Wang Xuan's mind was tranquil, his thoughts focused, and he was in a meditative state, yet he sensed a gaze upon him. He opened his eyes and looked outside the forest. The four classmates from New Star were astonished; how could Wang Xuan feel their presence from such a distance?
"Did you see that? When he opened his eyes, there was a shimmer of golden light," Zhou Kun whispered among the group. Wang Xuan paused, having just finished his breathing exercises. His complexion was rosy, and he appeared vibrant, almost radiant in the morning glow.
They approached quickly. Su Chan, lively and cheerful, called out from afar, "Wang Xuan, I think I just saw you glowing!" She was tall, unbothered by the cold, wearing a short skirt that accentuated her long legs, her shiny black hair cascading over her shoulders, and her youthful face lit up with a smile and sparkling eyes.
Wang Xuan chuckled, "Should I take that as a compliment for being handsome and radiant?" He stood tall, and his smile was indeed captivating, with bright eyes and a dazzling grin.
"Such narcissism!" Su Chan rolled her eyes. Zhou Kun couldn't help but ask, "Wang Xuan, have you mastered the breathing technique?" His pale complexion and gentle features carried a hint of melancholy, giving off a vibe of someone who lacked physical exercise.
The four had known Wang Xuan for years as they all came from New Star. Wang Xuan nodded, "I've managed to get the hang of it recently." Xu Wenbo, typically aloof, spoke up, regret in his tone, "The old techniques are quite outdated; they've been around for ages." He shook his head.
The autumn sun shone brightly, but the chilly wind rustled the leaves. Li Qingzhu, gentle and soft-spoken, interjected, "Let's not dismiss them; at least they can strengthen the body and prolong life. Some ancient figures might have been quite powerful." The others knew this path was no longer viable; she was merely comforting Wang Xuan.
Although touched, Wang Xuan had no regrets. His initial curiosity for the old techniques had been genuine, not driven by profit. Moreover, he had completed his degree in automation and was not abandoning it.
Xu Wenbo shook his head, "Those are baseless legends. In this age of advanced technology, even if there were powerful individuals in the past, facing spaceships and mechanized forces would render them meaningless." Yet, when he gazed into the distance, his eyes sparkled with anticipation, aware of thrilling discoveries on New Star that filled him with excitement.
After some more conversation, Su Chan reminded Wang Xuan not to get too engrossed in the old techniques since they had graduated and should be considering job opportunities. The others understood that once a wrong path was chosen, no amount of effort would help.
Zhou Kun opened his mouth to say something but simply patted Wang Xuan's shoulder in resignation. Due to family warnings, he couldn't reveal anything about the situation on New Star, which was still under strict confidentiality.
"I wish you all a safe journey back to New Star!" Wang Xuan replied, knowing their paths would likely diverge forever unless something unexpected occurred. The gate to New Star was already closed to those from the Old Earth; without being chosen, moving there was nearly impossible.
"Before you leave, let's have a drink together," Wang Xuan said with a smile. The four began to turn away, but Zhou Kun stumbled slightly, realizing Wang Xuan was teasing him.
Normally reserved and melancholic, he transformed into a chatterbox when drunk, talking endlessly. Three years ago, Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng had gotten him so intoxicated that he couldn't recall anything from that night.
Wang Xuan watched them leave. In the following days, classmates would depart for their hometowns. Those separated across the cosmos felt the most sorrowful. A couple in their class bid a silent farewell; only after one boarded the train did the other break down in tears, highlighting the melancholy of their strong relationship ending in such a way.
In this late autumn, those leaving undoubtedly felt disheartened. Although the news from New Star was vague, many sensed they were missing the greatest opportunity of their lives. The only comfort for those departing was that job issues had been resolved, a promise made when they joined the experimental class.
Wang Xuan hadn't left yet; his home was in a nearby town. If he couldn't go to New Star, he would stay in the city where he studied to work. Qin Cheng had disappeared for days, searching for reliable news, his family involved in deep space trade, though just one of many suppliers, they had some connections.
On a clear morning days later, Qin Cheng appeared on campus. "Wang Xuan, I finally understand why the old techniques experimental class was established; it's related to the special 'situation' discovered on New Star!" His face was flushed with excitement.
His connections had led him to rumors of mysterious phenomena linked to supernatural forces on New Star! "There may truly be supernatural powers in this world!" he exclaimed, igniting many thoughts and hopes.
Seeing Wang Xuan's state, Qin Cheng fell momentarily silent. "You've generated such a 'stir'?!"
Though he already knew Wang Xuan had succeeded with the breathing technique, the sight before him was astonishing. As the sun rose, Wang Xuan appeared to be glowing, the morning light swirling around him like a gentle flame.
Wang Xuan, bursting with energy, seemed even better than before. "Wait a moment," he said. After refreshing himself, he returned in clean clothes, "I've long speculated that some elderly scholars, in their later years, increasingly believed in mysticism, eventually taking action to dig into myths and invest in old technique research—there must have been something they discovered."
Although those elders had aged, they were once sharp-minded, not foolish enough to make basic errors. Moreover, some students with significant backgrounds from New Star had joined the experimental class, reinforcing this notion.
"Initially, they might have sought to tap into supernatural forces through the old techniques," Wang Xuan speculated but furrowed his brow, "But things seem to have changed."
His intuition was keen; he had gathered insights from his recent interactions. They had mentioned that the old techniques were outdated. New Star… seemed to have lost interest!
Also, when Xu Wenbo casually glanced at the horizon, his eyes gleamed with longing and excitement, as if yearning for something.
"Perhaps there's another path to supernatural power, while the old techniques have been discarded," Wang Xuan concluded based on his observations of the group.