Luo Feng

Wang Ji heard the shouts outside the car and got out. A thoroughly amused look crossed his face. He hadn't expected to witness a scene like this.

Luo Feng had fainted in the examination hall. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, he'd have to figure that out for himself.

Half an hour later, his older sister, Wang Yan, came out of the examination hall, chattering away. "Little bro, I heard someone fainted during the exam. Do you know who it was?"

Wang Ji smiled. "Did you do well on the exam? Can you score 250? Are you sure you'll get into Jiangnan University?"

Wang Yan snapped, "You... You're so annoying!"

Wang Ji drove Wang Yan and Xia Ning home. Xia Ning was a quiet, introverted girl who kept to herself. Every now and then, when she met Wang Ji's eyes, she blushed.

"Little bro, you're coming shopping with me and Xia Ning tomorrow!" Wang Yan ordered.

Xia Ning said softly, "Sister Wang Yan, I still have to go to the milk tea shop!"

"That's not until the afternoon!" Wang Yan replied.

Wang Ji cut her off. "I've got something to do tomorrow, actually. Sis, why don't you come with me to an event?"

"What kind of event?" Wang Yan asked reluctantly.

"You'll find out tomorrow!" Wang Ji kept it secret.

"Hmph! Fine, don't tell me!"

The next morning, at the Jiangnan Military Region.

By the time Wang Ji reached the military compound's entrance, a captain was already waiting for him. Wang Ji said apologetically, "Sorry to have kept you waiting!"

"It's no trouble." The officer was stern-faced as he led Wang Ji toward the auditorium.

Outside the grand, solemn auditorium, a wide red banner read: "Jiangnan Military Region 2056 *th Commissioning and Promotion Ceremony."

"Little bro, what are we doing here?" Wang Yan whispered nervously.

Wang Ji sighed, excitement in his voice. "I didn't expect this either..."

"What?"

More than an hour later, the opening formalities were over, and the commissioning ceremony began. When Wang Ji, now in a military uniform, stood on the stage to receive his commission, Wang Yan was stunned.

To be honest, Wang Yan was stunned, and so was Wang Ji.

Two days earlier, the Jiangnan Military Region had informed Wang Ji that, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the previous exploration mission, they intended to award him the honorary rank of major. Wang Ji himself had been completely flabbergasted.

What was going on? He wasn't a soldier! He hadn't even enlisted!

But his delight was beyond words. What boy hadn't dreamed of joining the military? And to be awarded the rank of major outright! After asking about the rights and obligations, Wang Ji had agreed almost without hesitation.

He would enjoy the rights of an active-duty major, but wouldn't hold an actual position or have to fulfill any obligations. They only hoped he would help out as much as possible whenever the military needed him.

Even without the rank, he would have gladly answered the call if his country needed him. So Wang Ji had agreed without hesitation.

And that was how today's commissioning ceremony came about. Several dozen mid-ranking officers in the military region were being commissioned or promoted, and Wang Ji was one of them. After all the formalities, he stood before Wang Yan, beaming in his crisp uniform.

"You brat, Wang Ji! You should've told me about something this big!" Wang Yan complained, unable to hide her delight and pride.

Wang Ji grinned smugly. "And that's not all!"

Wang Yan looked curious. "What else?"

Wang Ji read from the certificate with a straight face. "I'm entitled to all the rights of an active-duty officer! Haha, Sis, they even gave me a villa!"

"What?"

"It's inside the military compound. A detached villa, by the southeast gate!"

"Ahhh... I'm so happy! Tomorrow, I'm going shopping and eating something delicious!" Wang Yan squealed.

"Wang Ji! Buy me some fruit. I'm at number 112 in our residential area!" Wang Yan ordered him one day.

Wang Ji sighed in mock resignation. "Sure, Sis!"

Wasn't number 112 Xia Ning's house? Honestly, Wang Ji was quite puzzled. Xia Ning lived in a detached villa in Mingyue Residential Area, but she'd dressed plainly these past few days and seemed very frugal. She even worked part-time at a milk tea shop!

