Potential Points

Potential Points

Wang Ye wandered around the Evolution Camp all morning.

He went to the gym to train strength, did flexibility training in the yoga room, played with all sorts of weapons in the armory, read in the library, and stuffed himself in the cafeteria.

He explored the entire vast underground level of the Evolution Camp, but never triggered an increase in Potential Points.

Did he really have to find a girl and try some negative-distance contact?

With his looks, it would not be difficult.

But that seemed to have nothing to do with the word "potential."

"Students aren't allowed to return to Base City."

"I'll take a look outside."

Wang Ye put on the Student Battle Suit issued by the Evolution Camp and chose a handy saber from the armory.

He tucked lime powder, pepper spray, steel nails, and other self-defense items into his pockets before leaving the underground level.

In his view, Yu Haitao was not stupid enough to make another move at this point.

Still, there was no harm in being prepared.

What if he really was that stupid?

"Beep—"

After identity verification, Wang Ye left the Evolution Camp alone.

Dust billowed outside the camp as off-road vehicles bearing the West Camp insignia sped away.

The camp vehicles were equipped with firearms and did not fear ordinary Mutated Monsters. Besides, Evolvers were inside them. They generally headed to No. 3 Garrison, twenty kilometers away, to hunt and temper themselves.

There were large numbers of Ferocious-level Monsters there, and even Nightmare-level Monsters.

The activity range for West Camp students was the twenty-kilometer stretch between the Evolution Camp and No. 3 Garrison, mainly within ten kilometers.

There were fewer Mutated Monsters here, and Ferocious-level Monsters basically never appeared.

The area from ten to twenty kilometers out was the activity zone for Classes 1, 2, and 3—the three Elite Classes, made up of the three hundred most talented students out of each intake of three thousand.

Quite a few of them had already cultivated the Life Evolution Method to the perfect level, with physical fitness scores exceeding 100.

"Nothing but ruins." Wang Ye moved forward cautiously, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings as emotions churned within him.

Broken walls and wreckage, barren scorched earth—traces of battle and destruction were everywhere.

The once-prosperous skyscrapers, comfortable residential areas, broad roads, and green parks had all been abandoned.

Although they had long existed in his memories, seeing them with his own eyes still filled Wang Ye with mixed emotions.

It was hard to imagine how terrifying the outbreak of the Great Catastrophe and the monsters' rampage had been.

On a half-destroyed bus was an advertisement anabella, once a hugely popular celebrity, had filmed in 2045.

A Tesla burned beyond recognition sat nearby. Its synthetic leather seats had been corroded by Red Rain, while the driver's seat was covered in bloodstains and a rotten stench.

Quite a few students had come into the wilderness to temper themselves. They moved in groups, tense as if facing a great enemy.

The moment they encountered a Mutated Monster, it became a fight to the death.

After Wang Ye walked another two kilometers, the students became much sparser.

Beyond five kilometers, they were basically nowhere to be seen.

Still, he occasionally saw modified cars from Base City passing by.

The wind whistled like cries of alarm. The surroundings were gloomy, and the air was filled with a foul smell mixed with blood. Faint beastly roars drifted into his ears.

Wang Ye stayed in open areas, avoiding surprise attacks from Mutated Monsters.

Suddenly, a rapid pattering sound came from behind him, drawing closer.

Wang Ye spun around. His pupils lit up, and adrenaline surged through him.

It was a pitch-black Mutated Monster, its ribs jutting out. The bones across its body protruded strangely like hedgehog spines, while its forelegs were exceptionally thick. It opened its hideous jaws and charged at him, sharp teeth dripping with saliva.

His first battle!

Wang Ye had prepared himself mentally.

He had trained boxing while working out in his previous life and had a little practical experience.

Only this time, his opponent was not human.

He quickly backed away, keeping his eyes locked on the Mutated Monster's movements.

Its forelegs and hind legs had mutated differently, making its running posture extremely strange. There was a clear pause between the force exerted by its hind legs and forelegs.

