Luo Feng

Wang Ji was in the car when he heard the shouting outside, so he stepped out. A look of amusement crossed his face; he hadn't expected to witness such a classic scene.

Whether Luo Feng fainting in the exam hall would be a blessing or a curse was something he would have to figure out for himself.

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

Wang Ji laughed. "Did you finish your exam? Can you get 250 points? Are you sure you'll get into Jiangnan University?"

Wang Yan said angrily, "You... you are so annoying!"

Wang Ji drove Wang Yan and Xia Ning home. Xia Ning had a very quiet personality. She was introverted and soft-spoken. Occasionally, when she met Wang Ji's gaze, she would blush.

"Little brother, you're going to take me and Xia Ning shopping tomorrow!" Wang Yan commanded.

Xia Ning said in a small voice, "Sister Wang Yan, I still have to go to the bubble tea shop!"

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

Wang Ji interrupted Wang Yan and said, "I actually have something to do tomorrow! Sis, why don't you come with me to an event instead?"

"What event?" Wang Yan asked reluctantly.

"You'll know tomorrow!" Wang Ji kept it a secret.

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

The next day, morning. Jiangnan Military Region.

When Wang Ji arrived at the main gate of the military region, a captain was already waiting for him. Wang Ji said apologetically, "I'm sorry, sorry to keep you waiting!"

"It is my duty." The officer was stern and led Wang Ji toward the auditorium.

Outside the grand and solemn auditorium, a large red banner read: "Jiangnan Military Region 2056th Rank Conferment/Promotion Ceremony."

"Little brother, why are we here?" Wang Yan asked in a nervous whisper.

Wang Ji sighed amidst his excitement. "I didn't expect this either..."

"What?"

More than an hour later, the opening formalities were finished, and the official conferment ceremony began. When Wang Ji also changed into a military uniform and stood on the podium to receive his rank, Wang Yan was stunned.

To be honest, if Wang Yan was stunned, Wang Ji was even more so.

When the Jiangnan Military Region notified Wang Ji two days ago that he was to be awarded the honorary rank of Major for his outstanding contributions during the recent exploration mission, Wang Ji himself had been bewildered.

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

But the surprise in his heart was beyond words. What young man didn't have a dream of joining the military? Especially when being directly awarded the rank of Major! After Wang Ji clarified the rights and obligations, he agreed almost without hesitation.

He would enjoy the rights of a Major but hold no actual position. He didn't have to fulfill any duties, either. It was just hoped that Wang Ji would provide assistance whenever the military needed it.

Even without this rank, if the country needed him, it would be his duty to help. So, Wang Ji agreed without hesitation.

That led to today's conferment ceremony. Dozens of people were being promoted or conferred ranks as mid-level officers in the military region, and Wang Ji was one of them. After the process was complete, Wang Ji stood before Wang Yan, beaming and looking sharp in his crisp military uniform.

"You stinky Wang Ji, you didn't even tell me about such a big deal in advance!" Wang Yan complained, but the joy and pride in her eyes could not be hidden.

Wang Ji acted smug. "It's not over yet!"

Wang Yan was curious. "What else?"

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

"What?"

"Right here in the military compound. A detached villa! Over by the southeast gate of the military region!"

"Ahhh... I'm so happy! I want to go shopping tomorrow! I want to eat delicious food!" Wang Yan shrieked.

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

Wang Ji sighed, pretending to be helpless. "Alright, Sis!"

112, wasn't that Xia Ning's house? To be honest, Wang Ji was quite puzzled. Although Xia Ning lived in a detached villa in the Bright Moon Residential Area, she had been wearing simple clothes these past few days and seemed very frugal. Plus, she was working a part-time job at a bubble tea shop!

How strange! However, Wang Ji only had a little curiosity. He wasn't the type to dig into people's private business.

Villa 112. Wang Ji rang the doorbell, and Wang Yan quickly came to open it, pulling Wang Ji inside.

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

Wang Yan said with a grin, "Relax, relax, it's just Xia Ning and her grandmother here, they are very nice people."

A sickly-looking old woman was basking in the warmth behind the large glass window of the first-floor bedroom. She looked a bit dim-sighted, but she just smiled kindly at Wang Ji. Xia Ning walked out with her head lowered. "Wang Ji!"

Wang Ji lifted the fruit he was carrying and said to Wang Yan, "Here, Sis, the fruit."

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

Wang Yan said with a grin, "It's not too much, it's not! Put it in the fridge, it'll last a long time. It's Xia Ning's birthday today, and I'm going to make her a cake myself! Hehe, the only thing missing was your fruit! Fruit cake!"

Wang Ji said grumpily, "You're also missing a laborer!"

"Haha..."

Xia Ning also pursed her lips and smiled. The girl was quiet and reserved; when she smiled, she looked like a lily—truly beautiful.

Wang Ji and the other two walked into the living room, and Wang Ji's eyes immediately fell upon a five-inch photograph sitting on the TV cabinet.

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

In the photo, a young man in his twenties was smiling brilliantly. He was dressed in a martial arts training uniform, holding a battle blade in his hand. It was him!

It was the owner of that damaged helmet! Wang Ji felt a shiver run through him!

That young martial artist who had muttered something in his final moments, his eyes bright before they dimmed! The young martial artist who had died in Monster Town!

Wang Ji felt as if he had suddenly understood something. This girl, this family, was a microcosm of a martial artist's family. Only, the story for this family's "him" had ended much sooner.

Xia Ning watched as Wang Ji stared at the photo, her voice calm as she said, "That's my brother! My brother was very impressive, too! He became a prospective martial artist during his freshman year!" Her voice was calm, yet Wang Ji could hear the endless sorrow within it.

"Did he... have an accident during the actual combat assessment?" Wang Ji asked.

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

Wang Ji looked at the young man in the photo and said, "I knew him!"

Tears welled up in Xia Ning's eyes, then fell to the floor like pearls from a broken string. "Wuu wuu..."

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

July 1st, Jiangnan Base City Extreme Pavilion. Wang Ji was training hard in the training room.

After nearly a month of practice, Wang Ji's physical fitness had improved slightly, rising to 16,900kg. Although it was an increase of only 800kg compared to a month ago, it already surpassed the talent of elite-level individuals. Even among geniuses, this was considered quite good. The main reason was the bonus provided by Iron Will, which included the absorption rate of cosmic energy as well as a boost to his concentration.

What had improved even faster was his spiritual force: 7,600kg!

That was a full 2,500kg increase from a month ago! Of course, at this stage, the daily autonomous growth of spiritual force was already negligible. Unless, that is, his physical fitness saw another major breakthrough.

"Swish!" The Heavy Mountain Sword traced an ethereal and unpredictable path in Wang Ji's hand, shifting as lightly and intangibly as mist.

I've been nourishing it with genetic energy and spiritual force for two months now; I estimate it can rival a Grade 8 weapon... perhaps even stronger! Wang Ji thought to himself. However, the most impressive thing isn't that, but rather...

"Bang!"

"20,700kg!" The Heavy Mountain Sword doesn't feel heavy in my hands; its weight is just right and comfortable. But the power and impact it delivers far exceed the weight I perceive! It's at least 20% stronger! Is it the actual weight, or is there a power amplification effect? Wang Ji pondered.

It seemed that graded weapons, such as Grade 1 or Grade 2, which featured secret runes, would indeed have an amplification effect.

After being in seclusion for several days, Wang Ji walked out of the training room door.

"Eh! Luo Feng!"