Chapter 282: Chapter 279: [Special Ability?]
Chapter 279: A Special Ability?
However, after the explanation, they still ended up sleeping.
Old Guo and his wife also didn’t understand why this young Mr. Chen Nuo had suddenly developed a peculiar interest in watching others sleep.
Fortunately, it really was just sleep—literally.
Fortunately, it truly was just watching.
For people like Old Guo and the Fourth Lady, who had started with Ancient Martial Arts but had also stepped into the realm of Ability Users, falling asleep was quite easy. They could meditate, calm their breathing, and gradually enter a state of self-forgetfulness.
After seeing the Guo couple, Chen Nuo’s "Consciousness Space Fissure Repair" progress became 5/17.
There weren’t many opportunities left to exploit nearby.
The only people he could think of in Jinling whom he knew, could find, and would be willing to cooperate with him were...
After much thought, there’s only Xicheng Xun, that little Tokyo huntress.
After the awkward misunderstanding with the Guo couple, Chen Nuo was much more cautious when he contacted Xicheng Xun.
What else could he do?
If Chen Nuo were to ask Xicheng Xun, "Can you sleep for me?"
This Japanese girl would probably coo ’Ah Xiu’ sweetly and drag me to bed.
He deliberately chose the evening, after No. 8 Middle School had let out and he had confirmed Sun Keke was already home.
Chen Nuo then arrived at the international division campus.
The international division had student dormitories, which, naturally, were quite nice. Each room housed two people and was equipped with a television and even air conditioning.
Xicheng Xun, a foreign exchange student admitted through the school board’s connections, found herself in a unique situation. The local wealthy students had no interest in the dorms—even though the facilities were good enough to make public school students drool, these rich kids found them too basic compared to the comfort of their homes. Consequently, Xicheng Xun’s girls’ dormitory was practically deserted, so she naturally had a double room to herself.
After school, Xicheng Xun returned to the dormitory quite early.
In these past days at the school, no boy dared to bother this little Japanese beauty anymore.
Firstly, while Xicheng Xun appeared gentle, she was actually quite ruthless and capable of violence.
Secondly, at school, Xicheng Xun constantly hovered around Chen Nuo. While she smiled politely at other students, it was the fake smile of a well-behaved girl, clearly designed to keep them at a distance.
Only with Chen Nuo did this Japanese girl flash a genuinely sweet smile, her eyes sparkling like stars.
After changing into sportswear in her dorm, Xicheng Xun was about to head to the sports hall to work up a sweat.
The moment she opened the door, she found Chen Nuo standing outside, seemingly hesitating before knocking.
"Ah Xiu, are you looking for me for something?" Xicheng Xun’s face showed a delighted expression.
"Um... yes, there’s something," Chen Nuo glanced at Xicheng Xun’s attire. "Were you about to go out?"
"I was going to go for a run." Xicheng Xun, smiling, pulled Chen Nuo into the room.
This was the first time Chen Nuo entered Xicheng Xun’s dormitory. He had assumed a young girl’s room would be messy. Seriously, don’t buy into the fantasy that all girls’ rooms are neat and fragrant. That’s a delusion straight guys have! These little princesses were usually pampered by their parents. How many of these girls nowadays actually knew how to do chores, tidy their rooms, or do laundry? Many times, when you see a girl outside looking pretty and clean, giving off a shiny impression, if you were to visit her home, you’d be instantly disillusioned about the goddess’ image! There might even be leftover cookie crumbs and potato chip bits on the bed.
But Xicheng Xun’s room was truly clean.
After all, having lost her father at a young age and with a mother who was neglectful and irresponsible, Xicheng Xun had grown up to be very self-reliant. Her life skills were exceptionally strong.
The modest dormitory was tidy and orderly.
The only thing that seemed a bit out of place was the small tachi hanging on the wall.
After pulling Chen Nuo into the room and asking him to sit, Xicheng Xun personally brewed a cup of tea for him. Then, with a tender expression, she cautiously knelt in front of Chen Nuo.
