Body command feeding world

As dawn broke, a thin mist enveloped the equipment room of Yu Ying Middle School like a veil, and even the wind seemed to slow its pace.

Lin Ye arrived a quarter of an hour earlier than yesterday. Instead of immediately practicing his stance and spear technique, he walked straight to the center of the familiar open space, closed his eyes, and let his hands hang down. His aura was so light that it was almost invisible. After returning home last night, he hid in his dormitory and repeatedly practiced the first step of Blood Essence Cultivation: Focusing the Mind and Locking the Will. From initially having a multitude of distracting thoughts, he eventually managed to calm his mind with a single thought. At this moment, he could completely stabilize his mind within three breaths. The wisp of clarity between his brows was as firm as a nailed-down wick, no longer easily shaken.

He knew very well that, according to the method left by Wu and Wei, the first step had been thoroughly laid, and today he could officially step into the second step: calming the mind and regulating the pulse.

The method is clearly written: those who practice stillness should breathe slowly, finely, evenly, and for a long time; those who regulate their meridians should allow the meridians throughout the body to naturally expand with their breathing, without tension or disorder, paving the way for the subsequent introduction of Qi into the body. This step may seem like just adjusting breathing, but it is actually a dialogue with one's own body, allowing Qi, blood, meridians, and heartbeat to completely catch up with the rhythm of intention.

Lin Ye stood with his feet naturally apart, his back straight and relaxed, his hands lightly placed on the outside of his thighs. He first maintained a state of focused concentration, and then slowly adjusted his breathing.

At first, he could keep his breath steady, but after less than half a minute, his breathing involuntarily quickened, his chest rose and fell slightly, and his heartbeat became erratic. Blood essence cultivation has extremely strict requirements for breathing—inhaling and exhaling through the nose. Inhalation should be like a silk thread entering the throat, long and continuous; exhalation should be like a gentle breeze blowing through leaves, soft and silent. There can be no rushing at all, and one cannot use the chest cavity to exert force. One must rely entirely on abdominal breathing, which involves slight movement of the dantian.

One failure, two failures, three failures...

Lin Ye showed no impatience. He knew there were no shortcuts to this kind of basic training; it couldn't be rushed or hasty. The more one tried to achieve success, the harder it was to get started. He repeated the process again and again, feeling the coordination between his breath and body, feeling the slight expansion of his meridians with each inhale, and the complete relaxation of his muscles with each exhale.

Time passed slowly, and the morning light pierced through the thin mist, falling on his slightly lowered eyelashes.

After starting over for what felt like the umpteenth time, Lin Ye suddenly felt a lightness all over his body.

My breathing slowed down completely, each inhale and exhale as steady as a pendulum, without the slightest effort or stiffness. With each inhale, a cool sensation flowed through my nasal cavity into my lower abdomen; with each exhale, the aches and tension throughout my body dissipated. My heartbeat gradually slowed, perfectly synchronized with my breathing. My meridians felt as if they had been soaked in warm water—soft, relaxed, and unobstructed. Even the slight stiffness from daily training quietly vanished in this state.

The second step, calming the mind and regulating the pulse, is now complete.

Lin Ye kept his eyes closed, savoring this unprecedented comfort. There was no overwhelming power, no astonishing phenomena, only a sense of inner peace and clarity, as if the whole world had quieted down, leaving only his own breath and heartbeat.

Just as he was immersed in his cultivation, very light footsteps came from the door of the equipment room. Ye Hong, holding a sketchbook, stopped at the door, not going forward to disturb him, but simply standing quietly in place. She could tell at a glance that Lin Ye was focused and concentrating, in a state that was even calmer and more restrained than standing meditation. The young man seemed to be enveloped in an invisible aura of peace, and even the surrounding air became gentle.

She gently put down the sketchbook, took out a pencil, and steadily transferred this scene onto the paper—the boy in the mist stood quietly with his eyes closed, his breathing long and even, his posture upright, the morning light casting a soft glow on him, as quiet as a painting that would never be disturbed.

A moment later, Wang Dahai came running up, panting, carrying breakfast. Just as he was about to call out to someone, Ye Hong gently raised her hand to stop him.

"Don't speak, Lin Ye is calming down." Ye Hong's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

Wang Dahai immediately covered his mouth, nodded, and tiptoed to place the breakfast on the wooden box. He then plopped down on the ground, not daring to make a sound. Although he didn't understand what Lin Ye was doing, he could tell that Lin Ye was very focused, and since Ye Hong had specifically instructed him, he naturally cooperated obediently.

