Su Jie chatted with Tang Yunqian for over an hour and realized that there was more to this student council president than she was revealing…something hidden deep within.
Judging by the landscape design she created for Liu Shi, her level of insight was already remarkably high; she seemed to have grasped certain fundamental principles. Yet, in person, while she was certainly outstanding, she did not quite strike one as a transcendent genius.
He sensed, however, that a far more powerful personality lay hidden deep within her.
“She’s an interesting girl.” After their conversation, Su Jie returned to his studies, focusing on the interplay between humans and their environment, as well as psychological resilience.
He collected data point by point and transmitted it to Larry’s life sciences studio, awaiting their feedback.
He proposed various theoretical hypotheses for them to test experimentally, while simultaneously having their supercomputers run simulations.
At the same time, he incorporated his own physiological data to offer further constructive insights. He even converted the Feng Shui layouts of the “Ke Yi Massage Hall” he had visited and Liu Shi’s home into data and research material.
Meanwhile, Tang Yunqian continued her work in architectural design. Her academic background spanned civil engineering and art design; beyond that, she was also self-studying medicine.
In this regard, her pursuits shared a striking affinity with Su Jie’s own research. The two of them sat facing each other, engrossed in their work without exchanging another word.
After a full two hours, Tang Yunqian appeared to have finished her design; only then did she stand up. “Interested in grabbing dinner together?”
“No need. I still have some research to finish, and if you leave, I can take your seat. It would be a shame not to occupy such a prime spot…a real ‘feng shui’ treasure.” Su Jie waved his hand, declining Tang Yunqian’s dinner invitation.
It seemed to be the first time Tang Yunqian had encountered such a situation; usually, it was nearly impossible for any guy to get a dinner date with her, yet here she was…having taken the initiative to ask someone out, only to be turned down.
What made the situation even more amusing…and slightly absurd…was Su Jie’s reason for refusing: he wanted to claim her study spot, that “feng shui treasure” of a seat.
Noticing her momentary look of surprise, Su Jie accurately guessed her thoughts. “Are you really hung up on that? Neither of us is an ordinary person; for us, research comes first, and socializing second. Besides, I’m not used to eating out; I brought my own rations and water.”
As he spoke, Su Jie took a can of military-grade rations and a bottle of specially produced water from his backpack. He opened the can, took a sip of water, and began eating mouthful by mouthful.
He didn’t offer to share with Tang Yunqian this time. The rations were packed with nutrients…designed for super-agents undergoing grueling daily training…and would cause an ordinary person to gain weight from excessive caloric intake.
“That’s special-issue gear, isn’t it? You can’t find it on the market,” Tang Yunqian remarked. “It certainly saves time; looks like you’re a real academic whiz. Alright then, see you later. Here’s my contact info…add me, and feel free to reach out if anything comes up.”
She took the initiative to share her contact details with Su Jie.
Watching the two of them exchange contact information, the onlookers in the library were left absolutely dumbfounded. Many young men actually wanted to strike up a conversation with Tang Yunqian but lacked the courage; even those who did try were quickly brushed off.
None had ever managed what Su Jie did…establishing an instant rapport, conversing at length, and even securing her contact details.
After exchanging mobile numbers and other contact information with Su Jie, Tang Yunqian gave him a long, meaningful look before gathering her things and leaving.
Su Jie then moved to the very seat Tang Yunqian had just vacated.
As soon as he sat down, he sensed a subtle shift in the surrounding energy…a nuance perceptible only to a master of his caliber.
In an instant, he felt as though he had become the focal point of the entire library; the surrounding energy seemed to converge upon him like courtiers paying homage to a sovereign, sharpening his focus and elevating his spirit and vitality to new heights.
He then made an effort to expand the reach of his consciousness. His mind extended beyond the library walls, revealing that the energy of the entire Q University campus was gravitating toward the library.
With a history spanning over a century, Q University had long been a prestigious institution. Countless brilliant minds had studied there, and innumerable scientists had conducted their research within its grounds; over time, the entire campus had become imbued with a profound academic atmosphere.
Studying and conducting research here yielded far greater benefits than doing so elsewhere.
In the parlance of old, it would be described as a “blessed grotto”…a place of extraordinary spiritual energy.
From the perspective of modern scientific theory, however, this phenomenon involves a complex interplay of deep psychology and an enigmatic physiological magnetic field…areas that the global scientific community has yet to fully explore or understand.
Even among the world’s top scientists, few have ventured into research of this kind.
*How exactly do humans influence their environment? And how does that altered environment, in turn, propel human progress? Take a barren wasteland: people plant trees, the living environment gradually improves, and as planting continues, it eventually transforms into a landscape of green hills and clear waters. This is the commonly understood theory of the human-nature relationship. Yet, the atmosphere of academic inquiry…which permeates the surrounding environment…is something the naked eye cannot see…* Su Jie mused.
His thoughts expanded outward, encompassing the entire campus of Q University within his mind. He sensed that once he stepped off campus and onto the street outside, that specific academic “energy” vanished completely; it existed only within the university grounds.
