Wang Xuan's mind was tranquil, his consciousness focused. He was in a meditative state, yet still keenly aware of the gaze that had fallen upon him.
He opened his eyes and looked beyond the woods.
The four classmates from Nova were astonished. Even at a considerable distance, Wang Xuan had sensed their arrival?
"Did you see that? The moment he opened his eyes, specks of golden light faded from his pupils," Zhou Kun murmured among the four.
Wang Xuan ended his breathing exercise and inner cultivation. His complexion was ruddy, his spirit vibrant. Bathed in the morning glow, even his hair seemed to glisten with a crystalline sheen.
The four approached quickly.
Su Chan, lively and spirited, greeted him from afar. "Wang Xuan, I think I just saw you glowing!"
She was tall, unafraid of the cold, wearing a short skirt that slightly revealed her shoulders. Her long legs, accentuated by knee-high socks, appeared even straighter and longer. Her jet-black, glossy hair flowed naturally over her shoulders, and her youthful face radiated beauty and charm, her eyes bright and expressive.
Wang Xuan smiled. "Should I take that as a compliment? That I'm handsome, radiant, and glowing with sunshine?"
Standing tall in the morning light, he indeed looked dazzling—bright eyes, white teeth, a brilliant aura about him.
"Narcissist," Su Chan scoffed.
Zhou Kun couldn't help but ask, "Wang Xuan, did you actually master the Qi-gathering technique?"
His face was fair, features delicate, with a slightly melancholic air. Though physically fit, he always gave the impression of someone who lacked physical training.
The four were classmates from Nova, familiar with Wang Xuan after years of study together.
Wang Xuan nodded. "More or less, I've managed to grasp it recently."
Xu Wenbo, the most aloof among the four, rarely interacted with the old-earth students. But now he couldn't help but speak, a hint of regret in his voice.
"Ancient arts have been around for ages. They're outdated now," he said, shaking his head.
Though the morning sun was bright, the autumn wind stirred fallen leaves into the air, bringing a chill with it.
Li Qingzhu, gentle and soft-spoken like her name, carried an aura of scholarly grace. She spoke kindly, "You can't say that. At the very least, the old arts promote health and longevity. And it's said that in ancient times, some people were truly extraordinary."
The group from Nova knew this path was a dead end and had already been abandoned. She was only trying to comfort Wang Xuan.
Although he was somewhat moved, Wang Xuan didn't regret choosing this path. He had started exploring the old arts out of genuine interest, not for any personal gain.
Besides, he hadn't neglected his original major in automation and had already earned his degree.
Xu Wenbo shook his head again. "Those are just baseless legends. Even if ancient people really had some extraordinary skills, in this era of dazzling technology—facing spaceships and mechanized soldiers—it would all be meaningless."
But as he looked off into the distance, a fervent light flickered in his eyes. He knew that something far more thrilling had been discovered on Nova. It was a better path—one that secretly stirred his excitement and filled him with intense anticipation.
They chatted for a while longer. Su Chan then smiled and advised Wang Xuan not to invest too much into the old arts. After all, they had already graduated—it was time to start thinking about work.
Those from Nova understood that once the wrong path was chosen, no amount of effort would change the outcome.
Zhou Kun opened his mouth as if to speak but finally just sighed and patted Wang Xuan on the shoulder.
Bound by his family's strict warnings, he couldn't reveal anything about Nova until the situation there was fully disclosed. Everything was still under tight secrecy.
"I wish you all a smooth journey back to Nova. Take care," Wang Xuan said, nodding. He knew that, barring the unexpected, their paths were unlikely to cross again.
Nova had long shut its doors to Old Earth. Unless one was chosen, it was nearly impossible to emigrate there.
"If there's time before you leave, let me buy you a drink," Wang Xuan offered with a smile.
The four had already turned to leave, but Zhou Kun stumbled slightly—he knew Wang Xuan was teasing him.
Zhou Kun usually had a slightly melancholic demeanor and wasn't talkative, but once drunk, he would completely let loose and chatter endlessly.
Three years ago, it was Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng who had drunk him under the table. To this day, he still didn't know what he had said that night.
Wang Xuan watched them depart.
In the days that followed, more classmates set off for home.
For those forcibly separated across the stars, parting was especially sorrowful.
A couple from their class said their goodbyes in silence. It wasn't until one of them boarded the train that the other broke down in tears, a poignant end to a once-sweet relationship.
In this late autumn, those who left were undoubtedly the disappointed ones.
Though news from Nova remained vague, many already had a premonition: brushing past Nova meant missing the greatest opportunity of their lives.
The only consolation for those leaving was that their employment had already been secured—something promised to all who joined the experimental class.
Wang Xuan hadn't left. His hometown was in a neighboring small city—very close. If he couldn't go to Nova, he'd stay and work in the city where he studied.
