become a General. Of course, fate also plays a part…”

“Why is it called a General? Because once your power is unified, its circulation will impact the spaces you’ve opened, producing sounds of varying intensity—like a general’s march being played within your body, stirring your spirit and boosting your fighting spirit…”

Standing at the center, the teacher now made his concluding remarks, summarizing the lesson and looking ahead to the path of cultivation. Little did he know that his offhand words would strike Du Gu Bieli with sudden clarity, as if cold water poured on his head.

He realized there was but one way to resolve his predicament—break through to become a General!

“Well, that’s all for today. I know many of you don’t enjoy my rambling. So, congratulations! The next lesson is body combat. Good luck, and I hope when I return, I still see you, you, and you… in one piece.” With that, the teacher turned and left without another word, his final remark sending a chill down everyone’s spine.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

No sooner had the teacher gone than a burly man entered, his heavy steps thudding so forcefully it seemed the earth itself trembled. As soon as he entered, he announced, “Rest for half an hour, then the body combat lesson begins.”

The previous class had been theoretical—just knowledge, all you needed were ears. Now, it was time for the body combat lesson. In short, it meant fighting.

The burly man, after making his announcement, fell completely silent, standing as still as a statue.

Those who had a clue about his identity felt a shiver in their hearts, whispering in fear, “Could this teacher be Cold Shroud?”