Translator: AkazaTL

Proofreader/Editor: JWyck

***

Chapter 268

Though it couldn’t fully train short-term visitors, it gave a solid experience, helping them adapt to different gravities.

Setting up gravity fields wasn’t hard—many Ability Users could do it. Even Endless Ability Academy had a gravity training room.

Vixi’s was special for its natural formation, rarer than artificial ones.

The academy’s gravity room was for second-years and up. Meng Huai said first-years’ bones were too fragile for heavy gravity, risking injury. The intensity was hard to balance, so first-years were exempt.

A one-off was fine, especially as they neared second year. The trio entered without hesitation.

The beach had some people—Vixi limited visitors to avoid overcrowding, not to ensure exclusivity.

A staff member led basic training. The trio exchanged glances, joining the back of the line, following along.

Moves they found easy felt alien under altered gravity, draining stamina heavily.

Stamina wasn’t the issue—balance was. Changed gravity threw off their adapted equilibrium. Standing was okay, but movement was starkly different.

Even Su Bei, physically adept, struggled initially. His strong fundamentals kept him from embarrassment.

Others weren’t so lucky—stumbling was common, with some falling hard. One person falling might be awkward, but with everyone struggling, it was just funny.

The coach, used to this, stayed professional, showing no amusement, leading drills earnestly.

Su Bei realized why laughter echoed outside—they’d arrived during a rest period, missing the chaos. Except for him, everyone, including Feng Lan and Si Zhaohua looked disheveled.

Compared to others, they did well, adapting quickly, only tripping on complex moves, mostly keeping pace.

But for Si Zhaohua, these slip-ups were intolerable. After another stumble, he snapped, “Aren't there no tricks for this?”

If mastering gravity required practice, their short time here seemed pointless. Even five days straight wouldn’t yield much.

Feng Lan pointed at Su Bei, “Ask him.”

He stumbled too but didn’t care about face, silently enduring without complaint.

Unlike them, Su Bei, after initial wobbles, moved naturally, almost like the coach. Though stronger physically, adapting this fast to a first-time gravity field was uncanny.

Si Zhaohua, seeing reason, looked at Su Bei expectantly.

Su Bei meant to shrug but found it tough—his shoulder blades creaked. Giving up, he said, “Training with weights on your body feels similar.”

He used to train with weights on his limbs and chest, mimicking gravity fields. Though he hadn’t trained this way lately, his foundation let him adapt quickly.

His method wasn’t replicable short-term. Si Zhaohua, deflated, stood aside. He considered leaving, but seeing others, worse off, persist, he couldn’t quit—it’d mean he was lesser.

Gritting his teeth, he rejoined the drills.

Su Bei, training, watched them, amused by Si Zhaohua’s struggle, “I'm done. Wanna go to the next one?”

The beach offered little training benefit for him. It was novel, sure, but gyms or the academy could replicate it. The natural field was gentler, but any field needed long-term work for results. He didn’t want to waste time.

“Let's leave!” Si Zhaohua jumped at the chance, glad for an excuse to exit.

He quickly added, covering for his eager reaction, “This beach doesn’t help us. It's better to not waste time.”

Su Bei and Feng Lan, in sync, didn’t call him out. They left together for the next project.

The first was quick; the second was a real Mental Energy booster. Vixi’s “Holy Spirit Skyward Banyan” let you meditate or use Abilities with hands on its trunk, enhancing Mental Energy.

The boost was limited—not endless, or else Vixi wouldn’t be able to protect it. But it scaled by percentage—0.1% of released Mental Energy.

It's a small increase, but for high Mental Energy users like Su Bei, even 0.01% was significant.

Feng Lan and Si Zhaohua skipped it—as they were far from their peak, it’d be wasteful. They’d wait until their mid-20s.

Others, with rare Vixi visits, did every project. Feng Lan and Si Zhaohua, confident in return trips, weren’t rushed.

Su Bei, however, would do it. His high Mental Energy was hard to improve, gained via the forum, not naturally.

Forum-boosted Mental Energy had no flaws but was tough to grow further without experience. Same for his Ability—forum-derived, his creativity lagged, though he could still tweak it via the forum.

But Mental Energy couldn’t be forum-boosted past the known high limit. He couldn’t just claim sudden jumps to classmates.

This rare chance to boost Mental Energy, especially percentage-based, was unmissable.

At the site, they gaped at the banyan—a forest in one tree. Thick pillar roots mimicked trunks, embodying “one tree, a forest.”

Looking up, a massive canopy blocked the sky, lush green. Birdsong echoed, but few birds were visible, with most nestled in the foliage.

The roots covered over 200 square meters, some above ground, thick and tangled, easy to trip over.

If that was all, it’d be notable but not unique—rainforests had similar sights. The real awe was the green light specks floating around.

