Restraint

This area was situated on higher ground, backed by a towering mountain whose grayish-blue peak was capped with pristine white snow. The stretch of barbed wire spanned a vast area, enclosing everything as far as the eye could see. However, the off-road vehicle did not drive inside; instead, it pulled to a stop outside, where irregularly scattered pits could be seen nearby as well. He Xiaoxing said, "You are already somewhat familiar with the underwater routes back there from yesterday. We don't need to repeat it. Today, I'm switching you to a different place." Chang Ba could not help casting a sympathetic look at Chen Chuan. Chen Chuan did not mind. As long as it genuinely helped him make progress, there was no need to fuss over what the training entailed; doing his utmost to see it through was enough. Besides, although the location had changed, the essential elements remained the same, so it was no real issue. Once the three of them got out of the car, Chen Chuan changed into his diving suit. After making a few adjustments outside, he gave them a nod, dived like a fish into the pit, and began sinking downward the moment he entered the water. Yet he quickly discovered that the subterranean shafts here were not merely a change of location; their complexity was vastly greater. First, the shafts leading downward were no longer mostly straight up and down like yesterday; instead, they presented a tangled maze of turns, varying widths, and inconsistent depths. Even the current surged and slowed unpredictably due to the terrain's structure and water-pressure differentials, demanding redoubled caution from him. Above ground, He Xiaoxing walked about, dropping markers tied to ropes down into the shafts. Clearly, he was extremely familiar with the underwater routes of the surrounding pits, lowering each marker a step ahead along the direction Chen Chuan was likely to advance. An hour later, Chen Chuan successfully swam up. This time, he had touched a total of eight markers throughout the run, which was already a solid improvement compared to yesterday. He Xiaoxing told him, "Rest time is reduced by five minutes. We resume in twenty-five minutes. Get in the car now—we're changing spots again." Chang Ba immediately went back to start the vehicle and head for the next location. This region was vast; there were over a thousand Dan Lakes large and small, and the pits scattered around them were countless. The ones Chen Chuan had encountered earliest still showed some traces of manual excavation, whereas those he saw afterward were entirely natural formations. Upon reaching the site and finishing his rest, he immediately threw himself into the next round of diving. Over the next two days, he spent his time down below. After every run, He Xiaoxing would switch his location so he could never grow familiar with the underwater layout. Moreover, the rest time was reduced after each attempt until it was capped at a strict ten-minute limit. Chen Chuan was forced to use this limited window to recover as much stamina as possible. He did not make use of... Yet after two days, he remained just shy of the standard He Xiaoxing had set. His best result was touching eleven markers, and it had stayed that way for several runs in a row. It seemed as though he had reached his limit. That evening, they did not leave. Instead, they lit a bonfire right there on the wilderness plain to spend the night. Chang Ba brought out mutton to showcase his barbecue skills once again. Honestly speaking, it felt a bit like a farewell night. As Chang Ba deftly turned the skewers of meat, he glanced toward Chen Chuan, genuinely feeling a bit worried for him. If Chen Chuan failed again tomorrow and fell short of He Xiaoxing's requirement, he would not be able to proceed to the next phase of training, and the entire training would end right there. To have come all this way only to be shut out by a single marker—even Chang Ba felt indignant just thinking about it. Though he believed passing the next phase of training was virtually impossible, in his heart he still hoped to witness a miracle. Besides, Chen Chuan was only one step away from this goal; stopping here would truly be a pity. Chen Chuan sat there with a calm expression, showing no signs of dejection or despondency. If he still did not succeed tomorrow, he would make use of... Yet if possible, he would rather make it through by relying on the abilities inherent to his original body. This was not because using... All he considered was that the stronger his main body became, ... At that moment, He Xiaoxing spoke up. "There are many ways to awaken and guide dormant mutated tissue. Aside from being forced into awakening in life-or-death crises, esoteric cults in the past used incantations and scriptures to achieve this. Cultists trained through long-term esoteric rituals could be guided quite easily. "Ordinary people can do it without such means as well: by letting go of the restraints on their emotions. Suppressing one's emotions simultaneously restricts a portion of the mutated tissue." He continued in a deep voice, "Emotions can be released, but never indulged. Only by pinpointing your objective and clarifying your convictions can you unify spirit and body, allowing the mutated tissue to hear your inner plea rather