High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

”Project 019, tentatively titled ’Heavy Water Sphere Optimization and Composite Strike Framework Research.’ Estimated duration... twenty-five days.”

Ye Guanlan looked up. ”Same as last time: virtual network simulation, data optimization, and live combat tests. You’ll need to stay at the institute to cooperate with the various experiments.”

”Alright.” Xu Wuyi didn’t hesitate.

...

Time passed quietly.

Eight days had passed in the blink of an eye since Xu Wuyi’s return to the Star Realm Research Institute.

The ”Heavy Water Sphere” optimization project was progressing smoothly.

The team led by Ye Guanlan was extremely efficient. Backed by the institute’s vast database and supercomputer array, they had already finished modeling all the parameters Xu Wuyi provided, including the rhythmic data from his Heavy Water Breathing, his maximum contraction ratio, and the load curve on his Heart and Spirit.

The work that followed was more a matter of patience and precision.

Within the virtual network, they would run tens of thousands of simulations, searching for the optimal path for Energy flow and solidifying those insights into a stable, repeatable, and teachable Martial Arts framework.

This work was primarily handled by Ye Guanlan and his researchers.

What Xu Wuyi needed to do was periodically enter the virtual network to participate in ”simulated combat tests,” verifying whether the optimized Energy paths were a perfect match for his own Heart Image and fine-tuning the details based on the feedback.

Two to three hours of virtual testing each day constituted his main workload.

The intensity really wasn’t high; one might even call it leisurely.

Xu Wuyi spent most of his remaining time on his own Cultivation.

The ”Heart Image Meditation Chamber” provided by the institute had an excellent environment that effectively aided his Visualization. His Heavy Water Heart Image grew more stable by the day, and the balance with his Golden Crow Illusion became increasingly harmonious.

One morning, Xu Wuyi had just finished a round of virtual testing and was sitting up from the connection pod.

Ye Guanlan stood before the console, watching the data dance across the screen. ”Today’s data fluctuations are within the expected range,” he said without turning around. ”The model’s preliminary optimization is complete. The next three days will be dedicated mainly to stability testing, so your required time will be reduced to about an hour per day.”

Xu Wuyi wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. ”Meaning, I’ll have even more free time?”

”Theoretically, yes.” Ye Guanlan finally turned around and adjusted his glasses.

”Unless you want to start the research on the composite framework for ’Heavy Water Sphere’ and ’Golden Crow Burning Heart’ ahead of schedule. But I suggest you solidify your foundation first. That project is both more difficult and riskier.”

Xu Wuyi nodded.

’He understood the danger of biting off more than he could chew.’

Leaving the laboratory of the Heart Image Martial Arts Department, Xu Wuyi headed down a brightly lit alloy corridor toward his temporary quarters.

Researchers occasionally hurried past on both sides of the corridor, most clutching data pads or carrying sample cases, their expressions focused. The atmosphere at the institute was always this way—bustling, efficient, and purposeful.

By comparison, the pace of a ”collaborator” like Xu Wuyi seemed far too leisurely.

Back in his room, he took a shower, changed into a fresh training uniform, and was just about to begin his afternoon Visualization when his personal terminal vibrated.

It was an unfamiliar internal comm code. The prefix indicated it was from the ”Combat Testing Department.”

Xu Wuyi answered the call.

The face that appeared on the screen was not entirely unfamiliar.

It was Lin Lan, the assistant researcher who had overseen his intake assessment.

Right now, however, Lin Lan looked somewhat exhausted, with faint dark circles under his eyes, but his gaze was still bright.

”Martial Artist Xu, sorry to bother you.” Lin Lan got straight to the point. ”I hear you’re at the institute lately, with a fairly open schedule between projects?”

”You could say that,” Xu Wuyi replied. ”What is it?”

”Actually, I have a favor to ask,” Lin Lan said, smiling a little sheepishly.

”Over in our testing department, we recently received a batch of special samples sent back from a newly controlled zone in the Seventeenth Star Realm Battlefield. They’re mainly a few types of new Star Beasts that haven’t been documented before, or rather... ’Star Beast-like entities.’”

This piqued Xu Wuyi’s interest. ”New types?”

”That’s right.” Lin Lan’s expression turned serious. ”During their advance, the frontline troops discovered an area covered by a peculiar Energy Field.”

”A large portion of the creatures captured there aren’t lifeforms of flesh and blood in the traditional sense. Instead, they’re... agglomerations of Energy. Or, to put it another way, Spiritual Bodies.”

”Spiritual Bodies?” Xu Wuyi frowned.

Most Star Beasts were corporeal. Even if some possessed energy-based attack Traits, their core was still that of a material lifeform. A purely Spiritual Body form was extremely rare in the Federation’s existing records.

”Yes, Spiritual Bodies.” Lin Lan pulled up an encrypted briefing, using his authority to share it with Xu Wuyi.

”Preliminary analysis indicates these Spiritual Bodies possess independent consciousness and aggression, and they can absorb specific types of ambient Energy to sustain themselves or even grow.”

”Physical attacks are largely ineffective against them. Even conventional Energy attacks require a specific frequency to cause any real damage.”

The briefing contained some blurry image captures and Energy-spectrum analysis charts.

In the footage, several amorphous, greyish-white masses of mist drifted within a special Force Field, at times coalescing into the shape of a ferocious beast, at others dispersing like smoke.

”Our understanding of this type of entity is practically zero,” Lin Lan continued. ”We need a massive amount of combat data to assess their threat Level, attack patterns, and weakness Traits. But the problem is...”

He gave a wry smile. ”There aren’t many Martial Artists at the institute who specialize in dealing with Spiritual Body-type targets. The risks for this kind of test are considerable. The attacks from these Spiritual Bodies often target the Spirit or Energy Core directly, and they’re incredibly unpredictable.”

”The few resident testers in our department have been working in shifts around the clock, and they’re reaching their breaking point.”

Xu Wuyi understood. ”So you’re asking me to help out and participate in these tests during my free time?”

”Yes.” Lin Lan nodded, his tone sincere. ”We know your main focus is on Researcher Ye’s project, and we won’t take up too much of your time.”

”We just hope that when you have a moment, you could participate in a few short tests, one to two hours at a time. As for compensation, it will be paid according to the institute’s A-level external consultant standard: a base of 2,000 merit points per test. If you gather any crucial data or your performance is exceptional, there will be additional bonuses.”

Xu Wuyi didn’t answer right away.

’He did have the free time.’

’Besides, Spiritual Body-type Star Beasts... The idea intrigued him.’

’His Golden Crow Heart Fire had a natural advantage against Spirit and Energy-based targets, and the ’heavy’ Mental Realm of his Heavy Water Heart Image might also have an unexpected effect on Spiritual Bodies.’

’This was an excellent opportunity for a live combat test.’

”How is the safety of the test guaranteed?” Xu Wuyi asked.

”The testing chamber is equipped with the highest-grade Energy Barriers and a Spirit-insulating Force Field. If the system detects a tester’s vital signs or Spirit fluctuations reaching a dangerous threshold, it will intervene immediately, forcibly terminating the test and administering a sedative.”

Lin Lan explained.

”Of course, any live combat test carries risks, especially against an unknown target. But you should be able to trust the institute’s safety record.”