Brian Carter took an alternative shortcut, selling Earth's culture for money—a move that even the Federation government hadn't thought of.

He entered thirteen poems in a row, each one half free and half paid, setting the price at one starcoin per poem.

Shadow sighed, "One starcoin is really too cheap. Such beautiful verses should sell for at least a few hundred starcoins."

Brian Carter ignored him. This price was definitely not low. In the Earth Federation, where foreign exchange reserves were scarce, even if one starcoin could be exchanged for ten thousand Federation dollars, there would still be a huge crowd willing to pay. After all, there wasn't much currency reserve in the entire Federation—scarcity makes things precious.

At exactly one hour and fifty-nine minutes, Brian Carter shut down the computer and left the room, taking out his credit card to pay for the internet fee.

"This must be the most expensive internet café on Earth," Brian Carter thought painfully.

……

Early the next morning, Brian Carter carried his backpack to Beijing's Western Hills. According to Shadow's instructions, practicing 【Shadow of the Moon】 required a quiet natural environment, so Brian Carter chose this relatively secluded place.

The valley between two mountains was rarely visited by people, filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers. A gentle stream flowed through the valley—a perfect spot for a spring outing.

"This place is really remote. Why not practice in your consciousness space? The space you created is in no way inferior to this," Brian Carter said.

Shadow shook his head repeatedly. "That is, after all, an illusory space. The effect is much worse than here. You're just starting your cultivation—this is a critical time for building your foundation. It's safer to choose the real world," Shadow explained.

Brian Carter said nothing. As a typical grassroots person, he wasn't that particular. He put down his backpack and found a large green stone by the creek, sitting cross-legged.

"Don't cross your legs. You need to sit more naturally. As the most important practice for assassination skills, you now need to fully immerse yourself in the environment, blending with the surrounding stones and grass, becoming one with nature. This is extremely important. Assassination is all about striking unexpectedly, catching the enemy off guard—being low-key, and delivering a fatal blow!"

Brian Carter simply lay down on the green stone. It was spring, and there was still a chill in the valley. A wave of cold seeped into Brian Carter's skin from beneath him.

"Don't be afraid of the cold. It's just a sensation. You need to forget who you are, forget everything, and adjust your breathing according to the mental method I taught you. When you reach the state of selflessness, there will be no distinction between cold and heat," Shadow instructed.

Brian Carter adjusted his breathing as Shadow said, and an indescribable flow of energy began to slowly circulate along his meridians.

Gradually, the sounds around him became clearer—the rustling of wind in the leaves, the sound of flowing water, birdsong, even the sound of fish searching for food all entered his ears.

His body felt light, as if he were a falling leaf, drifting with the wind.

The warm current inside him was still beyond Brian Carter's control, like a group of nimble butterflies. The more Brian Carter tried to gather them, the more they gently evaded him.

"Don't try to control them. It's not the time yet. You need to follow their lead—wherever they go, you follow," Shadow reminded Brian Carter at the right moment.

Brian Carter did as Shadow said. It was like playing a game. This mysterious force inside him gradually became familiar with Brian Carter, and even began to actively approach him, no longer resisting as before.

Time ticked by, second by second. Brian Carter was completely immersed in a meditative state. The power within him and the subtle, chaotic sounds around him filled him with delight. Even a stone or a leaf seemed to be able to speak.

It was a wonderful feeling. Brian Carter had never been so close to nature before.

"Alright, come back," Shadow's voice sounded in Brian Carter's mind. Brian Carter reluctantly opened his eyes.

A fine drizzle was falling from the sky, and his clothes were completely soaked, though he hadn't noticed at all.

"I have to say, for a beginner, you did very well. If your speed, strength, and perception improve a bit more, you'll definitely become a terrifying assassin," Shadow said with satisfaction.

Brian Carter only felt an intense hunger in his stomach. "How long did I sit for?"

"A full three days."

"Three days!" Brian Carter was shocked. Three whole days had passed, but in his mind, it felt like only a few hours—he hadn't noticed at all.

"Pack up, let's get ready to go back. You've already mastered the basics of blending into the environment. Next, you need to practice in even more complex surroundings."

Shadow sighed inwardly, "Three days! In just three days, he's already synchronized his aura with the environment. Back then, it took me a full three months! Should I tell him he's already completed the first level of 【Shadow of the Moon】? Forget it—progressing this fast can easily make someone arrogant. Better keep it from him for now."

Taking out the food he had prepared from his backpack, Brian Carter devoured it ravenously, making Shadow drool beside him. But Shadow was just a soul—he could only stare hungrily at the food.

Neither of them knew that, at this very moment, the Endaro Star Domain poetry enthusiasts' website had already exploded.

Chapter 0007: The Eye of the Wind Ring