Mental Power

Anping winced, his hand clutching his throbbing head as he rose abruptly from his seat. The books on the back shelves appeared to be conditional—perhaps only accessible once he reached a certain level.

Caught in the gaze of Lin Ximeng and fellow classmates, Anping sheepishly scratched his head before settling back down. The pain in his head dissuaded him from attempting to meditate.

In front of him, Tang Wulin turned around, undeterred, continuing his meditation efforts. Meanwhile, Lin Ximeng moved around the classroom, offering quiet guidance to some students and answering questions in hushed tones.

Approaching Anping, she observed the child who seemed out of sync with the others. Despite being six years old, he lacked the usual exuberance of his peers, maintaining a quiet demeanor. In a soft voice, she said, "Student Anping, please stay back after class."

Upon hearing Lin Ximeng's words, Anping paused, a momentary reflection crossing his face as if glimpsing his past life. With a nod, he politely greeted her, then immersed himself in studying the martial spirit content. Lin Ximeng observed him quietly flipping through the book, shaking her head subtly before moving on to the next student.

Soon, Lin Ximeng approached the podium, clapping her hands to gather the attention of students still grappling with meditation. Her soft voice reassured them, "Today's class is over, don't be disheartened. You all possess accompanying soul power, success will come soon."

As a junior spirit master college, Red Mountain College prioritized student safety, concluding classes at four in the afternoon. Groups of six- and seven-year-olds got out in clusters. Anping, trailing Lin Ximeng, wondered about the purpose behind the head teacher's actions.

They arrived at a room, presumably Lin Ximeng's office. As she took a seat, Anping inquired, "Teacher, what's the reason for keeping me back?"

"Anping," Lin Ximeng began gently, "I've noticed you rarely engage with your classmates. I understand you've faced hardships, losing your adoptive grandfather, but it's crucial to communicate with others regularly, so..."

Observing Anping's solitary presence, always on the outskirts of the group, Lin Ximeng aimed to prevent him from becoming overly withdrawn. Anping was tempted to retort, questioning the significance of conversing with his peers, but Lin Ximeng's concern held him back. "Okay, I understand. Thank you, teacher," he responded with gratitude.

"It's getting late. You should head home quickly for safety," Lin Ximeng advised, concluding the conversation.

Anping expressed his thanks, bowing slightly before hastening home. The empty road accompanied him, and he multitasked, splitting his attention between flipping through a book and navigating the way.

Amidst his walk, a sudden flurry of footsteps caught his attention as a group of young people raced past. Anping glanced at them, not particularly focused on their hurried presence.

Turning a corner and walking a few steps, Anping came across Tang Wulin, his figure dust-covered, alongside a silver-haired girl with a lowered head.

A sense of unease settled within Anping as he stumbled upon the seemingly coincidental scene of Tang Wulin, the hero, rescuing a beautiful heroine. Unbeknownst to either of them, a subtle, colorful light flickered from the little girl's eyes.

As Anping approached, he inadvertently overheard their conversation.

"I'm Tang Wulin. What's your name?" he asked.

"I'm Gu Yuena. Thank you for saving me."

'Gu Yuena? Wasn't it Na'er? What's going on?'

Excitement welled up in Anping's heart. Pausing for a moment, he resumed his pace, diverting his attention back to the book. Eager to avoid entanglements with the supposed male and female protagonists, he unconsciously quickened his steps, passing them by.

"Classmate Anping, you're also taking this route," a voice called out.

Upon hearing Tang Wulin's voice, Anping briefly acknowledged with a yes and hastened his steps, eager to distance himself from the complexities of the situation.

Arriving home, he poured a glass of water, hoping to quell the lingering unease in his heart. Adhering to the principle of not dwelling on the inexplicable, he shook his head and turned his focus to the most immediate task—eating.

After finishing his meal and taking a shower, Anping reclined on his bed, immersing himself in the "Energy Diversion" meditation method from the book.

"Mental power sensed. Next step, control the mental power and build a mental power model. Let's start with controlling the mental power," Anping whispered as he repeatedly flipped through the pages.

Acting on impulse, he found a comfortable position and lay down. The meditation method didn't prescribe any specific posture; comfort dictated the practice.

Engaging in the rhythmic breathing method, Anping's mind gradually settled. Unlike the earlier plunge into the spirit sea, his thoughts now found a tranquil space, guided by the meditative process.

A subtle pulsing sensation emerged between Anping's eyebrows, signaling the clarity of his mental power. It twirled around a central point like a vortex, a promising development in sensing spiritual power. Anping felt that if he directed his consciousness towards the vortex's center, he might reenter the spiritual sea.

Resisting the urge to delve back into the spiritual sea, Anping recognized the priority of mastering control over his spiritual power.

Following the guidance from the "Energy Diversion" method, Anping endeavored to assert control over his mental power, but the outcomes fell short of satisfaction.

Referencing "On the Relationship between Consciousness and Mental Power," Anping discovered that his mental power activity wasn't particularly high. Mental power, existing as an innate force within the human body, varied in intensity based on individual physical constitutions. This activity level posed a direct influence on the complexity of consciousness control.

To master control over his mental power and establish a mental power model, Anping recognized the need to activate his mental power. Achieving the required standard in mental power activity was crucial for effective control through consciousness.

The activation process entailed forging a connection between consciousness and mental power, guiding the latter to create simple patterns in the mental space. Anping cautiously employed his consciousness to initiate contact with his mental power, striving to guide it in constructing these patterns.

However, the initial attempt proved unexpectedly challenging. It wasn't until Anping sensed a drowsiness settling into his consciousness that he successfully channeled a trace of mental power from the vortex. Unwittingly, he drifted into sleep.

The next day's arrival was signaled by the persistent ringing of the alarm clock. Anping awoke, finding his consciousness still somewhat fatigued from the endeavors of the previous night.

Halting the insistent alarm, Anping blinked awake, scanning his surroundings. Swiftly, he rose from the bed, trading his nighttime attire for comfortable pajamas. With a hurried wash, he grabbed two slices of bread and a bottle of milk before heading out.

Arriving just as the school bell chimed, Anping slipped into the classroom, settling into his seat beneath the curious gazes of classmates and teacher.

The morning lesson deviated from spirit master-related subjects, focusing instead on a cultural course involving mathematics. Anping listened for a while before perusing the textbook handed to him—a mere echo of the elementary school knowledge from his previous life.

Recalling the recent challenge of channeling his mental power, Anping resolved to explore ways to activate this elusive force.