Spiritual Masters?

Ever since Luo Benjian appeared in the training room, Feng Qingmo had been quietly mulling things over.

In the original story, after Luo Feng awakened, he gained 2,000 kilograms of punching power when he went to the dojo to test his strength. This had delighted Jiang Nian, the dojo master, and led him to recruit Luo Feng into the Limit Dojo ahead of time.

But all that meant was a 20-million-yuan startup fund and the chance to choose from secret manuals worth up to 50 million yuan. That was it.

Jiang Nian had said that a genius like that appeared only a few times a year in all of Jiangnan City. Clearly, talents like him weren't uncommon among the new Martial Artists each year. And that was only in Jiangnan City; there were even more across the world.

Feng Qingmo had always longed to join the Elite Training Camp from the original story. The night before, he had also wondered whether revealing his identity as a Spiritual Master and joining the Limit Dojo might give him a chance to get into the Elite Training Camp.

But after thinking it over, he realized it wasn't very realistic. His talent as a Spiritual Master couldn't compare to Luo Feng's. Judging by the Spiritual Force core in his Sea of Consciousness, he could at best reach Beginner War God.

In other words, his rapid rise in strength would end once he reached Beginner War God. After that, he would have to train hard to make further progress.

Besides, the Elite Training Camp placed greater emphasis on movement techniques and combat techniques—in other words, mastery of swordsmanship and the like—and, more importantly, Force Amplitude. Ultimately, those all depended on one's comprehension.

Although he had the talent to become a Spiritual Master, he had none of the other things. Getting into the Elite Training Camp would be hard!

So, given his current situation, he probably didn't meet the Elite Training Camp's standards.

Even Luo Feng had first mastered the first three levels of Nine-Layer Thunder Blade in a short time. That was what caught the attention of the Limit Dojo's upper management and earned him a chance to enter the Elite Training Camp.

Most importantly, both his parents were in the military. If their son joined the Limit Dojo, it would probably leave them humiliated in the military's Martial Artist circles.

He hadn't been here long, but perhaps because of the original body's memories, he already regarded them as his real parents. In his previous life, he had been an orphan, so he simply couldn't bring himself to do anything that would disgrace them.

While he was thinking, Luo Benjian had finished brewing the tea and poured a cup for everyone. The room was soon filled with its fragrant aroma.

"Excellent tea!" Feng Jiansong took a sip and immediately praised it.

Luo Benjian took a sip as well. After setting down his cup, he paused to consider his words, then slowly began:

"Jiansong, you know what kind of talent Xiao Mo has. Your wife might not understand what it means, but you've been an instructor for so many years. You surely understand, don't you?"

Feng Jiansong nodded slightly. "If you have something to say, please speak plainly, Dojo Master."

"You're both Martial Artists, so you know the situation our country is facing. We have Six Great Base Cities and countless Martial Artists, but the monsters we have to deal with keep growing in number. Dozens of beast tides of varying sizes break out every year, putting more and more pressure on the military..."

He sighed softly and continued, "You've both been through beast tides yourselves. Without countless soldiers laying down their lives and fighting fearlessly, how could ordinary people in the Base Cities live in peace?"

"Our country produces many Martial Artists every year, but fewer than a third choose to join the military. The rest join the Two Great Dojos and the HR Alliance..."

He looked sternly at the couple. "Once you become a Martial Artist, you have to face countless monsters in the wilderness. Even if you join one of the Two Great Dojos, you can't say it's safer than joining the military. Sure, you might have a little more freedom, but the training you receive and the achievements you can reach in the future may well be no better than what you'd get in the military..."

"Xiao Mo hasn't even taken the Quasi-Warrior Assessment yet. He's only practiced the most basic Five Hearts Towards Heaven, and he's already this strong. That's quite remarkable..." Luo Benjian picked up the teapot and refilled Feng Jiansong's cup. His voice was slow but firm as he said, "So I hope Xiao Mo will join the military ahead of time!"

"Well..." Feng Jiansong exchanged a glance with Zuo Huifen. Then they both looked toward Feng Qingmo.

