Through years of interaction with extraterrestrials, twenty-sixth-century human technology had reached incredible heights, especially in the military sector; humanity’s cutting-edge achievements were invariably first applied to defense.
The shield enveloping Titan’s Light was a prime example. This shield was energetic, not physical, initially designed to ward off laser fire, artillery, and missiles. It wasn't until nearly fifty years later that it was adapted for colony protection.
It effectively blocked harmful cosmic rays, regulated the exchange of internal and external atmospheres, and offered other advantages too numerous to list here.
The shield kept the city of Titan’s Light secure. Had it failed during the central air conditioning malfunction, the interior atmosphere would have assimilated with the outside within ten minutes, instantly plummeting to minus 150 degrees Celsius!
The exit route was a tunnel approximately fifty meters long, sealed by a gate at each end. To leave the city, one had to open the inner gate, enter the tunnel, wait for the inner gate to close, and then the outer gate would open. This process was essential to prevent the frigid outside air from rushing in.
When Yang Ying arrived at the North Gate tunnel, four Psionists, including Master Pang Qian, along with four special forces squads—a total of about one hundred people—were already waiting. They chatted casually, smiles occasionally gracing their faces, suggesting little concern for the mission ahead.
The military environment suits issued for this deployment were uniformly pure white, providing the best camouflage in the frigid external environment.
The means of transport were also white military magnetic-energy motorcycles, lined up beside them. Compared to civilian models, the military versions offered superior stability, greater speed, and could operate reliably in all manner of severe conditions.
Seeing Yang Ying arrive, Master Pang Qian surveyed the group and called out loudly, “Attention everyone! We are all present. Check your gear now and prepare for departure!”
“Yes!” The crowd immediately sprang into action.
Master Pang Qian pointed to an empty motorcycle and said to Yang Ying, “This one’s for you. The side-car contains provisions. Check if anything is missing, and if you’re unsure, ask Wen Yang. Once outside, follow all commands; do not act unilaterally.”
“I understand, Master. I certainly won’t cause any trouble for the team.”
Yang Ying bowed slightly and opened the compartment on his motorcycle. The provisions consisted of various compressed rations and survival gear like tents. A checklist was inside for him to reference, making the verification process straightforward.
Weapons were carried personally. After everyone finished inspecting their equipment, they mounted their motorcycles, started the engines, and entered a ready state.
“Move out!” Master Pang Qian commanded, and the entire contingent sped toward the northern mountain range.
Titan possesses no vegetation, thus it has no soil. The surface of Titan barely has any exposed rock; the northern mountains were, in fact, colossal icebergs.
Ten minutes later, the team reached the Anad Canyon. Traces of the fierce battle from a week prior had not yet faded, with dozens of giant beasts still lying motionless in the icy chasm.
Yang Ying surveyed the scene. Half of the behemoths here were Woolly Mammoths, five stories tall. There were also several slightly smaller giant polar bears, saber-toothed tigers towering two stories high, and two-story-tall giant crabs. The centipede Yang Ying had dispatched earlier seemed like a dwarf compared to these creatures. Of course, the centipede’s greatest weapon was its venom, not its size, so its capacity for harm was not inferior.
These corpses were riddled with massive wounds, three to five meters in diameter, penetrating deep enough to expose bone—clearly the result of heavy artillery or rocket fire.
The special forces members dispersed to search for clues; this was their specialized task. Yang Ying didn’t understand it, so he stood by and watched.
Master Pang Qian stretched, loosening his limbs, and walked over. “Yang Ying, the scene assessment will take about an hour. There’s nothing for us to do here. I’ll use the time to explain the principles of Psionic cultivation and application to you.”
“Please, Master, I am eager to learn,” Yang Ying replied respectfully.
In the preceding days, Yang Ying had devoured the biographies of several Psionic Masters, fully grasping that every Psionic Master was an individual whose wisdom and conviction were impeccable, far surpassing ordinary people.
They shouldered a series of responsibilities and obligations, contributing immeasurable strength to warfare, yet they lived lives of ascetic simplicity. Yang Ying’s first reaction after reading their histories was that a Psionic Master’s life was too arduous, yet he conceded that these individuals deserved profound respect.
“Psionic power is the power of intent. Intent is conceived in the mind; therefore, the use and training of Psionic power rely entirely on thinking!” Master Pang Qian pointed to his head.
“Thinking? How do I think?” Yang Ying was confused.
“Think with focus, devote your entire being to one thought—that is concentration. Thinking about anything else is mental noise! Mental noise degrades your Psionic ability, preventing you from achieving your full potential,” Master Pang Qian stated with a serious expression.
“Concentration. I can do that,” Yang Ying felt confident about this aspect.
“Don’t be so quick to assume!” Master Pang Qian shook his finger. “I know you once single-handedly eliminated an Ape-man. Back then, you must have discarded all distractions, thinking only of survival, which allowed you to concentrate. But that was pure, instinctual self-preservation. What if the Ape-man hadn’t put that much pressure on you, failing to ignite your will to live? What then? Must you always be on the verge of death to unleash your full strength?”
“That makes sense,” Yang Ying admitted the logic.
“Therefore, you must train concentration, so you can exert your full power even in ordinary environments. This training has no end; even if you become a Master-level Psionicist in the future, you must continue to practice. Every extra moment of practice yields an extra gain. Watch me.”
Master Pang Qian produced a multi-colored Rubik’s Cube. He released his grip, levitating it with his Psionic energy, then controlled the layers to spin rapidly. In just ten seconds, the cube was solved.
“Use a Rubik’s Cube to train Psionics?” Yang Ying had never heard of such a thing.
Master Pang Qian smiled. “The cube is one of the best tools for honing concentration, and it's entertaining—truly a wonderful thing. You try.”
With that, the cube floated in front of Yang Ying, its layers spinning furiously, the colors of the small squares quickly turning into chaos.
Yang Ying used his Psionic energy to hold the cube aloft, but after just two rotations, it fell. He couldn’t help but ask, “Doesn’t this require thinking about three things? One: holding the cube up. Two: turning the cube. Three: solving the cube.”
“The first two aren’t things you need to think about,” Master Pang Qian casually pulled the cube back to his hand and tossed it to Yang Ying. “Next!”
Yang Ying reached out and caught the cube.
“Did you consciously think about the angle your hand should extend from, or where you should intercept the cube?” Master Pang Qian asked with a smile.
“No!”
Yang Ying suddenly understood. He had merely intended to catch the cube; everything else had been a natural reaction, requiring no conscious thought.
“You must continue training until you treat your Psionic power as naturally as your limbs. Then, you only need to focus your mind on the goal: solving the cube. Normally, cube training is reserved for Psionics who already have a solid foundation in Psionics. You haven’t reached that level, but our time is short, so I wanted you to know the principle now.”
Master Pang Qian sighed, a hint of regret over the urgency of their situation evident in his expression.
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