Gifted

Gifted

"100%?"

Luo Jun clenched his fist hard. He could indeed feel his strength had increased, but as for by how much, after so many attribute enhancements in a single day, he had already grown numb to it...

But he knew Old Yuan's figure definitely wasn't based solely on that one punch. The old man could even scan the holes in his underwear—giving him a physical examination while passing on his cultivation method would be effortless.

Could this be the effect of Great Success? Luo Jun marveled inwardly at the dice's miraculous power, but he knowingly asked, "Why did I improve more than other people? Could I be a one-in-ten-thousand martial prodigy?"

"No." Old Yuan immediately dismissed the idea. "This technique of using external force to open the meridians is a method I created myself. Compared to conventional cultivation methods, its drawback is the risk of severe backlash. Its advantage is that the increase after a breakthrough is greater than with normal cultivation. Usually, though, it only grants a seventy to eighty percent increase. In theory, it can approach one hundred percent indefinitely. For you to reach the theoretical limit, all I can say is that you've been chosen by fortune."

"I see..." Luo Jun looked at his hands. "So my cultivation method is different from everyone else's? Does that mean I'll need your help every time I break through in the future?"

"That won't be necessary. This method of mine is itself a cultivation technique. As long as you circulate Vital Energy according to it, it will naturally grow stronger... But that's a matter for later." Having discovered a "genius," Old Yuan was in high spirits. "Breaking through to the Body Refinement Realm, enhanced physical constitution is merely the foundation. Feel the Vital Energy in your body now. It should have started generating on its own, right?"

Luo Jun focused his attention inward. The surging energy Old Yuan had supplied earlier had vanished after merging into his limbs and bones, but upon careful examination, he discovered a new energy beginning to emerge within him. It was weak at first, but as it circulated over and over, it steadily grew stronger, gradually filling the meridians throughout his body.

"I can feel Vital Energy!" Luo Jun said excitedly.

"Now that your realm is stable, your body will naturally generate Vital Energy appropriate for your current realm. As you cultivate, your Vital Energy and meridians will grow stronger. Once they meet the requirements for the Next Floor, you can guide the Vital Energy into your limbs and bones again. If you succeed, you can advance another level. If you fail, you'll have to cultivate this level all over again."

"Of course, that applies to ordinary cultivation techniques. The method I created carries greater risks, but also greater rewards." Old Yuan looked into Luo Jun's eyes. "It's too early to discuss cultivation with you now. First, mobilize the Vital Energy in your body and concentrate some of it in your eyes."

Luo Jun did as instructed, and before long, the objects in his field of vision changed.

For example, Old Yuan, who was sitting there, was covered in a thin, pale glow. That should have been protective Vital Energy.

But when Luo Jun Looked Down at himself, he saw nothing of the sort.

"Releasing Vital Energy outside the body is an ability only the Foundation Establishment Realm can master. You need to reach at least the third level of the Body Refinement Realm before you can cultivate it." Seeing Luo Jun's confusion, Old Yuan explained:

"Besides strengthening the body, Vital Energy at the Body Refinement Realm can circulate internally, enhancing bodily functions selectively. For example, it can strengthen vision, hearing, smell... In battle, it can also increase strength and protect the internal organs and mind..."

"I see." Luo Jun concentrated Vital Energy in his arm and threw a punch. He felt that beyond his muscles, there was another force inside his body propelling his movement, sending out a whistling gust of wind with his fist.

His physical strength had already doubled, and with the boost from the Vital Energy inside him, Luo Jun now had the urge to pin that man-eating Little Girl to the ground and beat it senseless if he encountered it again!

Seeing Luo Jun's delighted expression, Old Yuan knew that he had experienced the wonders of Vital Energy. He continued, "Now, concentrate the Vital Energy in your Sea of Consciousness."

"Sea of Consciousness?" Luo Jun blinked in confusion.

"Your brain!"

"Oh..." Luo Jun did as instructed. His mind immediately became clearer, and at the same time, a piece of information he had never seen before appeared.

Locations: Midnight Hotel

Background Introduction: Midnight Hotel is a business hotel located at the foot of Secluded Mountain, backed by a scenic tourist area. The hotel has always had a high occupancy rate. Aside from numerous independent travelers, it is also a long-term partner of many travel agencies.

However, with their unexpected arrival, everything in the hotel changed. And you, completely unaware, have just finished checking in.

Main Quest: Leave Midnight Hotel

Mission Time Limit: 24 hours

Mission Type: Survival

Mission Level: Tier B

Hint: Love humans, eat humans, become humans.

Note: Welcome to Midnight Hotel. Today's main course is you!

"This... is the Mission Description? Private information is directly sent into our minds?"

Luo Jun said in shock.

Old Yuan Nodded. "You saw it, right? Only by using Vital Energy can you receive and interpret this information. This is crucial to clearing the mission!"

As he spoke, Old Yuan checked the time. "We can still talk for a little over Twenty Minutes. Tell me the mission hints, as well as all the intelligence you've gathered During This Time."

"Though I can't interfere with your mission directly, with my many years of experience, I can still help analyze it and offer you some advice."

Luo Jun was Stunned when he Heard that. "Twenty Minutes? Didn't you say you could stay for more than an hour? My breakthrough took less than half an hour..."

