Growing Strength

After a quiet night, Ji Yun practiced all night. He didn't come back to himself until the sun had climbed into the sky and its light streamed through the curtains. He stretched, loosening his body, which had grown stiff from sitting for so long.

"Sure enough, the Genetic Origin Energy cultivation method really is incredible. I absorbed it continuously for more than three hours before my body seemed to reach saturation, and I can feel that many tiny branches and extremities still haven't absorbed any Cosmic Energy." Ji Yun reached for the glass of water on the table, intending to rehydrate.

"Crack!"

The sound of shattering glass rang out. Ji Yun had crushed the glass, scattering shards across the floor.

Ji Yun stared in astonishment at his hand and thought, It seems I've gained quite a bit of strength. I can't even control it well enough to pick up a glass of water, let alone practice the force exertion technique.

It seems I was right to decide to study force exertion without practicing Genetic Origin Energy at the same time. If I'd studied force exertion while cultivating Genetic Origin Energy, I'd probably have gotten half the results for twice the effort.

I should first get used to coordinating my body's strength. After that, I'll practice Genetic Origin Energy every day, though my progress won't be as dramatic anymore. Ji Yun left the bedroom and asked a servant to prepare breakfast. But one meal wasn't enough for his post-training body; even after eating, he still felt quite hungry.

"Does eating this much mean my cultivation is paying off?" Ji Yun chuckled.

After eating two more servings, Ji Yun finally felt full.

First I need to get used to my strength. I should start by getting a rough idea of how strong I am now. I'll test my physical fitness.

Ji Yun went up to the third floor. It was a training hall in one of the villas assigned to families living in the Limit Dojo's residential community, and different equipment could be set up as needed. It was enough for most dojo students to conduct tests. Testing higher levels of physical fitness required more space and more advanced equipment.

"I'll start with a punch-strength test."

Ji Yun switched on the Punch Strength Tester. It beeped, indicating that it was ready.

Ji Yun stood in front of the tester. He gathered his strength, then naturally threw a punch without using the force exertion method he had previously grasped.

"Bang!"

He hurriedly looked at the screen. It displayed: 3216 kg.

Ji Yun was slightly surprised. A gain of 300 kg from one's first session of Genetic Origin Energy cultivation was considered average. A gain of 600 kg was quite good, while 1,000 kg was a result only elite individuals could achieve, showing they had good talent. A gain of 2,000 kg meant one was already a genius.

"I gained around 2,200 kg from my first session. That's an incredibly high number. And last night, I felt that many parts of my body hadn't fully absorbed the Genetic Origin Energy. That means I still have a period of rapid growth ahead of me." Ji Yun grew excited.

Next, he tested his speed and neural response.

The results came quickly.

Punch strength: 3216 kg.

Speed: 59.6 m/s.

Neural response test: perfect score at the Beginner Warrior level; passed at the Intermediate Warrior level.

Looking at his physical fitness results, Ji Yun couldn't help feeling excited, though he also had some questions.

"When I became a Quasi-Warrior, my neural response test was already excellent at the Beginner Warrior level. Judging by how much my other two stats have improved, shouldn't I have reached an excellent rating at the Intermediate Warrior level by now?"

Why hadn't his neural response improved much?

Puzzled, Ji Yun opened the Limit Dojo's internal forum to look for an answer.

Soon, an article titled "On Psychic Masters and Neural Response" caught his attention.

The article explained that Psychic Masters were among the most powerful Warriors. Psychic Masters were Warriors too, but they had a power beyond that of ordinary Warriors: Psychic Energy. No one yet knew where Psychic Energy came from or how to cultivate it, but it was generally accepted to be a unique energy contained within the brain that greatly enhanced neural response. Studies had shown that Psychic Masters had the best neural response of any Warrior at the same level.

"Psychic Master," Ji Yun murmured.

"They say Psychic Masters can move objects from a distance and control weapons to attack their enemies. They're the most powerful beings among Warriors."

Ji Yun wondered, Could I have the talent to become a Psychic Master? The article says Psychic Energy is a unique energy in the brain. I suppose I have to look for it there.

Ji Yun sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, quieting his mind. He focused his thoughts on his brain, searching for the strange power described in the article.

Slowly, one minute passed, then two.

Half an hour later, Ji Yun opened his eyes and thought, I haven't got a clue. I can use my surroundings as a reference to sense the energy outside my body, but how am I supposed to sense something inside me?

Could I use the Genetic Origin Energy I've absorbed as a reference?

With a possible direction in mind, Ji Yun sat quietly again and searched carefully for any Psychic Energy that might exist within him.

Before long, Ji Yun found his Sea of Consciousness. It was filled with mist. As he sent his thoughts into it, he discovered that the energy there was different from Origin Energy. It was another kind of energy. If Origin Energy was like a weapon a person held in their hands, then this energy was like an extension of their limbs reaching all the way to the weapon.

"But I can't use this energy at all. That's completely different from what the article said about Psychic Masters using Psychic Energy to attack. Did something go wrong?"

