Chapter 139 - 94: Disruptive Innovation, Seizing Fame Early
After finishing all the preparations for his second assessment, Mo Ning finally had more time to tackle the matters he had been putting aside.
For instance—the optimization project for the High Mountain Breathing Technique.
This was the second research project he had applied for at the academy.
For his third project, the new Sub-zero Level Witchcraft, Wind Chasing Needle, the final thesis was already complete.
But for the second project, there wasn’t even a shadow of a thesis to be seen.
However, this didn’t mean the research hadn’t made any progress.
On the contrary, ever since drafting the latest version of his theoretical framework, Mo Ning had already achieved considerable results.
Mo Ning savored the comfort of the sofa for a few seconds before giving his first command, "Flower, bring me the stack of manuscripts for the High Mountain Magic Breath Technique."
This was a brand-new Breathing Technique he had created under the guidance of his theoretical framework.
Compared to the original, the new Breathing Technique had undergone what could only be described as a revolutionary change.
If the creator of the High Mountain Breathing Technique were here, they wouldn’t recognize a single trace of the original.
"Of course, Mr. Mo Ning!"
Flower’s response was filled with a sense of joy, as if the Artificial Soul was delighted to serve her master.
A neatly organized stack of manuscripts flew over from the direction of the bookshelf.
The side of the manuscript was held by a metal clip. Not a single sheet of scale pattern paper was out of place, and the edges of every page were aligned as if measured with a ruler.
It had to be said, the Artificial Soul’s work possessed an aesthetically pleasing quality.
Flower didn’t forget to express her personal thoughts, "Mr. Mo Ning, judging by the name, this seems to be a very novel Breathing Technique.
"At least, I’ve never seen the name of any Breathing Technique associated with the word ’Magic Power’..."
Before she could finish, her tone suddenly jumped an octave. "The new Secret Technique you created adds a ’Magic Core’?"
"Mystery above! This is truly creative—a revolutionary feat, even!"
Flower’s reading speed was astonishing. In almost an instant, she had scanned the entire contents of the manuscript stack.
Of course, another reason was that the manuscript wasn’t very long—only a dozen or so pages in total, recording merely a "brief outline" of the new Secret Technique.
The detailed, step-by-step deduction process, which had been repeatedly refined—the complete "original"—was stored within the Divination database of his Eye of Truth and had not been written down on paper.
Mo Ning smiled humbly. "It’s just an improvement on a low-level Secret Technique. It’s hardly a revolutionary feat."
As he spoke, the manuscript was guided by an invisible hand across the hall, landing lightly on the table next to the sofa.
Flower did not agree with her master’s modesty, her speaking speed clearly accelerating a great deal.
"No, no, no! I believe you have greatly underestimated the profound significance of this new Secret Technique."
The Artificial Soul began to gush:
"I’ve just briefly gone over the principles of this Secret Technique. The so-called ’Magic Core’ is essentially a Magic Mark solidified within the Spiritual World.
"As far as I know, of all the Breathing Techniques passed down through the various Kingdoms, none require leaving a mark in the Spiritual World.
"They only adjust one’s breathing rhythm, stimulate Qi and Blood, and unlock potential. They’ve never touched upon the level of ’Magic Power’.
"But you, with your admirable wisdom, have introduced a Magic Mark into the field of Breathing Techniques for the first time.
"Now I’m starting to understand why the thesis you wrote could grace the cover of *Shine*."
Flower’s voice was filled with admiration.
"From the brief steps you’ve written, you seem to have already established an effective system, combining a Magic Mark with a Breathing Technique for the very first time.
"From this perspective alone, within the niche field of Breathing Techniques, the High Mountain Magic Breath Technique is absolutely an epoch-making revolution."
Mo Ning genuinely felt this praise was a bit much. ’That’s an exaggeration! Breathing Techniques are, after all, just Secret Techniques for mortals.’
’Secret Divination and Divination was established over thirty thousand years ago, and the Magic System is already highly refined. How could a newcomer possibly produce an innovation on the level of an "epoch-making revolution"?’
Flower was smart enough not to refute him directly, instead beginning a detailed analysis of the differences between the old and new Secret Techniques:
"According to the manuscript, this new Secret Technique is an improvement based on an ordinary Secret Technique called the High Mountain Breathing Technique.
"When the original Breathing Technique is active, the body breathes at a specific frequency, creating a certain stimulus on the spirit, which temporarily raises the upper limit of one’s Spiritual Strength.
"It seems to have some side effects. I estimate that for a not-insignificant period afterward, the user’s mind will be in a state of light fatigue, always feeling groggy and muddle-headed.
"My personal evaluation is that it has some merits and a certain degree of practical value, but overall, it’s not particularly outstanding."
In his mind, Mo Ning once again revised his estimation of the Artificial Soul upward.
The manuscript didn’t specify the side effects of the High Mountain Breathing Technique, yet Flower had seen them at a glance.
’It seemed the Third Level Wizard, Lord Martin, must have instilled a considerable amount of knowledge in Flower.’
"But the High Mountain Magic Breath Technique is different... No, it’s very, very different."
Flower’s speech quickened again. "The unique Magic Core brings with it a one-of-a-kind operational model.
"In a sense, the role played by the Magic Core is equivalent to that of a highly simplified ’Meditation Mark’.
"Although it isn’t a Meditation Mark, it possesses the most crucial function of one—establishing a connection to the Ocean of Magical Power."