Chapter 537: Earth Submersion Technique

The medicine from Mount Sanqing was good, but Pan Yun couldn't lie still—she had no time to rest, so her injuries didn't heal quickly.

To help students refocus after the holiday, every academy's instructor began the first class with qi contests and spell duels.

Fortunately, her advancement to First Marquis was no secret among the instructors, so none made her fight the students;

and the students still remembered how she single-handedly crippled Nong Zhiyi and Dai Yong last year—both fourth-year students—so no one dared provoke her;

but when demonstrations were needed, she was often called upon.

Xue Taixu of Mingyuan Academy taught them the Earth Submersion Technique: "I ask you, what is the most fundamental requirement for attaining the Dao?"

Everyone looked confused; Pan Yun also propped her chin in deep thought—most fundamental thought?

Cultivation technique?

Talent?

Pan Yun felt neither was right; she was deep in thought when Xue Taixu's gaze swept over their faces and he said solemnly: "Alive. The most fundamental foundation is that you are still alive."

Sister Xuan Li raised her hand: "Academy Director, what if death is unavoidable?"

Xue Taixu: "There is no such thing as unavoidable death. If there is, it's only because your skills are insufficient. And when your skills are insufficient, what do you do?"

The students' interest was piqued; they all shouted in unison: "What do you do?"

"Run!" Xue Taixu said. "If you can't win, run! That's why two-thirds of your second-year spell classes focus on evasion techniques."

"Mainly Earth Submersion and Wood Submersion," Xue Taixu said. "Master these two evasion techniques, and your chances of survival increase by at least sixty percent."

Xue Taixu called out Pan Yun's name: "Pan Yun, demonstrate the Earth Submersion Technique for everyone."

Pan Yun felt pain in her back, pain in her shoulder.

She forced a smile, rose, formed the hand seals, murmured the incantation, and vanished instantly from the spot—moments later, she burst forth from the earth beside Xue Taixu with a whoosh.

Dirt sprayed all over Xue Taixu; he spat out the dust, scolding: "Are you doing this on purpose, or did you only half-learn the Earth Submersion Technique?"

Pan Yun: "I think Earth Submersion is less useful than lightness arts—it's slow and drains too much yuan energy."

The students nodded vigorously, adding: "Academy Director, for those of us with low cultivation, our yuan energy is so limited—using internal force for Earth Submersion is slower than just running with lightness arts."

"Frogs at the bottom of a well," Xue Taixu said. "Do you think those clumsy lightness arts can outpace masters of the martial world? Lightness arts move faster than Earth Submersion, but what you know, others know too—you can't outmatch them. But spells are different: only we cultivators can use them."

"Earth Submersion doesn't require you to run far—just hide in the earth, make yourself unseen and untouchable. How would he know where you are buried? Or whether you've already dug out and fled?"

Xue Taixu said: "This is a survival technique. You don't need to go far—your ultimate goal is to escape, to live. So this art isn't just about technique—it requires psychological awareness too."

So Xue Taixu led them all outside to a flat patch of ground and had Pan Yun bury herself.

"Psychological warfare: if your opponent understands spells, he'll linger, or pretend to leave, lure you out, then strike. That's psychological warfare."

Pan Yun hid beneath the earth, holding two fingers before her face to maintain the Earth Submersion Technique—but being underground was uncomfortable.

Pressure pressed in from all sides, nearly suffocating her; oh, she wasn't even breathing anymore.

The Earth Submersion Technique requires not just burying yourself, but maintaining the barest breath—her current breath was so faint, a feather placed before her nose wouldn't stir.

But this meant she couldn't move at all—any movement consumed oxygen and yuan energy.

Sigh, so she really disliked the Earth Submersion Technique.

The thought had barely crossed her mind when a worm wriggled over—apparently it had tunneled through a hollow—and plopped down with a squelch, landing right on her upright finger.

Pan Yun's eyes widened; she held her breath.

The worm seemed equally confused; it circled her finger, probably mistaking it for a root, then opened its huge mouth and bit down hard…

Oh, the worm was tiny—its gaping maw was no bigger than one-fifth of her thumbnail—it didn't hurt much on her finger, but it felt enormous in her mind!

She could no longer bear it; she changed her hand seal and burst upward with a bang.

Xue Taixu was mid-lecture, serious and focused; seeing her reappear, he frowned: "Only fifteen minutes—why are you out again?"

Pan Yun frantically shook her finger: "There's a worm—!"

The boys gasped, startled, stepping back two paces.

Xue Taixu's face darkened; he pinched between two fingers a worm no bigger than a soybean: "Is this the one?"

The boys saw how small it was, stopped retreating, and stared at Pan Yun in shock.

Who knew Pan Yun was like this.

Pan Yun: "... Not being able to move at all is terrifying."

"Exactly!" Xue Taixu boomed. "So remember: when casting Earth Submersion, don't move. Not only will you run out of oxygen and drain yuan energy, but motion will draw attention from above."

The boys nodded vigorously, showing they understood.

Pan Yun:...

Xue Taixu flicked the worm away and told Pan Yun: "Next time, bury yourself one zhang deeper—you won't get worms."

Pan Yun: "... The pressure will be too great."

Xue Taixu said meaningfully: "With your cultivation level, reaching that depth isn't hard—unless your yuan energy is weak... or you're injured?"

Pan Yun: "... No, disciple understands. Next time I'll go deeper."

Xue Taixu nodded, satisfied: "Sit down. I'll now teach you the Earth Submersion Technique. Our Academy has three methods—I'll teach them all. You may choose one to specialize in. Naturally, those skilled in spells may learn all three and then pick the one best suited to you."

Pan Yun sat cross-legged on the grass, feeling pain in her back.

As soon as class ended, Seeing Miao Zhen and Miao He rushed over: "Little Master, are you alright?"

Pan Yun waved her hand: "No big deal. Let's go eat first."

Tao Yanbai also chose the spell class; he was struggling to keep up, walking behind them while practicing hand seals.

But his fingers kept twisting like knots—he couldn't get them right. He'd be doing one, then forget.

He hurried up: "Little Master, like this, like this—then what?"

Seeing Miao Zhen glanced and said: "The second one's wrong. It's like this."

She brought her index fingers together, then flipped them—changing the seal.

Tao Yanbai immediately brought his hands close, comparing finger by finger to see where they differed.

Pan Yun patted his hand, told him to relax his fingers, then helped him bend them into position.

Tao Yan Bai stared blankly, let go, and started over, only to find that whenever he turned the page, his left middle finger kept slipping.

Pan Yun said, "There's no shortcut. Apart from talent, you can only practice diligently."

Tao Yan Bai nodded in agreement.