First Display of Sharpness

Though it was already late at night, Ren Ze felt no sleepiness at all.

He pondered it for ages but still could not figure out why time flowed differently in the two worlds. If it remained this way in the future, he could use the world within the Star Map to gain a great deal of extra cultivation time. After all, Luo Feng's growth in the future would be far too rapid; Ren Ze had to work twice as hard if he hoped to keep up.

Ultimately, ever since his parents had met with an accident in this life, he had not felt much belonging in this world. He had no desire to shoulder responsibility for the entire Earth, much less the entire human race of the universe in the later stages. Nor did he want to seize any of the opportunities meant for Luo Feng, the original protagonist. He only wanted enough strength to protect himself and to travel the universe, witnessing all kinds of magnificent and breathtaking sights.

He also needed to sort through what he had gained this time and decide what to do next.

First, his physical condition. Tempered by the Yijin Jing and nourished by Northern Dark true qi, it should have crossed the threshold into warrior territory, though he had not tested it yet.

Then there were his speed and movement techniques. With the support of Lingbo Micro-steps, they far surpassed those of warriors at the same level. At the very least, they were more than sufficient at the apprentice level.

Finally, there was his internal energy. Not only could it boost his offense and defense, it could also continuously nourish his body.

With such a solid foundation and such abundant practical combat experience, there was no point in staying cooped up at school any longer. It was time to become a warrior!

Limit Dojo.

"1008 kg! 1007 kg! 1011 kg!"

Taking advantage of the sparse morning crowds, Ren Ze first got a rough idea of the level his pure physical strength had reached. He used no martial techniques and no internal energy.

"Next, let's see whether martial techniques provide any power amplification."

"1866 kg! 1921 kg! 1543 kg! 1322 kg!"

Those were two moves from the Tianshan Six Yang Palm and two moves from the Tianshan Zhemei Hand, respectively. Ren Ze came to a realization: the Tianshan Six Yang Palm focused more on explosive force, providing roughly a 1.8 to 1.9-fold power amplitude, while the Tianshan Zhemei Hand focused more on breaking techniques, with only a 1.3 to 1.5-fold power amplitude.

After testing again with different levels of internal energy added, Ren Ze instead felt somewhat disappointed. "Looks like internal energy is mainly useful for nourishing the body. After becoming a warrior, the leaps in physical fitness are enormous. Its offensive and defensive boost is only respectable below the level of mid-level War General warriors."

As for speed and neural reaction speed, Ren Ze did not test them for the time being. He had absolute confidence in Lingbo Micro-steps in those respects.

Two days later, Yi'an District No. 3 High School.

"What?! Ren Ze dropped out?! He's not taking the college entrance exam? With his grades, getting into Jiangnan No. 1 Military Academy should be easy, shouldn't it?"

As news of Ren Ze's withdrawal spread, classmates who did not know the truth were shocked and came to ask Luo Feng and Wei Wen about it.

"Can Brother Ren be an ordinary person? He's my, Luo Feng's, big brother! He's already passed the prospective warrior assessment and is about to become a real warrior!"

Luo Feng explained to his classmates with a trace of pride, while secretly encouraging himself. I didn't expect Big Brother to surpass me so quickly. I need to work even harder too!

At that moment, Ren Ze was at home. With his mind relaxed, he began attempting to cultivate the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method he had just received.

Although he had experience cultivating the Northern Dark Divine Skill, he did not dare let down his guard in the slightest. After all, these were two entirely different systems.

As time passed, Ren Ze, who had entered a meditative state, gradually sensed threads of warm currents completely unlike true qi. They entered his body through the soles of his feet, the centers of his palms, and the Baihui acupoint at the crown of his head, flowing in at an extremely gentle pace.

"So this is cosmic energy. It truly is completely different from internal energy."

Unlike internal energy, which merely had a mild moisturizing and strengthening effect on the body before returning to the dantian, every cell throughout his body now seemed like a ravenous beast that had been starving for ages, madly devouring the cosmic energy entering his body.

