As someone in sequence 001, I also want to give up today.

The "grand occasion" in the cafeteria quickly dampened Lingdang's enthusiasm.

There was no dazzling array of dessert stalls as I had dreamed of.

There was no fragrant barbecue grill.

Even the prefix "unlimited" seems misleading.

Before me was a clean and tidy student cafeteria, but it had no distinguishing features.

The meals were served on standard plates and distributed by women in white uniforms.

Lingdang stood on tiptoe, gazing longingly at the contents of the plate.

A small ball of white rice, a spoonful of stir-fried greens that looked oily (with a few dark-colored, almost invisible bits of minced meat mixed in).

A small piece of what appeared to be fish, but was so braised that it was almost unrecognizable as a main dish.

There was also a bowl of crystal-clear soup with two pieces of seaweed floating on top. Forget pudding, there wasn't even a piece of fruit!

"This...this is the meat of a strange beast?"

Lingdang pointed to the almost negligible amount of minced meat and whispered to Lin Wanwan beside her, her voice filled with disbelief and disappointment.

Lin Wanwan had already found a seat and sat down with her starry sky bento box.

Hearing this, he glanced at the bell-shaped plate and said in a tone that was unsurprising (or perhaps he was lost in his own world).

"Mortal food is merely to fill one's stomach. True energy absorption relies on starlight and the breath of 'ether'."

She opened her lunchbox, which contained an exquisitely plated (but clearly adult-made) sushi roll, cherry tomatoes, and a fried egg, along with a small, delicate piece of chocolate cake.

It looked delicious, but as the bell sensed, there were no special energy fluctuations.

Lingdang was on the verge of tears, and could only sit down opposite Lin Wanwan with her meager plate.

She first poked the braised "unidentified object" with her chopsticks, and reluctantly took a bite—the meat was coarse and the seasoning was too heavy, but... wait a minute?

A faint, yet far purer and gentler energy slid down the food into the stomach and then slowly spread out.

Although its strength is far inferior to the dishes that Old Deng carefully prepared with high-level alien beasts, it may only have one percent of the effect.

But its properties are surprisingly "clean" and "easily absorbed".

It contains almost no impurities or residual violent energy, as if it has been repeatedly purified and filtered.

Moreover, this effect seems to be much better than eating fresh alien meat of the same level (E or F grade) directly!

She tasted the minced meat in the vegetables again and felt it even more clearly.

The energy provided by that tiny bit of minced meat was almost as good as the effect of Old Deng casually stir-frying a dish with D-grade alien meat!

Of course, Old Deng's cooking skills and food handling techniques gave him a great advantage, but the "utilization rate" of meat in the cafeteria was abnormally high.

"Could it be... that the school has specially treated the food? Did they use some kind of energy guiding array or potion to aid digestion and absorption?"

As Lingdang mechanically shoveled rice into her mouth, she pondered to herself.

Although the taste was really not good, the portion was pitifully small.

But it's worth the "super high cost-performance" energy replenishment effect.

She still ate two large bowls of rice with tears in her eyes (and went to get another one), and even drank every last drop of the clear soup.

My stomach is full, and I've replenished some energy.

But the huge psychological gap and her craving for sweets kept her sullen.

Just then, she felt the bulging contents in the side pocket of her little schoolbag—the snacks that Lao Deng had stuffed in that morning!

A small bag of individually wrapped animal crackers and two strawberry-flavored energy bars!

Bell's eyes lit up instantly, as if she had found a lifeline.

She glanced around furtively, then quickly pulled out a bear-shaped cookie and popped it into her mouth.

The crispy and sweet flavor melted on her tongue. Although it had no energy, it greatly comforted her wounded "foodie heart".

She broke off half of an energy bar and quietly handed it to Lin Wanwan across from her.

Lin Wanwan was elegantly (in her own opinion) picking up sushi with chopsticks when she saw the half-pink energy bar handed to her and paused for a moment.