*The ‘array core’ of Q University is the library,* Su Jie contemplated further. *And the core of the library is the very seat I occupy. However, Q University is not the core of Beijing, nor is Beijing the core of the entire nation. With my current abilities, I can at most locate the core of Beijing; the location of the nation’s core remains beyond my reach.*
Beijing is the capital…the political, economic, and cultural hub…yet to Su Jie’s perception, it was not the core of the entire country.
An array core is not necessarily the geographic center. Moreover, the core is dynamic; its movement dictates the rise and fall of a region. In ancient *feng shui* theory, this was described as the shifting of the “earth dragon.”
In modern times, driven by sweeping policy changes, the southeastern coast…once a barren wilderness just decades ago…has undergone a transformation akin to the shifting of seas into land; it is now a bustling region of towering skyscrapers and dense populations.
This represents a shift in the prevailing “earth energy,” signaling a change in the nation’s array core.
Ultimately, however, the array core always resolves to a single point.
*Where exactly is the ‘array eye’…the focal point of the nation’s energetic structure? If one could locate and occupy that spot, one might gain unexpected insights. And where is the focal point for the entire Earth? Is it within this country? I cannot calculate it; it remains unknown. What about the solar system…is its focal point on Earth? Or the Milky Way, or even the universe itself?* As Su Jie delved deeper into his research, his train of thought expanded ever wider.
To an outsider, his research might seem eccentric or mystical, but only he could truly grasp the essence of the experience.
At his current level of mastery, grueling daily physical training yielded little benefit; the repetitive nature of muscle memory exercises often resulted in a significant waste of time.
Only a breakthrough in the realm of the spirit could trigger the next great leap forward.
He analyzed the nation’s urban transformation and policy shifts over the past few decades, integrating them with ancient theories regarding *feng shui*, “dragon veins,” and the vital energy of the land. Through this process, he gained a profound understanding of the interplay and evolution connecting humanity, the natural world, and the era itself.
Suddenly, he seemed to comprehend the mindset of the great prophets and masters of divination from ages past…figures like Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng of the Tang Dynasty, who created the *Tui Bei Tu* (Prophecies of the Back-Pushing Chart), as well as later masters like Huang Nie, Liu Bowen, and Shao Yong.
Standing in their respective eras…when the vision of ordinary people was inevitably constrained by the times…they utilized extraordinary wisdom to pierce through the shifts of time and space, catching glimpses of the future and formulating their predictions.
Their calculations may not have been entirely accurate…indeed, they likely contained many errors…but their vision was far ahead of its time; their thinking had truly transcended the limitations of the eras in which they lived.
In that fleeting moment, Su Jie’s mind seemed poised to break free from the constraints of the present age, calculating the myriad possibilities of the future landscape to ultimately identify the specific trajectory he believed would come to pass.
Just as he seemed on the verge of a breakthrough in his understanding, a sudden wave of physical exhaustion snapped his mind back to reality.
He regained his composure.
He realized he was drenched in sweat; his entire body was soaked.
The intense study, contemplation, and mental calculations he had just performed had nearly depleted his physical reserves.
That brief period of mental exertion had consumed more energy than any physical workout; he felt like a computer that had pushed its processing power to the limit…overheating its hardware and nearly crashing the system.
Yet, through this session of study, he had managed to glimpse something crucial…a key insight that would truly set his cultivation on the right path.
*Based on today’s realization, I’m certain I can reach the Realm of ‘Enlightenment’ before I turn twenty…perhaps even advance further to the Realm of ‘Emptiness’.* Su Jie had encountered many masters.
Those who had reached the Realm of “Clarity” included himself, and Yang Shu; Feng Hengyi and Wen Ting followed different paths, yet their strength was likely comparable. Meanwhile, his father Su Shilin, Zhang Hongqing, and Liu Guanglie had all attained the Realm of “Enlightenment.” As for Odell, it was even possible he had reached the Realm of “Emptiness.”
But to be on the verge of reaching the Realm of “Enlightenment” at such a young age…Su Jie was unique in that regard.
Soaked in sweat, Su Jie closed his eyes to rest for a while. Once he had regained some strength, he stood up, gathered his things, and left the library.
He had never experienced such a state of physical depletion before. He was usually meticulous about calculating his physical limits…knowing exactly how much kinetic energy a specific muscle could output without causing fatigue, and keeping a precise mental tally of his total caloric expenditure.
That was how he maintained such high levels of physical vitality over long periods. Such physical depletion was hardly a good thing, yet Su Jie was actually pleased; he recognized it as a sign that he was on the verge of a breakthrough in his comprehension.
His immediate priority was to take a shower and fully restore his physical strength.
After leaving the library, he headed back toward his dormitory. He walked through a deserted grove of trees; it was early evening, and with the campus largely empty during summer break, there wasn’t a student in sight.
Su Jie came to an abrupt halt halfway through.
A figure had appeared up ahead…someone who seemed to be waiting for him.
The person was clad entirely in black and wore a pitch-black mask, revealing only a pair of dark eyes; he looked like the very embodiment of darkness.