After returning from the hospital, Chen Fan felt exhausted but invigorated. The diagnosis of Wang Linhai's condition confirmed the System's unique insights and the necessity of his cultivation. He knew he was on the right path. The promise of the Mid-Grade Healing Art and a Golden Core Cultivation Technique Fragment was a huge motivator.
He immediately retrieved the Aptitude Opening Pill from his Cosmos Bag. The pill glowed faintly with a soft, jade-green light, exuding a subtle, refreshing aroma that instantly cleared his mind.
"Keng! Does Host wish to consume the Aptitude Opening Pill?"
"Consume," Chen Fan commanded. He placed the pill on his tongue. It dissolved instantly, turning into a warm current that spread throughout his body.
The sensation was profound. Unlike spiritual energy absorption, which strengthened his meridians, the Aptitude Opening Pill seemed to awaken something dormant within him. He felt tiny, almost imperceptible points along his limbs and torso begin to throb gently, then open. These were the hidden acupoints, now being stimulated and expanded.
Spiritual qi from the environment, previously absorbed through his main meridians, now surged into these newly opened acupoints. His body felt like a sponge, soaking up the ambient spiritual qi at an astonishing rate.
"Keng! Host has successfully consumed the Aptitude Opening Pill! All hidden acupoints have been opened!"
"Spiritual Qi Absorption Rate: Greatly Increased!"
"Cultivation Speed: Significantly Boosted!"
"Initial-Grade Heavenly Eye Technique: Enhanced to Mid-Grade Heavenly Eye Technique!"
"Special Note: Due to the enhancement of spiritual perception and a deeper connection to the spiritual world, Host may experience unexpected 'side effects' in perception. Please adapt accordingly."
Chen Fan stood up, feeling a wave of exhilaration. His body felt lighter, more attuned to the world. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The spiritual qi in the apartment, normally a subtle presence, now felt like a rich, tangible essence, flowing directly into his being. His cultivation speed had indeed skyrocketed!
Then, the "side effect" hit.
He opened his eyes. The world seemed... brighter. Not just visually, but in terms of energy. He could see faint auras around objects, subtle currents of spiritual qi in the air, even the minute energy fluctuations in living beings. It was like his senses had been upgraded to a higher dimension.
He looked at his hand. He could see the intricate network of his own meridians, the flow of spiritual qi within them. He glanced at the potted plant on his desk; he could perceive its life force, the gentle spiritual qi it absorbed from the soil.
This was the Mid-Grade Heavenly Eye Technique! It was more than just seeing through objects; it was perceiving the underlying spiritual reality.
But then, an unexpected detail caught his eye. He looked at the wall, and through it, he could vaguely perceive the spiritual qi signature of his neighbors, Liu Mei and Xiao Yun. Their auras were warm and gentle, but Xiao Yun's aura... it had a peculiar flickering, like a faint, unstable candle flame. It wasn't chaotic or harmful, but it suggested a delicate, somewhat fragile constitution.
Interesting...
He then looked further, trying to extend his senses beyond his apartment. He could feel the faint echoes of the bustling city's spiritual energy, a chaotic symphony of human emotions and technological hum. It was a lot to take in.
He tried to focus, to filter out the unnecessary information. It was like suddenly being able to hear every conversation in a crowded room. His brain needed to adapt.
"This is indeed an 'unexpected side effect'," Chen Fan muttered to himself. He would need time to master this enhanced perception. While incredibly powerful for cultivation and understanding the world, it could also be overwhelming if not controlled.
He sat back down, beginning to meditate to consolidate his new gains and practice filtering the sensory overload. His priority was still Wang Linhai's cure. He now possessed a much stronger Heavenly Eye Technique, which would be crucial for the precise manipulation of spiritual energy required to clear her blockage.
The next day, he would return to the hospital. With his enhanced abilities, he was confident he could make significant progress.
But the subtle flickering in Xiao Yun's aura lingered in his mind. He didn't want to meddle in his neighbor's affairs without cause, but his new perception made it hard to ignore. For now, he would focus on Wang Linhai.