He then gave a "you know what's good for you" look, took it, took a small bite, and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Hmm... Although this item lacks 'ether,' it is rich in the element of 'sweetness,' which can briefly bring 'spiritual' pleasure. Observer, your offering has been meritorious."

Seeing that she was clearly enjoying her meal but still putting on airs, Lingdang couldn't help but laugh, and her slight annoyance dissipated considerably.

The two little girls shared simple snacks, and their relationship seemed to have grown even closer.

"Late night,"

Bell licked the cookie crumbs from the corner of her mouth and offered her a suggestion.

"How about you stop bringing lunch from home? The food in the cafeteria may look and taste awful, but it seems... it's actually quite good for your health."

She pointed to herself.

"I ate two bowls, and I feel a little better."

She didn't mention energy, only vaguely saying "it's beneficial."

Lin Wanwan glanced at her exquisite bento box, which was still half full, and then at the bare plate in front of Lingdang.

After a moment of contemplation, he nodded.

"What you say makes sense. The form of 'matter and energy' is not the key; its 'essence' and 'utilization rate' are fundamental. Since the food in this canteen can more efficiently replenish the foundation needed by the 'etheric channel,' I will abandon this mundane boxed lunch tomorrow."

She paused, then added.

"Of course, the desserts offered (referring to energy bars) are not included in this category."

Lingdang was amused by her serious analysis and nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, okay, desserts are extra."

The lunch break passed quickly, and the afternoon classes began.

The first class in the afternoon was "Practice and Guidance on the Foundation of Mental Strength," which Lingdang was somewhat looking forward to.

The teacher was a male who looked rather serious.

His surname is Zhao, and he is said to be a C-level superhuman who is skilled in mental guidance and basic training.

Teacher Zhao didn't talk much about theory, but went straight to practice.

He gave each child a "guide bead" with a clear internal energy flow and a simple structure.

He also taught a very basic, yet very systematic, method of mental meditation.

"Close your eyes, relax your body, and feel your breath..."

Teacher Zhao's voice was steady and had a unique rhythm, seemingly containing a subtle spiritual guiding effect.

"Slowly focus your attention on the space between your eyebrows, and imagine a small ball of warm light there... Yes, that's where you feel the presence of your special abilities... Now, try to let your spirit, like gently blowing air, touch the bead in your hands... Don't use force, just feel it, and try to align yourself with the rhythm of its internal energy..."

The classroom quieted down, and the children tried their best to follow the instructions.

At first, Lingdang was just playing house, but when she followed Teacher Zhao's method and systematically guided her 15 points of basic mental strength, she was surprised to find some differences.

Li Xian's previous training consisted more of a crude exercise in "use" and "control".

For example, moving objects and fine motor skills are intended to familiarize her with strength and teach her to control it.

The system taught in schools starts from the most fundamental concepts of "self-awareness," "communication energy," and "stable output."

Like laying the foundation for a tall building, it may seem simple, but the steps are clear and the path is well-defined.

Following the method, she gently extended a wisp of her spiritual energy toward the guiding bead.

This time, it's no longer about casually touching or simulating.

Instead, one should truly "understand" the operating principle of the simple energy structure inside the bead and "synchronize" one's mental energy fluctuations with it.

The process was slow and delicate, but she could feel her "sense of control" over her mental power increasing at a slow but steady pace.

It's not just about quantitative growth, but a dual improvement in both quality and quantity.

More importantly, this systematic guidance and synchronized practice...

She vaguely sensed that her 15 points of basic mental strength seemed to have become more "active" and "condensed".

The growth rate seems to be slightly faster than simply relying on eating (low-energy foods)!

"Could it be... that Old Deng's 'just eat' theory isn't the whole story? Systematic training is also important?"

Lingdang had some doubts. She had always thought that her growth was entirely due to her talent (fission) and feeding (high-grade ingredients).