Varying in size, they glowed dreamlike, even in daylight, promising a nighttime spectacle. At first, they seemed like fireflies, but up close, they were empty—when grabbing them, they dissipated, reappearing elsewhere.

The sign explained: these were Mental Energy fused with Wood Element, materialized—the key to the banyan’s boost.

Several sat under the tree, legs crossed, eyes closed, hands on the trunk. As they released Mental Energy, green specks gathered, merging, making them glow green.

Alone, it’d look funny, but here, it felt sacred. The banyan lived up to its name.

Some glowed brightly, others faintly—likely tied to Mental Energy levels.

Indeed, more released Mental Energy drew more specks, absorbed to expand capacity.

Su Bei, observing, picked a spot, sat cross-legged, and slowly released Mental Energy. Unlike the early days, he didn’t need Gears to channel it.

He drained it gradually, avoiding instant depletion and collapse. Fainting here was unacceptable, let alone uncertain absorption.

Others did the same—five or six adults slowly released Mental Energy, green specks tracking their pace.

Seeing young Su Bei, a woman kindly advised, “Kid, read the banyan’s rules? Higher Mental Energy, bigger gains. You get one shot—why waste it now?”

“Thanks,” Su Bei replied politely, “Now’s my best time.”

Maybe in the coming years his Mental Energy could grow, but not much. Better use it now for more protection in coming dangers.

Unaware, the woman thought him stubborn, frowning but saying no more. One warning was enough—she couldn’t force him.

A bald man, less patient, grumbled loudly, “Why do parents send brainless kids here? What a waste.”

Su Bei, unfazed, even amused, said, “My parents are dead.”

Bald man: “…”

Hostile stares hit him. His face reddened, like an egg to a boiled one. Stammering, he mumbled, “Sorry…”

He cursed his big mouth, exposing an orphan’s pain. He’d slap himself tonight.

The lesson silenced others, who meditated, ignoring the scene.

As time passed, they noticed something off—the blond kid hadn’t left!

The sign clearly stated the banyan’s boost excluded recovered Mental Energy. No one slowed release to drag it out—it would be pointless. Everyone’s pace was similar.

Even when faking speed, the green light didn’t lie. Su Bei glowed like a green bulb, radiating intense light, showing his vast Mental Energy.

His looks made it striking—if he was less handsome, it’d be comical.

They thought he’d burn out an hour ago, but he sat steady, with the glow intensifying, his face barely paler.

His face wouldn’t pale—high Mental Energy recovered fast. While releasing it, new energy flowed in, not matching his output but buffering it significantly.

To outsiders, it was unscientific.

How could a sub-18 kid have such Mental Energy, surpassing 30-year-olds? Even geniuses shouldn’t reach that.

Si Zhaohua and Feng Lan waited outside on chairs. Hearing whispers, Si Zhaohua asked, “How long can Su Bei stay in?”

“No idea,” Feng Lan shook his head. “I don't have any reference.”

True. Si Zhaohua dropped it, pulling a book from his storage ring.

“You know that blond guy?” The advising woman approached, curious after their talk.

Si Zhaohua and Feng Lan glanced at her, startling her. Such good looks—three in a row? If not for morals, she’d ask to sponsor them.

“Classmates,” Si Zhaohua said openly.

Classmates—so their looks made sense… or not! Was this an art school?

Suppressing her inner rant, she asked, “Is his Mental Energy high? He’s been in ages, and he's still glowing brighter.”

Another hour since she left, and he was still there.

Si Zhaohua nodded, “It's pretty high. Ask him when he’s out.”

Before Su Bei emerged, trouble hit. Two staff guarding the project fought!

Not tourists—staff.

Vixi assigned strong Ability Users to prevent disruptions.

Others expected staff to break it up, but shockingly, they didn’t. Instead, they split into sides, turning a duel into a brawl.

Onlookers: “?”

Stunned, the woman beside Si Zhaohua watched, asking uncertainly, “Is this a show?”

No show—they were fighting for real.

As their Abilities risked hitting tourists, people fled, abandoning gossip for safety.

Vixi’s guards were strong—fights were destructive, and crowds could make them reckless, risking collateral damage.

“Should we break it up?” someone asked.

Vixi visitors were powerful or influential. Influential ones fled; those left, confident in strength, considered intervening.

Another shook his head, “Bad idea. Feels like Vixi’s internal issue…”

Two guards fighting was normal—tempers flare. But escalating to a group brawl? That was odd. Were all guards irrational?

It suggested deep-seated grudges, just now erupting.

If so, outsiders shouldn’t meddle, lest good intentions backfire.

“I suggest you step in,” a playful voice came from behind.

Si Zhaohua and Feng Lan turned, surprised, “Su Bei! You’re done?”

Su Bei nodded, smiling. Facing puzzled looks, he continued, “You said it’s Vixi’s internal matter. If it affects tourists, what compensation could we get? If we ‘help’ stop their dispute, avoiding bigger losses, what reward might we earn?”

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.