After lunch, Lin Tian's mother had to oversee a sparring class. For a moment, he considered asking if he could observe, but after some thought, he decided against it. Watching wouldn't benefit him. His strength was still too low, and even if he watched, he wouldn't understand much. Worse, he might get hurt, even with his mother there. The best use of his time was to study and build a stronger knowledge base.
With newfound determination, Lin Tian dove into his book, immersing himself in the wisdom of those who had walked the path of cultivation before him. The text was structured simply, perfectly suited for a beginner like him.
"... soul masters require exponentially more soul power as they ascend the ranks. Meditation is the only way to absorb soul power from the environment. Mimicry environments can enhance cultivation speed, making absorption more efficient."
Lin Tian paused, pondering the words.
'Soul power research isn't advanced enough,' he thought, frowning. 'It's so crude, almost barbaric. Soul power is everything in this world—so why hasn't anyone researched it more? It makes no sense.'
Frustration surged, and he ran his hands through his hair in exasperation.
'Calm down. Humans aren't always rational,' he reminded himself, a wry smile tugging at his lips. 'The book hints at an ancient civilization that could craft soul tools, suggesting that it has more developed research on soul power applications. Sadly, that knowledge has been lost.'
But Lin Tian knew better—the technology wasn't lost. It was just hidden, across the sea in the Sun Moon Empire.
With a sigh, he closed the book, marking his place with a bookmark. He needed to process what he'd read. The basics of soul power, cultivation, and a rudimentary meditation technique had all been covered. The method was simple: spread your spiritual power, sense the soul power around you, and guide it towards your body. At a certain range, the energy would enter, joining the soul power within.
It was a crude method, basic and unsophisticated. Yet, for someone like Lin Tian, it was perfect. He didn't need advanced techniques just yet. Fancy meridian paths and complex energy manipulation meant nothing to him without a firm grasp of the basics. Simplicity was key at this stage.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Tian settled into his first-ever session of meditation.
'Observe the rhythm of your breath,' he recited from the book. 'Inhale and pull the soul power around you, exhale and merge it with your own.'
Inhale.
Exhale.
He fell into the rhythm of his breathing, his spiritual power swirling to life. Slowly, he began to pull the faint particles of soul power toward him. Yet, much of the energy dissipated before reaching him, with only a small portion merging into his body.
'Why is the loss so massive?' Lin Tian wondered, his brows furrowing in concentration. 'It's natural to lose some energy, even mundane energy like electrical conduction has losses. But this is too inefficient.'
He forced himself to remain calm, focusing again on meditation. As he regained his steady breath, his mind cleared, and understanding dawned.
'Of course, the beginner's method would be inefficient,' he realized. 'It's the most basic, foundational method of absorbing soul power. It's like cavemen smashing rocks to make crude weapons. Rushing this would be a mistake. The inefficiency allows me to observe the behavior of soul power, laying a foundation for future growth.'
With this new perspective, Lin Tian resumed his practice, now focusing less on the losses and more on what little soul power did make it to him. However, a new issue soon arose—soul power that merged with his body seemed to vanish moments after.
'Hm? It disappeared? Is this why they say pre-awakening cultivation is useless?' Lin Tian's mind raced. 'But energy doesn't just vanish… Where is it going?'
Driven by curiosity, he quickly asked for a pen and paper, scribbling his observations.
Thoughts on Meditation:
Followed the "Basics of Meditation" from "A Beginner's Guide to Martial Souls and Cultivation."Basic meditation is inefficient—over 80% of gathered soul power is lost. Meditation before awakening leads to soul power mysteriously disappearing.
Setting the paper aside, Lin Tian returned to his meditation. This time, he spread his spiritual power deeper into his own body, sharpening his focus. As the soul power entered, he carefully tracked its path—and saw it disperse.
'It's spreading across my body, splitting into miniscule amounts, too weak to accumulate,' he thought. 'Could it be slipping into my meridians, like the energy from the soul beast meat?'
