158: A new stage of capability and attempts at "energy channeling"

The morning light, the sea of clouds, and the silent companionship on the mountaintop that birthday were like a baptism for the soul, leaving a profound impact on Excellence's heart. In the days after their return, Su Mu and Evelyn could clearly feel a subtle and positive inner change occurring in Excellence. His already bright eyes now held a depth of stillness, with less of the irritability caused by his fluctuating abilities. That sense of peace and connection felt with his closest loved ones amidst the grandeur of nature seemed to have built a stable and warm core within him, making his emotions more peaceful and steady.

This shift in his inner state did not happen overnight, but rather subtly influenced his interactions with the outside world, especially his mastery over his special ability. He was no longer like a toddler eager to show off or crudely squander his newly acquired power; instead, he began to experience and guide it with a more patient and meticulous attitude. It was as if his previous learning had been about familiarizing himself with the weight and shape of a weapon, but now, he was starting to learn how to swing it in the most effortless and precise way.

The most significant change was reflected in his control over the "Active Resonance" ability. The sense of sluggishness, inadequacy, and high error rate that often occurred during delicate "micro-manipulations" had noticeably improved. When he guided the lcl cluster to move, the path became smoother and his intentions clearer; when influencing photocurrent fluctuations, the output curve also became more stable and controllable. This was not just a matter of technical proficiency, but seemed more like an improvement in some kind of internal coordination.

Even more surprising was that in this calm state, Excellence began to show a new potential—a preliminary "Internal Vision" ability. He vaguely felt that when he concentrated intensely on using his ability, an invisible "energy flow" seemed to be circulating within his body. This Perception was very blurred; it wasn't that he truly "saw" it, but rather it was more like an extension of physical sensation, a keen awareness of the rhythm of his own mental energy consumption and recovery. He could feel a sense of "emptiness" after continuous output, and the "gradual filling" of energy after resting.

One afternoon, after completing a mentally taxing round of "Mental Focus Gymnastics" (which Excellence jokingly called "Radio Gymnastics Pro Max version"), Excellence rubbed his throbbing temples and had a sudden idea. He ran to Evelyn's office with an inquisitive expression and asked:

"Sister Evelyn, I have an idea! Since... since I can use my 'will' like a little hand to very lightly touch things outside, like making the LCL move or making the lights dim a little... then... then can I also use this 'little mental hand' to touch the inside of my own body?"

He struggled to organize his words, gesturing over his chest and head: "It's like... for example, if I feel a bit tired here, a bit blocked (pointing to his temples), can I imagine a... um... warm, soft thing, like the warm water the Class Monitor pours for me, slowly flowing through to wash away that 'tiredness' and make it feel better? This way, I wouldn't always have to wait for sleep to recover, right? I could 'quickly recover some health' myself?"

This seemingly naive idea made Evelyn's eyes light up and her heart shake. Excellence had unintentionally touched upon an extremely cutting-edge and profound field—the potential regulatory role of consciousness over one's own physiological state. This involved the most advanced hypotheses in psychosomatic medicine, neuroplasticity, and conscious energy, a direction full of unknowns but also containing immense potential.

Evelyn took this extremely seriously, but was also exceptionally cautious. She knew well that any attempt involving the guidance of internal energy could bring risks if done improperly. She didn't immediately confirm or deny Excellence's idea, but instead immediately convened a medical team including neurologists, psychophysiologists, and senior physicians for an emergency closed-door consultation.

At the meeting, the experts debated fiercely. Supporters believed this could be a unique window for exploring the mind-body connection; opponents worried that improper guidance could lead to autonomic nervous system disorders or side effects from psychological suggestion. Ultimately, under Evelyn's persistence and a thorough safety plan, the team reached a consensus: they could attempt an extremely gentle, passive preliminary exploration focused on guidance and observation, but it had to follow the core principle of "absolute safety, zero intervention, and focus on sensation," with the entire process under strict monitoring.

Thus, a practice protocol named "Gentle Energy Guidance Guided Meditation" was carefully designed. The plan was full of restrictions and protective measures:

Environment: Conducted in a soundproof, softly lit relaxation training room equipped with real-time physiological monitoring equipment (heart rate, HRV, brainwaves, etc.).

Posture: Using the most relaxed supine or seated position, with the body fully supported to avoid any tension.

Guiding Words: Led by Evelyn or a trained psychologist using a slow, neutral voice, focusing on relaxation and imagination rather than any specific "energy circulation" or "conduction" instructions.

Core Principle: Observe only, do not interfere; imagine only, do not force. Emphasize imagining a warm, soft "sense of comfort" (as Excellence said, "like warm water") naturally flowing through the body to take away discomfort, rather than using "willpower" to forcibly strike or change anything. If Excellence reported any discomfort or if monitoring data became abnormal, the practice would stop immediately.

At first, Excellence found this set of exercises a bit "mystical" and even somewhat boring. He followed the guidance, lying there and trying hard to imagine a "warm current" flowing from the top of his head to his toes, but other than feeling relaxed and wanting to sleep, he didn't have any particularly special sensations. The effect seemed negligible.

However, with Evelyn's encouragement and Su Mu's company, Excellence persisted in practicing for fifteen minutes every day. A few days later, subtle changes began to appear. He noticed that after completing the practice, the mental fatigue and tension brought by long periods of focused study or training were indeed relieved; his mind became clearer, and his attention was easier to focus. He excitedly reported to Evelyn: "It really seems to work! After doing it, my brain feels like it's been wiped with a wet towel—so much fresher!"

