Chapter 132: Mathematical Rhetoric, Both at the Second Level!

The Tumubao Space City was bustling, with people coming and going. The simulated sun rose, radiated light and heat, and then set. The entire dome of Tumubao had been upgraded with special optical projection components, ensuring that no matter where one stood within the space city, the "sun" appeared at the exact same angle.

It was as if it were identical to the sunrise and sunset on Earth.

The "Iron Tyrant" imperial suite, located in the Mu-Yuan District Orphanage, occupied one of the spots with the best natural lighting in the entire building. Sunlight filtered through the balcony window, neither too large nor too small, casting a bright band of light into the bedroom. As time passed, this band climbed from the wall onto the foot of the bed, then swept toward the headboard.

The massive figure on the bed remained motionless. A closer look, however, revealed the eyeballs beneath his eyelids twitching incessantly—a sign that his spirit was running at high speed within the depths of a dream. When the light from the simulated sun swept to the headboard and shone directly upon his eyelids, the giant suddenly opened his eyes, a faint, ethereal radiance seemingly radiating from within them.

The second-tier secret manuals for Basic Mathematics and Basic Rhetoric had been completely memorized!

He had not only grasped the secrets but had also received precise and exhaustive guidance from the peerless master in his dream. This allowed Shi Tiexin to fully master every hurdle, detail, trap, and trick of the second-tier manual.

This was a state far more formidable than simple comprehension; it was even more powerful than being carried by the academic champion "Shi."

This time, the wisdom of the academic champion Shi and the wisdom of Shi Tiexin had overlapped and combined, both cultivating under the guidance of the peerless master. The champion reviewed the old, while Shi Tiexin grasped the new; the effect was nothing short of terrifying.

As Shi Tiexin suddenly snapped his eyes open, he reached a point where he was overwhelmed by an irresistible urge to act. The sensation of a breakthrough surged forth, impossible to suppress. There was no struggle, no forced effort. In an instant, Shi Tiexin understood the secret to the breakthrough that Si Chongtian had spoken of: when the foundation is solid enough, failure is impossible.

So, what was there to wait for?

Break through...

Break through—

Break through!!

Whoosh! The Nian-energy in his mind boiled. The Nian-energy zones for Mathematics and Rhetoric simultaneously erupted with brilliance. Surging Nian-energy spilled out from the cerebral cortex where it had first been born, flooding toward the neighboring sulci like a burst dam.

At the same time, a massive change occurred within Shi Tiexin’s field of vision.

A clear sky suddenly appeared, with four stars hanging high in the firmament. Among them, the two stars representing Basic Rhetoric and Basic Mathematics suddenly burst into golden light. Two blinding golden pillars, like starship cannons firing from the heavens, slammed into Shi Tiexin’s heart with an unstoppable, ferocious momentum.

*Buzz.* A ringing sound filled his ears—a neurological reaction to the rapid expansion of Nian-energy, causing his eardrums to throb and his head to swim.

*Flash.* A dazzling glare appeared before his eyes—an overload of special effects in his vision system; the light pollution was so severe he wanted to shut down his graphics card.

But beyond the ringing and past the effects, a strange sensation blended and burst forth.

Shi Tiexin sensed a barrier—a barrier similar to a "Perfect Wall."

Was this the hurdle one faces when breaking through a minor realm? It was said that this barrier was quite difficult to deal with, requiring every effort and repeated attempts to pierce through. If the breakthrough failed, the overflowing Nian-energy would backflow. Depending on the amount of backflow, it could cause injuries of varying severity, and in serious cases, it could leave one acting like an idiot for days.

The internet was not without articles on overcoming such hurdles, though these posts always pointed toward expensive private educational institutions, which only went to show how difficult the barrier was.

Yet, Shi Tiexin felt it was nothing like what the internet described.

Compared to the "Perfect Wall," this barrier felt too thin, too weak, and too fragile to withstand any real effort. The moment he noticed its existence, it shattered like a film, blasted apart by the surging force of his breakthrough. In the blink of an eye, not even a scrap remained; it had vanished completely.

If anyone were to ask Shi Tiexin what to watch out for when breaking through a hurdle, he would likely have nothing to say, because could that pathetic little film even be considered a challenge? There was simply nothing to note.

Once the hurdle was broken, the Nian-energy spreading through his brain instantly stabilized.

The energy that had been rampaging in other brain sulci was suddenly accepted by them, permeating the folds like fertilizer and water, silently and imperceptibly strengthening the activity, reaction speed, and sharpness of his nerves from the foundation up.

At the same time, the conflict of the Nian-energy completely subsided, and his throbbing eardrums stopped ringing. The excessive effects before his eyes dissipated rapidly, and a few lines of text appeared on the re-emerging vision system.

[Basic Mathematics cultivation realm upgraded to the second tier.]

[Basic Rhetoric cultivation realm upgraded to the second tier.]

"Special celebration for Big Brother Shi for successfully achieving the second tier in both Basic Arts subjects!" A flashy banner was inevitably present. This time, not only was the calligraphy written in a bold, sweeping hand, but the banner was also draped in red silk and decorated with a massive, festive, and rustic red flower. It hung steadily, swaying rhythmically as the board moved.

Looking at this ridiculous banner, Shi Tiexin could not help but feel excited.

Rustic? What did "rustic" matter? This was exactly the kind of red silk and red flower he wanted! Finally, the second tier. Finally, the second tier! Although the breakthrough process had been so smooth and simple—one could say it was entirely without a hitch—Shi Tiexin still felt a joy that threatened to overflow.

But as the saying goes, "blessings do not come in pairs, but disasters never come alone"—bah, why be so ominous? This time there was no disaster, only one surprise after another.

Just as Shi Tiexin thought it was all over, he didn't expect there to be more in store.

The cultivation progress bars for Basic Mathematics and Basic Rhetoric suddenly appeared, looking quite desolate in their emptiness. However, Shi Tiexin noticed that although they were empty, these progress bars were different from those of the first tier.

Perhaps because he had the perfect first tier as a foundation, the edges of this progress bar shimmered with a faint, golden hue!

Although he didn't see any specific prompts for further advancement, Shi Tiexin instinctively understood that because his first-tier foundation was perfect, his second tier was inherently different from a second tier built on an imperfect foundation.

The surprises hadn't stopped. Two massive "Enlightenment" badges suddenly popped out of the void, and two arrogant *Qigong* waves slammed into the progress bars. The empty bars instantly became vigorous and active, extending forward amidst crackling sparks.

It wasn't over yet!

Two more badges appeared out of thin air, in a style Shi Tiexin had never seen before. These new badges also featured a dignified circular pattern on the outside, but inside, they were inscribed with the character "Master."

Shi Tiexin realized at once that the "meticulous guidance from the peerless master" had generated a special effect, aiding in the advancement of his second-tier cultivation progress.