In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 35 Promotion to Captain
The so-called visualization is to simulate the five senses through thoughts until you can control them freely. When thoughts arise from the heart, that is perfection.

The five senses belong to the realm of second-order spiritual transcendents.

In the words of the old Taoist priest, the first stage can have a conscious body (external appearance), the second stage can have the five senses, and the third stage can have an inner vision. All of these are natural progressions, just like the transition from infancy to adolescence, and from adolescence to adulthood. They are all things that follow the will of Heaven.

What Lu Zhao needs to do is 'train', to develop the five senses in the first stage, so that he can unlock the true inner vision of the five internal organs in the second stage. With the five internal organs, he can construct the inner landscape, and with the inner landscape, he can forge the spiritual platform in the third stage.

Finally, there is the foundation building stage, which is the first step in truly transcending the mundane.

Each step is interconnected; missing a single step will prevent you from laying the foundation.

If similar methods have procedures, and if the academy doesn't teach them, wouldn't everyone be unable to establish a foundation?
Or perhaps the Zhuge Liangs never even established their foundations.

"Now I need to cultivate the five senses of my consciousness before I can be considered a first-level practitioner of both internal and external cultivation."

Lu Zhao felt as if he had returned to high school, where he had a clear path forward and boundless motivation.

What people fear most is not being in a difficult situation, but not being able to see a way to improve their prospects.

He endured the pain, got up, and took out life-sustaining supplements from the small refrigerator, only to find that there were only six bottles left.

"This month's quota won't be issued until the 10th, and even then, it will barely be enough for five days."

Lu Zhao had a headache.

Ideally, he would consume 3 bottles of life-sustaining potions a day, while the monthly free quota is only 11 bottles.

There are still thirty bottles of low-level life potions left that cost money, totaling 15,000, but that's only a ten-day supply.

"It seems we must win this year's evaluation and increase our quota of life supplements. We didn't dare to hope for it before, but now we should strive for it."

A hint of aggression flashed in Lu Zhao's phoenix eyes.

He hadn't thought that much about it before, but now he couldn't just "eat his fill all day long."

The selection process is held annually in early June, with outstanding cadres receiving additional rewards.

Different units have different quotas. Ant Ridge Border Station only has one. In the past, Lü Jinshan would definitely not have let him get it, but now Lu Zhao thinks he can try to get it.

Federal awards are also based on an election system, where extraordinary power amplifies individual power, thus contributing to democracy in certain aspects.

Both junior officers and clerks can vote, and the number of votes varies depending on their rank.

If all the junior officers voted for him, plus Old Zhang, a senior officer, his position would be practically guaranteed.

"I'll have to rely on one bottle a day for the next few days."

Lu Zhao sipped the life-sustaining tonic, then sat cross-legged on the ground to refine his qi into essence.

At 10 a.m., the fingertip was pricked with a blood tester to show vitality [37].

Because of insufficient resources, the increase in vitality is not constant. It can increase by a maximum of 0.15 and a minimum of 0.08 per day, averaging about three points of vitality per month.

As for the modern life force development system, the teacher did not give him much guidance, but simply told him to continue his practice as usual.

There is no fixed path to spiritual cultivation. His teacher taught him a method called "Visualization," which involves projecting one's spirit onto one's physical body to mimic the five senses.

Without looking, one can see a hundred meters; without hearing, one can hear the sounds of insects; without smelling, one can distinguish a hundred fragrances; without eating, one can know a hundred flavors; with spirit and form, one can sense and reach through thoughts.

While the senses of sight, smell, taste, and hearing are relatively easy to achieve, touch presents a significant hurdle that has stumped countless people.

The mouth is the easiest to visualize; visualize everything you eat, and over time it becomes an instinct.

Lu Zhao visualized the life-sustaining tonic, and a faint, bitter medicinal aroma rose up.

It's fleeting, lasting only half a second, but leaves a lingering aftertaste on different taste buds.
-
At 11 o'clock sharp, Lu Zhao left home and arrived at the cafeteria.

He carried three kilograms of food, his gaze fixed on the corner as usual, and took only two steps—

"Brother Lu, over here!"

