Chapter 16: Grand Sun Astral Sutra

Grand Sun Jade Platform.

That was the name Jordan had given it.

In the next moment, his consciousness converged upon the jade platform, as if he were seated upon it.

Boom!

The instant his awareness touched the platform, his once-active thoughts fell into deep silence.

Then, his surroundings shifted.

The jade platform beneath him vanished. The first level of the Divine Palace disappeared.

He now stood in an infinite starry sky.

A brilliant, blazing sun hung in the void, shining over the boundless starry sky.

Astral Contemplation!

Grand Sun Astral Sutra.

The visualization technique surfaced naturally in Jordan's mind.

"According to ancient records, the Grand Sun Astral Sutra embodies profound principles and vast imagery… The sun stands high, its flames blazing like a great forge, tempering the will until it becomes as unyielding as stone, impervious to hardship. By visualizing the Grand Sun, one cultivates radiant virtue and unparalleled might."

"The mind extends across the cosmos, filled with celestial bodies. Focus sharpens, encompassing the starry expanse, linking constellations, tracing the celestial order—a representation of the ever-shifting, ever-thriving universe."

"The fusion of the Grand Sun and the starry heavens refines the heart and soul…"

When Jordan first encountered the jade platform, he had unknowingly grasped the Grand Sun Astral Sutra.

It was a mystical visualization technique, capable of tempering one's mental awareness.

Now—

Jordan's consciousness directly faced the blazing sun.

It felt like being burned by searing flames. An excruciating pain instantly spread through his entire being, making even his physical form tremble involuntarily.

An unbearable agony.

"This is the torment of the mind, not real pain. My body won't suffer any actual harm," Jordan reminded himself, enduring the suffering with gritted resolve.

Since middle school, he had trained in martial cultivation. The path was grueling—sweat, blood, and hardship were all part of it, especially in gun technique training.

Tired? Keep training!

Hot weather? Train!

Cold weather? Train!

After a full month of training, feeling tempted to slack off for just one day? Not an option!

From the moment Jordan consciously set his sights on becoming a powerful martial artist, his determination had surpassed that of ordinary people.

Years of cultivation had only strengthened this resolve.

Yet, even so, when he first attempted the Grand Sun Astral Sutra a year ago, he had barely lasted ten seconds.

The pain was truly beyond comprehension.

But after a year—practicing nearly every day—not only had he strengthened his mental power, but his will had also been honed to an unshakable degree.

"The mind extends across the cosmos, filled with celestial bodies…"

As Jordan endured the torment, he activated the visualization technique.

Buzz!

Silently, a warm and gentle force descended from the boundless starry sky, nourishing his mental consciousness and gradually alleviating his exhaustion.

It shielded him from the scorching radiance of the Grand Sun.

Seconds ticked by…

Jordan ultimately lasted about three minutes.

Boom!

His consciousness collapsed.

"Hmm?"

Jordan opened his eyes. As his awareness returned, he steadied himself, then immediately shut his eyes again, concentrating his consciousness back into the Divine Mind Palace.

He repeated the process—like a form of self-inflicted torment.

Fifteen minutes.

Thirty minutes.

One hour.

Suddenly, a notification appeared on the Divine Palace Interface:

[Your Mental Power Level has increased from 12.4 to 12.5.]

…

"Finally, another 0.1 increase," Jordan thought, before immediately resuming his relentless training.

An hour later—

"Hmm?"

Jordan attempted to focus again but found that his awareness could no longer converge upon the jade platform.

Opening his eyes, he glanced down at his smart wristband.

"2:11 AM."

"Another full two hours of training?"

This, too, was something Jordan had come to understand.

Cultivating the Grand Sun Astral Sutra could be sustained for a maximum of two hours each day before it became impossible to continue.

Based on Jordan Parker's speculation, the excruciating pain of practicing this technique and the repeated ejections from his mental world likely weren't without cost—he simply hadn't realized the price yet.

A two-hour daily limit was, in all likelihood, a self-protection mechanism of the Divine Mind Palace.

"That's enough."

"In just one year of cultivating the Grand Sun Astral Sutra, my mental strength level has soared from 5.9 at the start of my second year to 12.5." Jordan once again sensed the changes in his body.

Compared to two hours ago, when he had been utterly exhausted, his body had now completely recovered.

The soreness in his muscles had vanished without a trace, as if he had just enjoyed ten hours of deep sleep followed by the most professional therapy session.

This was another major benefit of cultivating the Grand Sun Astral Sutra—deep restoration.

"Feels amazing."

Jordan stood up, a smile appearing on his face.

Beyond his body returning to peak condition, his awareness of his physical state and his perception of his surroundings had also sharpened significantly.

"The stronger my mental power, the greater my control over my body."

"That means whether I'm practicing gun techniques, movement techniques, or basic martial training, my efficiency will be much higher." A gleam flickered in Jordan's eyes.

Why had he advanced so rapidly over the past year?

First, because of the Divine Palace Interface, which allowed him to monitor his progress at all times, fueling his motivation to cultivate.

Second, because of the Grand Sun Astral Sutra, a visualization technique that granted him extraordinary mental strength.

Stronger mental power meant greater cultivation efficiency.

It also allowed his body to recover to peak condition in an extremely short time, saving him a fortune on therapy expenses.

"Take Knox Xavier, for example, or some of the elite students. After intense training, they rely on electrotherapy, massages, or herbal baths to restore their bodies." Jordan mused, "But I doubt any of those methods compare to the benefits of cultivating the Grand Sun Astral Sutra."

It was an extraordinary visualization technique.

However, no matter how miraculous a technique was, it still required steady and persistent cultivation. Jordan understood this well.

Many people were blessed with opportunities and fortunate encounters.

For instance, being born into the wealthiest family on Blue Earth—was that not a form of fortune?

Or being born into the household of the strongest warrior in the Septastar Alliance—was that not a stroke of destiny?

But in the end—

No matter how fortunate one's circumstances, if they grew complacent and neglected their cultivation because of it, they would never reach the pinnacle.

"This world…"

"So many are born into noble and powerful families, have abundant resources, outstanding talent, and still put in relentless effort." Jordan thought to himself. "If I don't work even harder, what right do I have to compete with them?"

With that in mind, Jordan stood up.

"Time to study my cultural subjects." He stepped into his room and entered the virtual network pod.