"When you get back to your room, don't train for too long. Right now, your body is creating a foundation, so it's important to alternate load and rest. Let these nutrients stay in your body a little longer—it will do you good," Shen Xingyan instructed his sister after dinner, drawing upon his own experience.
In his opinion, now that they had such nutritious food, his sister didn't need to suffer as he once did, staying up late to train and excessively developing her body's potential. It was enough for her to train systematically. Besides, in the foreseeable future, his own abilities would only grow stronger, and his sister was only 13 years old—five more years remained until her Awakening. Over those five years, with his two powerful skills, he couldn't even imagine how strong he would become, or what opportunities he could provide for her. By then, reaching the maximum attributes for the Awakening would be entirely unchallenging for her, so there was no need to train so desperately now.
In response to her brother's care, Shen Xingying didn't object, only nodding quietly in agreement. However, her cunning gaze made it clear that only she knew what she would ultimately do.
Returning to his room, Shen Xingyan spent a little time digesting his food to feel more comfortable, then summoned his Star Map and connected to the Star Source world. Repeated travel between the Star Source world and reality had made the process completely habitual for Shen Xingyan. The sensation of separating his consciousness and passing through something like a black hole had turned from initial discomfort into a routine. He had even developed several different ways of "landing," adding a bit of entertainment to the process.
This time, Shen Xingyan appeared in the cultivation space in a completely ordinary posture. The small skeletons, waiting at the edge of the field for prompts from the Star Source, noticed him and immediately headed toward him.
Shen Xingyan gave a slight nod and, without delay, immediately summoned his fourteenth small skeleton. The small skeleton that appeared under their gaze shook its head curiously, then looked at its master, instinctively expecting a command to "fight."
Wangcai, it seemed, was already used to this routine. Usually, before Shen Xingyan even had time to say anything, he would already walk up to the new skeleton and begin his usual training job.
This time was no exception—Shen Xingyan hadn't said a word, yet Wangcai was already dragging the newcomer off to training.
Shen Xingyan was no longer surprised by his Wangcai's peculiarities. After all, this was Wangcai—his first small skeleton, and the one who had been with him the longest. When he did something incomprehensible but extremely convenient for the daily work, Shen Xingyan could only be pleased.
Soon after, the cooldown on Shen Xingyan's professional skill was completed. Over these few days, the effect of the 4% reduction in the professional skill's cooldown time had become noticeable—it could be seen by the shortening of Shen Xingyan's evening training time after dinner. Now, the activation times for his two powerful skills roughly coincided.
"It would be great if the cooldown time on my innate talent also shortened, like the professional skill's. Then the number of summoned skeletons would grow faster, and even if the land expanded, with enough skeletons, I'd just need to come here, use the two skills, and the job would be done!" Shen Xingyan thought, looking at his professional skill.
Reflecting on this, he didn't waste time—he equipped the Beginner's Staff and mentally began to activate his professional skill. As all the Original Energy in his body was set in motion, he felt it flowing inside him again. Although the sensation wasn't as intense as using the Insight skill in reality due to the nature of virtual perception, it still made him more familiar with the use of Original Energy.
When 25 points of energy were channeled onto the five mu of land, the wheat and potatoes began to grow rapidly. The fourteen small skeletons surrounding Shen Xingyan, under Wangcai's leadership, dispersed very organizedly to their predetermined plots. With their limited intelligence, they understood that when their master took out this little stick, a period of intensive work began. Instead of sitting around and waiting for an "enemy" to appear, they decided to adopt a strategy of active action.
Completing the activation of his professional skill, Shen Xingyan nodded in satisfaction, observing the vigorous growth of the wheat and potatoes. Although he had seen this scene many times before, it still seemed beautiful to him. Watching the small skeletons take up their positions even before the Star Source prompts appeared, he couldn't help but smile.
"Maybe I'm being too cruel? Forcing such small skeletons to learn the hardships of life too early—they're already looking for work themselves. This is wrong!" Shen Xingyan pretentiously criticized himself, shaking his head.
But if he were given the chance to start all over, he would do exactly the same, blaming everything on mysterious and incomprehensible fate.
While Shen Xingyan was musing, the Star Source prompts seemed to wake up and began to "attack" him and his small skeletons once more.
The result was predictable—with Shen Xingyan, there were 15 workers, three for each mu of land, allowing them to handle the tasks without problems. Even under the barrage of Star Source prompts, they worked without the slightest sign of panic.
After two-plus hours of work, seeing that the flow of prompts had significantly weakened, Shen Xingyan left his agricultural team and returned to reality to continue his training.
Returning to the real world after two hours of work, Shen Xingyan didn't look tired at all. On the contrary, he was full of energy and enthusiasm. If the food in the real world gave his body physical energy, the cultivation space in the Star Source world, with its constant atmosphere of hope, provided spiritual nourishment.
This was the strength that confidence gave him. Although in the real world he was currently like an ant, and it seemed that no matter how much he trained, he would still ultimately be crushed by the powerful people of the world. But as long as he held onto that confidence, he had the motivation and the hope to gradually climb his way up. And this hope grew stronger with every step forward.
Thanks to this driving force, Shen Xingyan's movements during his physical training became more and more powerful and energetic.