After the Quasi-Warrior Assessment ended, the atmosphere in the training hall relaxed considerably.
The dozen or so Warriors dispersed in pairs and threes. Some went to train, while others headed to the lounge for tea and conversation. Chief Instructor Wu Tong walked over to Lin Yun and Feng Lu, clapped his hands, and gestured for them to pay attention.
"Next, you'll need to sign the combat assessment agreement." The middle-aged Warrior who had led them upstairs earlier appeared again, holding two documents. "These are the applications for the Martial Artist Combat Assessment. Read them carefully—the moment you take part in the assessment, if you're killed by a monster during it, the Limit Dojo bears no responsibility. Of course, the fatality rate for the Martial Artist Combat Assessment is very low."
Lin Yun and Feng Lu each took an agreement and read through it.
There weren't many clauses, and the language was straightforward. The gist was simple: the combat assessment meant fighting monsters with real weapons, and you bore responsibility for your own life or death. The Limit Dojo accepted no liability.
"The fatality rate is low, but the rate of serious injury isn't." A bald, burly man walked over from the side, his deep voice echoing through the training hall. "The Martial Artist Combat Assessment is a fight to the death against monsters. Of course, this is only the most basic kind of combat. When you eventually go alone into dangerous areas to hunt monsters, the risks will be far greater than in this assessment. If you can't even pass this test, you're not qualified to become a Warrior."
Lin Yun and Feng Lu exchanged a glance.
A trace of nervousness flickered in Feng Lu's eyes, but determination soon took its place. Lin Yun, meanwhile, remained calm. He turned to the last page of the agreement, picked up the pen beside it, and signed his name without hesitation.
Feng Lu gritted her teeth and signed as well.
The middle-aged Warrior collected the two agreements and checked their signatures. With a satisfied nod, he said, "Good. You passed the Quasi-Warrior Assessment on February 1, so you have a month before the combat assessment. Make sure you prepare well during that time."
Instructor Jiang Nian stepped up to the keyboard and quickly tapped the keys. A huge transparent screen appeared on the training hall wall, displaying an article whose title read: Genetic Origin Energy Cultivation Method.
Lin Yun focused his attention on it.
The reason Warriors had such powerful bodies—and why some top-level Warriors could move faster than the speed of sound and cut through several meters of steel with a single slash—was Genetic Origin Energy.
During the Great Nirvana Period, humanity became infected with the RR Virus and developed antibodies. This caused people's genes to naturally optimize and change. Once their genes had optimized to a certain degree, they could absorb the faint energy between the stars and merge it into every cell in their bodies. Throughout this process, their bones, cells, blood, organs, and skin would continually evolve and grow stronger.
Their bones could become ten or even a hundred times harder than diamond. Their organs could grow so powerful that they could hold their breath underwater for half an hour or longer.
All of this depended on absorbing energy from the universe and merging it into every cell, making it one's own energy—Genetic Origin Energy.
"This is the method for cultivating Genetic Origin Energy: the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Cultivation Method." Instructor Jiang Nian pointed to the article on the screen. "It's also the only basic method for cultivating Genetic Origin Energy anywhere on Earth."
Lin Yun studied the article carefully and soon understood its principles.
Ordinary people couldn't cultivate Genetic Origin Energy because their genes weren't optimized enough. Generally, once someone reached a punch force of 900 kilograms, a speed of 25 meters per second, and a nerve reaction speed at the Quasi-Warrior passing level, their genes were sufficiently optimized to meet the threshold. More than ninety percent of Quasi-Warriors could then begin cultivating Genetic Origin Energy.
"During this month, you can start trying to cultivate Genetic Origin Energy," Instructor Jiang Nian said with a smile. "As for the most precious Guidance Techniques, you'll have to wait until you become Warriors and join the Limit Dojo or the military before you can obtain them."
There was only one basic method for cultivating Genetic Origin Energy in the entire world, but there were countless Guidance Techniques. Depending on which Guidance Technique one cultivated, the speed of cultivating Genetic Origin Energy could vary by dozens of times. Guidance Techniques were the most precious assets held by the major powers.
"Instructor," Feng Lu asked, unable to hold back, "I've heard Guidance Techniques are incredible. Just how incredible are they? How can they increase the speed at which you cultivate Genetic Origin Energy?"
A middle-aged man with some gray in his hair spoke up from the training hall. "Feng Lu, let me put it this way. If you don't cultivate a Guidance Technique and only use the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Cultivation Method, you might be able to cultivate for just five minutes a day before all your cells are saturated and can't absorb any more."
"But if you cultivate a Guidance Technique, your cells' capacity will be much greater. You might be able to cultivate for eight minutes, ten minutes, or even an hour. Do you understand now?"
Lin Yun understood that the essence of a Guidance Technique was to increase the amount of "food" each cell could consume every day. Cells absorbed energy from the universe and converted it into Genetic Origin Energy, much like a person eating. Someone who could originally eat only three bowls of rice could eat five or even ten bowls a day after cultivating a Guidance Technique.
Jiang Nian smiled. "If you don't cultivate a Guidance Technique, let's say your cells can absorb one unit of energy. Once you cultivate one, your cells might be able to absorb two units, three units, or even more. In other words, one year of your cultivation could surpass someone else's ten years. That's the allure of Guidance Techniques."
The Warriors present all joined in the discussion, clearly having plenty of insights to share about Guidance Techniques.
"When it comes to Guidance Techniques, the strongest person in the world, Hong, the global Chief Hall Master of my Limit Dojo, created nine first-rate techniques. If you join the Limit Dojo and earn enough contribution points, you'll have a chance to learn these top-tier Guidance Techniques," Chief Instructor Wu Tong added with a smile.
