Late at night.
The night sky was clear, with stars surrounding the moon in a scene of perfect harmony. The apartment block had long since gone dark and fallen silent. Only the occasional honk from the road not far away broke the quiet.
In a room on the third floor, Luo Zhe gently pushed open the door and, as usual, quietly climbed up to the rooftop. He found a clean spot and sat down cross-legged.
Following the posture required by the article on the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method that he'd read at the Limit Dojo today, he assumed the Five Hearts Towards Heaven posture. He crossed his legs with both soles facing upward, rested his hands on his knees with his palms facing up, and kept his back straight.
The Genetic Energy Cultivation Method was also called the Five-Heart-to-Heaven Cultivation Method. It was the only method for cultivating Genetic Origin Energy anywhere on Earth. Supposedly, Hong, the world's strongest man, had spent many years painstakingly writing it.
As for whether that was true, well, different people would have different opinions.
After all, the story had first appeared in the entertainment section of the Hongning Daily. That day, the section had also run a piece of gossip titled "The Story of Hong and Thor That Must Be Told." It had gone into almost exhaustive detail about how Hong and Thor had met, come to know one another, and fallen in love. As for the two powerful warriors' wives, the author had responded with one line: "Same-sex love is true love; heterosexual love is just for reproduction!"
Ahem, that's beside the point!
According to the article, absorbing the energy scattered throughout the universe required first sensing its presence. Anyone whose physical fitness met the requirements for becoming a warrior could try cultivating Genetic Origin Energy.
The article said this energy was everywhere on Earth and even out in the stars. However, most people simply couldn't sense it.
"Breathe in, breathe out..."
Luo Zhe's breathing gradually steadied. He composed himself and let his mind grow calm.
"Relax your body. Let the Five Hearts Towards Heaven posture come naturally. Keep your mind still, as calm as a glassy lake."
Though the passing cars kept jolting him awake, Luo Zhe had good self-control. Gradually, he became completely still, and his mind quieted too.
In the utter silence, Luo Zhe suddenly began to snore.
"Beep! Beep!"
A large truck drove past, blasting its horn and jolting Luo Zhe out of a deep sleep.
"Damn! I actually fell asleep without realizing it."
"Should've taken a nap after I got back this afternoon."
He stood and worked the numbness out of his hands and feet, trying to wake himself up. Then he checked his watch.
It was already 2:18 a.m. He'd probably been asleep for over an hour. Otherwise, he could've tried a few more times.
"I'll give it one more try. If I still can't do it, I'll have to wait until tomorrow night."
He sat down again, closed his eyes, and began calming his mind so he could sense the energy of the universe.
Time passed second by second. Ten minutes... thirty minutes... fifty minutes...
Meditating in such a quiet place, Luo Zhe was nearly asleep.
Most people would probably nod off after sitting with their eyes closed and thinking about nothing for half an hour in the middle of the night, let alone Luo Zhe, who'd been at it for over an hour.
On the verge of sleep, Luo Zhe had forgotten everything around him. He'd even forgotten to sense the energy of the universe.
"Ahh, that feels amazing!"
In his half-asleep state, Luo Zhe vaguely sensed wisps of energy seeping through the soles of his feet, the palms of his hands, and the Baihui acupoint at the top of his head. They flowed into his body at an extremely slow pace, gradually spreading throughout him and bringing an indescribably pleasant sensation.
"What's this?" Luo Zhe was still only half-awake.
"Cosmic energy!"
Luo Zhe jolted awake. His eyes flew wide open, and his sleepiness vanished.
Even he couldn't believe he'd sensed cosmic energy in a haze, just as he was about to fall asleep.
"Guess I really am a genius."
After all, the article had said that only geniuses could sense cosmic energy on their first day of cultivation.
"That must've been cosmic energy." After the initial excitement, Luo Zhe recalled what he'd felt and compared it with what he knew. "Once people reach the Quasi-Martial Artist threshold, most of them can cultivate Genetic Origin Energy. Even if they don't sense it, their bodies absorb it unconsciously, albeit at an extremely slow pace."
What he'd sensed just now must have been his body absorbing cosmic energy on its own. But just as the article described, the body absorbed it at an incredibly slow rate.
Luo Zhe closed his eyes and tried again. He slowed his breathing and emptied his mind, focusing almost entirely on the soles of his feet, the palms of his hands, and the crown of his head. He tried hard to sense those faint wisps of energy again.
In a daze, he felt as if he could sense them—and yet as if he couldn't.
Gradually, the sensation grew clearer.
The wisps were faint and tiny, as though a gust of wind would scatter them. They drifted around him, and only when they neared the soles of his feet did a little seep inside. The pace was incredibly slow.
"This is cosmic energy."
Luo Zhe focused his awareness on his "Five Hearts," naturally sending out thought after thought of "absorbing cosmic energy." As if in response, the five points began absorbing it at nearly a hundred times their previous speed.
At first, the cosmic energy had been like a shy pipa player, summoned countless times before she finally appeared, coy and hesitant to speak, letting a little slip through now and then.
Now, it was like a seasoned madam, letting it all hang out, whether it ought to or not, pouring steadily into Luo Zhe's body.
"Ah—!"
A shudder that came from deep within his bones ran through Luo Zhe, making his body tremble. Everything else seemed to lose all meaning.
The invisible, colorless energy entered Luo Zhe's body, but before it could spread throughout him, his long-starved cells devoured it frantically. More cosmic energy continued pouring in through the five channels, gradually filling his entire body.
Until—
For the first time, cosmic energy poured steadily into a certain indescribable spot three inches below his navel. Yes, the dantian.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The sound of two enormous objects colliding violently rang in Luo Zhe's mind, but everything around his body remained as calm as ever.
Boom!
Then, with one final, tremendous explosion, a cataclysmic rumble erupted from his dantian!
Luo Zhe suddenly spat out a mouthful of old, stagnant blood. He staggered a few times, then collapsed to the ground.
In the moment before he passed out, he thought, The article never said cultivating the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Technique could make you explode! What a huge loss!
After he passed out, cosmic energy continued streaming into his body through his Five Hearts. His dantian was like a glutton: gradually, all the energy his body absorbed flowed into it, and it rejected nothing, whether it came from "men on top of men" or "men to either side of men." It gobbled up every last bit.
Finally, as the successive violent tremors from his dantian faded, everything gradually returned to calm.
Only Luo Zhe, sprawled on the ground, and the mouthful of old, stagnant blood beside him remained, lying there in silence.
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