Sitting cross-legged on his floor, still sore but buzzing with newfound potential, Tasin eagerly began cultivating with the Nebula Heart Sutra again. The difference was staggering.
Before, with Dim talent, absorbing energy felt like sucking thick syrup through a narrow straw. Now, with Bright talent, it was like opening a floodgate. Cosmic energy surged into him effortlessly, eagerly swirling through the intricate pathways mapped out by the High-Grade technique. The efficiency was incomparable.
Within minutes, he felt the bottleneck he'd been stuck at for years tremble. The final barrier of the Tier 1 Sense (Mid Stage) crumbled under the smooth, powerful flow of energy.
[Ding! Cultivation Progress Detected. Reached Tier 1 Sense (Late Stage).]
He didn't stop. The energy kept pouring in, refining his senses, strengthening his connection to the omnipresent cosmic field. Ten minutes later, another internal shift occurred.
[Ding! Cultivation Progress Detected. Reached Tier 1 Sense (Peak Stage).]
Tasin opened his eyes, exhaling slowly. From Mid Stage to Peak Stage of 'Sense' in less than fifteen minutes! This level of progress would have taken him decades before, if he could have even achieved it at all.
"Fuck..." he whispered, awestruck. "So this is how geniuses cultivate?" He felt the next barrier, the threshold to Tier 1 Channel (Early Stage), wasn't far off. A few more hours of dedicated practice, and he might actually break through. The sheer speed was intoxicating.
But cultivation could wait for a bit. His mind returned to the 'protagonist' template he'd stumbled upon – Fang Hao. It was time to investigate this potential Luck source up close.
He got up, showered, and dressed in casual but clean clothes. Fang Hao... the name triggered a memory. He was from Tasin's old alma mater, Xylos City Cultivation College - a place focused on basic cultivation education for those who couldn't get into elite academies. Tasin hadn't kept up with many people after graduation, but he did have one potentially useful contact there.
He accessed his wrist communicator and searched for an old contact: Ben Carter. Uncle Ben. Not a blood relative, but a distant family friend of his father's who'd become a basic theory instructor at the college. After Tasin's parents died, Uncle Ben had checked in on him several times, offering support and encouraging him not to give up on his studies or cultivation, even offering financial help (which Tasin's pride had refused at the time). He owed the man a debt of gratitude.
He initiated the call. A few moments later, the familiar, kind face of a middle-aged man with receding brown hair appeared on the screen.
"Tasin? Is that you, son? It's been too long!" Ben Carter's voice was warm.
"Teacher Ben!" Tasin greeted him respectfully.
"Hah, none of that 'Teacher' stuff now. Call me Uncle Ben, remember?" He smiled. "How have you been keeping? Are you alright? Need anything?"
"I'm doing okay, Uncle Ben. Really," Tasin assured him. "Actually... I was thinking of visiting the old campus. Maybe see you while I'm there? I kind of miss the place."
Ben looked surprised. "Visit the college? You could just come over to my place, you know. The wife would love to see you."
"No, no, it's alright," Tasin said smoothly. "I wanted to walk around the campus, see how things have changed. Maybe even check out some of the juniors, see the new talent." It was a weak excuse, but plausible enough.
Ben chuckled. "Alright, suit yourself. Always good to see the old place with fresh eyes, I suppose. I'll be in my office most of the day if you swing by."
"Great! Thanks, Uncle Ben! See you soon." Tasin ended the call, a slight pang of guilt hitting him for using his uncle's kindness as a pretext. I'll make it up to him later, he promised himself. When I have the power and resources.
Looking at the time, it was just past 9:00 AM. He grabbed his wallet (still holding a meager 120.63 Credits) and headed out.
Around 9:30 AM, he arrived at the entrance of Xylos City Cultivation College. It looked much the same – slightly worn buildings, eager young students milling about, a mix of hope and anxiety in the air. He saw groups chatting, comparing notes, bragging about minor breakthroughs.
His eyes, enhanced by the Gaze of Providence, swept across the crowd. Most were in the Sense stage, a few early Channelers. Talents ranged mostly from Dim to Standard, with the occasional Bright spark. Nothing too remarkable, which was typical for a Tier 5 city college.
He needed information, specifically about Fang Hao and Jin Li. Brute force searching wasn't his style. He needed a source. His gaze landed on a small group of girls huddled near the main gate, talking animatedly, heads close together. Perfect gossip central.
