The next morning, Ji Jinnian woke up groggily.
In a daze, he instinctively went about his morning routine.
Ultimately, he hadn't managed to get a good night's sleep. Despite his forty-odd years of life experience, the fact remained:
In the realm of the supernatural, he was still a novice.
Completely perfecting the new and improved visualization method he had envisioned wouldn't be accomplished in just a night or two.
However, he also discovered that when he closed his eyes to meditate, perhaps due to the acceleration of his thoughts, the time he actually spent thinking far exceeded the time that passed in the Material World.
He hadn't delved into the exact multiplier, but he guessed it was related to his thought speed limit. In the future, as he grew and trained, or even as his strength increased, the acceleration factor might rise further.
'Thanks to this, otherwise completing the improvement and upgrade of the visualization method would likely require a considerable amount of time.'
'Jinnian, you're up.' Ji Jinnian's mother, Ms. Chang, was the earliest riser in the house, preparing breakfast for the family.
As Ji Jinnian approached, his mom immediately noticed that her youngest son didn't look well: 'Didn't sleep well? Or are you sick?'
He shook his head.
'I'm not sick, Mom.'
Just as Ji Jinnian was about to come up with an excuse, his dad also emerged.
His lovestruck mom naturally shifted her focus away from her son.
After all, he just looked a bit tired from not sleeping well, and he had said he wasn't sick. Maybe the little one was just scared of sleeping alone at his age.
Not a big deal.
'Honey, you're up. Come have breakfast,' Ms. Chang called to her beloved, including her son.
There was no rule in the house about not talking during meals.
But Jinnian had something on his mind and didn't join in his parents' conversation.
His dad ran some engineering business, the main source of income for the family.
His mom ran a small flower shop in her free time, knowing a bit about growing and arranging flowers. Though it didn't bring in much money, it was perfect for her, as she loved flowers and plants.
His older brother, full of youthful energy, had gone out to make his way in the world.
As for him...
At his age, of course, he had to go to school.
This was also one of the reasons why Ji Jinnian, knowing that improving the visualization method would be a big undertaking, planned it this way.
Because he had plenty of time now.
He had just started second grade.
Amidst his parents' affectionate chatter, Ji Jinnian grabbed his schoolbag and headed to the familiar elementary school.
'It feels like a distant memory...'
He didn't know if he had been reborn or had an incredibly vivid and clear dream of the future, but his state, in the eyes of his classmates and teachers, had changed significantly.
He used to have the mischief typical of his age, but after a short break, he had become...steadier?
His peers thought he seemed quieter, and his behavior and mannerisms had changed dramatically.
Some of the more perceptive young teachers noticed Ji Jinnian's difference.
For a second grader to sit quietly in his seat without chatting was commendable, let alone attentively listening and taking notes.
However, it wasn't too unusual, as Ji Jinnian spent most of his time with his eyes closed, resting. He didn't always present the image of a model student.
This was a compromise Ji Jinnian made. Just like some easy courses in college, it's okay not to attend.
In fact, for him, there was no need to listen to elementary school courses, but he hadn't figured out the reason behind what had happened to him.
He didn't want to stand out too much.
Besides, elementary school life didn't cause him any trouble. After resting during class, if no one disturbed him, he could meditate and improve his visualization method.
At first, teachers and classmates were concerned that his frequent sleeping might indicate illness, but they found no issues. Every time the teacher asked him a question, he could answer.
He always scored in the top three on quizzes and exams, so everyone got used to having such an exceptional and somewhat annoying top student in the class.
After all, in others' eyes, he spent most of his class time sleeping and not listening, so why were his grades so good?!
Ji Jinnian, of course, wouldn't explain anything to them.
Over time, this became a school legend, even continuing after his graduation.
Time passed silently.
Third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade...
Ji Jinnian's improvement of the visualization method steadily progressed with time.
His understanding of the visualization entity he needed became clearer.
The spinning wheel in his mind also changed over time.
The originally loose and rough structure became more precise and beautiful.
But its changes were not just superficial; this was merely a minor aspect.
'Older brother, older brother, wake up.' A voice interrupted Ji Jinnian's thoughts. It was a very lively boy in the class, Li Ming: 'Everyone is discussing where to go for the graduation trip. Older brother, do you have any suggestions?'
