บท 6: First Time Cultivating
บรรณาธิการ: Exodus Tales
The universe had plenty of poem lovers, and the poetry forum was naturally the gathering place for these people.
Earth was located in the star region called Endaro Star Region, and the Blue Sea Star that Xia Fei visited was also within this star region.
After browsing through the poetry forum, Xia Fei's eyes were already rolling.
These extraterrestrial people's poems were in the same league as Phantom's poem. They weren't even qualified to be humor poems, and there were actually so many people obsessed with poems. It was unknown what these extraterrestrial planets had been researching during their civilizations that lasted for tens of thousands of years, but it was certain that they were so far behind in poetry.
Following Phantom's instructions, Xia Fei registered an account at the Endaro Interplanetary Bank first.
The registration for an interplanetary bank account was free, but the registrant must be an Ability User and must be at least at the Star Light rank.
Xia Fei's passport number had already been recorded in the Universal Pan-Human Alliance's database. It allowed him to have a status that was recognized by the entire Pan-Human Alliance. Therefore, Xia Fei was able to obtain an interplanetary account very smoothly and without any effort.
After obtaining the account, the next step was to post a poem and sell it to someone who liked it.
The Endaro Poetry Hobbyist website had an automatic transaction system. The author merely required to post their poem on the website, and if there were hobbyists who liked the poem, they could use star coins to purchase it.
This transaction method was a little like the reader websites that were trending on Earth. The authors would upload the first half of the poem, and the second half would be sold as a paid product.
It was a rather painful thing to only see half of the poem, and if readers felt they really liked it, most of them wouldn't hesitate to purchase the other half of the poem to have the complete poem as part of their collection.
According to the Pan-Human Alliance's intellectual property protection law, if the original author died, the work would no longer be protected by the law.
As such, it was perfectly legal for Xia Fei to sell a predecessor's poem.
The Earth Federation's civilization level was very low, and they were rarely able to trade anything. Those precious metal and chemical products weren't even worth more than trash in the eyes of the extraterrestrial people. If they wanted to conduct any trade with the federation's current resources, it was simply the same as a fantasy.
The federal government was also helpless in this matter. Without any star coins, they wouldn't be able to conduct trade with other civilizations. If they wished to introduce a higher grade of technology, they would need to rely on the Pan-Human Alliance's annual subsidy. It was a pity that the miserable subsidy was utterly inadequate and wasn't enough for use.
Xia Fei used a shortcut and sold out Earth's culture. This was a move that not even the federal government had thought of.
Xia Fei uploaded 13 poems consecutively. Each of the poems had the first half free of charge, and the second half was paid. The price was set at 1 star coin for each poem.
Phantom sighed and said, "A single star coin is too low. How can you not sell such wonderful poems for at least a few hundred star coins?"
Xia Fei didn't bother about Phantom as this price was definitely not low. The Earth Federation that was short of foreign exchange reserves had plenty of people willing to purchase each star coin for 10,000 federal dollars. After all, the entire federation didn't have a huge reserve of star coins, which was great in value due to the rarity.
After using the computer for 1 hour and 59 minutes, Xia Fei switched off the computer on time and walked out of the room before using his credit card to pay for the fees.
'This is probably the Earth's most expensive internet cafe.' Xia Fei felt the pinch as he thought about it.
…
The next morning, Xia Fei carried his traveling bag and arrived at the Western Hills of Beijing. According to Phantom's demand, the cultivation of the Shadow of Moon had to be done in quiet nature. Therefore, Xia Fei chose this secluded place.
In between the two mountains was a valley, and it was deserted by humans but was filled with chirps and flower fragrance. There was a stream of water that flowed through the valley. This was a rather good place for a hike.
"This place is too secluded. Why can't I just practice in your thought space? The spatial zone that you created is not inferior to this place at all." Xia Fei asked.
Phantom shook his head repeatedly. "That's an illusory space, after all. The effects would be less impactful than this place. You have just started cultivating, and it is a crucial moment to build your foundation. It is more appropriate to choose a place in the real world." Phantom explained.
Xia Fei didn't say anything. As a typical person at the bottom of the social class, he didn't argue and put down his bag. Xia Fei then found a large limestone at the side of a small stream and sat cross-legged.
"Don't cross your legs, sit in a natural position. When practicing an assassination technique, the most important thing is to immerse yourself fully in the environment. You have to blend yourself with the surrounding rocks and grass, achieving the union state of human and nature. This is very important. The so-called assassination is to strike when least expected. Stay in a low-profile state and deal a single fatal blow!"
Xia Fei then simply laid down on the limestone. It was springtime now, and the valley was rather chilly. Beneath his body, an icy cold air permeated through Xia Fei's skin.
"Don't be afraid of the cold, this is just a sensation. You have to forget who you are and forget everything. Follow the mantra that I told you and regulate your breathing. Once you can reach the state of anatta, there will no longer be any difference between cold and heat." Phantom instructed.
(TL note: State of anatta is the state of non-self, to forget one's own existence.)
Xia Fei followed Phantom's instruction and regulated his breathing. His body had an indescribable flow of aura that gradually circulated along his meridians.
The surrounding sounds gradually turned clearer. The sounds of the rustling leaves due to the wind, the flow of water, the chirpings, even the sound of fish scavenging for food all entered his ears.
His body was becoming light as a feather, it felt as though a piece of falling leaf were drifting along with the wind.
There was a surge of a warm feeling that wasn't being controlled by Xia Fei. It was like a group of nimble butterflies. The more Xia Fei wanted to gather them, the more they would be able to dodge easily.
"Don't think about controlling them, it isn't the moment yet. Right now, you need to follow them and advance. Wherever they go, you follow them." Phantom would give Xia Fei timely pointers.
Xia Fei did it as Phantom instructed. This was just like a game, and the indescribable energy within Xia Fei was gradually familiarizing itself with Xia Fei and had even attempted to accompany Xia Fei, unlike how it resisted earlier.
Time passed by as Xia Fei was being immersed in the meditative state. The energy within his body and the surrounding tiny chaotic sounds had pleasantly surprised him. Every rock and leaf felt as though they knew how to speak.
This was a wonderful feeling. Xia Fei never had such an intimate experience with nature.
"Alright, come on back." Phantom's voice echoed in Xia Fei's mind as he opened his eyes with slight reluctance.
The sky had a slight drizzle, and his clothes were drenched entirely, yet he was totally unaware.
"I have to admit that you have done very well for a beginner. If your speed, strength, and awareness can advance further, you will become a fearsome assassin." Phantom said with satisfaction.
Xia Fei could only feel extreme hunger in his stomach. "How long have I been cultivating for?"
"Three full days."
"Three days!" Xia Fei was shocked. Three full days felt like a few hours in his consciousness, and he wasn't aware at all.
"Pack up, we will return. You already have the initial control of the technique to blend in with the environment. For the next step, you will need to cultivate in a more complicated environment."
Phantom was lamenting inwardly, "Three days! This is only the third day, and he already achieved the synchronization of the aura field and environment. Back then, I had to spend three whole months! Should I tell him that he has already completed the first stage of the Shadow of Moon? Forget it, this rapid progress will make a person complacent. I shall keep him in the dark for now."
Xia Fei took out the food from his bag and devoured it with large bites. Phantom was drooling just by watching, but he was a spirit and could only watch the food helplessly.
The duo was completely unaware that the Endaro Poetry Hobbyist website was already exploding at this very moment.
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