"Xiu Sang," Xicheng Xun said, her eyes blinking, "you must have something important to ask of me, coming so late."
Chen Nuo thought for a moment, and before he could speak up, Xicheng Xun gently said, "If Xiu Sang is still trying to persuade me to return to my country, then please don’t. I’ve already dropped out of my school in Tokyo. Even if I go back now, the re-enrollment procedures would be quite complicated, and I might even waste a year retaking classes before I can apply for university. Xiu Sang, surely you wouldn’t force me to leave only for me to end up in such a predicament?"
With that, Xicheng Xun clasped her hands together and pleaded with a soft tone, "Please let me stay here! I promise I won’t cause you any trouble!"
"Let’s not talk about that. I came to you for another matter," Chen Nuo sighed.
"Please tell!" Xicheng Xun’s face lit up with a smile, cheerfully responding.
As long as he wasn’t sending her away, anything else was negotiable.
"Well, I am researching a new ability, so I want to ask for your cooperation to conduct a test," Chen Nuo gave the excuse he had concocted on the way.
Xicheng Xun’s eyes brightened. "Xiu Sang’s power is so immense... the new ability you’re researching must be incredibly strong, right?!"
Uh... Whether it’s powerful or not can wait, but it can certainly give people nightmares.
Seeing the strange expression on Chen Nuo’s face and his lack of response, Xicheng Xun’s mind raced. Is there some reason he can’t say it outright? Ah, I understand, it must be some extremely powerful secret technique, so he can’t just tell anyone, right? That was rude of me! I shouldn’t have asked such a question; it must have put Xiu Sang in an awkward position. Please, just pretend I never said anything!
With that, the Japanese girl knelt there, hands on the floor, gently bending forward in a bow.
"Hmm, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not that I can’t tell you, but... well, for now, just help me with this test. I’ll explain the details after we’re done."
"Sure thing! Should we start now? Right here?"
"...Right here is fine."
Chen Nuo made his tone a bit more serious. "Do you know how to meditate? Are you familiar with introspection... or perhaps, focused mental concentration?"
Xicheng Xun tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "When I worked at the Martial Arts Hall, the kendo master spoke of similar principles. I’m not sure if it’s what Xiu Sang is referring to."
"Give it a try."
Xicheng Xun didn’t play coy and nodded her head.
Resting her hands on her knees, she maintained a kneeling pose, straightened her body, then closed her eyes.
Being someone who had already stepped over the threshold of an Ability User, once her spiritual power began to gather...
Before long, the frequency of Xicheng Xun’s breathing became calm and steady. This method of controlling breathing frequency and heart rate to achieve a state of ’inner calm’ seemed to be a common technique found in various martial arts traditions across different countries.
Seeing that Xicheng Xun had entered the state, Chen Nuo watched the young girl intently.
Her spiritual power was contained, not leaking out at all—a clear sign of excellent talent. The ability to precisely control one’s spiritual power is a major distinction between ordinary people and those gifted as Ability Users.
The fact that Xicheng Xun could enter this state so quickly clearly indicated she possessed considerable strength.
But... it’s not enough, Chen Nuo thought. He didn’t need this state of calm focus; he needed her to be asleep, to enter a dream state.
After a thought, Chen Nuo spoke softly, "Can you enter into sleep like this?"
"?" Xicheng Xun opened her eyes, looking curiously at Chen Nuo. Suddenly, a blush crept onto her cheeks. "Xiu... Xiu Sang," she whispered, "do you want to see what I look like when I’m asleep?"
"Ha! No, no! Don’t get any weird ideas! It’s just a serious test for a new ability."
"But... with Xiu Sang right in front of me, I... I can’t fall asleep," Xicheng Xun said, pursing her lips.
Alright, it’s clear Xicheng Xun’s abilities are still a far cry from the Guo couple’s. They could do the same thing, while Xicheng Xun, the little girl, couldn’t. Her skill in achieving meditative stillness wasn’t deep enough.
After all, the Guo couple were seasoned inheritors of Ancient Martial Arts. Especially Old Guo, who could exchange a few rounds with the Star Sky Empress.
