Chapter 115: Setting Off Fireworks

Ulysses continued, “Student Luo Chen, forgive my boldness, but may I ask what this combat technique is called? Who taught it to you, or rather, under whose guidance did you learn it? You may choose not to answer if you prefer; I won’t mind, haha…”

Inquiring about the origins of someone’s private combat technique is considered quite impolite, which is why Ulysses added the last two sentences.

Although Luo Chen was able to replicate the Radiant Starburst exactly, Ulysses knew that Luo Chen’s method must differ from his own. Given Luo Chen’s abilities, it was impossible for him to unleash it as casually as Ulysses could.

Despite the Butcher’s instructions for Luo Chen to keep this a secret, the man before him was no ordinary person but a supreme being—the Celestial Ulysses. As a Celestial of the Sacred Realm, Ulysses bore no ulterior motives toward the Radiant Starburst. His question was surely meant to guide and assist. Even if the Butcher were to find out, he would understand.

Opportunities to receive guidance from a Celestial were rare indeed. With this in mind, Luo Chen replied, “It was Instructor Butcher who taught me. This combat technique is called Radiant Starburst. It is one of the psychic combat arts. Each person’s psychic combat arts differ…”

Luo Chen briefly explained the principle behind psychic combat arts. After listening, Ulysses nodded appreciatively. “I never expected that rough soldier to have conceived such a marvelous, original combat technique—a true stroke of fortune!”

He paused, then added, “However, even if you taught this method to ten million people, few would be able to create their own psychic combat arts. It’s simply too difficult.”

Ulysses’ words echoed what the Butcher had told Luo Chen, only more exaggerated. The Butcher had said it was a one-in-a-million chance; Ulysses inflated that to one in ten million. As a Celestial, he was entitled to such certainty.

“I’m truly impressed you mastered a psychic combat art in such a short time. You’re an exception. To be honest, I cannot guide you on how to cultivate this technique, because if I tried your method, I wouldn’t be able to produce the Radiant Starburst either.”

The Radiant Starburst Ulysses unleashed was driven by the body channeling spiritual energy. His physical form had been refined to resonate deeply with the sacred power of light. Luo Chen, however, activated spiritual energy through the mind, making their approaches fundamentally different.

Luo Chen felt a hint of disappointment upon hearing this. Ulysses continued, “But I’ve noticed you don’t yet know how to control this technique. Once released, you must expend all your strength, right? Techniques that cannot regulate their power always harbor fatal weaknesses. If you face many opponents instead of just one, unless you defeat them all at once, even one survivor spells trouble. Moreover, after unleashing the Radiant Starburst at full power, you become too weak to defend yourself.”

Luo Chen nodded. “Yes, Director, this is exactly what I need to focus on in my training from now on.”

“Although I can’t teach you how to cultivate psychic combat arts, I do have considerable experience in controlling the strength of spirit energy releases. If you wish, I can make time to instruct you.”

Overjoyed, Luo Chen quickly expressed his gratitude. “Thank you so much, Director Ulysses!”

“Ha, you’re welcome, you’re welcome. Now, besides that, your combat technique has another weakness.”

“What weakness?”

“Too much dispersion of power!” Ulysses explained. “Don’t be fooled by how many meteor-like energy streams you release at once. Though the area covered is vast and spectacular, the force is scattered. Against an opponent of the caliber we just saw, it poses no real threat. If you could concentrate all those dispersed energies into a single point, your damage output would increase greatly. Like this…”

As he spoke, a brilliant white light burst forth from Ulysses’ hand, mirroring the initial motion of the Radiant Starburst. A single streak of white light shot into the night sky like a meteor racing toward the moon, exploding dramatically some fifty or sixty meters above. Countless white sparks scattered outward like blooming fireworks, breathtaking and magnificent.

Nearly everyone outdoors at Blue Emperor Academy noticed the dazzling light and tilted their heads to watch the night sky, wondering what had occurred.

The tutors who witnessed the scene simultaneously paled, recognizing it as the Sacred Spirit Energy of Director Ulysses himself.

Had something happened to the director? Without exception, the tutors hurried toward the spot where Ulysses had unleashed the white light.

Luo Chen, who had seen the attack with his own eyes, was stunned. The assault was overwhelmingly powerful—not only swift beyond measure but also reaching an attack distance of fifty to sixty meters!

“See that?” Ulysses chuckled. “A level-five spiritual energy punch has an effective range of about ten meters before the energy dissipates. Your Radiant Starburst reaches a bit farther—about fifteen meters. But if you condense all those meteor-like energy streams into a single point, at your current spirit energy level, you could strike as far as thirty meters. Moreover, with such concentrated spirit energy, this move’s penetration would increase significantly. When the energy dissipates, it could even cause an explosion. The sacred energy released during the blast adds extra damage. This way, your combat technique would see a marked improvement in both range and destructive power.”

Luo Chen nodded. “Yes, Director, you’re right. In a one-on-one fight, concentrated force is naturally more threatening than dispersed force.”

“Exactly. I’ve also developed some insights into controlling energy dispersion. I’ll teach you those too, but you’ll need to practice until these methods become as natural as breathing. Only then can you reach a state of complete immersion.”

At this point, Ulysses suddenly said, “Hmm, someone’s coming. Luo Chen, you should leave for now. Don’t mention what just happened to anyone. Come see me in my office every Saturday night. Also, it’s best you avoid secluded areas within the academy for a while.”

“Understood, Director!” Luo Chen bowed deeply before quickly departing. After releasing the Radiant Starburst, he still had some mobility, but he would start to weaken in half an hour. Tonight, further training was impossible; it was better to return to his dormitory early.

Shortly after Luo Chen left, numerous tutors rushed to the scene. Seeing Ulysses, they anxiously asked, “Director, are you alright?”

Feigning ignorance, Ulysses replied, “Of course I’m fine. What could possibly be wrong with me?”

One tutor said, “But we saw the sacred technique you used just now and thought you were under attack!”

“Oh, that?” Ulysses chuckled. “Relax, relax. I was just bored and wanted to set off some fireworks for fun.”

“Fireworks?” The tutors nearly fainted hearing this. The director had unleashed sacred spirit energy purely for entertainment, causing them to fear something serious had happened. The director was truly reckless.

There is an old tale from before the ancient civilization known as ‘Lighting Beacons to Play with the Lords.’ What the director did was much the same.

“Ha ha, sorry to make you all rush here for nothing. Disperse now; get back to your duties. Shoo!” With that, Ulysses vanished like a wisp of white light.

The tutors left, each harboring their own grievances, and everything quickly returned to normal as if nothing had occurred.