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Feng Xiao slowly walked to the main gate of Notting Academy. He looked up, and on the rock at the center of the arch's apex, four powerful characters were carved: "Notting Academy." Through the gaps in the iron gate, he could see that the academy's internal avenue was wide and clean, with winding paths leading to secluded spots. Lush green plants lined both sides of the road, appearing vibrant and full of life. In the distance, several exquisite rooftops shimmered in the sunlight, exuding an aura of solemnity and elegance.
Feng Xiao looked around but did not see the figure that greatly intrigued him—the protagonist, Tang San. A self-deprecating smile played on his lips as he thought to himself, "How could there be such a coincidence? I don't know the exact timeline now. Spirit awakening is still presided over by people from Spirit Hall, which only means I'm roughly in the same period as the protagonist. Maybe I arrived a few years early, or a few years late. Never mind, as long as Yu Xiaogang is still at the academy, there will eventually be a chance to meet."
With that thought, Feng Xiao walked towards the main gate. At the same time, the gatekeeper slowly emerged from the small room beside the gate. Seeing Feng Xiao's extraordinary attire, he immediately quickened his pace, his face beaming with a respectful smile.
"May I ask, young master, what brings you to Notting Academy?" The gatekeeper bowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of flattery.
Feng Xiao recalled the plot from the original work and couldn't help but smile at the gatekeeper's kind attitude. He slowly took out the folded Spirit certificate from his in arms and handed it over, smiling, "I am a student here to enroll at Notting Academy."
The gatekeeper did not take the certificate from Feng Xiao's hand, nor did he even glance at it, but immediately showed an even more respectful expression: "So it is a Spirit Master here to enroll, please come in!"
As he spoke, he turned slightly, raising his hand to guide Feng Xiao and added, "Do you need me to lead the way for you?"
Feng Xiao smiled and shook his head, silently putting the Spirit Master certificate back into his in arms, then stepped into the academy.
Soon, under the guidance of the academy staff, Feng Xiao successfully arrived at the registration office. After paying a registration fee of one hundred gold coins, he officially became a student of Notting Junior Spirit Master Academy.
Not long after, at the registration teacher's prompting, Feng Xiao arrived at his dormitory—Dorm One. He found his room according to the number on the key, and the moment he pushed open the door, he couldn't help but be slightly surprised.
"It seems that in any World, money is the most practical pass." Feng Xiao chuckled to himself, "I didn't expect an ordinary student could also get a single room."
Although this room, about ten square meters, was simple, it was fully equipped: a single bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and even a small balcony. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm patches of light on the floor. Feng Xiao nodded in satisfaction and placed his luggage on the bed.
As a former teacher, Feng Xiao knew that quiet and solitude were indispensable when pursuing achievements in any Domain. This independent space was the cultivation environment he had always dreamed of.
Impatient, Feng Xiao opened the admission textbook issued by the academy. On the flyleaf, it clearly read "Basic Meditation Method." The content was concise and to the point: "Find a quiet place to prevent external interference; sit in meditation but do not fall asleep; mentally visualize the appearance of your Spirit, supplemented by breathing, to sense the qi of Heaven and Earth."
"Indeed." Feng Xiao thoughtfully closed the textbook and lay back on the bed. The shadows of the trees outside the window swayed gently in the breeze, and dappled light flowed across his face. "The Eight-Section Brocade does have its unique aspects. The movements combined with breathing focus more on regulating the body, and coupled with my extraordinary mental force, it's not surprising that I awakened spirit power."
After obtaining the meditation method, Feng Xiao suddenly felt that academy life seemed to have lost its original appeal. But then he thought, given his current age and strength, he really had no better place to go. The continent was full of dangers, and before he had enough strength to protect himself, it was safer to lie low in this small city for a few years.
Feng Xiao raised his hand and gazed at the sunlight filtering through his fingers, lost in thought: "This meditation method is indeed simple, even a six-year-old child can easily grasp it. But—"
A bold idea suddenly emerged: "Could I, like Tang San, create my own internal cultivation technique? One that can both accelerate cultivation and strengthen the body. After all, a strong physique often also means strong mental force."
Thinking of this, Feng Xiao couldn't help but shake his head in self-mockery. As a modern person, he inherently lacked an advantage in such mysterious matters as cultivation. Although he wasn't skilled in cultivation, he had been a teacher in the art of the zither and deeply understood that the simpler something was, the more it relied on talent to break conventions. Just like Spirit Master meditation, it was easy to understand, but to achieve something, the key still depended on the innate spirit power, a rigid condition.