As for Xicheng Xun... She was just a beginner. In terms of strength, she had only just stepped over the threshold between ordinary people and Ability Users.
"Um... does it absolutely have to be while I’m asleep?" Xicheng Xun asked somewhat shyly.
"Hmm, it absolutely has to be... huh?" Chen Nuo replied casually, but then a thought suddenly struck him.
Does it really have to be while she’s asleep? When I had just completed the Body Seizing, I was like someone recovering from a grievous injury. My spiritual power had been extremely weak, my Consciousness Space so fragile it was on the verge of collapse—exposed on all sides—to the point where I couldn’t even control my own body. In that state, attempting a spiritual power interaction was only possible if the other person was asleep. Only then would their spiritual power lack conscious control, be weakly dispersed, and offer no resistance to the interaction. But... could it be that it was only because I was too weak back then?
Things were different now. The current Chen Nuo was at 5/17! His injuries had healed by nearly a third! This meant some of his strength had returned. Regarding his spiritual power, that peculiar, sharp sensitivity also seemed clearer than before.
So... perhaps I should try a spiritual power interaction while she’s awake?
After pondering for a moment, Chen Nuo said slowly, "Let’s try it. Empty your mind and relax your spirit. No matter what happens or what you feel, don’t resist. Don’t fight it."
"I won’t resist..." Xicheng Xun opened her eyes, looking gently at Chen Nuo, and whispered softly. "If it’s you, Ah Xiu, whatever you do to me, I will not resist."
...Damn. Maybe I should just leave!
Chen Nuo struggled internally for a moment. But the desire to heal his wounds prevailed, and the idea of a spiritual power interaction in an awake state was something Chen Nuo was eager to try out.
"Stop letting your mind wander!" Chen Nuo said sternly. "Do as I say! Enter a meditative state, calm your spirit! Relax your spiritual power, and clear your mind of all distracting thoughts!"
A few minutes later, determining that Xicheng Xun’s breathing had gradually become stable and even, and her breaths progressively deep and long, Chen Nuo thought for a moment, shifted his position slightly, and sat down in front of Xicheng Xun.
After sitting cross-legged, Chen Nuo took a deep breath.
A thread of Spiritual Force Tentacles slowly extended and entered Xicheng Xun’s Consciousness Space...
The so-called exchange of spiritual powers isn’t as simple as just entering the other’s Consciousness Space. Entering it merely means you’re "peeking." But achieving an actual interaction is a far more profound, complex, and difficult affair.
Chen Nuo turned his sensing power to full capacity!
Immediately, that miraculous, sharp sensing power he’d gained after the Body Seizing allowed him to clearly perceive the flow within Xicheng Xun’s Consciousness Space, the circulation of her spiritual power! This level of perceptual sensitivity was something even Chen Yanluo, at the peak of his power in his previous life, had never possessed.
It was as if at this moment, in Xicheng Xun’s Consciousness Space, every trace of her spiritual power gently flowed. The frequency of each strand, the rhythm of each pulse, every single minute fluctuation—Chen Nuo "saw" it all with absolute clarity.
Gradually, Chen Nuo’s Spiritual Force Tentacles slowly made contact...
He meticulously controlled his own spiritual power, gradually adjusting its flow frequency.
If an analogy were to be made, a living person’s spiritual power is never static—only that of the dead. The spiritual power of the living is constantly flowing, circulating. It’s like breathing, or like water. Breathing has its own frequency; the depth and length of each breath varies. Water has its own flow; every ripple, every current pattern, differs according to the unique frequency of an individual’s spiritual power.
Therefore, in this sense, everyone’s spiritual power is unique, possessing a rhythm, tempo, frequency, and pattern entirely distinct from others...
Previously, Chen Nuo could only interact within the realm of dreams. It was because his own power was weak; under the control of a dominant consciousness, it was very difficult to clearly observe the other person’s rhythm. Only when someone was asleep, and only that faint, dispersed portion of their power, could it be more easily perceived.
And... it was also easier to adjust oneself, to tune into a compatible frequency with the other person. Note, compatible, not identical.