Although Ji Jinnian was always sleeping, he wasn't dead. He still had normal interactions with his classmates.
With his rich experience, winning over a group of elementary school students wasn't something worth boasting about.
'Do the teachers have any plans?' Ji Jinnian asked.
Li Ming shook his head. Due to his personality, although his grades were slightly lower, he was still well-liked by the teachers. He was the teachers' little helper, always having the latest news from them.
Whether it was test schedules and content or teachers' gossip, he always knew.
Since he said there were no plans, it seemed the teachers didn't have a good idea for the graduation trip yet. His suggestions wouldn't be overstepping.
'Let's go to Qingyun Mountain for fun. The distance is suitable; if we're quick, we can make a round trip in half a day. Excluding travel time, staying for three days and three nights with a few teachers shouldn't worry the parents.'
'Moreover, Qingyun Mountain has beautiful natural scenery. Although it's not top-ranked nationally, it won't be too crowded, and the cost is reasonable, not burdening anyone.'
Qingyun Mountain, with its mountains, water, and gentle, sunny slopes, is perfect for a group of kids who just finished their elementary school entrance exams to have fun.
Li Ming listened and nodded, turning to inform the teachers.
However, this didn't mean the decision for the graduation trip location was in the teachers' hands. If someone tried to take advantage of this, they would be disappointed.
The final say was with the students of the key class.
This was why the teachers sent Li Ming to gauge their thoughts.
Ji Jinnian was not only liked by the teachers but also had unquestionable prestige among his classmates.
If he didn't approve, the teachers' plans might not go smoothly.
There were precedents for this, and now it was an unspoken understanding among all parties.
The destination was set for Qingyun Mountain, with the date being three days after the middle school entrance exam.
This gave everyone plenty of personal time to celebrate with family, meet up with friends, rest at home, or prepare for the graduation trip.
Jinnian, of course, had nothing to prepare.
Or rather, he was already prepared.
Throughout his entire elementary school years, five years, with the acceleration of his thoughts during meditation multiplying the time several fold, Ji Jinnian had long prepared the final piece of his visualization method.
Qingyun Mountain was his chosen location to implement this final piece.
As a well-preserved scenic area, Qingyun Mountain not only minimized potential hazards but also offered beautiful scenery.
The ethereal mist covering a third of the mountain is its signature feature. Whether illuminated by the morning sun or the evening glow, this mist takes on stunning colors.
When Ji Jinnian successfully visualizes, this mist will become the best material for his first practical attempt.
Although the upgraded visualization method is ready, for safety reasons and to avoid potential accidents, Ji Jinnian does not plan to use his intended seven emotions and six desires as the initial material for spinning.
After all, those are external emotions, and any misstep could affect his self-concept, which would be dangerous.
Using the morning and evening mist for spinning avoids this risk and conveniently allows him to verify the effectiveness of the upgraded visualization method compared to the original.
As for whether it might not work?
Ji Jinnian believes that his decades of mental preparation were not in vain.
There's no way he would create a failure.
Besides, in the realm of the supernatural, all things have a spiritual essence.
The spinning wheel in his mind is now eager to be completed and born.
Inexperience might lead to misjudgments, but spiritual feedback cannot be deceived.
Time slipped away quietly, and soon it was the day of the elementary school graduation trip.
The kids had rested for two days, partying and celebrating. Now, early in the morning, they gathered excitedly, eating and chatting.
At this moment, they were all smiles, perhaps not yet realizing that they had graduated and would soon part ways with classmates they had known for six years.
This wasn't their fault; they were still young and only saw what was in front of them.
It might not be until the moment of farewell that they would shed tears.
Ji Jinnian felt a mix of emotions but wasn't overly sentimental. After all, he had the mind of an adult and was used to partings.
He could face them calmly.
But this didn't mean he was cold-hearted.
Besides, compared to that, the supernatural world he had long awaited was ahead of him.
The fact that he hadn't shown his excitement was a testament to his composure.
On the way, the elementary school students discussed how to have fun. Their minds didn't need to hold too much complex information, but Ji Jinnian, as an 'adult,' had more to consider.
'Morning glow, evening glow, and the usual mist—these three can be spun into three different colored yet related threads...'
Different colors meant different spiritual essences and effects. He was very much looking forward to the results of these threads and silently planning for the future.