Five months had passed since the freshman assessment.
Two months ago, Huo Yuhao had become a Class 2 soul engineer and was recognized as a core disciple of the Soul Guide Department. His soul power had also reached level 36.
Although his soul power hadn't broken through again in the following two months, he was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Knife of Life Watch.
The opportunity for a breakthrough was just around the corner!
After the Eye of Life was fully formed, Huo Yuhao couldn't wait to begin his cultivation. Soon after, he naturally entered a state of deep meditation.
When soul masters cultivate, they generally experience two states: ordinary meditation and deep meditation.
Ordinary meditation, also known as shallow practice, is the state in which most soul masters cultivate. In this state, they remain aware of their surroundings and can wake up if disturbed by external changes.
Deep meditation, on the other hand, is a rare and sought-after state. During deep meditation, the soul master gains profound insights and becomes completely immersed in their cultivation. They lose awareness of the outside world and can only wake up on their own.
In deep meditation, the speed at which soul power circulates within the body is several times faster than during ordinary meditation. Additionally, the soul master's comprehension is greatly enhanced.
Concepts that are usually difficult to grasp often become clear in this state, leading to moments of sudden enlightenment.
It's no exaggeration to say that one session of deep meditation is at least ten times more effective than ordinary meditation.
The difference between ordinary meditation and deep meditation is easy to discern.
During ordinary meditation, there are no visible changes on the surface of the body, and soul power circulates internally. Only during special techniques or breakthroughs might some soul power be released.
In deep meditation, however, soul power overflows from the body as a protective measure, shielding the soul master's aura.
This was exactly what was happening to Huo Yuhao. A golden light of soul power radiated from his body, reflecting a magnificent brilliance.
The soul power in his meridians was circulating rapidly, and his soul power level was on the verge of a breakthrough.
However, Huo Yuhao had misjudged the duration of his deep meditation. He had thought it would be a short session, but the integration and digestion of the external soul bone's enhancements after the Knife of Life Watch had extended the time significantly.
The first to notice Huo Yuhao's absence were his classmates in the freshman class.
As someone who had already been admitted to the inner courtyard in advance, Huo Yuhao occasionally took leave, so his teachers and classmates had grown accustomed to his absences. However, it was unusual for him to miss several days of classes in a row.
Concerned, the class teachers reported the matter to Du Weilun, the director of the outer courtyard's Martial Soul Department.
After the Martial Soul Department's classes ended, Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, and Ning Tian had additional lessons on soul guides.
Huo Yuhao's dual status as a core disciple of both the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Guide Department had sparked a wave of interest in soul guides among the students. However, most quickly realized they lacked the aptitude and gave up, focusing instead on preparing for the upcoming entrance exams.
Only a few months remained before the entrance exams, and for some, there was no room for error.
Wang Dong and Ning Tian were among those who persisted in learning soul guides, though they weren't as serious about it as Huo Yuhao.
This was their fifth month of studying soul guides.
In just five months, Huo Yuhao had mastered the engraving of a second-level core array and was even attempting a third-level one. He was truly a child of destiny.
In stark contrast, Wang Dong and Ning Tian were still struggling with the basics.
Typically, the first level of soul guide mastery—forging—is the most time-consuming foundational stage. However, thanks to Huo Yuhao's innovations, they had saved a significant amount of time.
It had taken Huo Yuhao and Cai Tou a full year to pass this stage.
As a result, Wang Dong and the others had been introduced to the most crucial step in soul guide creation early: engraving the core array.
It was at this step that the difference between geniuses and ordinary individuals became apparent.
Five months later, Wang Dong and Ning Tian were still struggling to engrave a first-level core array.
While this was a normal learning pace, it was hard not to feel disheartened when compared to Huo Yuhao's progress.
Wang Dong didn't know what Ning Tian was thinking, but she herself had come to realize that she had no talent for soul guide creation. She had already decided to give up on it once the Martial Soul Department's workload increased next semester.
As for the development of the Tang Sect, she would leave it to Bai Yan.
Bai Yan had chosen soul guides as her elective and, realizing that her talent in martial souls wasn't enough to secure her a core disciple position, had thrown herself into soul guide studies with enthusiasm.
The short hour dedicated to soul guides was insufficient for Bai Yan.