Qin Cheng had been missing for days. A native of the city, he'd been digging for accurate information.
His family's business was involved in deep space trade—not a major player, but still had connections.
A few days later, at dawn, Qin Cheng appeared on campus.
"Wang Xuan, I finally understand why they created the Old Arts Experimental Class—it's connected to some strange discoveries on Nova!"
Qin Cheng came running, face flushed not from exertion, but sheer excitement.
His family had just received a piece of news: several mysterious phenomena discovered on Nova might be related to supernatural forces.
"There might really be supernatural power in this world!" he shouted.
How could that not stir the heart and ignite wild thoughts?
Qin Cheng was an emotional person by nature, and now he was clearly overwhelmed. But when he saw Wang Xuan's condition, he was momentarily stunned.
"You've caused such a… stir?"
Though he already knew Wang Xuan had succeeded in Qi-gathering, the scene before him still surprised him.
The sun had just risen, and all life was brimming with vitality. Wang Xuan appeared to be glowing—the morning light around him was unusually intense, like a faint, flowing aura.
Wang Xuan stopped, brimming with energy and in even better condition than the previous days.
"Wait a moment."
He had just been cleansing his body in the morning sun, expelling the "turbid mist" within. Now he felt sticky all over and quickly went to take a cold shower.
When he returned in clean clothes, he said, "I've suspected for a while. Some older people with deep backgrounds become increasingly obsessed with mysticism in their later years. Some even took action—coming to Old Earth to dig into myths and invest in projects studying the old arts. They must have found something."
These people, despite aging, had once been extremely shrewd. It wasn't like them to make rookie mistakes.
Moreover, some students with impressive backgrounds had traveled from Nova and joined the experimental class—further evidence of something bigger.
"Early on, they might have hoped to tap into supernatural power through the study of old arts," Wang Xuan said. Then he frowned. "But now… something seems to have changed."
His intuition was sharp. Just a few days ago, when he met Xu Wenbo, Su Chan, Zhou Kun, and Li Qingzhu, their words and actions had already hinted at part of the truth.
They had said the old arts were outdated—abandoned. And Nova… seemed to have moved on.
Furthermore, when Xu Wenbo unintentionally looked toward the distant horizon, the light in his eyes was bright—it was longing, excitement, a deep yearning.
"Supernatural power… perhaps there's another path. And the old arts have been discarded," Wang Xuan concluded after observing their behavior.
Wang Xuan's mind was tranquil, his consciousness focused. He was in a meditative state, yet still keenly aware of the gaze that had fallen upon him.
He opened his eyes and looked beyond the woods.
The four classmates from Nova were astonished. Even at a considerable distance, Wang Xuan had sensed their arrival?
"Did you see that? The moment he opened his eyes, specks of golden light faded from his pupils," Zhou Kun murmured among the four.
Wang Xuan ended his breathing exercise and inner cultivation. His complexion was ruddy, his spirit vibrant. Bathed in the morning glow, even his hair seemed to glisten with a crystalline sheen.
The four approached quickly.
Su Chan, lively and spirited, greeted him from afar. "Wang Xuan, I think I just saw you glowing!"
She was tall, unafraid of the cold, wearing a short skirt that slightly revealed her shoulders. Her long legs, accentuated by knee-high socks, appeared even straighter and longer. Her jet-black, glossy hair flowed naturally over her shoulders, and her youthful face radiated beauty and charm, her eyes bright and expressive.
Wang Xuan smiled. "Should I take that as a compliment? That I'm handsome, radiant, and glowing with sunshine?"
Standing tall in the morning light, he indeed looked dazzling—bright eyes, white teeth, a brilliant aura about him.
"Narcissist," Su Chan scoffed.
Zhou Kun couldn't help but ask, "Wang Xuan, did you actually master the Qi-gathering technique?"
His face was fair, features delicate, with a slightly melancholic air. Though physically fit, he always gave the impression of someone who lacked physical training.
The four were classmates from Nova, familiar with Wang Xuan after years of study together.
Wang Xuan nodded. "More or less, I've managed to grasp it recently."
Xu Wenbo, the most aloof among the four, rarely interacted with the old-earth students. But now he couldn't help but speak, a hint of regret in his voice.
"Ancient arts have been around for ages. They're outdated now," he said, shaking his head.
Though the morning sun was bright, the autumn wind stirred fallen leaves into the air, bringing a chill with it.
Li Qingzhu, gentle and soft-spoken like her name, carried an aura of scholarly grace. She spoke kindly, "You can't say that. At the very least, the old arts promote health and longevity. And it's said that in ancient times, some people were truly extraordinary."
The group from Nova knew this path was a dead end and had already been abandoned. She was only trying to comfort Wang Xuan.
Although he was somewhat moved, Wang Xuan didn't regret choosing this path. He had started exploring the old arts out of genuine interest, not for any personal gain.
