There are five grades, each divided into three levels, making a total of fifteen levels.

The five major grades are Human, Earth, Heaven, Saint, and God, each with three levels. The more extraordinary the cultivation technique, the more efficiently it can absorb stellar source energy during practice—and the difference is staggering.

Simply put, with the same talent and environment, if one person cultivates a top-tier God-grade technique—the very best—while another practices a low-tier Human-grade technique—the very worst—their efficiency could differ by dozens of times. What the former achieves in one year, the latter might not reach in decades.

Of course, the differences between techniques are reflected in other aspects as well, but even just this is enough to astonish people.

Among the dozens of techniques left behind by Slaughter that he has maintained and practiced so far, the worst is a level-three technique, upper Human-grade, while the best is upper Saint-grade. Most of the twelve-level techniques are clearly marked with their grade, but this particular technique, which is initiated through a mysterious breathing rhythm, has no grade indicated. It was already like this when Slaughter obtained it. He tried cultivating it but gave up after a while, because when he acquired this technique, Slaughter was already a supreme powerhouse, and the source energy cultivated from this technique conflicted with his original one.

Although this is an unnamed technique, Brian Carter is certain that its grade is not low. It can actually absorb stellar source energy from the sun on Earth, even across countless distances—it's simply unbelievable.

Perhaps even Saint-grade techniques don't have this ability.

Or maybe this is a technique born specifically to absorb stellar source energy from stars, the kind practiced by alien races living within stars?

Because the memory is incomplete, the recollection of how this technique was obtained is also fragmented. Brian Carter thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure it out. Soon, he put it out of his mind and focused wholeheartedly on his breathing.

This technique is incredibly useful to him—not only can it make him stronger, but it also brings unparalleled benefits to his current job. In summer, any outdoor worker probably wishes they could avoid the sun's exposure at all times.

Now, suddenly, he can rely on this technique to no longer fear sunlight, and can even absorb sunlight to use as a resource to grow stronger. He was so excited he didn't know how to describe it.

In this state, his work efficiency was doubled, and he no longer had to endure the torment of the scorching sun.

Focusing on breathing in that musical rhythm, Brian Carter couldn't even be bothered to take the bus. He lifted his feet and walked under the blazing sun, his heart full of excitement.

Chapter 008: The Six Movements of the Soul Symphony

Seven days later.

As night fell and a full moon slowly rose, under the moonlight atop a nine-story urban village apartment building in Shancheng, because of the intense heat, people would sometimes bring a bamboo mat to the rooftop to catch the night breeze and rest.

But tonight, although the moonlight was beautiful, the air was oppressively hot and completely still, causing those who planned to rest on the rooftop to gradually disperse.

By around ten o'clock, only one figure remained on the rooftop, lying motionless on a bamboo mat. At first glance, it looked as if he was sound asleep, but gradually, a faint, barely audible symphony—seemingly played by many wonderful instruments—began to rise.

The melody was beautiful and enchanting, ethereal and pure, as if it originated from the underworld and soared straight to the heavens, permeating the entire world. If one calmed their mind and listened closely, it was easy to become completely tranquil, lost and intoxicated.

As the music played, the figure lying on the mat was gradually covered by a layer of black liquid. Layer upon layer of black, foul-smelling, fishy liquid oozed from his body, drop by drop, covering him completely.

It wasn't until the full moon in the sky gradually set and disappeared at the edge of the horizon that the ethereal, enchanting music lingering on the rooftop abruptly ceased. The figure who had been sleeping there suddenly sat up, his eyes shining with a sharp light. As he clenched his fists, a series of crisp cracking sounds came from his bones.

"Absorbing stellar source energy, playing the soul symphony—Skin Movement, Muscle Movement, Organ Movement, Bloodline Movement, Bone Movement, and finally evolving into the Soul Movement. I can't believe it only took me seven days to go from beginner to the Skin Movement stage."

Just seven days, with sunshine every day, absorbing stellar source energy under the sun through that wonderful breathing rhythm—Brian Carter hadn't expected to reach the threshold of the Skin Movement stage so quickly.

That scroll of technique from Slaughter's memory uses breathing rhythms to draw stellar source energy into the body, washing and tempering the physique. This is the entry stage. After entry, the breathing rhythm drives all the hair and skin to play a soul symphony. At this point, whenever the practitioner uses that breathing rhythm to absorb stellar source energy, all the hair and skin on the body will tremble in sync with the breath, playing along with the rhythm.

At this stage, every pore, every hair and inch of skin is absorbing stellar source energy, constantly tempering and strengthening itself.

The next stage is the Muscle Movement, where all the muscles of the body play the symphony under the guidance of the breathing rhythm. After that, all the organs join in, being tempered together. Then comes the bloodline and bones, until finally reaching the Soul Movement.

Once the Soul Movement is achieved, with every breath, every part of the practitioner's body—including the soul itself—will, under the influence of the absorbed stellar source energy and its constant tempering, play the most beautiful music in the world.