According to Wang Dong's understanding, Bai Yan had shown some talent in the field and was considering transferring to the Soul Guide Department.
Wang Dong, on the other hand, found the subject utterly baffling. Staring at the complex knowledge day after day, her eyes were filled with confusion.
Forging iron was far more comfortable.
Fan Yu, noticing Huo Yuhao's prolonged absence, had asked Wang Dong to check on him.
Although Wang Dong wasn't an inner courtyard disciple, she had a pass given by Huo Yuhao that allowed her to enter and exit Sea God Island freely.
Thus, Wang Dong was the first to discover that Huo Yuhao had entered deep meditation.
"This guy is too hardworking. He's so devoted to his practice that he's entered deep meditation," Wang Dong thought, feeling a mix of admiration and self-reproach.
A faint blush appeared in her pink and blue eyes.
Had she been slacking off lately?
The soul guide system had indeed been a distraction. She couldn't continue like this!
With that thought, Wang Dong resolved to take her training more seriously starting the next day.
For now, however, her priority was to protect Huo Yuhao.
She moved a chair from the room and sat by the door, ensuring no one would disturb him.
After all, Huo Yuhao was a social butterfly, beloved by everyone.
Deep meditation, being a state of profound understanding and cultivation, was highly susceptible to disruption. If someone intentionally disturbed him, it could lead to serious consequences.
Of course, given Huo Yuhao's current spiritual power, such backlash was unlikely.
Not to mention the three powerful entities residing in his spiritual sea, ready to teach anyone who dared to disturb him a lesson.
…
"Wang Dong, wake up! What are you doing sleeping outside instead of going in?"
A gentle knock roused Wang Dong from her slumber.
"Ah? Senior Sister!" Wang Dong jolted awake, quickly covering her mouth with both hands.
"What's wrong? You seem startled," Zhang Lexuan asked with a slight smile.
"Senior sister, Yuhao has entered deep meditation. I was keeping watch outside," Wang Dong explained carefully.
"Thank you for your hard work. I'll take over from here. Go back and rest early; you have classes tomorrow," Zhang Lexuan replied.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you, Senior sister."
With that, Wang Dong prepared to leave.
Since someone had come to relieve her, Wang Dong was more than happy to hand over the task. After all, unlike Huo Yuhao, she couldn't just take leave whenever she wanted. She still had classes to attend.
After bidding farewell to Wang Dong, Zhang Lexuan gently pushed open the door and sat down on the sofa opposite Huo Yuhao.
Originally, Ma Xiaotao should have been the one to check on Huo Yuhao, but as she was in seclusion, Zhang Lexuan had volunteered.
As Wang Dong had said, Huo Yuhao was indeed in deep meditation.
And judging by the situation, it wouldn't end anytime soon.
Zhang Lexuan observed Huo Yuhao's face, momentarily stunned.
His ink-black hair cascaded over his shoulders, his fair skin contrasting sharply with his freshman uniform. His delicate features exuded a noble temperament.
Though his appearance hadn't changed, Zhang Lexuan sensed something different about Huo Yuhao.
It was a change in his aura.
After a moment of observation, Zhang Lexuan concluded that Huo Yuhao's usual gentle and approachable demeanor had been replaced by a cold, aloof tranquility.
There was also a sense of self-assured pride, as if he were looking down on the world from a high position.
Could this be the influence of the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress Martial Soul?
In truth, the Huo Yuhao Zhang Lexuan saw now was his most authentic self. In deep meditation, a soul master's defenses are lowered, and their true nature begins to surface.
After observing Huo Yuhao's condition, Zhang Lexuan quietly withdrew.
The benefits of deep meditation were undeniable. If a soul master entered this state while approaching a bottleneck, there was an 80% chance of a successful breakthrough.
In her opinion, Huo Yuhao was in a critical period of breakthrough, and it was imperative that he not be disturbed.
Sitting on the chair Wang Dong had used, Zhang Lexuan's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
If her memory served her correctly, Wang Dong's martial spirit was the Light Butterfly Goddess, a spirit unique to women.
And the relationship between Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao was clearly not ordinary.
Then there was Xiaotao and the others…
This little junior brother of hers was really something…
…
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