He strolled over casually, putting on his most amiable "senior" smile. As he approached, one girl nudged her friend, pointing subtly in his direction. The central figure of the group, a girl with bright, inquisitive eyes and expressive gestures, looked up.
"Excuse me," Tasin said politely. "Sorry to interrupt. I'm an alumnus, graduated a few years back. Just visiting the old campus. Could any of you point me towards Instructor Ben Carter's office? I seem to have forgotten the way."
The girls looked him over, assessing his friendly demeanor. One shook her head, but Maya Lee's eyes lit up. "Mr. Carter? Oh yeah, I know him! He's my Practical Cultivation Theory teacher! You know him?"
"He's... uh... a distant family friend," Tasin offered vaguely. "Just wanted to say hello while I was here. Could you possibly guide me?"
"Sure!" Maya agreed readily. She turned to her friends. "I'll catch up with you guys later, okay?" Her friends nodded, giving Tasin curious glances before wandering off.
"Thanks," Tasin said as they started walking. "I appreciate it. I'm Tasin Ahmed, by the way."
"Maya Lee," she replied cheerfully. "Nice to meet you, Senior Tasin! So you graduated from here?"
"Yeah, a while ago," Tasin nodded. "Feels like a lot has changed, though."
"Oh, definitely!" Maya agreed. "New training facilities, updated curriculum... But you know, student drama? That never changes."
Tasin chuckled. "True enough. Anything particularly interesting happening lately?" He kept his tone light, casual.
Maya's eyes instantly sparkled as if he'd just handed her a winning lottery ticket. "Interesting? Senior, you have no idea! The biggest news right now is Fang Hao and Jin Li from my class! You have to have heard about it, right?"
Bingo.
"Fang Hao and Jin Li?" Tasin feigned ignorance. "Doesn't ring a bell. What happened?"
Maya launched into the story with gusto, embellishing details and adding her own commentary. She recounted the three-year relationship, Fang Hao's stagnation at Sense stage ("Seriously, Senior, he tries hard, but his talent is just... oof," she grimaced sympathetically), Jin Li's rising status and 'Bright' talent, the very public and humiliating breakup initiated by Jin Li, and her subsequent association with Alex Chen, the rich second-generation guy known for flashing his family's wealth.
"Mr. Carter is their teacher too, so he's seen the whole thing unfold," Maya added conspiratorially. "It's been super awkward in class."
Tasin absorbed all this, nodding sympathetically. It matched perfectly with the forum posts, but hearing it firsthand added more weight. "Rough situation for the guy," he commented.
"Totally!" Maya agreed. "But you know what's really interesting? Since the breakup, Fang Hao has been acting... different. Quieter, more intense. And get this – he's been seen a couple of times with Lin Anqi!"
"Lin Anqi?" Tasin raised an eyebrow. He knew that name – one of the acknowledged 'campus beauties', known not just for her looks but also for her 'Radiant' talent and generally reserved demeanor. A top student.
"Yeah! Lin Anqi!" Maya whispered dramatically. "They were spotted together near the Human Alliance building just yesterday! Nobody knows what that's about. She barely talks to anyone!"
Interesting, Tasin thought. Protagonist meets a new potential love interest or powerful ally immediately after breakup? Check. And possibly another Child of Luck or at least high-luck individual? Need to scan this Lin Anqi if I see her.
"So, what about Jin Li?" Tasin asked casually. "Is she officially with that Alex Chen guy now?"
Maya shrugged. "Not 'official' official, I don't think? But he picks her up after classes sometimes in his fancy sky-car. Dropped her right at her dorm entrance twice this week. Everyone saw it. Seems pretty clear where that's heading."
They had arrived near the instructors' office wing. "Well, this has been illuminating," Tasin said sincerely. "Thanks for the update on campus life, Maya. And for the directions. I think I can find it from here." He offered a smile. "Maybe I could get your communicator ID? In case I have more 'senior needing directions' moments?"
Maya beamed, readily exchanging IDs. "Sure, Senior Tasin! Nice talking to you!"
"You too, Maya. Goodbye."
As Maya skipped off back towards her friends, Tasin turned towards the corridor leading to Ben Carter's office. His mind was racing, piecing together the puzzle. Fang Hao, Jin Li, Alex Chen, Lin Anqi... The players were assembling. His path to Luck points, and maybe even unlocking Iris's restrictions, seemed clearer now. First, a courtesy visit to Uncle Ben, then perhaps engineer a 'chance' encounter with Fang Hao himself.
This is the finish of chapter