Judging the distance, Wang Ye moved the instant the monster's hind legs hit the ground—

He suddenly sidestepped, drew his saber, and slashed at its neck.

The strike was incredibly fast, but with a clang, it felt as though he had struck steel.

His entire right arm went numb instantly, and the web between his thumb and forefinger split open.

The Mutated Monster was sent flying by the blow and rolled across the ground several times. A deep bloody gash appeared on its neck, dark-red blood seeping out.

Roaring in fury, the monster scrambled up and attacked again, but it pounced at empty air.

A cold flash appeared as another heavy, powerful slash descended.

Bang!

Still the neck.

But this time, Wang Ye gripped the saber with both hands. Blue veins bulged as he viciously hacked the Mutated Monster to the ground.

Not giving it any chance to get back up, Wang Ye gritted his teeth and chopped down like he was splitting firewood. With repeated clangs, he forcibly severed its neck.

"Whew... whew... whew..."

Wang Ye panted heavily, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Both hands holding the saber trembled uncontrollably.

Not only because he was briefly exhausted, but because this was his first battle with a Mutated Monster—his first real act of killing.

A faint light flashed before his eyes.

Killed a mutated beast.

Potential Points: 0 → 1.

"Ha... hahaha!" Wang Ye laughed, overwhelmed by a sense of relief.

He felt especially exhilarated.

He really liked this way of gaining Potential Points. Only dual cultivation ranked higher.

Simple and brutal.

He could grow stronger through Potential Points!

Once he became stronger, he could kill more Mutated Monsters, gain more Potential Points, and become even stronger!

"Real combat really is different from imagination."

Wang Ye took out a bandage and wrapped the wound between his right thumb and forefinger. Then he gripped the saber tightly and used the bandage to bind his right hand to the weapon.

If he lost his grip while fighting a Mutated Monster, he would be in serious trouble.

"Today's target: one Potential Point." Wang Ye's fighting spirit flared.

West Camp Medical Room.

Shu Mengou took off her white coat and rubbed her sore, stiff neck.

Having too good a figure was also a kind of trouble.

Just as she was about to change and leave, a Nurse gently pushed open the door. "Doctor Shu, a patient is looking for you."

"Alright." Shu Mengou put her white coat back on.

This sort of thing was common in the Evolution Camp.

Whether Evolvers or ordinary students, no one could avoid getting injured.

Half a minute later.

Seeing Wang Ye, who had just been discharged yesterday and had returned covered in wounds, Shu Mengou let out a soft sigh.

This was not the first time she had seen a student like him.

She quickly disinfected and treated Wang Ye's injuries, gave him an anti-inflammatory injection, and finished bandaging him up.

"This time isn't too bad. They're all superficial injuries." Shu Mengou said to Wang Ye, "Do you need to apply for a bed?"

"No need. I can't sleep alone."

Wang Ye stood with a smile and moved his hands. "Doctor Shu, your skills are really impressive."

"Of course. I'm a professional." Shu Mengou crossed her arms beneath her chest, supporting the culprit straining against her white coat.

"See you next time, Doctor Shu." Wang Ye waved and left.

After leaving the Medical Room, Wang Ye filled his stomach in the cafeteria and headed straight for the Training Ground.

The Evolution Camp encouraged cultivation.

The Training Ground was open twenty-four hours a day and brightly lit.

There were far fewer students at night, making it seem somewhat empty.

Most students practiced actual combat during the day, when they had the most energy, and cultivated their Evolution Methods at night.

Of course, there were also plenty who practiced Evolution Methods all day long.

Wang Ye's goal was clear—

Weapon training!

His day of tempering had made him clearly realize his shortcomings. A body without skill was not enough.

Besides, he did not even have much of a body yet.

If he wanted to earn Potential Points, he had to raise his combat power!

The original owner had practiced some sword techniques, but Wang Ye preferred saber techniques and spear techniques—straightforward and direct.

Especially spear techniques. With a shake of the shaft, the spear was like a white rainbow piercing the sun; one thrust from the tip and blood would immediately spill.

Spear in his left hand, saber in his right.

