Chapter 39: Deliberate Practice

Chapter 39: Deliberate Practice

At the most frenzied moments, whenever Suye found himself idle or experiencing any emotional fluctuation, even a brief moment of confusion, he would ask himself this question.

"What should I be doing right now?"

This question seemed simple and even useless at first glance, but over years of use, it had become a powerful ability!

This ability allowed Suye to immediately do the most important and correct thing in many situations, rather than being lost in confusion or making mistakes.

Initially, when practicing the Lajin question, Suye didn't think it was particularly important.

Until one time during a company meeting, there was a sudden commotion outside that disrupted the proceedings. Suye asked himself this question and promptly took action, leaving a deep impression on the higher-ups, which became an opportunity for promotion.

The Lajin question helped Suye save a lot of time and seize countless opportunities.

These times and opportunities might have seemed insignificant at first, but as they accumulated, they led to significant changes, allowing Suye to recognize their immense value during his retrospection.

Now, whenever Suye asked himself this question, he felt like he was examining himself from a higher and broader perspective, leading to more accurate answers.

Experience surpasses instinct, and method surpasses experience.

Through continuous observation and sensation, the cheetahs in Suye's eyes became clearer. Their pounces, scratches, runs, and other actions held no secrets.

This wouldn't grant Suye immense power, but it would make his judgments more accurate when encountering similar beasts or combat techniques in the future.

Perhaps the most ordinary judgment could save his life.

Niedern nodded and said, "Very good. Cheetahs have strong explosive power but limited endurance. Now, start binding them with magic ropes... Don't aim for the neck; aim for the body and legs. You can't achieve such precision yet. Also, don't use magic ropes casually. With your current total mana, you can only cast thirty apprentice spells in the morning."

Suye nodded and began his first attempt, reciting the incantation. After more than two seconds, the Demon Ox rope glowed faintly and flew toward one of the cheetahs.

The cheetah leaped several meters away, dodging the magic rope and glanced back at Suye before walking away gracefully, stepping on the Demon Ox rope on the ground.

Seeing this, Suye came to his senses.

Niedern looked at Suye's expression and said, very satisfied, "Good. It seems you've identified the problem. Magic is all-powerful, but you are not. The magic rope spell can actively capture enemies within a certain range, but if the enemy moves too fast or is too far away, the magic rope becomes ineffective. That's why most mages embed amethysts in their wands to speed up casting. Any talent or ability that accelerates casting is crucial."

"Alright, continue using the magic rope until you can bind three cheetahs consecutively."

"Thank you, Master!"

Suye put aside the superiority brought by effortlessly drawing magic arrays and returned to the mindset of a humble student.

"What better method should I use to learn magic?" Suye asked a question based on the Lajin question but slightly different, which he called the "method question."

"You can try deliberate practice."

Suye knew he couldn't find the "perfect method," but using a recognized and effective method and slightly adapting it according to his own thinking would certainly be better than random practice.

"Deliberate practice starts with setting clear goals. The main goal here is to bind the cheetahs, but this goal is too vague. It's best to break it down into smaller goals using project management methods. Completing these smaller goals will naturally lead to achieving the main goal. The main goal can be broken down into 'better judging the cheetah's movements,' 'better judging the range of the magic rope,' 'more accurately controlling the Demon Ox rope,' and 'faster casting.' Faster casting requires long-term practice, so we'll set that aside for today."

"Start with the first small goal. However, 'better judging the cheetah's movements' is not specific enough. We should define the goal using the SMART principle—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. So, within half an hour, I need to predict the cheetah's next move ten times, succeeding at least eight times, helping my magic rope catch the cheetah."

"To implement this, I need to observe and summarize various possibilities and then compare them..."

Using a method is fundamentally different from random practice.

Initially, Niedern didn't notice, but soon, he was amazed to see Suye's accuracy in predicting the cheetah's movements rapidly improve.

"He must be a combat genius!"

Niedern rejoiced inwardly as if he had discovered a new spell, but outwardly, he only showed a faint smile.

When the noon bell rang, Suye recited the incantation, pointed, and the magic rope flew out like a living snake. The cheetah leaped forward but landed right within the rope's capture range.

The magic rope suddenly expanded from two meters to four, first binding the cheetah's hind legs, then continuing to wrap around its front legs.

"Aooh..." The cheetah let out a reluctant growl.

"Good!" Niedern praised.

Suye reached out and retracted the rope from the cheetah.

Two of the cheetahs were already lying on their backs, and the third rolled over, exposing its white belly and whining pitifully.

Suye breathed heavily, realizing that as his mana depleted, his physical strength and energy also diminished.

However, the submission of the three cheetahs and the joy of mastering magic dispelled his fatigue.

"You're a genius! A combat magic genius!" Niedern exclaimed, unable to contain himself despite trying to control his excitement.

"I'll pretend to believe your nonsense."

Suye completely disbelieved Niedern's words because everything Niedern saw, those so-called signs of genius, were merely the results of years of practice, unrelated to innate talent.

He knew better than anyone how ordinary he once was.

Hearing Suye's response, Niedern was not angry but rather pleased.

"This child is truly humble. His achievements will likely surpass those of his classmates. Rick has a photographic memory, but if he encounters Suye in battle, he will surely die."

Niedern made this judgment, noticing Suye's sweat-soaked appearance, and said, "Go take a bath and have lunch."

"Thank you very much for your guidance!" Suye sincerely thanked him, feeling deeply grateful for the day's gains.

Niedern turned to leave but paused after a few steps, saying, "By the way, Kelton is trustworthy in most situations."

"Master knows Kelton? But there seems to be more to what you're saying..." Suye watched Niedern's red hair disappear into the forest.

Suye took a shower and did not eat right away. Instead, he went to the meditation area designated by the school for students and began meditating.

Before entering the meditation lawn, Suye picked up a simple magic bracelet and set the timer for thirty minutes.