High School Student with Immortal Race System

The indentation on the giant Stone Mirror was currently about a third full.

But since the indentation was very shallow, the actual volume was probably only one or two hundred milliliters.

Its location could still benefit from the effects of the three Spirit Gathering Eyes Yang Shen had placed on the Celestial Platform, but this was all it had gathered in over ten days. It seemed like it would take a full month to fill...

Even when full, it would probably only hold about as much as a bottle of mineral water.

Of course, the accumulation speed of the Heart-Inquiry Water was also tied to the family’s development. If the Yang Family could one day become a true Immortal Race...

’Maybe then the Heart-Inquiry Stone Mirror will turn into a pressure washer?’

’Time to test its basic effects...’

’If a person is reflected in its surface, Yang Shen, as the Clan Leader, can sense their loyalty, goodwill, or hostility toward the family.’

Yang Shen leaned in, seeing the clear reflection of his face.

The stairwell was dim, yet the reflection was surprisingly clear.

After entering the Marrow Refining stage, one’s constantly improving hematopoietic and metabolic functions would begin to reflect in their appearance.

You would no longer reek of sweat, your complexion would even out, your skin’s condition would improve—darker areas would lighten, and fair areas would become more delicate!

Of course, that wouldn’t help if you were constantly exposed to the sun and battered by the elements, grinding away tirelessly, or... overworking your pistons... None of that would work.

Ultimately, internal changes couldn’t withstand the wear and tear of daily toil.

Most male Martial Artists didn’t pay much attention to this. After continuous high-intensity Body Forging, they would eventually reach a balance and avoid turning into delicate newcomers.

Female Martial Artists, however, tended to care more. Even if their natural looks were somewhat lacking, the Marrow Refining stage would make them appear radiant, healthy, and full of character.

Yang Shen had only recently entered the initial phase of Marrow Refining, so this effect wasn’t especially obvious yet...

It was simply that he was naturally handsome; just evening out his skin tone a little made him look amazing!

Moreover, his height was changing rapidly. With a record of three kills, his aura was gradually becoming more heroic and sharp!

At the same time, since he began his Cultivation, his eyes had grown brighter, and his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had become clearer and more confident along with his rising strength.

Overall...

He was handsome, but not intimidatingly so!

And as Yang Shen’s face was reflected, an understanding indeed surfaced in the depths of his heart, just as the Clan Leader should experience.

It wasn’t a quantified readout like a system would provide, but a vague yet real feeling, born from the innate Xuanqi of the Heart-Inquiry Stone Mirror.

The goodwill "this person" held for the family was utterly pure and had reached Perfection. As for loyalty, it was so absolute that to call it positive infinity would not be an overstatement.

And as Yang Shen continued to gaze into it, he gradually felt his mind calm and his distracting thoughts dissolve.

He reached a mental state similar to the one he usually entered during Cultivation.

This was the Heart-Inquiry Stone Mirror’s second ability: prolonged gazing could wash away distracting thoughts and strengthen one’s Dao Heart.

From a cultivation perspective, this also meant reducing the probability of Heart Demons appearing, and that some negative effects that disturbed the Divine Soul would be weakened.

Yang Shen didn’t know that in the Cultivation Realm, this ability alone made it a supreme treasure in the eyes of countless Cultivators.

Many powerful Cultivators met their end not due to exhausted lifespans or in battle, but by succumbing to their Heart Demons.

’The system’s description for the Marvel of Heaven and Earth, the "Heart-Inquiry Stone Mirror," never mentioned an upper limit on its power...’

After being immersed for a few dozen seconds, feeling his mind had become exceptionally calm, Yang Shen finally raised his head.

’I can’t stare at this thing indefinitely, but using it once before my daily Cultivation would be pretty nice.’

As for the final ability of the Heart-Inquiry Stone Mirror: drinking the Heart-Inquiry Water could enhance one’s Comprehension...

Since the Water was so shallow, Yang Shen simply bent down and took a slurp.

’It was only one or two hundred milliliters, after all.’

Half a month’s accumulation was nearly gone.

He tilted his head back to savor it for a moment. It had no particular taste, but he found it crisp and delectable.

It was nothing like some unknown liquid that had been sitting in a stairwell corner under a plastic bag for two weeks.

Instead, it was like drinking a handful of clear spring water from deep within a scenic Immortal Mountain.

It wasn’t the taste that made Yang Shen feel so content, but rather a sensation...

...a cleansing of his body and mind.

Yang Shen closed his eyes to enjoy it for a moment. He wouldn’t dare say the Heart-Inquiry Water was the best-tasting thing in the world, but it would absolutely leave anyone with a lingering, unforgettable aftertaste...

Stunned by the sensation for several seconds, Yang Shen finally wiped his mouth and turned toward the Celestial Platform.

He began to practice the Sixth Set of Initial Realm Body Refining Fist.