"After awakening spirit power, I've become greedy, haven't I?" Feng Xiao chuckled aloud, raised his hand, and summoned his Spirit. Gently stroking the Seven Stringed Zither, he softly said, "Old friend, from now on, I'll call you 'Fuxi.' Borrowing the name of an ancestor, I hope you can truly become a divine artifact one day."
Holding the ancient zither 'Fuxi,' Feng Xiao strolled out of the dormitory. The sun was just right, and he planned to find a quiet spot in the academy to play the zither.
Walking along the tree-lined path of Notting Academy, many students cast curious glances at the Seven Stringed Zither in Feng Xiao's arms. A few discerning children even showed envy in their eyes—in this World, music had always been one of the calling cards of noble status.
Notting Academy covered a vast area, but there weren't many Spirit Master students. Feng Xiao quickly found a secluded spot deep within the academy. Thick tree trunks cast dappled shadows, and sunlight filtered through the leaves in scattered patches, warm but not scorching. He sat cross-legged, placing 'Fuxi' on his lap.
He lightly plucked the strings, and a clear note rippled out. Invisible sound waves spread through the air, and Feng Xiao gradually immersed himself in the artistic conception of the zither music. The zither's sound flowed like a clear spring, sometimes like pearls falling on a jade plate, other times like the rustling of pine trees. In this tranquil afternoon, the Seven Stringed Zither's timbre perfectly blended with nature, as if even the sunlight swayed gently with the melody.
The zither's melody lingered, like a spring breeze sweeping across the fields. Not far away, on a patch of grass, a boy sitting cross-legged suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in them.
"This zither music actually sounds like everything is reviving, full of vitality." Tang San murmured, feeling the abnormal movement of the spirit power within him. He had just obtained his first spirit ring yesterday with the help of his teacher, breaking through to level eleven. He didn't expect that listening to this zither music now, the spirit power in his body would surge again, naturally breaking through to level twelve.
He spread his right hand, and the Blue Silver Grass Spirit in his palm swayed gently. Logically, meditation should avoid external interference, but just now, guided by the zither music, his Spirit seemed to resonate wonderfully with nature, bursting with vitality like spring shoots breaking through the soil.
Tang San stood up, patted the grass clippings from his robe, and slowly walked forward, following the zither music. Passing through several bushes, he saw a young man deeply immersed in his zither music. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting a soft halo around him.
"A noble?" Tang San's gaze lingered on the other's exquisite attire for a moment, and he couldn't help but recall his own experience when he first arrived at the academy, his brows slightly furrowed.
He stood quietly in the shadows of the trees, observing. The zither-playing youth's eyes were slightly closed, his slender fingers dancing across the strings, his entire being seemingly merged with the surrounding nature. The zither's sound was sometimes like a clear spring tinkling, sometimes like new shoots sprouting, every note containing the rhythm of life.
"It seems there are indeed people of true talent among the nobles." Tang San thought to himself, his initial prejudice unknowingly fading a little. He leaned against the tree trunk, unconsciously relaxing, letting the zither music cleanse his mind. At this moment, he seemed to see countless Blue Silver Grasses unfurling their leaves in the zither's sound, blooming with brilliant light of life.
A rendition of "Yangchun Baixue" ended, and as the lingering notes faded, Feng Xiao slowly opened his eyes. Tang San, who had been standing still for a long time, couldn't help but applaud softly, the crisp sound particularly clear in the quiet woods.
Feng Xiao looked in the direction of the sound and saw a boy dressed in coarse cloth standing not far away. He was slightly surprised; not many children his age could understand zither music. "May I ask who you are?" Feng Xiao asked gently.
"Hello, classmate, my name is Tang San." Tang San took a few steps forward and replied politely.
Feng Xiao showed surprise upon hearing this, his gaze sweeping over the lush grass around him, and he immediately understood—this vibrant patch of grass was indeed the best cultivation spot for a Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master.
"Classmate, do you know me?" Seeing Feng Xiao remain silent for a long time, Tang San asked with a slight hesitation.
Feng Xiao came back to his senses and shook his head lightly: "No, I don't. I'm just a little surprised that you can understand my zither music."
Tang San feigned ignorance and shook his head: "I don't understand it, but I know you play very well."
Feng Xiao couldn't help but smile upon hearing this, thinking: They are all thousand-year-old foxes, why play such games?