How strange! Still, Wang Ji was only a little curious. He wasn't about to pry.

At villa 112, Wang Ji rang the doorbell. Wang Yan quickly opened the door and pulled him inside.

"Sis, you're being way too casual," Wang Ji complained.

Wang Yan grinned. "Relax, relax. It's just Xia Ning and her grandma at home. They're lovely people."

An elderly woman with a sickly look was basking in the sun behind the large window of the downstairs master bedroom. Her eyes seemed a little cloudy, but she smiled kindly at Wang Ji. Xia Ning came out to greet him with her head bowed. "Wang Ji!"

Wang Ji lifted the fruit in his hand and said to Wang Yan, "Here you go, Sis. The fruit."

Xia Ning lowered her head and said softly, "That's too much!"

Wang Yan grinned. "It's not too much! It'll keep in the fridge for ages. It's Xia Ning's birthday today, and I'm going to make her a cake myself! Hehe, all I was missing was your fruit! A fruit cake!"

Wang Ji said with mock annoyance, "You're also missing someone to do the hard work!"

"Haha..."

Xia Ning smiled too, lips pressed together. She was quiet and gentle, and when she smiled, she was as lovely as a lily.

The three of them entered the living room. Wang Ji immediately noticed a five-inch photograph on the TV stand.

"Hmm?" Wang Ji's heart jolted. How could this be?

In the photograph, a young man in his twenties smiled brightly. He wore a martial arts school training uniform and held a War Blade. It was him!

The owner of that damaged helmet! Wang Ji shuddered.

The young warrior who had murmured something in his final moments, his eyes bright before fading into darkness! The young warrior who had died in Monster Town!

Wang Ji suddenly seemed to understand. This girl, this family, was a glimpse into the life of a warrior's family. Only, their tragedy had come sooner.

Xia Ning saw Wang Ji looking at the photograph and said calmly, "That's my older brother! He was amazing, too! He became a Quasi-Martial Artist in his first year of university!" Her voice was calm, but Wang Ji heard the immeasurable sorrow beneath it.

"Did he... die in an accident during his practical exam?" Wang Ji asked.

"You..." Xia Ning looked at Wang Ji. "How did you know...?"

Wang Ji looked at the young man and said, "I knew him."

Tears welled in Xia Ning's eyes, then fell to the ground like pearls from a broken string. "Sob..."

After eating cake at Xia Ning's house, Wang Ji and Wang Yan headed home.

On July 1, at the Extreme Pavilion in Jiangnan Base City, Wang Ji trained hard in the training room.

After nearly a month of practice, Wang Ji's physical strength had improved slightly, reaching 16,900 kilograms. Though he'd gained only a little over 800 kilograms in a month, he had already surpassed those with elite-level talent. Even among geniuses, he was doing well. Iron Will was the main reason for his gains, boosting everything from the speed at which he absorbed cosmic energy to his ability to concentrate.

His Spiritual Force had improved even faster, reaching 7,600 kilograms!

That was a full 2,500 kilograms more than a month ago! Of course, at this stage, his Spiritual Force barely grew on its own each day. He would need to make a major improvement in his physical strength to see real gains.

"Whoosh!" The Heavy Mountain Sword traced an elusive path in Wang Ji's hand, its movements shifting between real and feigned, as light and fluid as mist.

"I've spent two months nourishing it with Origin Energy and Spiritual Force. It should be comparable to a Series 8 weapon now... Maybe even better!" Wang Ji thought. "But that's not even its greatest strength. That would be..."

"Bang!"

"20,700 kilograms!" "The Heavy Mountain Sword barely feels heavy in my hand. Its weight feels just right. But the force behind my strikes far exceeds what its weight would suggest! At least 20 percent more! Is it actually heavier, or does it amplify the power of my strikes?" Wang Ji wondered.

Weapons with secret runes, like those of the first or second rank, seemed to have that kind of amplifying effect.

After spending several days in seclusion, Wang Ji finally stepped out of the training room.

"Hey! Luo Feng!"