"Wind Element Body Tempering Technique"

In an instant, Zhou Zhe felt as though someone had pressed the pause button on the world.

His breathing stopped, his heartbeat stopped, and everything around him ceased to move. Only his thoughts continued to ripple.

The notebook seemed to be held aloft by a pair of invisible hands. It flipped open to the first page, where blue-black words gleamed with fluorescence.

Name: Zhou Zhe

Talent: Absolute Comprehension; Self-Configuration

Skill: None

This notebook...

Wasn't it the one he had just used?

To be honest, Zhou Zhe could not even remember when he had bought this notebook.

"Could this be my Golden Finger?"

Having read quite a few novels, Zhou Zhe immediately thought of it.

That "Absolute Comprehension" in the talent column...

It was probably the kind of talent cheat found in novels and anime, something that could also be called a "Martial God cheat," right?

Any skill—learn it once, and he would know it; use it once, and he would master it?

Although the second talent, "Self-Configuration," was quite eye-catching, it was clearly not as striking as "Absolute Comprehension."

There were matters of priority. Zhou Zhe decided to analyze them one by one and understand his own talents.

But...

Why did the skill column display "None"?

Zhou Zhe felt that he had learned quite a few skills from childhood to adulthood.

"Wait, could Assistant Zhuang see it too?"

Zhou Zhe's gaze fell on the notebook. The moment that thought arose, time seemed to begin flowing again.

"Hello, please follow me."

Assistant Zhuang beside him kept his eyes straight ahead, seemingly unable to see the strange notebook right within reach.

Just as Zhou Zhe was about to hide the notebook without drawing attention, it suddenly transformed into a black-blue streak of light and shot into the center of his brow.

"Okay!"

With someone beside him, it was not convenient to study the strange notebook. Zhou Zhe touched his brow and hurriedly followed Assistant Zhuang, his thoughts churning.

What exactly set Swift Wind Pavilion apart from other fitness centers?

Was it merely that its facilities were more comprehensive and technologically advanced?

Of course not!

At Swift Wind Pavilion, one could come into contact with transcendent power!

Passing through an indoor artificial pond and a dining hall, Zhou Zhe soon arrived at his personal training room under Assistant Zhuang's guidance.

Inside the training room stood a man in a black martial arts uniform. His eyes were half-closed, as though he had been waiting for quite some time.

"You're here... Then let us begin directly."

The other man opened his eyes and spoke indifferently.

After speaking, the man in the martial arts uniform handed Zhou Zhe a blue-covered book.

The book was thin, with only a dozen or so pages.

Having completed his handover task, Assistant Zhuang quietly left the room.

Only the two of them remained inside.

The other man sized Zhou Zhe up and down before saying in a resounding voice, "My name is Li Shanhe. I am your introductory coach."

"The Wind Element Body Tempering Technique is not a creation of Earth civilization. It is completely different from so-called martial arts, superpowers, battle aura, inner force, true qi, and qigong!"

He enunciated each word clearly and spoke with absolute certainty, as though stating an objective fact. "The original Earth was a magicless planet. There was no spiritual energy, elements, mana, chakra, or anything else that human cells could make use of."

"Anyone who claims to be a superpowered individual or qigong master is a swindler deceiving the world and stealing fame!"

"But..."

"Two months ago, 'that one' said—transcendent beings were permitted to exist."

"And so, Earth gained transcendent power."

"This world is now utterly different from what it once was!"

"As the name suggests, the Wind Element Body Tempering Technique uses Wind Element to temper your body and improve your physique, strength, agility, and endurance."

"Enough nonsense. The first thing we must do is prepare."

At this point, Li Shanhe gave the Black Sword Shield Brand on Zhou Zhe's wrist a meaningful glance and said, word by word, "You must thoroughly digest this book—understand it completely from beginning to end."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhe nodded and began reading, pondering, and comprehending the booklet in his hands under the other man's guidance.

Two hours and fifteen minutes later, the process finally came to an end.

Under Li Shanhe's guidance, the two began asking and answering questions, filling in gaps and correcting omissions.

In the end, Li Shanhe confirmed that Zhou Zhe had completely mastered the theoretical knowledge of the Wind Element Body Tempering Technique.

"Your intelligence is above the standard line, and your memory is quite outstanding as well. You can now begin attempting cultivation."

"Remember, do not be arrogant."

Li Shanhe gave Zhou Zhe an indifferent look. "Knowing is easy; doing is hard."

"Just getting started traps countless people to death."

"At the very least, as far as I know, there are already at least three hundred thousand people cultivating the Wind Element Body Tempering Technique nationwide. Yet fewer than eight hundred have successfully entered the gate."

"Your time... is far too short!"