Besides, he hadn't neglected his original major in automation and had already earned his degree.
Xu Wenbo shook his head again. "Those are just baseless legends. Even if ancient people really had some extraordinary skills, in this era of dazzling technology—facing spaceships and mechanized soldiers—it would all be meaningless."
But as he looked off into the distance, a fervent light flickered in his eyes. He knew that something far more thrilling had been discovered on Nova. It was a better path—one that secretly stirred his excitement and filled him with intense anticipation.
They chatted for a while longer. Su Chan then smiled and advised Wang Xuan not to invest too much into the old arts. After all, they had already graduated—it was time to start thinking about work.
Those from Nova understood that once the wrong path was chosen, no amount of effort would change the outcome.
Zhou Kun opened his mouth as if to speak but finally just sighed and patted Wang Xuan on the shoulder.
Bound by his family's strict warnings, he couldn't reveal anything about Nova until the situation there was fully disclosed. Everything was still under tight secrecy.
"I wish you all a smooth journey back to Nova. Take care," Wang Xuan said, nodding. He knew that, barring the unexpected, their paths were unlikely to cross again.
Nova had long shut its doors to Old Earth. Unless one was chosen, it was nearly impossible to emigrate there.
"If there's time before you leave, let me buy you a drink," Wang Xuan offered with a smile.
The four had already turned to leave, but Zhou Kun stumbled slightly—he knew Wang Xuan was teasing him.
Zhou Kun usually had a slightly melancholic demeanor and wasn't talkative, but once drunk, he would completely let loose and chatter endlessly.
Three years ago, it was Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng who had drunk him under the table. To this day, he still didn't know what he had said that night.
Wang Xuan watched them depart.
In the days that followed, more classmates set off for home.
For those forcibly separated across the stars, parting was especially sorrowful.
A couple from their class said their goodbyes in silence. It wasn't until one of them boarded the train that the other broke down in tears, a poignant end to a once-sweet relationship.
In this late autumn, those who left were undoubtedly the disappointed ones.
Though news from Nova remained vague, many already had a premonition: brushing past Nova meant missing the greatest opportunity of their lives.
The only consolation for those leaving was that their employment had already been secured—something promised to all who joined the experimental class.
Wang Xuan hadn't left. His hometown was in a neighboring small city—very close. If he couldn't go to Nova, he'd stay and work in the city where he studied.
Qin Cheng had been missing for days. A native of the city, he'd been digging for accurate information.
His family's business was involved in deep space trade—not a major player, but still had connections.
A few days later, at dawn, Qin Cheng appeared on campus.
"Wang Xuan, I finally understand why they created the Old Arts Experimental Class—it's connected to some strange discoveries on Nova!"
Qin Cheng came running, face flushed not from exertion, but sheer excitement.
His family had just received a piece of news: several mysterious phenomena discovered on Nova might be related to supernatural forces.
"There might really be supernatural power in this world!" he shouted.
How could that not stir the heart and ignite wild thoughts?
Qin Cheng was an emotional person by nature, and now he was clearly overwhelmed. But when he saw Wang Xuan's condition, he was momentarily stunned.
"You've caused such a… stir?"
Though he already knew Wang Xuan had succeeded in Qi-gathering, the scene before him still surprised him.
The sun had just risen, and all life was brimming with vitality. Wang Xuan appeared to be glowing—the morning light around him was unusually intense, like a faint, flowing aura.
Wang Xuan stopped, brimming with energy and in even better condition than the previous days.
"Wait a moment."
He had just been cleansing his body in the morning sun, expelling the "turbid mist" within. Now he felt sticky all over and quickly went to take a cold shower.
When he returned in clean clothes, he said, "I've suspected for a while. Some older people with deep backgrounds become increasingly obsessed with mysticism in their later years. Some even took action—coming to Old Earth to dig into myths and invest in projects studying the old arts. They must have found something."
These people, despite aging, had once been extremely shrewd. It wasn't like them to make rookie mistakes.
Moreover, some students with impressive backgrounds had traveled from Nova and joined the experimental class—further evidence of something bigger.
"Early on, they might have hoped to tap into supernatural power through the study of old arts," Wang Xuan said. Then he frowned. "But now… something seems to have changed."
His intuition was sharp. Just a few days ago, when he met Xu Wenbo, Su Chan, Zhou Kun, and Li Qingzhu, their words and actions had already hinted at part of the truth.
They had said the old arts were outdated—abandoned. And Nova… seemed to have moved on.
Furthermore, when Xu Wenbo unintentionally looked toward the distant horizon, the light in his eyes was bright—it was longing, excitement, a deep yearning.
"Supernatural power… perhaps there's another path. And the old arts have been discarded," Wang Xuan concluded after observing their behavior.