"Uncle Jian," Feng Qingmo said with a smile, gesturing toward his eyes, "do you think someone with eyesight like mine has a future as a Martial Artist?"

Luo Benjian looked at his clear but unfocused eyes and nodded solemnly. "Of course you do!"

He paused, then said softly, "Xiao Mo, you're not completely blind. You might not know this, but the military has a scientific research department, including a division devoted to biological research. If you agree to join the military, I'll report your condition. Once you pass the Martial Artist Combat Assessment, I'll send you to the science division for an examination. There may be a chance they can cure you..."

He turned to Feng Jiansong and Zuo Huifen. "I was fortunate enough to receive guidance from Chief Jia, and you could say I'm one of his unofficial disciples. If the science division can't cure him, I'll spend every bit of merit I have and find a way to ask Chief Jia to help. With his strength, I'm sure Xiao Mo's eyesight shouldn't be too difficult to fix!"

Feng Jiansong and Zuo Huifen exchanged another glance. Both saw joy in the other's eyes. They might not know exactly how powerful Jia Yi was, but without a doubt, he was the strongest Martial Artist in the country—the first to surpass War God level. They could entrust their hopes to him.

"I knew the Dojo Master had once been part of Huashan, but I didn't know he'd received guidance from Chief Jia..."

"That's right," Luo Benjian said with a nod. "After I joined the military, my talent was considered decent, so I was selected for Huashan. Huashan was founded by Chief Jia himself. The Huashan Training Camp was essentially like the Elite Training Camp run by the Limit Dojo and the Thunder Dojo..."

"Mo'er, what do you think?" Zuo Huifen asked softly in Feng Qingmo's ear. Of course, though her voice was quiet, there was no way it could escape the ears of an Advanced War General. Luo Benjian immediately looked over.

Feng Qingmo pondered for a moment, then looked up and smiled at Luo Benjian. "Uncle Jian, both my parents are in the military, so joining the military is naturally my first choice. But..."

"But what? Do you have any concerns about the benefits?" Hearing Feng Qingmo say that, Luo Benjian immediately perked up. "Don't worry. Just tell me!"

Feng Qingmo didn't answer. Instead, he turned to his parents. "Dad, Mom, I'm willing to join the military. But I think I should show all my talents so I can get better training. What do you think?"

Feng Jiansong and Zuo Huifen exchanged a third glance, then slowly nodded. "Mo'er, you've grown up. Make your own decision. We support you!"

"What are you..." Luo Benjian was still wondering what Feng Qingmo meant when the teapot in front of him suddenly rose into the air. It moved slightly, turned its spout, then tilted. Tea poured from the spout and landed neatly in the cup before him.

He stared wide-eyed at the teapot, apparently still unconvinced, and reached out to touch it. The teapot didn't budge.

"A S-Spiritual Master?" Luo Benjian stammered, looking at Feng Qingmo's smile.

"That's right, Uncle Jian." Feng Qingmo set the teapot down and smiled. "Actually, you've overestimated my talent a little. The first time I trained, my punching power increased by about 1,000 kilograms. Then I awakened my Spiritual Force, which added another 1,000 kilograms..."

"That doesn't matter!" Luo Benjian had finally recovered and waved his hand. "Even if you'd only gained 300 kilograms the first time you trained, awakening your Spiritual Force would still make you a genius!"

"A Spiritual Master!" Luo Benjian rubbed his hands together and thought for a moment. "In that case, I'll need to report your situation. Perhaps Xiao Mo can go straight into the Huashan Training Camp..."

He then asked Feng Qingmo in detail about how he had awakened, focusing especially on his Spiritual Force core. Feng Qingmo didn't hide anything and told him the truth.

"On January 1, come to the dojo to take the Quasi-Warrior Assessment," Luo Benjian finally told Feng Qingmo. "Then, on February 1, take the combat assessment with the other Quasi-Martial Artists. With your strength, you'll have no trouble passing..."

He paused to think, then continued, "But I hope you'll stay safe during the combat assessment and hold back a little. Don't make yourself stand out too much. Can you do that?"