"Have you forgotten the rules?" Old Yuan pointed at the Great Door. "You're a human I brought in. The two of us can't coexist in this room for more than an hour."

"You mean I have to leave the room in another Twenty Minutes?" Although his strength had increased greatly, the thought of returning to that terrifying Corridor and Stairwell still made Luo Jun's skin crawl.

"No." Old Yuan waved his hand. "I used a Treasure Tool to enter, so I can leave early. According to the rules, As Long As you stay in the room alone tonight and don't act rashly, you'll be safe."

Luo Jun Nodded and recounted everything he knew in meticulous detail. Then he looked expectantly at the experienced Senior before him.

After listening, Old Yuan furrowed his brows tightly and took a deep breath...

"You... have successfully reached my blind spot..."

"What?" Luo Jun's eyes widened. He had thought that this bald Old Geezer, as a Branch Commander, would surely have profound insights when facing a clueless newcomer in Chaos. He Did Not Expect him to say something so pathetic!

Sensing the distrust in Luo Jun's gaze, Old Yuan gave a light cough. "First of all, I'm a commander. Within the organization, I'm part of the combat faction. Aside from researching Vital Energy, I don't really like using my brain for other matters. Secondly, your mission truly isn't simple."

Not simple... Luo Jun looked at the Mission Description. "Is Tier B considered very high?"

"The level is only one aspect." Old Yuan explained, "For a first mission, Tier B is indeed somewhat beyond the norm. This should be the mission corresponding to the Polluter who opened the Black Hole."

"But a mission's level represents its overall difficulty. A mission filled with ordinary monsters and a mission with very few monsters but extremely powerful ones can have exactly the same level."

"Based on your description, even skilled Ordinary People can barely handle them. The monsters in this mission are average in strength and not very numerous, posing little threat to Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators. Judging solely by monster strength, it would only be an entry-level Tier D Mission. For Chaos to rate it Tier B means there is likely a Powerful Existence far beyond the usual standard hidden here!"

"Those things don't even count as strong?" Luo Jun recalled the two times he had barely escaped death when facing the Little Girl. "Monsters like that are considered dead weight... What kind of existence would this beyond-the-standard thing be?"

"That's exactly the problem." Old Yuan Sighed. "Rule-based survival missions are generally meant to help newcomers adapt. They may seem strange and terrifying, but As Long As you follow the rules, they are usually more frightening than dangerous."

"But your mission is clearly much harder. It's difficult to tell whether the rules are real or fake, likely due to interference from some hidden monster that exceeds the normal limits. In this kind of mission, even the slightest misstep can lead to irreversible doom... It's hard for me to offer you advice."

So your so-called experience is just following the rules?

Luo Jun looked at the Old Geezer before him, at a loss for words.

"What kind of expression is that?" Old Yuan felt as though he had been looked down upon. He coughed twice. "Although I don't have any specific advice, I can give you two pieces of counsel."

"Please speak, Senior!" Luo Jun listened attentively.

"First, the hints and notes in the Mission Description may also contain information for clearing the mission."

"Second, as I said before, the existence of false rules indicates that something is interfering behind the scenes. This often means that more than one faction exists in the mission."

Luo Jun's brows twitched when he Heard that.

He had also suspected the first point, but he truly had never considered the second possibility...

"You mean two factions are altering each other's rules?" Luo Jun recalled the rules that had been handwritten in the Corridor. "Why couldn't they be clues left by Ordinary People who encountered something strange?"

Old Yuan suddenly straightened his back, stroked his beard, and gave a hearty chuckle. "Do you really think those rules were written on, that anyone could casually add to or alter them?"

Luo Jun froze and Turned head to Looked towards the rules on the door.

"Senior, did you bring a pen?"

Old Yuan had come straight from a meeting, and he really did have a pen on him.

Luo Jun took it and walked to the door, trying to write on it. But the ink left by the pen tip vanished the instant it passed over the surface, leaving behind no Traces at all!

So the two rules in the Corridor hadn't been written by humans?

"Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that ordinary living beings caught up in this struggle left behind a message..." Old Yuan pointed at the pen in Luo Jun's hand. "As for how to determine it, it's very simple..."

"If I can't write somewhere, neither can anyone else." Luo Jun immediately understood. "Conversely, wherever someone else can write, I can definitely write too!"

"Smart." Old Yuan praised him, then Looked Down at the time. "Time is almost up. Let me give you a few more instructions before I leave."

"I believe you'll make it out safely. I'll be waiting at the exit. Once you come out, people from the Yuan Cultivation Society will definitely question you. Don't worry, with me there, they won't make things difficult for you. But remember this well: if anyone asks you about Vital Energy, never say I taught you, or it will cause trouble. Just say you learned it by chance recently. Make up whatever reason you want, As Long As it isn't too outrageous. After all, your innate physique is Different from Ordinary People. Based on your earlier performance, you weren't much different from someone who had cultivated one or two levels of the Body Refinement Realm. It'll be believable."

"At ten o'clock Monday morning, remember to go to the south gate of Ningdong University. Tell the guard you're looking for Professor Yuan, and someone will bring you to me."

Hearing the seriousness in Old Yuan's voice, Luo Jun Nodded. "I understand."

"Oh, right, Senior. You keep saying my physique is Different from Ordinary People..." Luo Jun looked at Old Yuan, feeling somewhat uneasy. "Could it be... there's no one else like me?"

End of Chapter