Ren Ze's body began to be constantly strengthened by the cosmic energy. Even he had not expected the body nourished by internal energy to absorb cosmic energy so effectively.

The entire process lasted a very, very long time. Only when the afternoon had turned into the dead of night did Ren Ze receive feedback from his body's cells that this cultivation session had reached saturation.

"Something's not right. My physical strength has increased by at least more than twofold! Is my talent really that strong? Then why hadn't it shown itself at all during the past eighteen years? Could it be because of the martial arts from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils? The Northern Dark Divine Skill, or the Yijin Jing?"

After ending his cultivation, Ren Ze could clearly feel the uncontrollable strength throughout his body, much like the feeling he had after receiving Xiaoyaozi's power transmission.

Shaking his head and not dwelling on it, Ren Ze felt somewhat tired. He hurriedly took a shower and went to rest.

There were still very few people at the dojo in the morning. Ren Ze found a Punch Strength Tester in a corner.

Relaxing his entire body and taking a deep breath, Ren Ze used no techniques at all as he threw a full-force punch at the target.

Boom!

"3303 kg!"

"As expected, my strength has increased by more than twofold. I never thought the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method would improve me this much! If that's the case, let's see where my limit is!"

This time, Ren Ze no longer relied on brute force. Instead, he combined it with the fierce, forceful technique of the Tianshan Six Yang Palm and slammed a punch into the target!

"6535 kg!"

It seemed he could get himself a good contract now. His original plan had been to reveal part of his strength during the official warrior assessment, but that plan would have to change. Any so-called plan existed only to better serve the improvement of his own strength.

With that thought, Ren Ze gathered his internal energy, combined it with a martial technique, and once more threw a full-force punch at the target.

"9999 kg!"

Looking at the number, Ren Ze guessed that this was the upper limit. After all, this was only a Punch Strength Tester in the dojo's student area. He had not expected that after cultivating the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method, he would actually be able to threaten an entry-level War General warrior.

"Haha, that felt great!"

Ren Ze did not use martial techniques or internal energy again afterward. He simply practiced basic boxing techniques so that he could quickly familiarize himself with his explosively increased physical strength.

"Ren Ze."

Instructor Jiang Nian walked into the training hall at that moment and smiled. "Why did you come train so early in the morning? What are you grinning foolishly about by yourself? Still riding the excitement from passing the prospective warrior assessment yesterday?"

"Morning, Instructor Jiang!"

Little did Jiang Nian know that Ren Ze was openly practicing the basic fist techniques precisely because he was waiting for him. Ren Ze turned and smiled at Jiang Nian before continuing to punch the tester.

"Hm?"

Only then did Jiang Nian notice the number displayed on the Punch Strength Tester, and he froze on the spot.

"Haha, I never thought a genius would emerge under my watch too, Jiang Nian! This is great! No, Ren Ze may still be a dojo student, but he hasn't officially signed with our dojo yet. We need to notify Supervisor Zhuge immediately about such a promising prospect!"

After repeatedly confirming that his eyes were not playing tricks on him, Jiang Nian was both excited and uneasy. He quickly took out his phone to report to his superiors.

A short while later.

"Come on, Ren Ze. Headquarters has already arranged an assessment for you. Supervisor Zhuge is waiting for us to go over now."

Jiangnan Base City, Limit Dojo Headquarters.

At the end of a vast plaza stood a dark blue building, its exterior carrying a distinctly futuristic style.

"This is the Limit Dojo headquarters in Jiangnan Base City. Come, let's go in."

The two soon arrived at a large training hall on the second floor of the headquarters. Jiang Nian led Ren Ze before a group of people and respectfully said, "Supervisor, I've brought him."

A middle-aged man in a black Tang suit at the front of the group spoke up. "This young man is Ren Ze?"

"Yes, Supervisor Zhuge."

Jiang Nian answered respectfully, then signaled Ren Ze with his eyes.

Ren Ze stepped forward. "Greetings, Supervisor Zhuge."

"Mm."

Zhuge Tao nodded slightly. Without exchanging further pleasantries, he directly instructed, "Begin the tests."

