"The Color Meditation Method" emphasizes elemental affinity, focusing on capturing the free spiritual essence that resonates with one's elemental attributes. Therefore, it is suitable for spiritual apprentices with high elemental affinity.
The "Rock Meditation Method" absorbs spiritual essence at an average speed but excels in stability, making it more compatible with Duke's talent.
The "Vortex Meditation Method" prioritizes quantity, making it ideal for spiritual apprentices with high spiritual absorption efficiency.
The "Blank Paper Meditation Method" has the lowest meditation difficulty but offers the least effective results. It is more suitable for spiritual apprentices who have difficulty concentrating.
The "Field Meditation Method" imitates all things to absorb free spiritual essence and is suitable for highly talented individuals.
After Rixi introduced these methods, Duke quickly communicated with Little Art in his mind and made his choice: "Mr. Willgang, I choose the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method.'"
"Hmm?" Willgang was somewhat surprised. "Are you unable to concentrate? Normally, opening the spiritual sea through drug use relies somewhat on willpower and focus... Well, if you want to choose the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method,' go ahead. If you feel it doesn't suit you, you can come and change it later, although it may waste some energy."
"I understand."
After selecting the "Blank Paper Meditation Method," Duke was taken to a special room and stood on a large machine, wearing a dedicated helmet.
Next.
He felt himself enveloped in mysterious energy, his mind emptied, and he involuntarily began to meditate.
During meditation, he felt like a blank sheet of paper, and tiny spiritual particles from the outside world adhered to the paper, each spiritual point clearly visible.
After an unknown amount of time.
The blank paper had been completely filled with spiritual particles, and he woke up from meditation.
"It's done. The 'Blank Paper Meditation Method' has been imprinted into your spiritual sea. You can start practicing on your own when you go back," the person operating the machine said gently. "Wish you an early promotion to the First Ring."
"Thank you."
Carrying a spiritual card and the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method' in his mind, Duke left the Spiritual Tower.
With no mood for sightseeing, Duke took the No. 17 tram back to West Station in the outer city. Since it was late, there were no flights to Snakehead Town. He could only find a hotel to stay for the night.
Then, he eagerly began practicing the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method.'
"Little Art, did you take note of the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method'?"
"I've noted it."
"Can I start practicing now?"
"Please wait a moment, Master. Little Art is adjusting."
The reason for choosing the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method,' which had the lowest difficulty in practice, rather than the more suitable 'Rock Meditation Method,' was prepared for Little Art. Duke wanted to see if Little Art could replace him in practicing it.
The 'Blank Paper Meditation Method' required minimal human intervention, making it suitable for artificial intelligence assistance.
If successful, it would mean that Little Art could help him practice the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method' at any time.
And he could be freed to do whatever he wanted.
Anxiously and eagerly waiting for half an hour, Duke finally felt his body making contact with the outside world, as if something subtle was passing through his body and entering the spiritual sea.
"It's free spiritual essence!"
"It worked!"
Duke was overjoyed.
Little Art could indeed replace him in practicing the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method.' Even though this meditation method had the poorest effect, Little Art could practice it twenty-four hours a day, and it wouldn't interfere with other things he wanted to do.
"Little Art, how's the effect?"
The sensation of absorbing free spiritual essence suddenly stopped, and Little Art said, "Currently, Little Art can maintain it at full capacity, barely ensuring the operation of the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method.' However, there is no time for anything else. When the Master gathers Qi Essence, Little Art may be able to guarantee communication during meditation."
Duke is currently a one-star spiritual apprentice, and the symbol of a one-star apprentice is — Qi Essence Elixir.
He can condense the free spiritual essence absorbed during meditation into liquid spiritual elixir, ready to be mobilized at any time, granting him extraordinary power.
"How long will it take?"
"At the current meditation efficiency, it will take about an hour to condense Qi Essence Elixir."
"Good, I'll take a stroll and grab some dinner. You focus on practicing the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method' at full capacity," Duke said, unable to contain his excitement, deciding to explore the area.
The surroundings of West Station were chaotic, and hygiene conditions were extremely poor.
But it was bustling with activity. Street vendors were loudly advertising various goods. Duke wasn't particularly interested in mundane items; his curiosity lay with things related to spirituality.
"How much is this four-eared hunting dog cub?" He saw many fluffy puppies at a vendor's stall.
"50 silver dragons."
"So expensive?"
"The four-eared hunting dog is a 0-Ring spirit beast, and it has good bloodlines. With proper cultivation, it can advance to a 1-Ring six-eared spirit dog. 50 silver dragons are the lowest market price. If you find it expensive, I also have silver-skinned dogs. You can get one for 7 silver dragons, also a 0-Ring spirit beast."
The silver-skinned dog resembled a Shar-Pei, but Duke didn't find it appealing.
Yet, he couldn't bear to spend 50 silver dragons on a four-eared hunting dog. His salary as an apprentice worker was only five and a half silver dragons per month. It would take him almost a year to afford one.
After looking around and petting a couple of fluffy puppies, Duke stood up and headed to the next stall.
It was a book stall.
Duke's eyes lit up as he began searching through the books.
He was currently an apprentice worker in a card-making shop, working under Old Sam. The boss had already promoted him to a regular employee, allowing him to continue learning the craft of a card maker.
Therefore, he would follow the path of a card maker next, ensuring that he wouldn't starve during his spiritual apprentice stage.
"The spiritual and magical system is vast and profound, with various fields to specialize in—card maker, artifact maker, contract mage, alchemist, puppeteer, apothecary... There are many industries to delve into, but undoubtedly, card makers and apothecaries have the broadest employment prospects... I'll start as a card maker and smoothly transition to an apothecary later."
Picking and choosing, Duke found eleven or twelve books related to spiritual cards.
"Lingering Card Details," "Introduction to Card-Making Techniques," "Millennium Development History of Spiritual Cards," "Universal Spiritual Card Technology," "Circles of Skills," "Practical Guide to Card-Making," and more...
He spent quite a bit—four silver dragons, equivalent to four hundred coins.
The stall owner, encountering a major customer, even gave him a complimentary book. "Young man, your future is undoubtedly promising. 'Saga and His Dialogue' is also about card making, authored by Saga, a famous card-making sage. I'll give it to you for free. I usually set up my stall here, and it's much cheaper than the bookstores. Feel free to visit again."
"Thank you, sir."
With a bunch of books in hand, Duke had dinner at a street stall and then returned to the small inn.
At this moment, Little Art's voice echoed in his mind, "Master, Little Art has been practicing the 'Blank Paper Meditation Method' for one hour and thirty-four minutes. It has successfully helped you condense Qi Essence Elixir, and your spiritual sea now has its first drop of elixir. Now, Little Art can maintain meditation while engaging in mental communication with you."