His curiosity piqued, Lin Tian wrote down his findings, then dove back into meditation. He repeated the process, again and again, watching how the soul power moved. Slowly, a sense of fullness crept into his body. Eventually, he couldn't absorb any more.
'Ah, so that's it,' he realized, sitting up. 'There's a limit to how much soul power I can absorb. That's why soul masters don't meditate non-stop after each soul ring.'
Adding his newfound knowledge to the growing list of notes, Lin Tian smiled, feeling more confident. Today's practice had been fruitful. He had gained more than just knowledge—he had a clearer path ahead.
Note:
There is a limit to the amount of soul power that can be absorbed before a sense of fullness occurs.
The library was quiet, with only the soft rustle of pages breaking the silence. Lin Tian was alone in this section, a perfect environment for learning. He continued devouring the book, moving on to the next chapter: "The Impact of Physical Health on Soul Masters."
For hours, he read intently, jotting down observations and theories as they came to him. His paper grew crowded with notes.
'Physical strength is tied to the age of the soul ring one can absorb,' Lin Tian mused. 'Yu Xiaogang's 'research' suggests the optimal first ring should be around 400 years old. Both mental and physical endurance are needed for soul ring absorption.'
His mind whirred with calculations. With his spiritual strength nearing level 40, he knew he had the mental capacity for a higher age soul ring. All that remained was increasing his physical strength.
Hypothesis:
Physical Health's Influence on Soul Power Absorption:
Enhanced physical health directly correlates with a greater capacity to absorb and store soul power. This connection is particularly crucial for younger cultivators, as their bodies are still developing.
Soul Ring Absorption Limits:
Research suggests that the soul power absorbed during cultivation is processed more efficiently by a body that is both physically strong and conditioned. The age and potency of a soul ring are directly affected by a cultivator's health, meaning that cultivators with higher physical strength can endure the strain of absorbing older, more powerful soul rings. For example, while the recommended first ring age is around 400 years, those with superior physical and mental conditioning can handle rings of greater age without significant risk of backlash.
Body's Role in Soul Power Circulation:
During the absorption process, the body's meridian system channels the power of the absorbed ring. If the meridians are underdeveloped or blocked, the flow of soul power becomes turbulent, leading to loss of power and reduced efficiency. Training one's body ensures that the meridians remain clear, strengthening the flow and making absorption smoother.
Optimization through Physical Training:
Physical strength training, such as calisthenics and conditioning exercises, can fortify the muscles, influencing meridians, and organs, enhancing their ability to store and process energy. Practicing without weights at first allows for steady growth of the body's resilience, while adding weight as strength increases ensures the body's limits are consistently pushed. This gradual buildup also prepares the body for the strain of absorbing higher-level soul power as the practitioner grows.
Methodology:
A balanced regimen of physical conditioning (beginning with bodyweight exercises) alongside regular meditation can maximize the body's ability to channel and hold soul power. Combining these with a disciplined diet rich in energy-boosting resources, such as soul beast meat, will further enhance physical development and increase soul ring absorption potential.
To prevent stunting natural growth, only proceed with calisthenics without adding weight.
Lin Tian smiled, satisfied with his progress. The day had been productive, and his goals were clearer than ever. He tucked the paper into his clothes, looking forward to the path ahead.
"Xiao Tian! Time to go home," his mother's warm voice called.
Lin Tian quickly stood, rushing to her with a wide smile.
"I'm here, Mum," he said, his joy unmistakable.
"Did you learn a lot today?" she asked with a proud smile.
"Yes, Mum. Almost everything," he replied, eyes twinkling with excitement.
"My little genius! Let's go home, I'll cook something delicious, and you can tell me all about it."
"Mm!" he nodded eagerly.
Hand in hand, the mother son duo left the library, paying their respects to Elder Xin and walking peacefully through the quiet streets toward their home. Lin Tian's heart was light. Today had been a step forward—a step closer to his goals.
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