than merely mobilizing on a superficial level. Superficial mobilization will never bring a full response; without external intervention and assistance, what you get back is generally strictly equal to what you put in." Chen Chuan pondered this carefully and found it was indeed true. Such people sacrificed reason and gained greater power in return. From his personal experience, subduing his emotions had indeed suppressed a part of his potential. Beyond the mutated tissue generating those emotions, he had to expend additional strength to keep them in check, placing limits upon himself. Yet this was far from useless. His combat style was precisely to remain calm, to think, and to seek opportunities, rather than indulging blindly and striking wherever whim took him. Therefore, releasing the restraints on his mind was indeed exceedingly difficult; an instinctive resistance pushed back. A self that was not under one's own control was no self at all. Yet on second thought, He Xiaoxing's words were likely not so simple. After all, he had deliberately brought up esoteric cults; esoteric rituals were fundamentally a form of restraint. Thus, the real implication was probably that only when one could release emotions and then rein them back in did true self-restraint exist. This was control on a higher plane. Looking at it this way, the logic held sound. Fearing that one could not control oneself was simply an admission that one's restraint was insufficient, one's capability lacking. How, then, should this be resolved? He Xiaoxing had provided that answer as well. It lay in an unshakeable conviction rooted deep within body and mind. As long as that conviction—to constantly surpass oneself and break free of all shackles—still endured, it would inevitably subdue those chaotic emotions. With his thoughts brought to this point, Chen Chuan's expression turned far more solemn. He shifted into a cross-legged sitting posture and slowly closed his eyes. Seeing this, He Xiaoxing stood up from where he sat and walked off into the distance. Chang Ba took a look, figured Chen Chuan must have realized something, and did not disturb him either. Picking up several nearly roasted mutton skewers, he slipped away quietly. The dark night slipped by unnoticed. When morning came, He Xiaoxing said, "If you believe you can do it, then do it. I will be waiting up here." Chen Chuan nodded firmly. Having put on his diving suit, he came before a pit he had never entered before. With his back to the golden-red morning glow, he stretched his limbs, then leaped into the opening with a powerful spring. After plunging into the water, he quickly dove to the bottom of the pit. For the first five minutes, however, he did not move; instead, he regulated himself, opening his body and mind completely. That portion of mutated tissue was suddenly freed from the suppression of his will... Yet he did not lose his reason because of it. A voice deep within his heart told him that indulgence at this moment would only bring unpredictable consequences, ruin the fruits of his training, and perhaps prevent him from realizing his true vision of breaking free from all shackles. Held in check by this resolute conviction, his gaze remained clear and bright. In that instant, he felt as if he had become two people: one riding a high tide of emotions, heedless of anything, while the other examined his inner self, calmly watching every subtle change in his body. As the water stirred, he kicked with both feet, parted his hands before him, and darted forward in a flash. This time, the underwater environment seemed much clearer than before. The gas exchange guided by his internal breathing was more efficient, and a fresh surge of power seemed to flood his entire body, making his swimming faster and far more deft than before. He swam continuously through the underwater tunnels, finding marker after marker lowered from above. Above ground, Chang Ba noticed that He Xiaoxing's pace had quickened, which undoubtedly meant Chen Chuan was swimming faster below. Trailing behind, Chang Ba kept counting the ropes that had been tugged. In barely over half an hour, ten markers in succession had already been touched. A thread of tension and anticipation rose within him. Two left, with over twenty minutes remaining. Would he make it in time? He soon realized the worry was unfounded. Before long... "Twelve!" Chang Ba could not help shouting in excitement. Chen Chuan had already met the requirement He Xiaoxing had set, but it was not over yet. Barely three minutes later, he touched another... Chen Chuan was swimming rapidly down below. There was still a bit of time left before the hour was up; if he kept going, there was a fair chance he could push the number of markers higher. Yet he stopped right there. He swam straight out from the tunnel below. With a light push of one hand and a rush of splashing water, he hoisted himself out, his feet landing steadily on the rim of the pit before he stood straight in an effortless, natural motion. He Xiaoxing looked at him and nodded. "You can let go and you can reel back. You didn't indulge yourself merely to chase a higher number; you overcame your eagerness to win and stopped within the stipulated hour. Very good. You have satisfied this stage's training requirements."