Feng Lu's eyes shone with excitement. She could hardly wait to join the dojo.
"All right, Feng Lu, you can head back now," Wu Tong said with a wave of his hand. "Lin Yun, stay behind."
Feng Lu glanced at Lin Yun with a hint of envy, nodded, and followed the middle-aged Warrior out of the training hall.
Only Lin Yun, Jiang Nian, and Wu Tong remained in the training hall.
Wu Tong went over to the sofa and sat down, motioning for Lin Yun to do the same. Jiang Nian leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, a pleased smile on his face.
"Lin Yun, on behalf of the Limit Dojo, I'm formally inviting you to join us." Wu Tong got straight to the point, his tone serious.
Lin Yun was slightly taken aback. "Chief Instructor, as far as I know, doesn't the dojo usually wait until after the Martial Artist Combat Assessment to invite students to join?"
"Haha, that's for ordinary Warriors." Wu Tong laughed and waved his hand. "Lin Yun, you're very talented. You're only fifteen, yet you've already reached the Intermediate Warrior level, and you haven't even cultivated Genetic Origin Energy. Your movement technique is also quite good, and you come from an ordinary family. The Jiangnan Base City doesn't produce a talent like you even once a year. Naturally, the Limit Dojo thinks highly of you and is willing to offer you generous terms."
Lin Yun understood.
At fifteen, with a punch force of 2,345 kilograms, a speed of 38.3 meters per second, and an excellent score on the nerve reaction test, his results were enough to make the higher-ups at any dojo personally recruit him. What was more, he hadn't even cultivated Genetic Origin Energy yet, which meant his potential had barely been tapped.
"Chief Instructor, could you tell me what the terms are?" Lin Yun asked, putting just the right amount of anticipation in his voice.
"Of course." Wu Tong opened his handheld computer and quickly brought up a document. "After your tests, I submitted your results to Chairman Zhou of the Jiangnan Base City. This agreement was personally approved by him. Take a look."
An agreement appeared clearly on the handheld computer's screen.
Lin Yun focused on it. The terms were listed one by one—
Limit Dojo Special Recruitment Agreement (Lin Yun)
1. Choose any detached villa in a Warrior Residential Area in Yangzhou City or its affiliated regions (permanent ownership);
2. Choose manuals worth up to 200 million from the dojo's collection, including movement techniques, Guidance Techniques, and attack techniques (free of charge);
3. One hundred million in startup funds (Huaxia Currency);
Within one year, if you meet any two of the following conditions, you may apply to join the Basic Training Camp. If you meet three, you may apply to join the Elite Training Camp—
1. After your first cultivation of Genetic Origin Energy, your punch force increases by more than twofold;
2. Your strength as a Warrior reaches the Junior War General level;
3. Your movement technique reaches the Micro-Level;
4. Your punch force multiplier exceeds twofold.
The room fell silent.
Lin Yun quietly studied the agreement, quickly calculating its value.
A detached villa would let him move his grandfather out of their dilapidated subsidized apartment and give him a stable life. Manuals worth 200 million would give him access to the world's finest cultivation methods. One hundred million in startup funds could buy all kinds of cultivation resources and accelerate his growth.
As for the Basic Training Camp and the Elite Training Camp... They were cradles for the Limit Dojo's most gifted talents. Every Warrior who entered the Elite Training Camp was among the finest young talents on Earth. Most future War Gods and Beyond War God-level powerhouses had come from there.
This agreement was even more generous than the one Luo Feng had received in the original story.
Lin Yun took a deep breath, raised his head, and said firmly, "Chief Instructor, I'll join the Limit Dojo."
At Lin Yun's answer, Wu Tong's stern face finally broke into a smile. It held relief and satisfaction, as well as a hint of certainty—as if he had known this was how things would go.
"Good!" Wu Tong stood up and held out his hand. "Lin Yun, welcome to the Limit Dojo. From today on, you're one of us."
Lin Yun reached out and shook his hand, feeling the warmth and strength of his palm.
"However..." Wu Tong let go and turned serious. "Even though you've signed the agreement, you still have to take the Martial Artist Combat Assessment. Those are the rules, and no one is exempt. You can only officially become a Warrior after passing the combat assessment, and all the benefits in the agreement will take effect then."
"I understand," Lin Yun said with a nod.
"Spend this month cultivating Genetic Origin Energy. Do your best to improve your strength before the combat assessment." Wu Tong patted him on the shoulder. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do."
Jiang Nian came over from the wall and gave Lin Yun a friendly pat on the back. "You didn't let me down, kid. Go home and prepare. Don't screw up during the combat assessment."
"Yes, Instructor."
The sun was shining brightly when Lin Yun left the Limit Hall.
Standing on the tree-lined road in the Bright Moon Residential District, he turned to look back at the magnificent building. The Limit Dojo's emblem—a clenched fist—gleamed in the sunlight like a silent promise.
From today on, he was part of the Limit Dojo.
This was more than just an agreement. It was a pass to the path of becoming strong. With the dojo's resources supporting him, his cultivation speed would undergo a qualitative leap.
And there was also the Genetic Origin Energy cultivation method—the Five Hearts Toward Heaven...
Lin Yun touched the Small Bronze Tripod against his chest and let the corners of his mouth lift.
Two worlds, two systems of cultivation, were about to meet, merge, and resonate within him.
He took a deep breath and strode toward the residential district's entrance.
His grandfather was waiting for him at home.
Tonight, they'd have a good meal.
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