Popularity is everything; I play a super genius.

Chapter 48 The Mindset of a Genius

Saki paused for a moment, then looked at Hoki.

Huo Mu stood at attention with his head held high and his face full of anticipation.

then--

The two of them stared at each other for several minutes.

He yawned for a moment.

I really don't understand what those two guys are doing.

She hadn't eaten breakfast yet and was hungry.

Looking at the two who were still "communicating with each other in their minds," she decided not to torture her stomach any longer.

He whispered, "I'm going to buy some food," and left the training ground alone.

About ten minutes later, he returned in a flash, carrying two servings of soy milk and fried dough sticks.

However, the "targeted training" between Saki and Hōki is still stuck in the "staring at each other" stage.

Saki looked at the breakfast in Setsuna's hand, and the latter naturally handed her a portion, saying:

"Here you are, Saki-san."

Qi Ji took a sip of soy milk: "Sweet?"

Saki doesn't like sweet soy milk.

He belongs to the Ham Party.

"Huh? Is Saki-san salty?" She paused for a moment, then quickly asked.

"Sorry... I'll go get you a replacement."

"No, no need to trouble yourself." Saki waved his hand.

Although he personally prefers salty food, when it comes to just filling his stomach, the taste is not important.

He doesn't like waste.

Seeing the two people next to him eating breakfast, Huo Mu couldn't help but swallow hard and looked at Shakuna expectantly, his meaning quite clear.

What about his share?

However, she merely glanced at him and said, "Buy it yourself."

"Oh..." Huo Mu scratched his head, not minding at all, and immediately turned around and ran out of the training field at a speed even faster than before.

He returned shortly afterward, carrying two servings of soy milk and a serving of fried dough sticks.

He respectfully handed the salted soy milk to Qi Ji, even bowing deeply as he spoke:

"Master! Yours!"

Just as Saki was about to accept it, upon hearing the address, her hand trembled involuntarily, and she quickly stopped herself.

"No! Don't call me master!"

It's worth noting that characters who become the protagonist's mentors in anime series rarely have a good ending.

They're either tragic figures who sacrifice themselves to pave the way for their apprentices, or they're tools for advancing the plot by being sacrificed at crucial moments—definitely a high-risk profession.

Saki no longer wanted to be tainted by such karma.

Although these kinds of scenes are often highlights, very tear-jerking and popular...

But for Saki, what use is popularity if he's dead?

He's the kind of guy who's going to keep showing off until the very end!

"Yes, Saki-kun! Then I won't call you that anymore. But in my heart, I will always respect you as my master!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Ji took the salty soy milk and drank a sip.

The temperature is just right, and the saltiness is just right.

He nodded in satisfaction and patted Huomu on the shoulder with a sense of relief.

At that moment, Qi Ji glanced at the salty soy milk that Huo Mu had bought and that Qi Ji was even more fond of, and his eyebrows twitched.

She never expected that Huo Mu, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, would be such a smooth talker!

I have to admit, she lost again!

Whether it's kneeling or buying breakfast, my awareness in these two aspects is far inferior to Huomu's...

The three of them sat around a bench by the training field and finished their breakfast.

During this time, Saki also completed a brainstorming session.

Combining the original storyline with his understanding of the Fire and Wood abilities, he finally came up with a teaching plan that might work.

"Fire and Wood".

"Here!" Huo Mu packed up the three people's leftovers, put them in the trash can, then kicked his legs and stood at attention in the direction of Qi Ji, responding loudly.

"Great, that's very energetic! Tell me—how do you want to become stronger?"

Without hesitation, Huomu answered loudly, "I want to awaken the echo!"

"Huh? Ah, cough cough!" Saki was taken aback by the answer and almost choked. He quickly coughed twice to cover up his embarrassment.

Awakening Echo?

He thinks too!

Isn't this something he himself hasn't even managed to do yet?!

He himself is still a "silent observer"!

So, this is beyond the scope of the curriculum!

Of course, it's perfectly normal for Huomu to say that.

Because in this world where "echo" is the foundation of power, the general consensus is—

Only by awakening the echo can one truly embark on the path to transcendence and gain the "qualification" and "direction" to become stronger.

Qi Ji's mind raced as he quickly organized his thoughts, trying to steer the conversation back onto his pre-set path.

He coughed twice and said:

"Huomu, regarding the awakening of resonance, although I can provide some theoretical guidance, you need to think it through clearly: resonance is the power of the heart, the resonance and manifestation of one's own will."

Saki's tone softened, taking on a hint of warning:

"If you rely too much on the guidance of outsiders or so-called 'shortcuts,' it may affect the purity and potential of your response, and you may even go astray."

It's important to understand that truly powerful responses often stem from the deepest, most authentic self-discovery! How can we rely on outsiders?

Upon hearing this, Huo Mu felt as if he had been enlightened!

He was only thinking about becoming stronger and hadn't considered such a deep issue at all.

Saki is right. The feedback is your own, so how can you expect to rely on others?

"But..." Huomu then seemed somewhat lost again.

"How can I become stronger if I don't awaken the response? Doesn't no response mean no power?"

"What are you saying!" Saki's voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute tone.

"Can't you get stronger if there's no response?"

This is--

"Useless thinking!"

Saki stepped forward and placed his hands heavily on Koki's shoulders:

Look into my eyes and answer me!

What is the Heart Essence?

For a moment, Huo Mu was ignited by Qi Ji's highly infectious tone and shouted:

"It's the power of the 'heart'! It's the convergence of one's own life energy, will, and emotions!"

"Very good! Then let me ask you again, what is the echo?"

"Is it a... amplifier?"

As Huo Mu spoke, he glanced at Qi Ji with a hint of uncertainty.

After receiving the latter's affirmative nod, I couldn't help but feel a little excited and shouted even louder:

"Echoes are a 'tool' that allows us to release our inner power in a specific and efficient way!"

"That's right!"

Qi Ji's voice echoed in the empty training ground, carrying an undeniable certainty:

"Then, Huomu, tell me one last time!"

Your heart, your will, your strength—

Do you absolutely need tools to amplify things for you?

Huo Mu was stunned, his pupils contracting slightly.

Saki's words were completely different from the education he had received and the common sense he had heard since childhood!

According to the book, the so-called "mind essence" is the integration of human spirit and will, which can only be transformed into a power with substantial effectiveness through resonance.

Hearing this, Setsuna, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but feel confused. Her theoretical grades were very good, second only to Saki and Ruri in the class.

"Saki-kun, the textbook says that unreacted and transformed mental energy cannot be released outside the body to form effective power. This is a conclusion drawn from countless verifications..."

"Then the textbook is wrong."

Saki's tone was very calm, but given the implications of his words, it sounded to the two of them as "an almost arrogant certainty."

The reason Saki dared to say that was precisely because he knew—

In the original storyline, before awakening the echo, Huomu broke through the shackles of common sense with his burning will and perseverance.

He learned his signature move, the "Flame Fist," which concentrates his inner energy into his fist and releases it as scorching flames!

In some ways, Huomu is the real genius.

What Qi Ji needs to do now is to "predict" in advance and guide the other party to fully realize this talent!

By piggybacking on his screen time and boosting his popularity, he might even secretly learn Huo Mu's [Flame Fist] under the guise of "instruction".

This is one of Saki's clever little touches.

And without a doubt—

A genius mind!

……

……