"It seems that zither music played with spirit power might have had a special effect on Tang San." Feng Xiao mused to himself, "Otherwise, with his personality, if his cultivation was disturbed, he would probably seek a more secluded spot."
With that thought, Feng Xiao no longer dwelled on it and said to Tang San, "It's good that I didn't disturb you. I need to continue cultivating." With that, he said no more and resumed playing the zither on his own.
The zither music started again, and Feng Xiao quickly immersed himself in his own World. Tang San watched Feng Xiao's focused demeanor, and his evaluation of him couldn't help but rise a few points. Feng Xiao's selfless state reminded him of himself in his previous life, when he was engrossed in studying Hidden Weapons.
"When the teacher feels better, I'll ask him about the mysteries of this zither music." Tang San secretly decided, "For now, I'll continue cultivating and see if I can gain more." He gently stepped back a few paces, sat cross-legged again not far away, closed his eyes, and concentrated, letting the zither music linger around his ears.
Deep in the dense shadows of the trees, a burly figure stood silently. It was a tall middle-aged man. His rough fingers unconsciously clenched the tree trunk, his knuckles slightly white from the effort. Feng Xiao's zither music seeped into his heart like a babbling brook, gradually moistening his weathered eyes.
"Such zither skills—" the man murmured in a low voice, his voice trembling uncontrollably. As the strings were plucked, he seemed to see that elegant figure again, playing the zither in the courtyard. "Yuehua."
When Feng Xiao's spirit power was about to run out and the zither music gradually ceased, the man finally awoke as if from a dream. He took a deep breath, forcing down the surging emotions, but his gaze never left the zither-playing youth.
"Alas, the spirit power is still too little." Feng Xiao sighed softly, his fingertips reluctantly leaving the strings. He could feel that each time he played with spirit power, the connection between his Spirit and himself became closer, but the limitation of spirit power was always an insurmountable obstacle.
After retracting 'Fuxi' into his body, Feng Xiao sat cross-legged and began to attempt meditation. Following the method in the textbook, he mentally visualized the Seven Stringed Zither, coordinating it with the rhythm of his breathing, and felt the flow of spirit power within his body. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves onto his face, casting a golden halo on his focused countenance.
Deep in the shadows of the trees, the burly figure silently gazed at Feng Xiao's meditating posture, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. As a Titled Douluo, he could clearly perceive that Feng Xiao's meditation was still somewhat unpolished, but his exquisite zither skills reminded him of his sister, far away in Moon Pavilion. What surprised him even more was that the young man's zither artistry seemed to subtly surpass Yuehua's.
His gaze shifted between Feng Xiao and Tang San, and the man suddenly noticed that both children carried a certain similar aura—that kind of innate, unique talent.
"Are they both born with it? Interesting." The man murmured in a low voice, his rough fingertips unconsciously rubbing the messy stubble on his chin. The scent of ale faintly wafted in the air with his breathing.
After observing for a moment longer, the man turned and left. His burly figure was as light as a ghost, disappearing into the academy in a few leaps. Only a withered yellow leaf spiraled down, landing precisely in front of Feng Xiao, its surface still tinged with the sour scent characteristic of cheap ale.
Feng Xiao's first attempt at meditation was not smooth. He repeatedly adjusted his breathing, gradually catching that subtle sense. When he opened his eyes again, the afterglow of the setting sun had already dyed the entire academy golden.
Feng Xiao glanced at the empty grass, carefully feeling his physical condition, and couldn't help but show a wry smile, muttering to himself, "This speed is indeed a bit touching. From morning to dusk, my spirit power has only increased by a tiny bit. If he were cultivating, it would probably be much smoother."
Perhaps because he hadn't eaten lunch, Feng Xiao's stomach soon protested.
Rumble.
The protesting rumble from his stomach broke the tranquility of the woods. Feng Xiao rubbed his numb legs and stood up, patting off the grass clippings clinging to his robe. As a modern person, sitting in meditation was still not something he was entirely used to.
"Time to try Notting Academy's cafeteria." Feng Xiao said to himself, walking towards the direction from which the aroma of food wafted.
Feng Xiao walked quickly along the forest path, the afterglow of the setting sun stretching his shadow long. Notting Academy's buildings appeared particularly solemn in the twilight, and the lights of the distant cafeteria were already on, with the faint sounds of students' chatter.
As soon as he reached the cafeteria entrance, Feng Xiao smelled a waft of food.