After four in the afternoon.
Chen Lusi walked out of the building.
But instead of heading to the station, he randomly found a small hotel to stay at.
Because Xia Panqiu said there was something to do tomorrow, and told him not to go back today.
As for what it was, he didn't ask.
He would find out tomorrow anyway.
And he was too lazy to make two trips in a short time; most importantly, the lodging expense would be reimbursed.
Under such circumstances, he was quite happy to spend a night.
However, this idea quickly vanished.
The old saying is right, no place like home, even if it's a golden or silver nest.
Without a computer and gaming console, after dinner and a shower, Chen Lusi didn't know what to do…
After scrolling short videos for nearly an hour.
Chen Lusi lay on the bed in a big X shape, staring at the ceiling, spacing out.
For some reason.
He suddenly missed the little girl who stayed for two days.
Not for anything else, mainly for the baby-like sleep she brought him…
"Should I try melatonin…?"
Chen Lusi turned his head to reach for his phone, accidentally seeing a few sheets of A4 paper nearby.
After bringing them back, he hadn't flipped through them.
Chen Lu thought for a moment, sat up, and instead of grabbing his phone, picked up the A4 papers and started flipping through them.
Actually, he didn't understand what this stuff meant.
But to say he wasn't curious would be a lie.
Especially when he had nothing to do.
And before Chen Lusi flipped through, he imagined a little about the content inside.
He thought of many possibilities, but didn't expect.
The content inside would be so… down-to-earth.
"External spirits, in most cases, cannot be utilized.
So you need to constantly absorb external spirits, gather them within the body, and let them become energy for techniques.
This will cause bodily transformations.
At the start, it's just like practicing inner strength, feeling an airflow growing inside, gradually feeling like your flesh and blood are full of spirits, then the blood turns blue.
After spirits mix with the blood for a while, eventually, a core forms in the heart area.
Some with sentiment call it a 'Divine Format,' while those more rational call it a 'Stone.'
I suggest you all call it a stone, just be realistic."
The opening words were laden with personal preference.
If Chen Lusi guessed correctly, it was probably written by Xia Panqiu.
As for why it's called down-to-earth, it's mainly because of the word "stone"…
Continuing to flip forward.
It was filled with similar explanations of 'principles.'
Although most sounded far-fetched and weren't explained very clearly.
But Xia Panqiu, who wrote this, apparently didn't want to mystify it, instead trying her best to explain the 'cultivation' principles from a perspective most people could easily understand.
For instance.
The reason spirits usable in various stages grow exponentially.
Is mainly because the body is increasingly corroded by spirits, the later blue blood becoming a sign.
A stone growing in the heart's center is even more solid evidence.
And so-called cultivation is the process of gradually transforming the body.
It starts with hard absorbing spiritual qi, holding it inside, letting the body gradually adapt, this stage is called the adaptation period.
After crossing the adaptation period, the flesh needs to accommodate spirits, briefly storing spirits inside, this stage is called embodiment.
And then it comes to bleeding, infusing spirits into blood for long-term symbiosis, usable at will, this stage is called bleeding.
And further along is a part that's harder to explain, like forming a core… spirits slowly solidifying inside, gradually forming core-like things on the heart.
This part, Xia Panqiu probably didn't figure out, couldn't explain, simply omitted it, only saying you won't need it for a while, no need to think about it.
Very straightforward.
Although it didn't say how someone could be alive at this stage… probably even Xia Panqiu hadn't figured that out, couldn't explain.
But thanks to this explanation, indeed it's a bit easier to grasp than the mythic Dantian Sea of Consciousness.
"What a mutant cultivation method."
Chen Lusi couldn't help but laugh, finding it quite interesting, and continued reading.
And the second half, it wasn't explaining, but introducing a plan for hard absorbing spiritual qi, letting the body gradually adapt to spirits.
Not only did it detail adverse reactions and various precautions, but it also mentioned something a bit incredible—
"If you have a better spirit absorption plan for yourself, you can disregard the mentioned plan, follow your own judgment."
Honestly speaking.
Chen Lusi found this quite amusing.
The plan given isn't the optimal solution?
Luckily.
His confusion was answered later.
Seemingly aware that readers might have doubts.
Xia Panqiu specially wrote the reasoning afterward.
Simply put, the so-called plan to gradually adapt the body to spirits is just a summarized optimal solution.
It doesn't mean it applies to everyone, nor is it everyone's optimal solution.
Everyone's constitution cannot be generalized.
Within Celestial Strategy, there are people who absolutely can't absorb spirits, needing others to forcibly empower them.
Indeed.
If one absolutely can't absorb spirits, cheating is possible… directly having someone like Xia Panqiu forcibly empower them, crossing the adaptation period.
Only it needs prior appointment.
Celestial Strategy has a team specifically handling this.
"Really…"
Chen Lusi smiled, turning to the next page, also the last one.
This page discusses techniques.
The lengthiest section.
So-called techniques, simply put, are maneuvers created using the spirits within the user, with various effects.
Celestial Strategy doesn't strictly control 'cultivation' because other grassroots methods might work as well, furthermore, some innately gifted people can intuitively absorb external spirits.
So what's truly controlled is the use of spirit techniques, the real focus here.
The last page uses much length to describe spirit characteristics.
Reading it fully, Chen Lusi found it quite unbelievable, this could be called a magical all-purpose energy.
Of course.
On the other hand, Xia Panqiu also mentioned many things spirits couldn't achieve.
Like mentioned before, spirits ultimately are just energy bodies, not particularly special, can't cleanse muscles and bones, won't even strengthen the body without active use.
Weaker even than martial arts novels' inner strength…
So even if there was someone, who could absorb spirits without a teacher to the point of forming a stone within the heart… if they didn't know how to use it, it's pointless, a slightly stronger guy might easily knock them down.
Moreover, there's a peculiar downside—that generally, people can't control spirits over a meter away from the body.
This means if you're not gifted, even reaching demigod levels of spirit absorption won't achieve mountain-splitting, sea-cleaving… or rather, could do it, but self-destruction might be the only choice.
Take a thousand enemies down, at a cost of ten thousand to yourself.
Mutual destruction.
Just… a lot to nitpick.
In summary, this thing holds infinite possibilities.
But also tons of issues.
Quite different from the cultivation Chen Lusi imagined.
And finally.
Xia Panqiu briefly talked about technique classification, mainly into four types: functional, offensive, defensive, and the most strictly controlled detachment type.
But merely mentioned it briefly.
Other specifics like technique functions, practicing plans, were not mentioned at all.
Probably to be discussed tomorrow.
"Quite interesting…"
Chen Lusi showed an intrigued expression, this seemed more fascinating than games.
He turned back to the page describing the cultivation plan.
After carefully reading through it.
He put down the materials, intending to give it a try.
And the optimal solution Xia Panqiu provided, finally had a bit of true cultivation flavor.
At least.
You need to close your eyes.