Chapter 108: Mind Probe

The next morning, after a night of torrential rain had finally ceased, the earth appeared refreshed and renewed. Dewdrops hung like crystals on the leaves of grasses and trees, and the air was exceptionally pure. It was said that the spiritual energy after a thunderstorm was especially abundant because the lightning decomposed the spiritual energy in the high atmosphere, which then fused with the rainwater. Upon reaching the ground, this energy recombined, creating an unusually dense spiritual aura. Even ordinary people would feel invigorated simply by breathing this post-storm air.

Such a morning, following a thunderstorm, was an extraordinarily rare and precious time for the practice of breathing exercises, greatly beneficial for cultivating one’s abilities. Yet Shi Feng slept like a log, utterly unresponsive. The night before, he had been squeezed into a small bed with Luo Chen, the cramped space causing much discomfort. Tossing and turning, he only drifted off well past midnight. Even if he were as strong as an ox, he wouldn’t want to get up now.

Luo Chen quietly rose and peeked outside his room. The door remained closed, and Zhuo Yuqing seemed to still be inside. He was about to knock but stopped himself. Such a beautiful morning—perhaps Zhuo Yuqing was also taking advantage of this time to practice her breathing exercises. It would be rude to disturb her now. Better to wait a little longer.

With that thought, Luo Chen returned to Shi Feng’s room, settled into a corner in the lotus position, and began his morning breathing practice.

Unbeknownst to Luo Chen, Zhuo Yuqing was not practicing at all. She had heard Luo Chen’s footsteps approach her door and then retreat. A faint smile played on her lips. It seemed the time had come.

The two dorm rooms assigned to the sponsored students were adjacent, separated only by a thin wall. Zhuo Yuqing tiptoed to the wall and closed her eyes.

An invisible aura stretched out from her body like transparent tendrils. One of these tendrils passed through the wall and into the neighboring room. Anyone with insight would recognize this as spiritual probing—a rare ability possessed by only the strongest superhuman warriors or those approaching that level. Through this power, one could stealthily probe the spiritual energy of another without detection.

At this moment, spiritual probing was emanating from Zhuo Yuqing, a beauty of truly mysterious origin.

Her aura extended slowly and cautiously, inching forward with patience. Although Luo Chen was only a fourth-level spiritual warrior, and theoretically could not detect such probing, he was no ordinary person. He possessed the aura of a celestial being and harbored many secrets beyond even Zhuo Yuqing’s understanding. She had to be careful. Normally, it took a spiritual warrior about an hour and a half to fully absorb spiritual energy during breathing exercises, so she had plenty of time.

Like a snail, the aura crawled past obstacles until it finally entered Shi Feng’s room and reached Luo Chen’s side. Though spiritual probing could not see or hear or physically touch its target, this extraordinary ability could sense the flow of spiritual energy. A warrior in the midst of breathing exercises had their spiritual energy circulating rapidly, making it easier to detect subtle traces.

Yet Zhuo Yuqing was shocked to find that Luo Chen’s spiritual energy fluctuations were utterly elusive. It was not that her probing skill was immature, nor that his spiritual energy was overly complex.

It was as if trying to discern a single drop of seawater in the vast ocean, or identify a single tree in an endless forest. The drop of water and the tree had blended seamlessly into the whole.

What kind of cultivation method was this? How strange!

While Zhuo Yuqing was perplexed, Luo Chen suddenly became alert. Though his consciousness was in a fog during breathing exercises, he seemed to “see” a pair of invisible eyes watching him from the darkness. It felt as if he was completely exposed, every part of himself laid bare before an unseen observer, filling him with unease.

Almost instinctively, Luo Chen decided to drive away this uninvited guest. He exerted force—though his muscles were relaxed during breathing exercises, he still somehow summoned power. The sensation was indescribable, as this was his first time experiencing it. He did not yet understand that this was the power of the spirit.

The hidden eyes in the dark suddenly retracted as if pricked by needles. At the same time, a sharp pain struck Zhuo Yuqing’s mind, and with a muffled groan, her tendrils vanished into nothingness.

A spiritual counterattack!

Zhuo Yuqing was shocked. Using spiritual probing was a dangerous act because the probe’s spiritual power was exposed and unprotected. If the target detected it and retaliated, the probe could suffer severe mental trauma, even madness.

Luo Chen was only a fifth-level spiritual warrior, so his spiritual power was limited. Zhuo Yuqing, confident in being two levels higher and having trained in spiritual power from a young age, had dared to try.

The elders of the Sacred Martial Hall had once said that with her spiritual power and the hidden effects of her top-tier probing technique, the “Hand of Sumeru,” she could probe even seventh- or eighth-level spiritual warriors without being detected—unless she was careless.

Yet not only did Luo Chen detect her, he immediately traced the source of her spiritual power and counterattacked. Judging by the counterattack’s strength, his spiritual power was not weak. Otherwise, Zhuo Yuqing would have been in serious trouble.

Still trembling from the shock, Zhuo Yuqing could not understand how such a seemingly weak spiritual power could expose her so quickly. The speed of his retaliation was astonishing. She hadn’t even realized her spiritual awareness had been exposed before she was struck.

This also showed that Luo Chen’s spiritual sensitivity was extremely sharp. Any intruder entering his spiritual domain would be easily uncovered.

Regardless, Zhuo Yuqing dared not try again. Spiritual attacks were not to be taken lightly. Her heart still pounded wildly, taking a long time to calm. Yet she remained uneasy, for using spiritual probing during breathing exercises was a grave taboo in martial cultivation. Even the closest friends avoided it, let alone she and Luo Chen, who barely knew each other.

How should she face him later? Should she slip away while he was still practicing?

No, that would seem like she was guilty.

Ah, no matter. Even if he questioned her, she would pretend ignorance and deny everything. Without proof, how could that brat accuse her?

With this resolve, Zhuo Yuqing began her own breathing exercise. Only after fully absorbing the spiritual energy did she open the door—and was surprised to find Luo Chen already cooking breakfast in the living room.

Zhuo Yuqing was puzzled. Her spiritual cultivation method was among the world’s best, requiring only an hour to complete breathing exercises fully. Even if Luo Chen had started earlier than her, he shouldn’t be done so quickly.

Seeing Zhuo Yuqing appear, Luo Chen greeted cheerfully, “Hi, Zhuo Yuqing, good morning. Did you sleep well last night?”

Zhuo Yuqing was taken aback. His reaction was perfectly normal. Was he being magnanimous? Pretending ignorance? Or did he have some other motive?