Comprehension, much like intelligence, is something whose quality only becomes apparent when it’s put to use.

Yang Shen had been practicing this Fist Technique for years, since his first year of high school, and his progress had advanced by leaps and bounds after he began Cultivation. He knew it like the back of his hand.

Truth be told, whether in Cultivation or Martial Arts, that last bit of polishing was often the most time-consuming part.

Ever since his Sixth Set had been evaluated as Level 8, Yang Shen’s rate of improvement had actually slowed, aside from when he was in that special state under the Rising Sun.

But he didn’t know if it was just his imagination; as he practiced today, he felt he was gaining more insights... He could immediately perceive details he had overlooked in the past.

Then, he would think about how to optimize and build upon them.

This was clearly the effect of the Heart-Inquiry Water.

Images of different people performing the Sixth Set even surfaced in Yang Shen’s mind.

Xu Bamboo, himself, Huang Gang, Zhao Mengmeng... even Liu Yuankui.

"Remember, the Sixth Set of Initial Realm Body Refining Fist has a standard, but that standard isn’t the movements. It’s the circulation of qi and blood within your body..."

"The measure of your skill level isn’t whether your movements are perfectly identical to the standard, but the efficiency of your internal qi and blood circulation. Everyone’s height and build are different... How could there be a one-size-fits-all approach...?"

Though it was a "simple truth" he’d heard so many times his ears had grown calluses, recalling it today gave him an extraordinary insight.

He possessed Qi Sensitivity and could vaguely perceive the flow of "Source," or Spiritual Power, within his body, which was far more convenient than it was for Martial Arts Practitioners at the same level.

Gradually, Yang Shen became immersed in the day’s insights.

’Teacher Liu, oh, Teacher Liu... You’ve been gone for so long.’

’And I’m still not done benefiting from your experience pack... It’s almost embarrassing.’

Yang Shen wasn’t sure how long the effect would last. After all, he had only drunk a small sip of the Heart-Inquiry Water, and the effects of Comprehension were entirely in one’s thoughts, very subtle.

Like a dewdrop on a hanging thread, like an abyss hidden beneath still water.

So he simply didn’t rest, and just kept practicing.... and practicing...

He waited for the sun to fall, descending the mountain as if extinguished, gathering the last of the desolate afterglow.

Then he waited for the sun to rise again, climbing over the peak like a burning fire, bathing everything in the fierce morning glow.

...

It wasn’t until the morning of the second day that Yang Shen slowly withdrew his fist stance.

Aside from eating and taking bathroom breaks, the sleepless Mr. Yang had, without realizing it, practiced continuously for fourteen hours...

Body Forging, Cultivation, again and again. His heart followed his inspiration, and he didn’t restrict what he did or how he thought.

And after all that time, he didn’t feel tired at all. He only felt spiritually invigorated, his five senses crystal clear!

After withdrawing his fist stance, Yang Shen exhaled a scorching breath. Though it was a morning on the cusp of summer, it was as if he had exhaled a plume of white silk.

The Rising Sun Wheel within his body gradually calmed, and Yang Shen’s body temperature returned to normal.

This high body temperature didn’t burn calories from regular food; instead, it consumed the miraculous "Source," or Spiritual Power.

It was a manifestation of how different paths lead to the same destination, advancing together toward a common goal.

And compared to the Magic of the Cultivation Side, Martial Arts stood out for being exceptionally economical...

It was as if all of its Xuanqi was locked as tightly as possible within the confines of the human body.

It suited Yang Shen’s frugal nature perfectly.

Thanks to the effects of the Heart-Inquiry Water last night, Yang Shen’s mastery of the Sixth Set of Initial Body Forging Technique was even more refined, and he was getting closer and closer to the third level of Qi Cultivation.

At the next monthly exam, he was confident he could achieve a "Level Nine evaluation" even in the "afternoon."

As for the duration of the Heart-Inquiry Water’s effect, Yang Shen only had a vague sense that after drinking one or two hundred milliliters, it would last for about a whole night...

Whether long-term consumption had any "permanent effects" was still unknown.

If it did, that would be ridiculously overpowered—like stacking a small cheat on top of a big one, a gift that would keep on giving for generations to come.

To avoid ruining another school uniform, Yang Shen now always practiced bare-chested.

He now stood at the edge of the Celestial Platform with his hands in his pockets, the morning sunlight glinting off the sharp lines of his muscles.

’The Heart-Inquiry Water really is miraculous... When it condenses next, I’ll give some to Zhuzi.’

’I told her she could drink my Essence Liquid; this time, I can get her something even better!’

Giving the sun a wave, Yang Shen turned and left the Celestial Platform.

’Time to go to school.’

’Only one day off for killing two people? The competition here is insane...’

But the thought of being surrounded and bombarded with questions at school today gave Yang Shen a headache.

This was a much bigger deal than what happened at the Training Camp.

’It was on TV, for crying out loud!’

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