345: Chapter 345 It's all done!

Lin Yuan looked at the extremely complex expression on Yang Tongan's face and just smiled gently.

He picked up his teacup, met the other man's burning gaze, and nodded slightly.

"Then I will leave it to you, Elder Yang..."

"Let's wait and see in a month."

Time flowed quietly in this peculiar social atmosphere.

In a flash, half a month had passed.

The storm brought about by that press conference had not subsided; instead, it had permeated the daily lives of the 1.4 billion people of Xia in an even more vivid way.

In the streets and alleys, apart from the seventh-generation communication base station renovation project that was being rushed day and night, the most eye-catching thing was the sudden change in the style of the entire nation.

Xia official television station, evening news channel.

"...According to a comprehensive report by our station's reporters, since the publication of 'Refining Essence into Qi: Volume One' half a month ago, the overall social production and living order in our country has been stable and orderly, and the national spirit is high and positive."

On the television screen, the anchor was broadcasting in clear and standard pronunciation.

"According to incomplete statistics, over twenty percent of the population nationwide have successfully perceived the existence of 'Qi sensation' through self-practice."

"Medical expert teams have pointed out that although preliminary Cultivation has not brought about extraordinary physical mutations, it has had an immediate effect on improving the sub-health status of the citizens."

"Data shows that in the past half month, the number of patients visiting major hospitals across the country for sub-health symptoms such as insomnia, migraines, and gastrointestinal disorders has seen a cliff-like drop, with a decrease of as much as 47%..."

Official reports are always rigorous and restrained.

But on the internet in front of the television sets, it was a completely different scene, lively to the point of exploding.

On major social platforms, topics related to "Cultivation" remained firmly welded to the top of the trending lists.

"Brothers! Reporting my results: I've persisted in meditating for half a month, and my wife says my snoring has even gotten quieter! I feel great!"

"What's that compared to me? I used to suffer from insomnia every day, but now I get sleepy at eleven o'clock sharp, sleep soundly until dawn, and even have more energy to slack off during morning meetings!"

"Hahaha, I finally have a Qi sensation too! It's that warm feeling in my lower abdomen! Although it's as faint as carrying a hand warmer that's running out of battery, it's really there! I'm not a loser!"

Amidst the jubilant "results reporting," another type of discourse also began to emerge inevitably.

"The effects are real, but this Cultivation progress... isn't it a bit too slow?"

"Who's to say it isn't! I sit cross-legged every day like a mop, and after half a month, that bit of heat in my Energy Center isn't even as hot as a mouthful of hot water I just drank. How long is this going to take?"

"Wait, do you guys have a feeling that ever since practicing this, your appetite has increased significantly? I ate three bowls of rice and a large pork knuckle for lunch today, and only then did that bit of warmth feel a little stronger. This isn't cultivating Qi, it's cultivating appetite, right?"

This comment seemed to have flipped some strange switch, detonating resonance among countless people.

"Holy crap, I've found my people. I thought I was the only one like this, turns out I'm not alone!"

"I've realized it! So-called Refining Essence into Qi, 'Essence' refers to the essence of food! This means the technique really is consuming energy! Brothers, don't save that little bit of meal money. Let's get barbecue and lobster tonight; treat it as an investment in our Cultivation!"

"I also consulted my classmate who studies Traditional Chinese Medicine. He said that if your physical foundation is poor, you have to nourish it first. Only when you burn the 'furnace' of your body hot can you refine 'True Qi'. So, at this stage, eating well is the version's answer!"

"Makes sense! No wonder I feel like the grandpas and grandmas in the park are progressing faster than us. They make soup and maintain their health every day; their foundation is much stronger than us people who eat takeout every day! No, I'm going to my mom's place for a free meal tomorrow!"

The "leveling-up anxiety" of those beginning their Cultivation was dispelled on the internet by various whimsical "folk theories," gradually evolving into a nationwide discussion on "rustic-style Cultivation."

And forming a stark, perhaps even tragic, contrast to this was the scene of wailing and misery on the overseas internet.

"It's been half a month! A whole half a month! I spent a fortune hiring three so-called 'Qigong Masters,' tried seven different meditation postures, and even tried upside-down meditation... apart from a rush of blood to the head, I felt nothing at all! Why?!"

"I can already recite the entire 'Tao Te Ching,' I even feel like I've grasped the true essence of Eastern philosophy, but why is it still not working?"

"F*ck, we hired the best linguists to translate that technique perfectly, every word is incredibly precise. But when we practice according to it, it's like reading a meaningless instruction manual. I feel like my soul has been hollowed out!"

Such helpless remarks were quickly drowned out by Xia netizens using the most unpretentious "Versailles literature."

"Is there a possibility that your heart isn't sincere enough?"

"Is there a possibility that it's because you haven't experienced the torment of classical Chinese during nine years of compulsory education, so you have a 'generation gap' with the technique?"

"Is there a possibility that it's because you grew up eating bread and butter, while we grew up eating grains, so the 'underlying code' of our bodies is different?"

The lighthearted teasing from Xia netizens felt like a mysterious mockery from the East to every tormented foreigner.

And those Xia people who were anxious because they couldn't enter the door of Cultivation, after watching the miserable state of the foreigners, miraculously found their mentality had calmed down.

"Sigh, after seeing that, I suddenly feel like my half-dead Qi sensation is actually quite precious. At least we're still in the newbie village; those foreigners can't even log into the game."

"Indeed, it's better than some but worse than others; my mindset has stabilized quite a bit. But it is valuable for a person to have self-awareness. Since this path of Cultivation is extremely difficult for me, can I consider switching tracks?"

"That's right! Didn't God Lin mention the four great Ascension systems? If the path of Cultivation doesn't work, can't I go for genetic modification!? Inject it and I'll have eight-pack abs and a mermaid line immediately, as long as I don't turn green!"

"Isn't Mechanical Ascension great? 'Flesh is weak, Mechanical Ascension!' Give me a pair of iron fists, and I could smash my boss's desk! When will the other paths be announced? I'm dying of impatience!"

Just as the focus of public opinion on the entire internet gradually shifted from "Cultivation involution" to a strong urge for "other Ascension paths."

The encrypted phone in Lin Yuan's pocket suddenly vibrated.

He picked up his phone and glanced at the caller ID.

Zhou Kai.

There was not the slightest surprise in Lin Yuan's eyes. He slowly swiped to answer the call, his voice gentle and calm.

"Hello, Dean Zhou."

From the other end of the line came Zhou Kai's voice, suppressing excitement.

"Lin... Academician Lin!"

"It succeeded!"

"It all succeeded!"