"Ren Ze, don't be nervous. Just perform normally."

Jiang Nian reminded him.

Ren Ze nodded.

The first test was punch strength. Ren Ze walked up to the Punch Strength Tester, adjusted his breathing, focused his mind, and struck the center of the target with a punch.

"6544 kg!"

Everyone was stunned. After all, Jiang Nian had merely reported that he had found a promising prospect whose strength had increased by over 2,000 kg after cultivating the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method, bringing his punch strength close to the advanced warrior level. He had not said that it was now close to the beginner War General level.

"With this strength, if I'm not mistaken, he must have grasped some force-exertion techniques. Even during the Great Nirvana, he would have been a rare genius. Jiang Nian, where did you find such an outstanding prospect?"

The middle-aged man in the black Tang suit turned to ask Jiang Nian.

"Hehe, Supervisor Zhuge, Ren Ze has been studying at my dojo since he was sixteen. Aside from being exceptionally diligent and eager to learn, he never stood out much before. I never expected such a huge change after he cultivated the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method. The moment I discovered his talent at the dojo today, I immediately recommended him to you. As for the specifics of his force-exertion techniques, I don't know much either..."

Ren Ze paid no attention to their discussion. He stepped onto the track to begin the speed test, moved in a flash, and quickly dashed out of the testing area.

"52.8 m/s"

Soon, the results of the neural reaction test came out as well.

Neural Reaction Test—Full Marks at Intermediate Warrior Level, Excellent at Advanced Warrior Level!

"I wonder what kind of contract will be waiting for me... And I wonder whether it was a loss not to fully use Lingbo Micro-steps..."

Ren Ze emerged from the neural reaction tester, feeling rather reflective.

Too much was as bad as too little. If he revealed all his strength, it might not bring him greater benefits—it might bring him more trouble instead.

"Very good. Not only has he grasped force-exertion techniques, but his movement technique is also close to the Subtle level!"

After giving his assessment, Zhuge Tao fixed his gaze on Ren Ze and solemnly said, "Ren Ze, are you willing to join the Limit Dojo? You may state any requests you have directly!"

After some bargaining, Ren Ze ultimately signed a contract with the Limit Dojo that included a performance-based wager.

This was a condition Ren Ze himself had proposed. Through this "wager agreement," he could maximize the benefits he received.

Under the agreement, Ren Ze would initially receive any manuals with a total value of up to 500 million, along with 100 million in starting funds.

Later, if Ren Ze could reach the combat strength of an advanced War General within two years, the Limit Dojo would grant him an additional 5 billion in funds and provide a spot in the Elite Training Camp assessment.

If he reached advanced War General within three years, he would receive 1 billion in funds and a place in the Basic Training Camp.

If he only broke through to advanced War General after more than three years, then he would receive no additional resources.

As for reaching beyond the War God level, there was no need to mention that now. If he truly reached that point, the dojo would not be stingy with resources.

Ren Ze felt that this "wager agreement" was a guaranteed win for him. He refused to believe that he could not raise his physical fitness and learn force-exertion techniques to the advanced War General level within two years. If all else failed, he could still improve himself in other worlds...

Ever since he began training, even without killing, the Star Map's charging speed had become much faster than before. In just a few months since his return, its charging rate had increased tenfold, comparable to two or three years in the past. Not to mention, he did not know whether hunting monsters later would further accelerate its charging speed.

"This is the Limit Dojo's martial artist platform—Extreme Home. You can directly select any manuals or equipment you need here."

Zhuge Tao handed Ren Ze a tablet and continued, "Your information has already been registered, and your access permissions have been activated. Your initial password is six zeroes. Change it yourself later."

"I don't need to take the official martial artist assessment?"

Ren Ze felt that the Limit Dojo was quite considerate. He did not need to go through the motions himself.

"The official martial artist assessment tests a martial artist's actual combat ability. Your abilities far exceed the requirements for an official martial artist, so naturally there is no need for another assessment. You are already an official martial artist, though the system still lists you as a beginner warrior. To raise your rank certification later, you will still need to provide the corresponding monster materials."