It was like a basin of cold water had been poured over him, yet Zhou Zhe's expression did not change in the slightest.

He knew the other man held no ill intent.

After obtaining the strange notebook, Zhou Zhe's brain seemed to have undergone some kind of change.

In Zhou Zhe's perception, the other man's emotions were pity, sympathy, and sorrow, without the slightest trace of malice.

The reason he said this was merely because he wanted Zhou Zhe to give up his futile struggle and enjoy the final seven days of his life. "Thank you for your kindness."

Zhou Zhe shook his head. "But I have still decided to continue cultivating."

"You... take care of yourself." Li Shanhe gave Zhou Zhe a deep look, then sat cross-legged where he stood and formed hand seals with both hands.

His breathing became deep and long, unbroken as a flowing stream. He seemed to enter some wondrous state, with whirlwinds coiling around his body.

Zhou Zhe likewise copied his posture, forming a peculiar hand seal and sitting cross-legged. He closed his eyes, emptied his mind, and began cultivating according to the method described in the Wind Element Body Tempering Technique.

Almost in an instant, Zhou Zhe felt the entire world undergo a heaven-and-earth overturning change!

Emerald radiance emerged from the darkness, gathering into invisible whirlwinds.

With only a thought, boundless Wind Element rushed madly into Zhou Zhe's body like wandering sons returning home.

"Hm?"

Li Shanhe, seated beside Zhou Zhe, abruptly opened his eyes. A look of disbelief appeared on his face.

He was also someone who had achieved success in cultivating the Wind Element Body Tempering Technique.

He immediately sensed Zhou Zhe's transformation.

"This... is simply inconceivable!"

He had long known that people's Elemental Affinity differed, but he had never imagined that someone's talent could reach such a level!

If his cultivation talent was one, then Zhou Zhe's cultivation talent might have already reached a hundred?!

What exactly were the people below doing?

How had they failed to report a genius like this directly to the capital headquarters?

Li Shanhe's expression was exceptionally vivid.

Zhou Zhe paid no attention to what others thought. He devoted himself to cultivation, immersing himself in the world of elements.

Skin, muscles, bones, meridians, blood vessels, nerves, internal organs, cells...

Everything was being rapidly strengthened. Every place in his body where things had gathered and clogged was swiftly cleared.

Suddenly, Zhou Zhe sprang to his feet and opened his eyes.

He felt as though something was blocking his chest. After coughing dryly twice, he suddenly spat out a clump of pitch-black filth.

At this sight, the man in the martial arts uniform widened his eyes, his face filled with disbelief.

This was something that only appeared when the first layer of the Wind Element Body Tempering Technique had been cultivated to the Perfection Realm!

Expelling impurities from the body, repairing hidden injuries, purifying the body, and laying a solid foundation!

He had spent more than a month without cultivating to this extent...

And Zhou Zhe?

In the blink of an eye, he had caught up to him!

Could the gap in talent between people truly be this vast?

Although he had been mentally prepared, Li Shanhe still felt despondent.

"A genius, an absolute genius!"

Li Shanhe looked at Zhou Zhe nearby, unconsciously taking two steps back. His expression was forlorn as he murmured like a man in a dream.

"I can no longer teach you."

"Your level has already surpassed mine!"

"I will report your situation to those above. When the time comes, a coach of higher caliber will come to provide targeted training."

After saying this, Li Shanhe left the room in a daze, as though his soul had departed.

Zhou Zhe did not stop him. First, talent was something that could not be concealed at all; second, there was no need to conceal it.

Although Swift Wind Pavilion had appeared less than two months ago, it had already become a powerful force.

Seven days later, Zhou Zhe would enter the Cosmic Arena and fight those genuine extraterrestrial gladiators to the death.

He was willing to borrow every external force to improve himself.

Playing the pig to eat the tiger?

Forget it!

Staying alive was the only hard truth!

Once a person died, there was nothing left!

At a time like this, the greater the talent he displayed, the more assistance and resources he would receive!

Every week, the gods randomly selected a batch of "lucky ones" from Earth as toys. Every nation was too busy looking after itself; even if they barely managed to free up their hands, they would only help those worth helping.

Zhou Zhe understood better than anyone—no one would extend a hand to mud that could not be plastered onto a wall!

As his thoughts turned, streams of light flickered before Zhou Zhe's eyes and gathered into the shape of the notebook.

The notebook automatically opened. In the previously empty skill column, a new line of text appeared.

Talent: Absolute Comprehension; Self-Configuration.

Skill: "Wind Element Body Tempering Technique" (Level 1)—Physique slightly increased, agility slightly increased. This skill's maximum level is Level 4.

The cheat had come online. Time to take off! Whew~