After putting some work into it he found plenty of devices. The work required a bit of a trial and error approach. After each scan he could not see the exact position on the map, but only a device's name and distance to the origin of the scan. This left him no choice but to overtake all devices using the hacking functions.
He first had to synchronize two curves by matching a pattern which was specific to each device type - Fortunately, some of the device types were the same and the curve was saved after a single entry. The pattern was made up of different signals which he had to select and add to the overall output signal. He first selected a signal type such as wave, square or triangle pattern and then changed the amplitude and frequency.
The challenge came after the first entry, because a response appeared and a new pattern had to be synchronized before a timeout. The repeated until complete protocol to establish the connection was mapped.
The system explained that, due to it limited resources, the human intuition for pattern recognition and graphic problem solving was currently better suited to solve these hacking tasks.
After the pattern matching different scripts opened depending on the type of hacked device, sometimes he had to look for sequences of hexadecimal numbers in a table, sometimes he had to find the shortest route in a labyrinth-like circuit diagram.
Fortunately, there was no consequence if he failed in a mini-game and the task only cost him a few hours of work and a lot of nerves. A benefit he would not have when he would try to hack sophisticated device.
After endlessly shuffling from repeater to repeater, he had taken control over a total of twelve devices and would soon have to come up with a naming convention to keep track of things. The left and right groups were still not connected, but two of the endpoints were marked with an exclamation point and would still get his attention. The final endpoint put a smile on Ping's face and made him stop scanning.
The device was provided with a camera symbol.
>> It is a kind of ticket machine. << The system answered his question about which device it was. The answer couldn't have been better because the machine was bulky enough to stand halfway upright.
This was necessary in order to be able to capture something apart from the sky at the junk yard that Ping now saw.
Whether the image transmission from the scrapped ticket machine is real and really comes from the future? In the end, it wouldn't make any difference to Ping, because at that point he wasn't worried about getting anything for his work. Who expected something in return for playing video games? In any case, the scrap looked pretty futuristic and deserved the name 'next-generation scrap' if it was computer-animated.
Unfortunately, there was no clear view of the horizon or even a city. There was only junk far and wide and sometimes things that looked like parts of buildings or large equipment.
From some smoke in the background and slight movements that came from the wind Ping could tell that it was a video and not a photo.
>> Battery found. <<
Part of the map was now automatically displayed in 3D at a slight angle from above. Since the data came from the Wi-Fi scan, the 3D objects were monochrome and greatly simplified. Sometimes parts that should represent two different objects were connected and sometimes you could only see hills with a few protruding objects, but one of the more conspicuous landmarks on the map was a fallen power pole that was also visible on the camera.
Fortunately, the battery was marked as a symbol on the map, because Ping really couldn't make it out on the video transmission.
The battery would have to wait, however. First he had to attend to his own physical needs. After he had eaten something and discarded the idea of calling his sister to complain, he thought of a meaningful activity. He still had one open karma point and later wanted to try to get another one from the food donation.
"System, can I start the next cultivation training?"
His question was answered in the affirmative.
>> If the user is confident in the basics, it shall try to control qi in horse stance today. <<
Ping did as he was told, put his legs a shoulder-width apart and brought his behind closer to the ground without the knees going over the tips of his feet.
He knew this stance from his wushu lessons, a sport he started as a kid and like many others stopped after high school for many excuses. It was darn hard to stand like that, after a minute most peoples legs would shake like pudding, his own included.
>> The user shall proceed to raise it's arms, fingertips showing to the inside, as if you would hug a big wine barrel. Shoulders loose and elbows a face down. [coll.] <<
As he took the stance he tried to remember the tingling feeling and make his limbs heavy. To use the qi in his hands worked quite well after a bit of exercise, but it still took some time to relax his whole body.
He still questioned if it was possible at all to relax in this insane stance.
>> Loosen your body, but not your mind. [Cite] << Uhh, a citation. That was new ...
He concentrated on his breathing, trying to not think about his legs which felt uncomfortable after just a couple of seconds. Breathe In, then a short pause, then breathe out. After some breathes he started to concentrate on his heartbeat and the breathing became slower. Next, he focused on the tingling sensation in his hands and expanded it with his breathing.
When inhaling, it would move up to his shoulders and with each exhale he would collect it in his palms which felt as if he had reached into an electrical outlet.
>> The tongue needs to be in an upwards position pressing against the oral cavity which ensures breathing through the nose. <<
His legs started to hurt like hell, but it also felt incredible. He felt the air rushing in through his head when inhaling and rushing out through the belly when exhaling.
He put his behind a bit lower to somehow hang in there, changed the position of his feet a bit, to somehow find a better position which did not seem to exist.
>> The user shall straighten it's head, as if another mammal would pull a strand of hair upwards. [coll.] <<
He almost coughed blood after hearing that.
Ping really wanted to continue, although he had already clearly exceeded his limit. He followed the systems advise and straightened his head. By trying to feel as if someone would pull his hair, his neck stretched a bit and his shoulders finally relaxed. His spine straightened and his hips tilted a tiny bit while his feet were pushed to the side.
It was as if his body was a mechanism that snapped into the right position and was finally locked which made the pain suddenly more bearable.
He couldn't remember if he was supposed to start with his belly or his legs so he just started to breathe more shallowly and trusted that is body remembered what to do. Indeed, soon after the energy running around his legs and belly went crazy and he felt like little lightning bolts rushed through his hand.
"OK." That was the agreed keyword to tell the system that he reached the right state of mind. Now they would continue with the next step.
>> The user shall visualize a ball by closing it's eyes. <<
In this stage he would need to give some feedback whenever he was ready. He closed his eyes and saw all kind of shapes inspired by the light shining through his eyelids and then his mind went havoc and decided to flood his head with unnecessary thought.
He went back to counting and soon something like a circle appeared in his mind, even if it was a black circle on a black background.
"OK."
>> Picture the ball rotating in the lower abdomen. <<
It was not as difficult as before, he was already very relaxed and concentrated. He just confirmed it with an "Mhm."
>> The user shall fill this ball with energy and subsequently reach out to pull the energy out. <<
It was first difficult and then with each exhale he tried to picture that a tiny bit of energy would stay there. Ping started to forget his surroundings and soon it felt as if it was not just a circle but a real sphere filled with a cloudy substance whirling around. And then he was able to see it.
Clear and precise as if it was the only thing left in the universe. This sphere represented his body, he was sure of it.
The skin of the sphere was neither slick nor coarse, there simply was no texture as if he touched something in your dream. He just stopped right before he was able to touch it and the ball stretched to the inside as Ping pressed. It was like a balloon filled with water and as it reached its limit it bounced back like jelly and ate his arm that was not even there.
His arm was just a feeling without visual representation. He closed is non-existing fist to grab the whirling energy inside the sphere.
"Pffhh!" Ping opened his eyes.
Some jerk did just hit him in the gut. Where is this guy? His eyesight was blurry so he reached out to lean on the wall but just grasped empty space and fell over.
>> Prerequisites for Cultivation (3 of 5) completed. <<
Ping was still confused and after a moment on the ground he realized that he was in his apartment and there couldn't be another person who could hit him in here.
It certainly didn't feel like succeeding. His legs trembled as if he just walked a marathon and he couldn't stand up.
>> Please note that a rest may be required since the session exceeded the recommended 45 minutes threshold. <<