"Could this be Mental Power rather than Psychic Energy?" The difference between the two terms was just one character, but it marked the difference between being able to use it and not being able to.

"It seems I don't have the talent to become a Psychic Master." A hint of disappointment flashed through Ji Yun's heart.

"Psychic Master, Psychic Master..."

"I don't believe Warriors are inferior to Psychic Masters. If I'm faster than a Psychic Master, stronger than one, and even have better neural response, then I'm no worse than a Psychic Master."

The world's strongest expert was Hong.

The world's second-strongest expert was Thor.

Neither of them was known to be a Psychic Master, which showed that Warriors had potential no less than that of Psychic Masters.

Thinking this, Ji Yun brushed away his disappointment and steeled his resolve.

"Now that I understand my physical fitness, I'll start by getting used to my body again. Once I'm used to it, I'll study force exertion."

A month passed in the blink of an eye. Ji Yun's strength had grown tremendously over that month, and his physical fitness had improved at an astonishing rate.

Ji Yun was 187 centimeters tall, making him quite tall even in a crowd. His improved physical fitness had also made his frame lean and powerful. He stood straight and had handsome, resolute features. Before the Great Nirvana, he probably would have made a decent celebrity.

But even before the Great Nirvana, celebrities had been objects of criticism, let alone in this new era, where strength reigned supreme.

After a month of cultivation, Ji Yun's physical fitness had more than doubled compared with when he had just absorbed Genetic Origin Energy. During that month, he had focused on using every part of his body to absorb Genetic Origin Energy, reaching saturation for his current stage. That was how he had made such tremendous progress.

Ji Yun's physical fitness was now:

Punch strength: 6314 kg.

Speed: 84.3 m/s.

Neural response test: perfect score at the Advanced Warrior level; passed at the Elementary Warlord level.

A speed of 60 meters per second was generally considered the minimum for the High-Level Warrior level, while 90 meters per second was the minimum for the Beginner Warlord level.

A punch strength of 4,000 kg was generally the minimum for the High-Level Warrior level, while 8,000 kg was the minimum for the Beginner Warlord level. Of course, these were only rough benchmarks. These days, strength was judged not by physical fitness but by one's record of killing monsters.

Ji Yun's physical fitness was now close to the Elementary Warlord level. However, it was already early July, and the Warrior Practical Examination was about a month away. It seemed impossible to make a major breakthrough before then.

After a month of cultivation, Ji Yun was feeling a little tired. He was planning to go out for a walk and see how the students at the dojo spent their days.

Just then, his father, Ji Shan, called.

"A-Yun, are you there?"

Ji Yun answered, "I'm here, Dad. What's up?"

"I have an old brother-in-arms who once went through life and death with me. He was injured in the Wilderness Zone a few days ago and plans to retire. He's having a meal with our family tonight. Come to Hongyuan Restaurant."

"Sure, Dad. I'll be there in a little while."

After hanging up, Ji Yun sighed. Warriors hunted monsters, and it was easy to get injured or even lose one's life. Making it back from the Wilderness Zone was a stroke of luck every time.

That evening, Ji Yun drove to Hongyuan Restaurant. Seeing his imposing manner, the attendant downstairs didn't dare treat him casually and asked, "Do you have a reservation, sir?"

"Yes. I'm going to Room 502."

The attendant immediately changed his tone and said respectfully, "Right this way, sir."

The fifth floor was a popular spot for Warriors. Most people who could come up there were Warriors.

Ji Yun glanced at the attendant's changed expression and thought, Sure enough, strength is what matters. If I weren't a Warrior, he wouldn't be treating me with such respect.

He went up to the fifth floor, found the room, and knocked before entering.

Hongyuan Restaurant was quite lavishly decorated. Rumor had it that its owner was also a Warrior. He sourced monster meat through his connections, mostly from ordinary monsters, though occasionally meat from a General-level monster was available. Monster meat was rich in vital energy and nourishing for dojo students still at the trainee stage, but it did little for Warriors.

As soon as Ji Yun entered, he heard Ji Shan's hearty laughter. "Now that you're retiring, you can finally relax. You've put in all those years of hard work. Things turned out pretty well, didn't they?"

"That's right. Whenever I used to enter the Wilderness Zone, I was always worried I wouldn't make it back. Now I can finally put all that behind me."

"A-Yun, you're here."

"Come over here. This is Uncle Luo, one of my former teammates," Ji Shan introduced.

"This is Uncle Luo's wife and daughter."

Ji Yun greeted them, then sat down.

Ji Shan winked and said, "Come on, Xiao Yue. A-Yun. You're both young, so you must have plenty to talk about."

Luo Yue looked youthful and bright, with the pure air of a student. She seemed untouched by the corrupting influence of society.

Why does this feel like meeting the family at a matchmaking date? Ji Yun muttered to himself, though he didn't particularly mind. He struck up a conversation with Luo Yue.