After thinking it over, Wang Ye decided to practice the saber first.

A hundred days to train the saber, a thousand days to train the spear. Compared to the saber, the spear required more solid fundamentals.

Right now, he needed to master a suitable weapon in the shortest possible time.

He would start with the fundamentals.

"Nine Forms of Elementary Blade Technique."

The Evolution Camp had a complete and detailed video tutorial, also from Moon Web—

A mysterious and powerful existence.

It was humanity's hope and source of strength in its battle against monsters.

Moon Web contained all kinds of Evolution Methods, combat techniques, and even cultivation spaces.

It far surpassed humanity's current technology and could be accessed directly through thought.

Ordinary people could not use it.

Only Evolvers could.

"Ha!" "Whoosh!" "Hiss!"

Wang Ye practiced his blade technique with meticulous care.

Chop, sweep, lift, intercept, shove, thrust, cleave...

He strove to execute every movement perfectly.

He did not choose the more powerful patterned blade techniques.

Because he knew the importance of basics. A towering building rose from level ground; he could not aim too high.

Patterned blade techniques were not only slower to learn.

They also required more Potential Points to raise their level.

The next morning.

Wang Ye rested lightly against the iron gate outside the Blade Hall.

After a whole night of practice, he had gained an initial grasp of the Nine Forms of Elementary Blade Technique.

But it had yet to appear on his Personal Panel, which meant he had not truly entered the beginner stage.

He knew he needed a sharp piece of guidance to help him cross the threshold into blade technique fundamentals.

Many instructors proficient in blade techniques were stationed inside the Blade Hall.

Most of them were Evolvers who had fought Ferocious-level Monsters and retired after being injured.

At six o'clock, the two huge iron doors of the Blade Hall were slowly pulled open.

Wang Ye opened his eyes.

He rose to his feet, feeling slightly dizzy.

He vigorously shook his head, slapped his cheeks, and quickly cleared his mind.

Then Wang Ye immediately rushed into the Blade Hall.

Quite a few students had been waiting just like him.

Once the morning rush began, the place would be packed solid.

Forget asking an instructor for guidance—even getting inside would be a problem.

After consulting an instructor, Wang Ye found a corner and began practicing by himself.

Whenever he ran into a difficulty, he seized every chance to ask an instructor, then continued practicing.

In any case, he stubbornly refused to leave, practicing until the Blade Hall closed at 18:00.

Then he would switch locations and keep going!

After a full day of cultivation, Wang Ye had resolved all his doubts.

Although the Nine Forms of Elementary Blade Technique had not yet reached the beginner stage, every obstacle ahead had been completely cleared away.

All that remained was to practice relentlessly until he fully mastered it!

The Training Ground was brightly lit as students sweated profusely.

Wang Ye practiced until four in the morning once again.

The battle blade in his hand traced one exquisite arc after another, his blade technique clean and crisp.

Nine Forms of Elementary Blade Technique, Beginner ↑

A faint glow flashed before his eyes.

Wang Ye smiled, his eyes bloodshot.

He had done it!

With a thought, the panel appeared instantly.

6: Wang Ye

Life Level: Initial Life

Cultivation Method: Life Evolution Method (Mastery)

Combat: Nine Forms of Elementary Blade Technique (Beginner)

Potential Point: 1

Behind Nine Forms of Elementary Blade Technique, there was likewise a floating "+." Wang Ye focused his consciousness on it.

Consume 1 Potential Point to raise the level of Nine Forms of Elementary Blade Technique?

Yes.

Wang Ye's mind jolted violently.

His consciousness entered once more.

He practiced the Nine Forms of Elementary Blade Technique again and again, as though he had switched on an accelerator.

Tenfold speed, a hundredfold speed...

He practiced continuously for ten days, then twenty days, gaining an incomparably thorough understanding of the blade technique.

Bang!

He attained Sudden Enlightenment.

At that moment, a brilliant gleam burst from Wang Ye's bloodshot eyes.

Nine Forms of Elementary Blade Technique, Proficient!