Only when his breathing was completely steady and his meridians were fully relaxed did Lin Ye slowly open his eyes. There was no hazy look in his eyes after just waking up, nor the sharpness he usually displayed when practicing shooting; instead, there was only a clear and transparent look, and his entire demeanor became even more composed.

"Brother Ye, you were amazing! You stood there motionless for almost half an hour!" Wang Dahai immediately crowded around, his face full of admiration. "I was completely stunned. You were like a master from a TV drama!"

Ye Hong stepped forward and handed over the sketch she had just finished, saying softly, "It's not very well drawn, but the way you looked just now made me feel very at ease."

Lin Ye took the drawing paper. The drawing depicted himself standing quietly in the morning light, his expression peaceful, his eyes serene, and the brushstrokes so gentle they warmed his heart. He nodded softly, "It's very beautiful, thank you."

"By the way, Brother Ye, the news has updated again this morning!" Wang Dahai's smile vanished instantly, his tone filled with unease. "Another missing person has been found near the garbage dump, still in the same state of death, covered in claw marks, wounds blackened. The police have completely sealed off that area; no one can even get close!"

Lin Ye's fingertips tightened slightly.

He could guess that this must be the work of the Rotten Fang Hound again. These beasts were mindless, driven only by bloodlust; once they tasted human blood, they would only grow more frenzied, expanding their territory. At this moment, Yu Ying Middle School was only a few streets away; danger was no longer distant news, but a shadow looming close at hand.

Ye Hong's face also turned slightly pale, and she hugged the picture book tightly: "My mother called this morning and told me that I must wait for her to pick me up after school, and that she will never let me walk by myself again."

"This is the safest way." Lin Ye's voice was calm, yet it carried a reassuring power. "Recently, no matter where you go, you must go in groups. Never walk alone in alleys or secluded sections of the road."

He knew better than anyone that ordinary people were powerless against ferocious beasts, and their only way to protect themselves was to stay away from dangerous areas. As for himself, he had to hone his blood essence and refine his spear skills at an even faster pace. Only when he truly held power in his hands would he be qualified to face danger head-on.

After a quick breakfast, Lin Ye began his daily training.

He first practiced the Three-Body Stance, this time incorporating a breathing technique that involved calming the mind and regulating the meridians. His stance became more stable, his breath deeper, and he stood for half an hour, his legs remaining as firm as a rock, his breathing without the slightest rush. The faint trace of blood essence within his body, flowing slowly with the stance and his breathing, seemed to be nourished by warm water, growing slightly stronger—a barely perceptible but undeniably real presence.

Next came shooting practice.

With the wooden spear in hand, warm and solid, Lin Ye practiced the six basic moves and combinations repeatedly, following the coach's instructions. He didn't deliberately use his blood essence, but simply let it flow naturally with each strike. Even so, the power of each move was more penetrating than yesterday. The spear tip remained perfectly still, the sound of it cutting through the air was clear and powerful, and his movements were imbued with a natural composure.

Ye Hong sat on the steps, her gaze always following the figure holding the gun. Her pen never stopped, carefully capturing every sharp moment of the boy wielding the gun in her sketchbook.

After finishing their morning exercise, the three headed towards the teaching building. The atmosphere of panic on campus was even stronger than the day before. Students crowded around the bulletin board, and local news kept pushing new updates on their phones. It wasn't just the garbage station; even the auxiliary road near the school and the old alleyways had been found to have a putrid smell and strange claw marks. The authorities issued another emergency reminder, strictly prohibiting citizens from going out in the early morning, evening, and at night.

"Did you hear? Someone saw red eyes near the school's back gate last night!"

"Really? Could it be that monster has gotten near the school?"

"That was terrifying! Today I had my dad drive me straight to the school building entrance; I didn't have to walk an inch further!"

Whispers rose and fell, and everyone's face was filled with panic and unease. The once lively and relaxed campus was now shrouded in an invisible dark cloud.

Upon seeing Lin Ye, Bai Xiaoyu quickly stepped forward, his expression grave: "Lin Ye, the school just announced that starting today, all extracurricular clubs will be suspended, and the martial arts club will also temporarily cease training. Once the school bell rings, everyone must leave the school immediately, and security will completely seal off the campus."

Lin Ye's heart sank.

The martial arts club's suspension of training means he can no longer practice shooting in a professional venue or receive on-site instruction from his coach. More importantly, the fact that the school has implemented this level of prevention and control measures indicates that danger is extremely close, and may even be lurking around the campus.

"I understand." Lin Ye nodded, his tone still calm. "Thank you for telling me."

"You need to be careful too." Bai Xiaoyu looked at him seriously. "I have a feeling you've been silently carrying something lately. If you need any help, be sure to let me know."

