"I'll go with the Mist Sword! It has six levels. Once I've mastered all six, I'll reach the Artistic Conception Level in swordsmanship. My force output can reach 4.2 times! It's not that high, but it'll do for now.
"The first three levels cost 120 million. For a first-time purchase, I can get half off without using any contribution points, so that brings it down to 60 million! I have 50 million in free credit, so I'll add another 10 million myself. Sold!" Wang Ji made up his mind.
After spending over three hours poring over the secret manuals, Wang Ji had settled on his choice. It might look a lot less impressive than the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade or World Destroyer, but the best choice was the one that suited him.
Now that he had the Heavy Mountain Sword, it made sense to learn a sword technique. Based on the sword's description, if Wang Ji nurtured it until it reached its strongest state, it would need to be at least Tier 5. Not Series 5, but Tier 5 in the universe! Anything less would fall short of its description. In that case, he naturally ought to learn swordsmanship.
The Mist Sword's conception alternated between the real and the illusory. It seemed like it would suit Wang Ji. After all, he had Spiritual Force to help him, and the technique's strength lay in keeping his attacks elusive and unpredictable.
Suddenly, something occurred to Wang Ji. He searched for "An Qin."
"An Qin, Intermediate War God Level. Renowned for his footwork, he once evaded a High-level War God's pursuit using nothing but his steps. He created the Phantom Void Steps, a footwork technique on the verge of the Artistic Conception Level. Manual rating: A+."
"The Phantom Void Steps are a must-buy! Wang Ji already had An Qin's insights into footwork in his mind, including the insights he'd gained while creating the Phantom Void Steps. But he didn't have a systematic manual for the technique. With those insights alone, he could gradually develop his own version of the Phantom Void Steps. But if he had the manual too, he could compare the two. Wang Ji was sure he'd master it to perfection—or even reach the verge of the Artistic Conception Level—at least twice as fast!"
Buy! The Phantom Void Steps were only a footwork manual, and it was only rated A+, so they cost much less. The total was 60 million, or 30 million at half price!
"Gah... I'm still 15 million short! I'm so broke!"
"I'll return one of the 9-Series Flying Daggers first. That should make up the difference if I pool all my cash... I won't have a single cent left! I'm so poor!" Wang Ji clutched his head.
"How am I supposed to live like this?"
"Whatever. Add points! Add points! I'll enjoy myself first." Wang Ji's eyes widened. "One hundred Essence Source points for my body!"
"Awesome! Hahaha..." "Strength: 16,310 kg, speed: 142 m/s." He was at Intermediate War General Level now! He'd officially crossed the threshold. Awesome!
"Again. Two hundred points for Spiritual Force!"
"Gah..." "Spiritual Force: 3,550 kg."
He'd better keep 34 points in reserve, just in case.
"Wang Ji
Age: 17
Strength: 16,310 kg
Speed: 142 m/s
Spiritual Force: 3,550 kg
Nerve Response: Subtle Movement Level
Essence Source*34"
Equipment: 1. Iron Will
2. Heavy Mountain Sword
Skills: Omitted
A poor man had limited options, and Wang Ji had just spent all his money on secret manuals. Naturally, he had to make the most of them and train hard. Just as he had during his last training session in the trial grounds, Wang Ji went straight back to the Extreme Pavilion in Jiangnan Base City and shut himself away in the same training room, immersing himself in practice.
One month later.
"I've got the basics of swordsmanship down. I can just barely perform the Mist Sword's moves, but that doesn't count as mastering the first level. To master it, I need a force output of 1.4 times!" Wang Ji thought. "For now, I can only say that I can just barely use the Mist Sword in actual combat."
"What's improved the fastest is my footwork! It has four levels: basic, subtle, perfect, and artistic conception. Before, I'd just entered the subtle level. Now, I've reached its peak! With all of An Qin's footwork insights, plus his Phantom Void Steps manual, it's like someone's stuffing the food right into my mouth. I really have improved at a frightening pace! An ordinary War General Level warrior would need three to five years of hard work to get this far."
"Ring, ring..." Wang Ji answered the phone.
"Wang Ji, how have you been lately?"
Wang Ji was curious. "Liu Hao! What made you find the time to call me?"
"We're the perfect partners!"
"Bullshit!"
This was Liu Hao, a captain from Military Base No. 8. He'd been the sniper paired with Wang Ji during the last beast tide. The two of them had worked together seamlessly.
"Just get to the point!" Wang Ji said. Military men were blunt, so he was equally direct with Liu Hao.
Liu Hao burst out laughing. "I've got good news for you! How strong is your Spiritual Force now? How far can you scan with it?"
That was a pretty personal question, but Wang Ji trusted Liu Hao—instinctively, without knowing why. So he answered casually, "My Spiritual Force is 5,100 kg now. My scanning radius is... around 50 meters!"
Wang Ji's strength had already passed 16,000 kg, so his Spiritual Force had grown quickly too. In a month, it had gone from 3,550 kg to 5,100 kg, though its growth had begun to slow. Other spiritual force users relied on their Spiritual Force to improve their physical abilities. Wang Ji, on the other hand, relied on his physical abilities to increase his Spiritual Force.
"Fifty meters? That's strange! That's a long way! But it's a good thing! The military region has a special mission and wants to recruit spiritual force users. Of course, it's voluntary! The benefits are incredible. What do you think? Interested?" Liu Hao asked.
A 50-meter radius? That was an understatement. Wang Ji's Spiritual Force was probably more concentrated than other people's, and Iron Will boosted it too, giving him a much greater scanning radius than other spiritual force users. In reality, Wang Ji's Spiritual Force had a scanning radius of a full 120 meters!
"A special mission? How dangerous is it?" Wang Ji asked.
"You're such a mouse! Scared of everything! As for the danger... well, it's not that bad! It's an exploratory mission, and some big shots from the military will be there. Think about it—how dangerous could it be?" Liu Hao said.
"Fine! I don't have anything else lined up right now anyway. I'm in. Where do I meet up?"
"Jiangnan Military Region!"
The next day, Wang Ji arrived at the Jiangnan Military Region in Jiangnan Base City. He gave them his warrior ID number, and after the sentry checked it, an officer with a captain's insignia led him into the base.
The Jiangnan Military Region covered an enormous area, reportedly dozens of square kilometers. Towering ancient trees stood throughout the grounds, giving the place a solemn, imposing air. After the Great Cataclysm, the military's status had soared. And in China, the military—not the martial arts schools—actually had the most warriors.
The military might have been somewhat lacking in top-tier combat strength, but it accounted for 60 percent of all Warrior Level fighters!
For ordinary people, once they finished high school and college, they had no time to exercise every day. They had to work overtime like crazy. But for soldiers, training was their job, hunting monsters was routine, and fighting for their lives was a shortcut to improving their strength. Over the years, even those without much talent could grind their way to Warrior Level. Of course, warriors who reached that level through endless fighting and sheer perseverance might never have potential beyond it. That was why military warriors—unless they were geniuses—received far worse benefits than those from martial arts schools.
Inside the military region's main building, only seven or eight people waited in a vast briefing hall.
Wang Ji waited quietly too.
"Wang Ji!" a voice called softly.
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