The next day, Li Lang interviewed his companions and Xiao Dong about his theory of what made The Lingering Impact Technique special.
“I know you previously told me you were in a dream-like state during the latter parts of your breakthroughs and that you can’t really recall the details of what you dreamed about, but how challenging would you say it was?”
“Hmm, like I said, I don’t really remember. It really was just like a dream where I only have a fleeting memory of it,” Long Yi answered. “It’s the same for you, right Xiao Dong?”
“Yes. It became harder and harder to hold myself together the longer it went, so I barely remembered what happened towards the last half.”
“How were you feeling during the days leading up to the breakthrough?” Li Lang inquired despite having asked this same question regularly. Previously, Xiao Dong had always answered curtly with an “I’m fine.” For someone of his age, it was understandable that they would be embarrassed to show any weakness.
“Um, nothing out of the ordinary, as I had said. Just more focused, as I wanted to live up to expectations.”
“I see. I assume it was frustrating having failed for the previous few months?”
Xiao Dong carefully nodded.
“Well, everything turned out fine in the end,” Long Yi added. “Told you not to stress about it. Are you done with the questions, Li Lang?”
Li Lang gave a dismissive shrug to Long Yi before turning to regard his student more carefully.
“Sorry about the redundant questioning, but I need to ensure I have collected accurate information. I currently believe that the reason you have succeeded is that you managed to polish your willpower and concentration over the course of all the failed attempts you made. Does this sound accurate to you?”
“Umm, I don’t know. Maybe?”
As much as Li Lang wanted to groan about the unreliable response, he couldn’t exactly blame his student. Intangible things like willpower and concentration weren’t something people could accurately gauge, especially when it came to themselves. It was like asking if they noticed their own personality changing. A third-party observer in that case would have an easier time noticing it.
“No worries. I know it’s not an easy question to answer. Instead, I would like the two of you to do a few tests for me to set a benchmark for your willpower and concentration.”
“Hmm? How are you going to test those things? You’re going to torture us with your poison like you did in the entrance tests before?”
“That is an option, but I don’t have access to anything that would be effective against a Foundation Establishment cultivator right now. It would just drain your Qi reserves as your body cleanses away the foreign substance, right?”
“From the few tests you did, yeah. I’ve seen several cultivation techniques at the bazaar that are more efficient at defending against poison, but my body already reflexively reacts to harmful substances.”
“Don’t worry about it. I have a few other types of tests in mind.”
Throughout the history of Li Lang’s old world, there had been many studies related to a person’s concentration. One of the oldest ones he knew of was called the Stroop Test, where participants were shown color words printed in various hues of ink. They were then asked to name the color of the ink rather than reading the word itself. There were numerous other studies over the years that Li Lang could refer to as well.
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As for willpower, Li Lang had just the thing for it. He had developed flavored Nourishment Pills some time ago that had been increasingly growing in popularity. Throughout his tests to make a more economical version, he found several inferior formulas that didn’t address the hunger one felt despite providing the necessary nutrients.
He planned to measure his students’ willpower by making them take this flawed Nourishment Pill while he presented freshly cooked food before their eyes every meal. By measuring how long they could endure, he could get a sense of where their willpower stood. Of course, it wasn’t one hundred percent accurate. Some people were more gluttonous than others, while some reveled in other pleasures. Unfortunately, when it came to intangibles like willpower, he had to make a compromise or he would never get anywhere.
Like that, his students were doomed to endure another type of torture amidst their busy training schedules.
The only saving grace was that Li Lang and Wei Ping would endure the same trials as them. After seeing the success of Xiao Dong, the two decided to begin practicing the Ascension Technique and Lingering Impact Technique as well. They didn’t make any attempts at the breakthrough yet, but mainly familiarized themselves with the various aspects of the technique. Having one of their students surpass them, they were both eager to catch up.
The next few days peacefully passed by as Sima Xue came to visit during the afternoons and they busied themselves with the new tests during the other times. It was only when Jian Beiyun showed up a week later that they had to plan their future schedule.
In three weeks’ time, they were invited to venture back out to where the Great Trial of Watercrest was in order to show the world Nightmoon Valley’s control of the pocket realm. Then, Long Yi and Xiao Dong decided to participate in The Dark Sea Arena at the Sword Saint Isle in half a year’s time.
The former was fine as everyone would be going together, but as for the latter, it had to be planned around. Heading to a foreign place to attend a tournament was both exciting and dangerous due to the long-distance trip. Despite many of them wanting to attend, they had to sort out who would go and who would stay behind in the pocket realm. Thankfully, they had half a year to decide. They had plenty of time to deliberate while they continued their routine.
Unfortunately, before they faced the future, they had to endure being starved.
“Umm, Li Lang, do you really have to feed me these bland-tasting Nourishment Pills when you can refine better-tasting ones? I prefer the original candied ones you sell to the guild, you know?”
“What are you whining about in front of all the students? You’re a Foundation Establishment cultivator, for goodness’ sake. Lead us by example. You agreed to help with this test, right?”
“That—” Long Yi was speechless, unable to retort. He cast his gaze downward, crestfallen, and bit the bullet—or in this case, the Nourishment Pill. This all happened as the aroma of freshly cooked food assaulted his nose. Some of the kids, particularly the ones who hadn’t begun cultivating yet, happily stuffed their mouths as envious gazes assaulted them.
Even after eating the pill, his stomach still growled. As a few of the other students began picking up their chopsticks to eat the hearty meal, Long Yi could only tightly shut his eyes and focus on other thoughts.
For better or worse, this was just the beginning. Many others would soon follow in Long Yi’s foot steps.
-----
One month passed by in a flash.
Li Lang’s entire group prepared to leave one morning for the Crucible, or otherwise more commonly known as The Great Trial of Water Crest.
During this one month, a lot of progress was made. This was especially true not just in the areas of cultivation, but in crafts as well. Having the power of the Foundation Establishment Realm, Long Yi dove back into his studies in artificing along with Li Lang during his spare time.
This was in part fueled by Long Yi’s desire for a weapon that could unleash his potential. Li Lang had stalled on refining the artifact weapon he had promised as he got carried away with the research into breaking through. As he had taken up the profession already, Long Yi saw fit to continue on with it.
Thanks to his new powers, it wasn’t long before he became familiar with the process of creating an artifact! However, he still needed more practice and had yet to succeed in any attempts. They also didn’t have unlimited beast cores to practice on. Still, it didn’t deter Long Yi from trying, and he happened to make an attempt on the morning of their departure.
“Long Yi!” Wei Ping called out as he knocked on his door. “W-we’re leaving soon. Come o-out already!”
No response came, so Wei Ping decided to barge in to fetch his friend. When he stepped inside, he found Long Yi still snoring away. All four of his limbs were wrapped around a pillow. However, upon casting his blanket aside, he found what he was snuggling up to wasn’t a pillow, but in fact, a large jade-green broadsword.