What made him even more proud was that he started applying this method to "combat." Once, he spent the entire afternoon immersively "hand-crafting" a complex sensor model, and ended up feeling dizzy with his mental energy overdrawn. This time, he didn't immediately collapse into sleep. Instead, following the practice method, he sat quietly for twenty minutes for a "quick mana recovery" (the gaming term he coined for this recovery method). Although it didn't achieve an immediate "full health resurrection" effect, he clearly felt his recovery speed had increased, and at least he wouldn't be as limp and powerless for as long as before.

The growth of his ability quietly opened up new possibilities. One evening, Su Mu had stayed up late working to handle a large backlog of administrative affairs. When she got up the next day, her spirit was flagging, she had a throbbing pain in her temples (a precursor to a migraine), and her complexion wasn't very good.

Excellence saw Su Mu rubbing her forehead and leaning listlessly on the sofa, and immediately approached her with concern: "Class Monitor, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

Su Mu forced a smile: "It's nothing, just a bit of a headache. I'll be fine after a little rest."

Excellence's little brain immediately started whirring. He thought of his successful experience with "Energy Guidance," and a bold idea popped into his head. His eyes lit up, and he volunteered: "Class Monitor! Let me try to help you! I've learned a trick recently that might work!"

Su Mu looked at his serious and eager little face, finding it both funny and heartwarming. Although she didn't believe at all that he could cure a headache, she didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm, so she played along: "Alright then, thank you, our Little Divine Doctor."

So, Excellence had Su Mu sit properly on the sofa while he pulled up a small stool and sat behind her quite formally. He didn't directly touch Su Mu's skin (Evelyn had strictly warned him to avoid any unnecessary direct energy interaction, especially with others); instead, he held his small hands a few centimeters away from Su Mu's temples. He closed his eyes, his little face exceptionally focused, trying hard to recall the feeling from his practice. He imagined that "warm, soft energy" in his body was flowing very, very gently, like a feather, through the air toward Su Mu's head, attempting to "soothe" the "tense energy" causing the pain.

At first, Su Mu did feel that this was more like a child's game, carrying a strong psychological placebo effect. But after a few minutes, she vaguely yet certainly felt a extremely faint but unmistakable warmth and an indescribable sense of relaxation coming from the direction of Excellence's hovering palms. This sensation was very subjective and so weak it could almost be ignored, but it was different from the feeling she usually had when simply resting. More importantly, as this sensation appeared, the throbbing pain in her head really seemed to lessen by a degree or two, and her spirit relaxed as well. Of course, this could entirely be the result of deep relaxation and psychological suggestion working together, but that warm feeling of being cared for wholeheartedly by a child trying to help her with all his ability flooded her heart like the most powerful medicine.

After a while, Excellence opened his eyes and asked with tension and expectation: "Class Monitor, how is it? Any better? I feel... I feel like some of my 'warm water' flowed over!"

Su Mu opened her eyes and saw Excellence's gaze, which was a mix of exhaustion (clearly this attempt had also consumed quite a bit of his mental energy) and anticipation, and the softest part of her heart was deeply touched. She reached out and gently stroked Excellence's cheek, her voice slightly choked but full of smiles: "Mhm! Much better! Really! My head doesn't feel as tight anymore. Our Excellence is truly amazing, you even know how to 'use your power' to treat the Class Monitor now! It's much more effective than your Sister Evelyn's methods!"

Upon hearing this, Excellence immediately raised his little face with pride, his exhaustion swept away and replaced by a huge sense of accomplishment and joy. Evelyn watched from the side, a gratified yet complex smile on her face. As a scientist, she knew the physiological principles behind this might be far from simple "energy transfer"; it was highly likely a combination of the relaxation response, the release of endorphins triggered by the feeling of being cared for, and a powerful placebo effect. But as Excellence's guide and family, she was more deeply moved by the precious heart Excellence showed—his initiative to care for others and his willingness to share and use his own abilities to help. This intention was far more valuable than the ability itself.

This successful "Energy Guidance" experience not only gave Excellence a brand-new and more positive understanding of his own ability—that it wasn't just a tool for "doing things" or "solving problems," but could also become a bridge for "caring," "connecting," and "passing on warmth"—it also added a layer of more subtle and profound tacit understanding to the interaction between the three of them.

In the days that followed, Excellence seemed to become more sensitive to this subtle energy Perception. He could sometimes vaguely feel the invisible "emotional energy fields" surrounding Su Mu and Evelyn. For example, when Su Mu was happy and relaxed, he felt that energy field was bright, warm, and diffusing outward, like winter sunlight; when Evelyn was deep in thought, her energy field appeared quiet, introverted, and flowing in an orderly fashion, like a deep lake. He would even unconsciously try to "respond" to them with his own faint energy field. When he felt Su Mu's warmth, he would instinctively move closer, making his own "field" more active; when he felt Evelyn's stillness, he would also quiet down, as if learning and imitating that focus.

This subtle interaction at the energy level, which transcended language and even the conventional five senses, brought an indescribable sense of closeness and rapport. Sometimes, without needing to speak, a single look or a tiny movement was enough for them to feel each other's emotional state and needs.

The growth trajectory of his ability had quietly undergone a profound shift. It was no longer just a weapon for outward exploration, conquest, and application; it had also begun to become a path for inward reflection and self-cultivation, as well as a bridge for outward connection, Perception, and responding to others' emotions. What Excellence was learning was no longer just the technique of controlling power, but understanding the essence of power—power can be used to create, but also to protect; it can be used to know the world, but also to warm one another.

He was slowly transforming from a "carrier" with special abilities into a more complete "person" with capability, warmth, and the knowledge of how to use his abilities to care for others. This inner cultivation and empathy nurtured in tranquility would perhaps become his most indispensable and powerful foundation when facing all future challenges. The world outside was still turbulent, but within the "Homeland," a deeper and more resilient strength was quietly growing.