In retrospect, proper guidance and training are like pointing out a more efficient absorption path for talent and nutrition.

After a 45-minute class, many children were sweating profusely, and some even lost focus halfway through.

Zhang Yu initially tried hard to follow along, but soon his impatience and lack of proper methods led to little effect, and he began to lose patience.

Wu Hao held on quite well, his breathing remained steady.

Lin Weiwei was already leaning back in her chair, almost asleep.

As for Lingdang, although she pretended to be struggling and sweating on her forehead (most of it was an act, but a small part was genuinely trying out this new method).

But she was secretly excited.

She could sense that if she persisted with this systematic training every day, along with Old Deng's top-notch diet (even if it was discounted), her basic mental strength growth rate might be able to reach another level!

Perhaps it won't be long before we break through 16 points, or even more!

"It seems that going to school... isn't all bad."

Lingdang secretly glanced at Lin Wanwan, who was still trying to communicate with the "Star Realm" (actually daydreaming), and felt a little better.

The afternoon flew by.

There will be a follow-up lesson on "Superpower Safety and Ethics".

Teacher Li continued to lecture on various rules, such as not using superpowers to bully others and not showing them off casually.

And the last period of free time.

During free time, Zhang Yu took his followers to the playground to "spar" (show off).

Wu Hao sat alone in the corner, continuing to play with his eraser. Lin Weiwei and several other girls were playing cat's cradle.

Lingdang was then pulled along by Lin Wanwan to conduct a formal "astronomical observation experiment".

Experiment location: The corner at the back of the classroom where there are several potted plants.

Experimental tools: Lin Wanwan's mini crystal ball, several stones "containing the breath of the earth" (picked up by the roadside), and a plastic magic wand.

Experiment content: Lin Wanwan claimed to guide the "afterglow of Venus in the afternoon" to resonate with the "spiritual amplification" of the bell, and attempted to stimulate the "life aura" of the green plants.

The process was very "rigorous".

Lin Wanwan first used a crystal ball (facing the window) to receive "starlight" (actually reflected sunlight) for five minutes.

Then have the bell hold one of the stones and concentrate on "infusing amplification power".

She waved her magic wand, circling the greenery while chanting incantations that no one could understand.

As a result... the plants naturally didn't react at all.

But Lingdang found Lin Wanwan's completely absorbed and serious demeanor extremely amusing, so she also pretended to work hard in return.

The two little girls were having a great time, one chanting a spell and the other "using her powers".

Laughter occasionally came from the corner, attracting the attention of other students, but when they saw that it was "Starry Sea Witch" and her "followers", they were not surprised.

Pleasant times always pass too quickly. The school bell rang precisely at 4:30 in the afternoon.

The children cheered as they packed their schoolbags, lined up, and walked out of the school building under the guidance of their teachers, arriving at the designated pick-up and drop-off area for parents at the school gate.

Lingdang, carrying her little schoolbag, walked out side by side with Lin Wanwan.

Lin Wanwan's driver was already waiting nearby next to a black sedan.

Lin Wanwan nodded to the bell.

"Today's observation experiment has been completed and the data recorded. Observer, see you tomorrow. Remember to meditate and reinforce today's 'Ether Manipulation Method' after you return home."

"Okay, see you tomorrow, Witch!"

Bell waved goodbye with a smile.

After seeing Lin Wanwan off, Lingdang tiptoed and searched for that familiar figure in the crowded school gate.

Parents picked up their children one by one, and the crowd gradually thinned out.

4:35...4:40...4:45...

The figure who always leaned lazily against the wall, yawning, never appeared.

The smile on Lingdang's face gradually disappeared. Her golden pupils first showed confusion, then anxiety, and finally a hint of grievance and... a small flame slowly brewed up.

"Old Deng...could it be...?"

She recalled his sleepy look that morning and his words about "going back to catch up on sleep," and a bad feeling crept into her mind.

"Could it be... that I really overslept?!"