First Step 'One Move One Breath'

Adrian recalled the first thing of the ‘Void Step’.

From his understanding, in the first step, he has to synchronize his movements and breaths.

There shouldn't be a difference in the rhythm of physical movements and his breathing.

That was what he understood from the phrase ‘One Move One Breath’, the first step of the technique ‘Void Step’.

He put the book inside his space ring and then stood up.

“I have to inhale with each preparation and exhale with each strike of my physical body. I have to make my body lighter.” Adrian muttered as he recalled the things from the technique book before he closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply.

Then, he exhaled. He let his body loose and inhaled again. Soon, he exhaled and every muscle in his body relaxed. His thought process slowed down. He repeated his breathing cycle again.

For a few minutes, he repeated the process. He felt his body lighter, his mind calmer.

A few minutes later, he opened his eyes, they were looking determined.

Now, with a calm mind, he again recalled the shown movements that were involved in the first step of the technique from the book.

He moved his head and looked around, finding no problem. He focused on himself and moved his right leg, as he inhaled.

Now, he moved his left leg as he exhaled.

He exhaled and his body moved. He was already standing tens of meters ahead of his original position.

“Too fast. Let's try again.” Adrian muttered as he didn't get the success. He repeated the process.

For the second time, his legs moved and yet again, he was ahead from his previous position.

“Again.” He muttered.

His move still isn't perfect, he repeated the process again and again.

He continued for an hour.

At this moment, his breath was a little rugged but he wasn't exhausted, his eyes which previously had determination now seem to be filled with confusion.

He stopped practicing.

“What mistake am I making?” Adrian muttered as he tried to recall the process.

“I am trying to sync my physical movements and breath but for some reason it isn't simple.

Sometimes my movements are faster while other times my breathing becomes faster.” He said to himself.

“I have to read and understand the processes again.” Adrian muttered as he sat and took out the technique.

He read the first step of the technique again. Then, he looked at the movements shown.

To be sure, he read it again.

A while later, he closed the book, looking in his eyes, it can be seen that the confusion from earlier has now cleared.

“Now, I understand.” Adrian muttered.

“All this time, I was trying to sync my physical movements and breathe together. That's where I was making mistakes.

And I was also rushing with the process. I am such a foolish person that I didn't even understand this.” He said in realization as he laughed at his mistakes.

“The process was simple, I didn't have to simply move myself with each breath but also let my body feel the process from every part and most importantly in my legs.

It is like accustoming my body to move with each breath I take in or release out.

It's not that simple to achieve, even if I manage to do that, I have to remember the second thing. I have to do it with my physical body, without using mana in my legs to boost my speed.

It doesn't matter whether I manage to cover half a meter or tens of meters at first, I just have to master this step, there are still two other steps after this one.

And lastly I have to be calm during the process and must have patience.” Adrian rectified his mistakes.

“I think I will learn this step pretty soon. Now, let's start once again.” Adrian encouraged himself as he stood for practicing again.

First, he calmed himself, same as he did in starting.

Then, he moved his legs again and this time he didn't use mana. He was more than a meter ahead.

He didn't simply walk, nor the steps he was taking were just simply moving. There was physical strength behind each of his steps.

He continued the practices for three hours.

Unlike before, when he wasn't exhausted in the slightest, this time he was not only somewhat exhausted, but his movements felt slower compared to when he started to move without using mana.

Exhaustion and sweat can be seen in his face but his eyes looked determined and more focused.

Earlier, where he could have covered a meter of distance with one step, now has reduced to half.

Without losing his focus, he continued the practice and in that he lost the track of time and he only stopped when he realized that the sun was already at the horizon.

He finally stopped, his face was drenched in sweat, he didn't seem to have the strength to stand, but he still was standing. It has been days since he has done any physical training for so long.

But, that is not the thing to bother about for now, instead to know the meaning of the look on his face.

“I did it. Even though it was just for an instant, I was able to do that.” Adrian muttered with a smile.

Yes, a smile of progress in his face.

The progress was little, but his body was accustomed to his breath, a few times.

That is correct, when he was practicing, a few times, his breathing and movement synchronized but for an instance of time, and it wasn't once but multiple.

Soon, the time isn't far when he will manage to master this process and even that for a longer time than now.

He rested for sometime, after he felt that his exhaustion had reduced, he stood and returned to his residence.

After cleaning and refreshing himself, he went toward Xander’s residence and called him. Not finding him he went toward the training hall.

As he was midway, he met Xander, thereafter deciding, they went and ate.

Over the meal, they exchanged their progress and talked.

Later, they returned to their houses and parted.

Adrian practiced his cultivation for some time before he went to his bed.

The next day, Adrian and Xander went to the mission hall.