PCJ – Chapter 503 It’s All the True Words’ Fault

Lu Cunyang was deeply shaken. The six-syllable mantra that Zhang Jiaohua recited wasn’t a profound cultivation technique; it was a commonly known mantra that could be found in many places. However, he had never heard it explained in such a simple and accessible way. Back then, if he had encountered such a straightforward version, he wouldn’t have spent so much time and effort struggling with it. Now, realizing it could have been this simple, he felt as though all his past suffering had been in vain. It was a bizarre sensation. But how did Zhang Jiaohua know all this?

At that moment, Lu Cunyang recalled Chen Hongyi’s earlier advice to pay more attention to Zhang Jiaohua. Clearly, his own judgment had been lacking. What the captain could discern at a glance, he had completely overlooked. Beyond Zhang Jiaohua’s evident depth in cultivation, his own underestimation of these high school students was to blame. Could it be that this entire military training exercise was orchestrated solely for this one person?

Li Chuyi, similarly, hadn’t noticed anything particularly extraordinary about Zhang Jiaohua. However, her admiration and unwavering trust in Chen Hongyi meant she took his words to heart without question. Hearing Zhang Jiaohua explain the six-syllable mantra more thoroughly than even the captain, it became evident that Zhang Jiaohua’s understanding of it surpassed that of Chen Hongyi.

Most of the students in Zhang Jiaohua’s class, apart from a few like Zhou Qimu, greatly benefited from the mantra. Initially, they approached it with skepticism or merely for fun. Yet, as they practiced the mantra, the discomfort of standing in military posture miraculously disappeared, and their exhaustion seemed to vanish as well.

“Wow, it actually works,” someone whispered.

“Yeah, I thought he was just joking at first.”

“Maybe it’s just a psychological effect. Chanting the mantra distracts your attention from the military posture, so it doesn’t feel as painful.”

“No, that’s not it. At first, I felt like my body wasn’t my own and could collapse any moment. But now, it feels like my soul has returned to my body.”

Xu Xiaoting was equally astonished. She had tried the mantra half-heartedly but found it genuinely effective. Previously, she was severely dehydrated and nearly fainted, yet now her strength seemed to be gradually recovering. While her dehydration hadn’t improved, she could at least hold out until the end of the posture training.

“Stop talking and focus on practicing what Zhang Jiaohua said. It’s for your own good,” Lu Cunyang instructed. Though it was the simplest breathing technique, it was immensely beneficial for ordinary people—better than consuming ginseng or other supplements. If practiced consistently, it could even extend one’s lifespan, as it harmonized with the natural laws of the universe.

Lu Cunyang chose not to over-explain to this curious group of students, though their aptitude for learning surprised him. Despite their lack of physical labor skills and general cluelessness, their intellectual abilities were undeniable. Their comprehension speed was even higher than that of new recruits in the army. Though Zhang Jiaohua’s explanation of the six-syllable mantra was clear, their quick grasp of it was remarkable.

Zhang Jiaohua, too, gained a newfound respect for his classmates. He hadn’t expected them to pick up on the key aspects of the mantra so quickly.

Suddenly, a thud echoed as someone collapsed.

“You idiot!” Lu Cunyang cursed and hurried toward the source of the sound. Though the military posture training wasn’t over, someone had already dropped out, even after practicing the six-syllable mantra. “Are you a pig? If you grasped even a bit of it, couldn’t you hold out a little longer?”

Despite his reprimand, Lu Cunyang wasn’t overly concerned as he calmly approached.

“Officer, Zhou Qimu has fainted!” a nearby student reported.

Zhou Qimu’s collapse caused a stir among the students.

“Why are you panicking? What a weakling, unable to endure for even this short time. The rest of you, continue. I’ll handle this!” Lu Cunyang said dismissively, accustomed to such situations. However, in the army, soldiers weren’t as fragile as Zhou Qimu. The training time here had already been significantly shortened compared to that of new recruits, yet Zhou couldn’t last even this long—despite the advantage of the six-syllable mantra.

After tending to Zhou Qimu and moving him to a shaded area, Lu Cunyang scolded, “You’re utterly pathetic, not even as good as the girls in your class. Look at them—not one has collapsed.”

Zhou Qimu glanced at his classmates in disbelief. Indeed, none of the girls had fallen; in fact, they seemed energized. This stark contrast left him speechless.

“Could the six-syllable mantra really work?” Zhou Qimu wondered. Unfortunately, he hadn’t paid attention when Zhang Jiaohua was explaining it. Now he regretted not listening and couldn’t try it secretly.

Time passed, and Lu Cunyang still hadn’t called for a break. He believed the students hadn’t yet reached their limits and could handle the full training regimen for new recruits.

Meanwhile, Li Chuyi, noticing that some students were already struggling, walked over. “Cunyang, why haven’t you stopped yet? Time’s up.”

“They can still manage,” Lu Cunyang replied with a grin.

Seeing the students’ surprising resilience, Li Chuyi was amazed. “How can the six-syllable mantra be this effective?”

Li Chuyi, familiar with the mantra, knew it typically didn’t produce such outstanding results. These students, with their weaker physiques compared to new recruits, had far exceeded expectations.

The other instructors soon took notice, feeling embarrassed by the stark difference. “Look at yourselves! The same freshmen, yet their endurance is double yours, and none of them has collapsed. Stand up, all of you! Don’t make me lose face!” they barked at their students, who lacked the six-syllable mantra.

The school teachers, however, grew uneasy, fearing the intense training might harm their precious students. Li Kunde, a teacher, reluctantly approached Chen Hongyi to negotiate. “Captain Chen, we can’t push the students this hard. If anything happens, we can’t bear the responsibility!”

Chen Hongyi maintained a polite yet firm stance. “We’ll address the school’s concerns and ensure proper oversight. But military training is a fundamental aspect of national defense education. We’ve noticed that your school’s students have significant physical shortcomings due to years of inadequate training. This isn’t a small issue.”

Faced with this logic, Li Kunde was left speechless. National defense education was indeed critical, and the school had neglected its responsibilities.

Later, when Chen Hongyi investigated the situation, he discovered that Zhang Jiaohua’s “six-syllable mantra” was the root cause of the anomaly. Summoning Zhang Jiaohua, he remarked, “You’ve really caused a big stir this time.”

Zhang Jiaohua replied calmly, “It’s not my fault your instructors overdid it.”

“But if you hadn’t casually taught the mantra, this wouldn’t have happened,” Chen Hongyi said with a smile that didn’t reveal his true intentions.

“You should blame Officer Lu for that. He asked me to share my ‘secret’ with my classmates,” Zhang Jiaohua countered.

“Still, now that the situation has escalated, you need to help resolve it,” Chen Hongyi said.

“That’s rich! You’re pinning the blame on a student for your instructors’ actions? Have I ever disobeyed orders or slacked off during training?” Zhang Jiaohua retorted.

Left speechless, Chen Hongyi eventually smiled and said, “You’re truly a top student. Let’s not beat around the bush—I know all about you. We came to this school for you. You have extraordinary talent, and it shouldn’t go to waste. Take this six-syllable mantra, for example. I understand it too, but I could never explain it so clearly or help a whole class grasp it so quickly. That’s why I need your help.”