A warm greeting rang out, instantly silencing the somewhat chaotic cafeteria. Many eyes, already fixed on Lu Zhao, now turned to look at him.

The attention also focused on the person who had called out to him; it wasn't Zhang Like, but Liao Lang, the company commander of the duty company.

At this moment, he was sitting in the most conspicuous spot in the mess hall with Liang Chao, the company commander of the mobile company (also a lieutenant), and several other junior officers.

This is usually where the border patrol officers tacitly gather in their little circle. In the border patrol mess hall, there is no discrimination between the station commander and the privates. But in the Federation, where life development is linked to rank, the officers naturally form their own circles, and the soldiers rarely disturb them.

Lu Zhao paused, then walked over and sat down with them.

With a broad smile, Liao Lang introduced, "This is Liao Lang, the company commander on duty, and Liang Chao, the mobile company commander."

Liang Chao smiled and nodded at Lu Zhao.

Ant Ridge Border Defense Station is a reinforced combined arms battalion with a strength of about 1,000 personnel and four subordinate companies.

These are duty, mobility, support, and logistics.

Lu Zhao was the platoon leader of the reinforced duty platoon and the commander of the front-line outpost. He was of the same rank as the other two.

"Lu Zhao".

He reached out and shook hands with the two men. The duty company commander, Liao Lang, said, "Team Leader Zhang has instructed me that if the reinforced platoon needs anything in the future, they can come directly to me. Platoon Leader Lu can give priority to the deployment of manpower and equipment for our duty company."

Lu Zhao keenly noticed the eager gazes of everyone present.

It's probably not as simple as just saving them; I've helped deal with enemies before.

"must."

Lu Zhao responded succinctly, then began to eat with his head down. He ate quickly, but his movements were not rough, displaying a soldier's unique efficiency.

Like new recruits who have just finished training, they are still in a state of following every single detail.

No one was surprised to see this, as Lu Zhao had always been quite aloof.

However, one thing everyone is certain of is that, as a teammate, he is the strongest support.

Starting two years ago, whenever there was an emergency, Zhang Like would call on Lu Zhao, which led to his subordinate companies also calling on Lu Zhao whenever there was a situation.

As long as they heard that Lu Zhao was there, everyone could calmly light a cigarette even when facing drug smugglers.

Ant Ridge, a small place, may not be home to the Monkey King, but it is guarded by Lu Zhao, the Erlang Shen.

Five minutes later, Lu Zhao quickly finished his meal and stood up, saying, "I'm done eating. Enjoy your meal."

Liao Lang quickly reminded him, "There's a victory celebration banquet tonight, remember to come."

"Ah."

Lu Zhao responded and turned to leave the cafeteria.

A wave of drowsiness washed over him again, but he couldn't fall asleep. As always, he was in a state of mental 'almost dead'.
-
Office building, lobby.

Lu Zhao walked into the somewhat noisy hall, and the civilian staff and officers and soldiers coming and going subconsciously made way for him.

"Commander Lu!"

A woman's voice, filled with obvious excitement and joy, called out to Lu Zhao. It seemed that an unusually large number of people were looking for him today.

Lu Zhao turned around and saw the young clerk he had seen in the computer room yesterday running towards him, carrying documents in her hands, looking naive and inexperienced as she entered the workforce.

His eyes couldn't hide his emotions; they were practically glued to me.

She handed him the document, saying cheerfully, "This is the Ministry of Personnel's transfer order. Congratulations on your promotion!"

Lu Zhao took the documents; there were two copies in total.

The first document is about the promotion of military officers, which comes from the Ministry of Personnel, a higher-level department.

[...Comrade Lu Zhao is hereby appointed with the rank of Captain, effective June 5, 3242.]

The second document concerns a job transfer within the border station.

[Order Regarding the Adjustment of Comrade Lu Zhao's Position]

[Lu Zhao is no longer serving as the platoon leader of the reinforced platoon of the border defense brigade, and has been appointed as a training staff officer at the border station.]

[Promoted from lieutenant to captain]

(End of this chapter)