The miraculous aspect of this spiritual power interaction ability was that... it seemed after acquiring it, Chen Nuo could naturally perceive the frequency of another’s spiritual power.
And then... it was as if, after observing the other party’s frequency, he could naturally adjust his own frequency, adjusting it to a rhythm that could interface with the other’s, thereby completing the link.
Attempting a spiritual link with a conscious Ability User for the first time, Chen Nuo immediately felt the difficulty multiply!
Firstly, grasping and observing Xicheng Xun’s spiritual rhythm became vastly more difficult!
This was easy to understand. Observing a single stone is easy. Clearly discerning an entire mountain range is hard.
Similarly, Chen Nuo meticulously adjusted his Spiritual Force Tentacles...
The first attempt failed!
The extended Spiritual Force Tentacles recoiled upon contact. Although they touched Xicheng Xun’s spiritual power, they remained distinctly separate, like oil poured into water, the boundary unmistakable.
Xicheng Xun suddenly trembled, her eyes instinctively flying open to glance at Chen Nuo.
"Keep going!" Chen Nuo gently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Close your eyes, no distracting thoughts!" His spiritual power consumption in that short time had been immense!
Taking a deep breath and composing himself, Chen Nuo tried again.
This time, his Spiritual Force Tentacles didn’t rush to make contact. Instead, they slowly circled Xicheng Xun’s spiritual power within her Consciousness Space, drifting gently. He sensed every fluctuation, every minute change in Xicheng Xun’s spiritual power, bit by bit...
An unknown amount of time passed...
Suddenly, the tentacles gently stretched out...
The two different frequencies, in an instant, achieved a connection!
That feeling of oil and water being immiscible was instantly shattered!
The two streams of spiritual power intertwined as if becoming one, the point of intersection making them seem indistinguishable!
Instantly, Chen Nuo felt a "BOOM!" in his head!!
The mental impact from this interaction, its clarity, was tens, even hundreds of times greater than any he had experienced during dream interactions!
That feeling—of his mind being momentarily overwhelmed, then instantly suffused with an exhilarating, fulfilling pleasure—made Chen Nuo involuntarily let out a long breath.
Meanwhile, Xicheng Xun was in an even more intense state!
The girl suddenly felt a bizarre, intense shockwave surge from the soles of her feet straight to the crown of her head! Then it was as if, inside her head, at the very crown, countless fireworks exploded all at once!
The sensation, as if every one of her countless pores had instantly opened, gasping for air, made Xicheng Xun’s body tremble violently.
The girl’s breathing suddenly grew heavy. She clenched the hem of her clothes so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Fortunately, she remembered Chen Nuo’s warning. With what felt like her last shred of willpower, she forced herself not to resist, fiercely guarding her innermost self while unreservedly experiencing this peculiar, powerful mental impact...
Finally, the girl couldn’t bear it anymore and slightly parted her lips.
A soft moan escaped her lips...
"Mmm..."
BOOM!
The interacting spiritual powers instantly snapped apart. The connected portion broke in two, each part recoiling, once again becoming clearly distinct.
Chen Nuo opened his eyes to see the Japanese girl also looking at him, her eyes glistening as if about to overflow, hot air puffing with her heavy breaths.
Xicheng Xun bit her lip, her fingers intertwined tightly, her voice laced with an irresistible allure...
"Ah Xiu... what... what did you do to me..."
Chen Nuo’s heart jolted. Seeing the girl’s flushed cheeks, he hesitated. "I... I didn’t..."
But Xicheng Xun’s body went soft, collapsing forward into Chen Nuo’s arms. The girl’s body seemed to have melted like soft mud, utterly boneless, as she leaned in and whispered by Chen Nuo’s ear.
"It’s... it’s okay... If it’s you, Ah Xiu... I’m willing..."
I’m willing too... Ptui!! Hell no, I’m not willing!
Chen Nuo suddenly shook his head vigorously and forcefully pulled Xicheng Xun away from his embrace.
