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With the boost from his brain-type martial soul, Xu Yuan already possessed extraordinary learning abilities.
Since gaining access to Yao Yao's dream space, his learning capacity had been further amplified.
Though his thinking process still took a considerable amount of time, when converted to real-world time, he managed to complete his research in a much shorter period.
Real-world time was still significant.
Being able to complete research and study in less time within reality was a testament to Xu Yuan's enhanced learning ability.
As he held the mecha blueprint, part of his consciousness entered the dream space to analyze the intricate details of the design.
Reading comprehension!
Even though Yuyang had personally explained many details, as Xu Yuan carefully reviewed the blueprint again, he discovered numerous clever nuances. These might have been executed casually out of habit after gaining proficiency, but they were all highly meaningful.
This was perhaps the significance of practice.
Without practice, one could never gain such experience from textbooks alone.
As Xu Yuan understood the design elements of the blueprint, he also absorbed the practical insights embedded within it.
Upon returning to the academy, his first day was spent at the Mecha Association.
However, within the dream space, Xu Yuan spent ten days meticulously studying even the simplest parts of the blueprint.
"Intense research still requires an optimal time-flow ratio and a scientific allocation of time," Xu Yuan muttered, rubbing his dizzy head with a sigh.
The optimal time-flow ratio minimized the strain of training in the dream space while allowing for extended periods of research.
If sustained for three hours in reality, the ideal time-flow ratio would be 24:1—three hours in reality equating to three days in the dream space.
But if extended to ten hours in reality, the optimal ratio would drastically decrease, possibly to just 10:1. Ten real-world hours would translate to only four or five days in the dream space, constrained by the limits of soul power and spiritual energy consumption.
Unless he was in a rush, Xu Yuan wouldn't push himself this way.
The most scientifically balanced approach remained three hours in the dream space, exiting when soul power and spiritual energy were nearly depleted. He would then meditate to recover, validate the successes achieved in the dream space through soul skill practice, restore his soul power, and re-enter the dream space.
This time, Xu Yuan alternated between three hours in the dream space and three hours of meditation for rapid recovery, cycling through this process three times. His spiritual energy and soul power were depleted thrice during these intense sessions.
The high-intensity mental activity, coupled with the lack of soul skill validation to relieve the strain, left him feeling slightly dizzy.
"Having thoroughly grasped the blueprint, I can now properly plan the manufacturing process."
Xu Yuan aimed to incorporate the mecha's production into his daily cultivation routine as soon as possible.
"Blood and qi—"
There was still Tang Wulin's blood energy to study.
"I need to conduct intensive research over the next couple of days to assess the difficulty and make a reasonable plan."
If it proved too difficult with little hope of short-term results, dedicating one hour per day would suffice.
If there was potential for quick breakthroughs, more time could be allocated.
"Brother Yuan, you've only just returned, and you're already diving back into cultivation?" Xu Lizhi lamented helplessly.
"Enough talk. Focus on your training during this time and work on condensing your blood energy sooner," Xu Yuan said, glancing at the little fatty. "If you're too slow in condensing it, don't blame me for stepping in."
"Huh? Brother Yuan, nooo!"
Xu Lizhi never imagined that Xu Yuan had summoned him this time solely to nag about cultivation.
And it wasn't even about soul power cultivation—it was about speeding up the condensation of his bloodline energy.
Was condensing blood and qi supposed to be easy?
For Little Fatty, it felt like a matter of life and death.
Ignoring Xu Lizhi's cries, Xu Yuan reminded him to intensify his training, sent the chubby boy off, and then activated his soul-guided communicator.
"Hello?" Mu Ye sounded puzzled on the other end.
Hadn't they just spoken a few days ago?
"Teacher, do you have any instruments or equipment suitable for studying blood energy?"
"You want to conduct research?" Mu Ye's tone rose in surprise.
"I'm considering it. A deeper understanding of blood energy will aid in its cultivation."
On the other end, Mu Ye let out a cold snort.
"Don't bother with such research. Blood energy cannot be analyzed by instruments. The same goes for soul power and spiritual energy. The true essence of energy can only be detected, not manipulated."
"Huh?"
Hearing Xu Yuan's confusion, Mu Ye elaborated.
"Blood energy is the result of human energy reaching a saturated state, unified by willpower. Willpower plays a crucial role, something instruments cannot study. Instruments can only detect energy fluctuations, which may lean toward blood and qi characteristics, but they cannot influence the condensation of blood energy. Do you understand?"
Instruments could assist in gathering internal blood and qi but couldn't aid in refining blood and qi power.
"It's not just blood and qi—soul power and spiritual energy also involve willpower. Cultivating willpower is vital for soul masters, though most don't need to consider it explicitly."
Mu Ye delivered a brief explanation.
"Oh, I see, Teacher. Then do you have any instruments that can detect energy fluctuations and analyze their sources, distinguishing between different types of energy?"
Upon hearing another request for instruments, a vein popped on Mu Ye's forehead.
Still, if it was just for detecting and distinguishing energy fluctuations...
"Yes, I have something. What do you need this equipment for?"
"To observe changes in my blood energy and facilitate the development of cultivation techniques." Seeing his teacher persistently questioning him, Xu Yuan quickly fabricated a reason.
He could sense what Mu Ye was worried about from his earlier words.
"I'll see if I can get you one."
"Teacher, do you have the principles or theory behind such equipment? If there's a theoretical framework, I won't need the actual instrument."
A '#' appeared on Mu Ye's forehead.
I'm from the Body Sect, not a research institute!
"Just wait. I'll see what I can do."
After the call ended, Xu Yuan sighed helplessly.
The decline of the Body Sect was truly evident.
When his teacher initially said he'd try to get something, Xu Yuan was momentarily surprised. But from the last two sentences, he could tell that the Body Sect didn't possess such equipment or technology. It seemed Mu Ye would have to rely on outside channels to procure it.
After returning from Donghai City, Xu Yuan had stayed at the academy to cultivate.
In the blink of an eye, a year had passed.
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Sea God Island
Xu Yuan stepped onto the Sea God Island once again, his expression distant.
Another year had gone by, and he had undergone two assessments.
Six months ago, he had selected a millennium-old Mo Yu Divine Bamboo, classified among the immortal-grade herbs.
If allowed to grow for ten thousand or even a hundred thousand years, the Mo Yu Divine Bamboo would indisputably qualify as an immortal-grade herb. However, at just a millennium old, its effects were significantly diminished—though it remained a top-tier heavenly treasure, and its cultivation cycle was shorter.
This time, the academy hadn't given him any options.
Three days after achieving a perfect score in his assessment, Shen Yi notified him to come to the Sea God Island.
Rowing a small boat to the island alone, Xu Yuan sensed a presence—an intentional release of energy guiding him.
Following the energy, Xu Yuan bypassed the central Sea God Pavilion and arrived at the back of the Sea God Island.
A handsome man stood gazing at the sky, his back facing Xu Yuan. He blended seamlessly with the surrounding space.
Had he not deliberately released his energy, Xu Yuan wouldn't have sensed him—even arriving here might not have revealed his presence.
Yun Ming turned his head to look at Xu Yuan.
"You're here?"
"Greetings, Pavilion Master!" Xu Yuan clasped his fists and bowed slightly.
"Mm. You've learned the first three techniques of the Forbidden Seven Methods. Demonstrate them so I can assess your progress."
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