307: Chapter 301 Progress

Song Yang leaned on his long spear, his chest heaving violently, every breath bringing a searing pain.

Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, as if he had been taken apart and reassembled; soreness and fatigue hit him in waves, battering his near-collapsed nerves.

Yet, a smile hung on his face—a heartfelt, exhilarated smile.

The old man walked to the water vat, extended a withered finger, dipped it into the crystal-clear water, and gave it a gentle stir.

Ripples spread across the surface, reflecting his face, which remained as calm as an ancient well.

He withdrew his finger and brought the water-beaded fingertip before his eyes, seemingly confirming the reality of this full vat of water.

After a long while, he slowly turned around and looked at Song Yang, who was nearly unable to stand steady.

"I thought you would need at least a year."

"If your comprehension was poorer, you might not have even touched the threshold in three to five years."

He paused, and for the first time, unabashed astonishment flickered in his cloudy eyes.

"Catching leaves tests the condensation of 'Intent'."

"But catching dew requires transforming 'Intent' from a line into a surface, weaving it into a net. The difference in difficulty is like heaven and earth."

"In all my years, I have seen countless so-called geniuses, but one like you..."

The old man shook his head, seemingly unable to find the right words to describe him.

"A monster."

Ultimately, he spat out those two words.

Song Yang panted, saying nothing, just listening quietly.

These three days and nights of sleepless, relentless cultivation were worth it for those two words of evaluation.

The old man walked up to Song Yang and reached out, placing a hand on the arm holding the spear.

"You have already mastered the core essence: absolute control over your own power."

"Spear techniques are merely an extension and outward manifestation of that control."

"My methods for testing people are no longer of use to you."

"Making you practice anything else would just be a waste of your time."

Song Yang was stunned.

He was graduating just like that?

He had thought there would be even more perverted and inconceivable training waiting for him.

Like using a spear tip to carve grains of rice, or threading a needle in the wind.

"I have nothing left to teach you directly."

The old man said, turning to walk back into the house.

A moment later, he came out holding something.

It was about the size of a palm, pitch black, made of a material that was neither metal nor stone. Its surface was so smooth there wasn't a single seam; it looked seventy to eighty percent similar to the smartphones everyone had before the apocalypse.

The old man handed this "smartphone" to Song Yang.

"These are some trinkets I gathered in my early years. Inside are recorded dozens of movement technique manuals, ranging from introductory to profound."

"Your spear technique already possesses 'Intent', but your movement is still a weakness."

"The spear moves with the body, and the body moves with the Intent. Only when the two are unified can true power be unleashed."

"Take it and learn for yourself."

Song Yang took the black "smartphone" in a daze.

It was cold to the touch and felt heavy.

He turned it over and over but couldn't find any switches or ports.

The old man saw his confusion and lightly tapped a finger on the smooth black screen.

*Buzz—*

The black slab vibrated slightly, a soft white light lit up on the surface, and a 3D light screen was projected into the air.

On the light screen, rows of ancient seal characters slowly emerged, like a floating menu.

Phantom Tracing Steps

Treading Snow Without a Trace

Shrinking Ground into Inches

Nine Heavens Moon-Grabbing Body

Streaming Light and Electric Bolt

...

They were packed densely; there were at least thirty or forty of them.

The name of every cultivation technique exuded an extraordinary aura.

Song Yang's heart accelerated uncontrollably.

Dozens of top-tier movement technique manuals were placed before him so casually.

"Senior, this is too precious..."

"No matter how good a thing is, it only gathers dust if it stays with me."

The old man waved his hand, appearing completely indifferent. "Giving it to you is the only way to ensure they aren't wasted."

He pointed to the technique at the very top of the light screen.

"Start practicing from Phantom Tracing Steps."

"This movement technique is the most fundamental and the most comprehensive; it can help you build the most solid foundation."

"When you can manifest nine phantoms, then you can consider the others."

Song Yang solemnly put away the black device and then gave the old man a deep bow.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior!"

This bow came from the bottom of his heart.

The old man had not only taught him the method of power control but had also gifted him a ladder to a higher realm.

This kindness was as heavy as Mount Tai.

"Go on."

The old man waved his hand as if shooing away a fly. "Don't stay here and disturb my peace."

After speaking, he turned and went back inside, closing the door with a 'bang', leaving no further sound.

Silence returned to the courtyard once more.

Song Yang stood in place, glanced at the water vat he had filled, then at the tightly shut door, and finally picked up his long spear from the ground, turning to leave the small courtyard that had changed his fate.

It was several days later when he returned to his own Villa.

Although Song Yang's body was still somewhat weak, his spirit was in a state of unprecedented excitement.

He couldn't wait to take out the black "smartphone" and, following the old man's instructions, found Phantom Tracing Steps on the screen.

He touched it lightly with his fingertip.

The text on the light screen changed instantly, turning into countless tiny points of light that surged toward the center of his forehead.

Song Yang felt his head grow heavy as a massive and complex torrent of information was crudely poured into his consciousness.

It was a profound footwork technique, containing three hundred and sixty basic step variations, seventy-two dodging and maneuvering techniques, and nine levels of mental cultivation mantras.

Every step and every technique transformed into a crystal-clear 3D human diagram, continuously rehearsing in his mind.

The circulation routes of the human meridians, the way power was released and retracted from the soles of the feet, the subtle differences in force exerted by the waist and abdomen—everything was presented in exhaustive detail.

The sheer volume of information was so great that an ordinary person's head would likely have exploded on the spot, turning them into an idiot.

But Song Yang's mental power had undergone the dual tempering of rebirth and system enhancement; he was far beyond ordinary people.

He endured the swelling pain in his head, silently receiving and digesting this stream of information.

After an unknown amount of time, the torrent of information finally slowed to a stop.

Song Yang let out a long breath and slumped onto the soft sofa.

Merely receiving the technique had consumed a massive amount of his mental energy.

He closed his eyes, and the complex set of footwork in his mind began to operate on its own, every detail clearly visible.

But being clear was one thing; truly learning it and being able to execute it was another matter entirely.