Turning his head, he saw that the cup of tea beside him had gone completely cold. He grabbed the teacup and, gritting his teeth, looked at Xicheng Xun. "Sorry about this. Just need you to clear your head."
"Hmm?... AAAH!!!"
With a shriek, the girl found a cup of cold tea splashing onto her face.
A minute later, they were sitting opposite each other again. Xicheng Xun’s face was still crimson, her eyes filled with shame, and she didn’t dare look up at Chen Nuo.
Chen Nuo coughed. "So... what did you feel?" he asked.
Feel? What kind of feeling are you talking about? Xicheng Xun lifted her eyelids and glared at Chen Nuo with a look of resentment.
Chen Nuo pretended not to understand her gaze, cleared his throat again, and said in a low voice, "You... try to sense now if there are any changes within you."
Seeing Chen Nuo’s serious tone, Xicheng Xun managed to suppress the turmoil in her heart.
Soon, an expression of shock appeared on the girl’s face!
"I... I think I’ve become stronger?!"
Xicheng Xun shot to her feet!
"Stronger?" Chen Nuo’s expression also turned exceedingly strange. "Are... are you sure?"
Xicheng Xun didn’t answer, instead turning to look at the small tachi hanging on the wall.
The girl took a deep breath...
Suddenly, her eyes focused, and her spiritual power converged.
The tachi on the wall suddenly leaped!
Xicheng Xun immediately reached out, caught the scabbard, her right hand hovering an inch from the hilt.
CLACK!
With a shift in Xicheng Xun’s gaze, the tachi leaped from its scabbard and into her hand!
Xicheng Xun’s face was full of shock!
"I... I’ve tried to do this before... but I couldn’t!"
Her tone then became excited. "Ah Xiu! I really think I’ve gotten a little stronger! Even if it’s just a tiny bit, I can feel it! I’ve genuinely become stronger!"
Overjoyed, Xicheng Xun’s face beamed as she reached out to grab Chen Nuo’s clothes. "What kind of power is this, that can help someone become stronger? Is it... the dual cultivation from your Huaxia Country’s legends?"
Dual cultivation? Of course not!! Chen Nuo sighed helplessly.
"Ah Xiu, do you think if I used this special ability a few more times, I might become even stronger! In the future, I could even control swordsmanship through the air, like... the legendary Sword Saint? No, no, no! Could I even become like a Sword Immortal?!"
Xicheng Xun grew increasingly excited as she spoke, then abruptly fell silent. She noticed an undeniable, peculiar expression on Chen Nuo’s face!
In his eyes, besides shock, there seemed to be... a faint, almost imperceptible trace of... fear!!
Ah Xiu... seems to be afraid of something?
"Alright, the test is over!" Chen Nuo stood up abruptly, looking at Xicheng Xun. "I have something very important to do, so I have to leave now! Don’t... don’t overthink what happened today! Okay, get some rest."
With that, Chen Nuo, looking as if he were burdened by a great secret, quickly excused himself and left, almost as if he were fleeing.
Xicheng Xun closed the door, still looking somewhat dazed. She walked to the wardrobe mirror, composed herself, and gazed at her reflection. After taking a deep breath, something seemed to occur to her, and her face flushed red again.
Chen Nuo strode through the international division’s campus, hurrying towards the exit.
Night had fallen. Chen Nuo walked quickly, but his heart felt incredibly heavy, as if weighed down by a massive stone!
The interaction moments ago, though lasting only a few seconds, had brought a sensation that was intensely familiar to Chen Nuo, one that had left an extremely deep impression on him!!
A few months earlier, during that encounter in Japan, in that underwater cave.
And that interaction with Mother!!
That feeling... The interactions during dreams had been faint, not very distinct. But this time, interacting while awake, the intense sensation immediately reminded Chen Nuo of that encounter in Japan!!
The effect of the spiritual power interaction:
An intense, pleasant feeling.
And... the healing of the Consciousness Space crack 6/17! It could be indirectly considered an amplification of one’s own strength!
And similarly, Xicheng Xun’s strength had actually seen a slight increase!!!
This... Seemed like... the ability of Mother?!