Lin Ye felt a warmth in her heart and gently patted his shoulder: "Okay."

The atmosphere in the classroom was unusually tense all morning. The teachers stopped saying anything unnecessary, repeatedly emphasizing safety and discipline after each class, and the constant news notifications popping up on their phones only added to the anxiety. Lin Ye listened attentively, but he used every spare moment between classes to lie on his desk, close his eyes, and cultivate, consolidating his state of calm and regulating his meridians, making his breathing and meridians increasingly synchronized.

Progress was still slow, without any leaps in improvement, but each breath was more precise than the last; each stretch of his meridians was more unobstructed than the last. The foundation of his blood essence cultivation was being laid and solidified little by little.

During his midday break, Lin Ye once again went to the rooftop. It was quiet and deserted, the perfect place for cultivation.

He closed his eyes, first calming his mind and focusing his attention, then regulating his pulse. The entire sequence of movements flowed smoothly and seamlessly, without the slightest awkwardness. The sunlight was warm, and a gentle breeze was blowing. He was immersed in a peaceful state of cultivation, clearly sensing that the faint trace of blood essence within his body was being slowly nourished and gradually strengthened.

At this rate, it won't be long before he steps into the third step, "Guiding Qi into the Body," truly introducing the pure Qi from the outside world into his body, allowing his blood essence to begin to grow.

Just as he reached a crucial point in his cultivation, a faint, extremely cold, foul odor drifted up to the rooftop on a gentle breeze.

It's not an illusion.

The aura was chilling and foul, with a bone-chilling coldness, exactly the same as the aura of the evil beast described in the news. It was much clearer than a few days ago, and it was almost right outside the school wall!

Lin Ye suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them. He strode to the edge of the rooftop and looked toward the suburban garbage station. The sky in the distance was a hazy gray, and the chilling aura in the air was faint yet felt like a needle gently pricking his heart.

The evil beast has truly arrived.

We've already reached the outside of the school walls.

Lin Ye gripped the railing tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white. The wisp of blood essence within him seemed to sense danger, warming slightly and sending a subtle warning. He knew very well that with his current strength, his blood essence had just awakened, and his spear skills were not yet refined; he was simply no match for the ferocious beast. If he were to encounter it, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But he cannot back down.

Wang Dahai, Ye Hong, and Bai Xiaoyu—these people who care about him and accompany him are all on campus. Once the evil beast breaks through the walls, these powerless teenagers will be like ordinary people in a garbage dump, at the mercy of others.

We must become stronger faster.

Lin Ye no longer hesitated, closed his eyes again, and devoted himself to cultivation with even greater focus than before. He calmed his mind, regulated his meridians, and exerted all his strength with every breath, pushing his meridians to their limits with each stretch. Fear did not disrupt his state of mind; instead, it transformed into motivation, making his will even stronger and his breathing even more steady.

The closer the danger, the less he could afford to panic.

As soon as the afternoon school bell rang, the entire school was instantly thrown into a flurry of activity. Students, carrying their backpacks, rushed out of the school, and security guards began patrolling each floor, sealing off the teaching buildings and the school gates. The once bustling campus became empty and quiet in just ten minutes, with only the afterglow of the setting sun spilling onto the deserted playground.

Lin Ye did not leave immediately.

He told Wang Dahai and Ye Hong to leave the school with the rest of the group, while he himself went back to the equipment room alone under the pretext of getting some things. The equipment room was completely quiet at the moment, and the setting sun shone through the window, casting a warm glow on the wooden gun.

Lin Ye gripped the wooden spear tightly, but instead of practicing, he closed his eyes and began to cultivate again.

Calm your mind and focus your energy; quiet your breath and regulate your pulse.

His breathing became increasingly steady, his meridians increasingly clear, and the blood essence within his body flowed slowly with each breath, warm and resilient. He could clearly feel that the foundation of the second step was now completely solid, and he was only one step away from drawing qi into his body.

As night fell, the campus was plunged into darkness, with only a few streetlights emitting a faint glow.

The chilling, putrid stench drew closer, as if lingering outside the walls, or perhaps probing for something.

Lin Ye slowly opened his eyes, his gaze bright as stars, without the slightest fear, only an unwavering determination.

The second step of Blood Essence has been completed, and the third step is just around the corner.

Gun in hand, energy within, a protective heart burning in the very bones and blood.

Even if the shadowy figure is already outside the wall, he will never allow darkness to easily step into this campus and hurt the people he cares about.

The young man wields a gun, his blood essence cultivated in seclusion, his sharpness concealed.

A silent standoff has quietly begun in the darkness of night.