"I didn't expect you to do this well... All right, give me your ID." Qian Yun was a little surprised, then said with a bright smile.
After taking Guan Ning's ID, she swiped it across the device beside her.
Beep!
A crystal-clear, nearly transparent screen popped up on the device, displaying a large amount of personal information.
"Xiao Ning, let's begin. The first test is punch strength," Qian Yun said warmly.
"Yes."
Guan Ning immediately stepped forward. His eyes narrowed slightly as his right fist swept through an arc and slammed into the target. It only quivered faintly. The screen on the Punch Strength Tester immediately displayed a number: "920 kg."
"Haha, well done, Xiao Ning!" Guo Ze laughed.
"Not bad, young man. You remembered to keep your balance when you threw that punch. You really are Guan Hong's son." Ning Tao looked refined, but spoke in a surprisingly rough manner.
Hearing Guo Ze and Ning Tao's praise, Guan Ning felt a rush of satisfaction. Even the pent-up frustration he'd accumulated over the past year or so eased a little.
"Pass. Next is the speed test." Seeing the number, Qian Yun smiled even more broadly.
Guan Ning went to the track and adjusted his breathing slightly. Then he shot forward in a flash, swift as a pouncing leopard, and raced straight past the finish.
"26.5 m/s."
"Good speed." Qian Yun was a little surprised. Guan Ning was far faster than she'd expected.
"Last test: nerve reaction. Follow me." Qian Yun led Guan Ning to the Nerve Reaction Testing Room connected to the training hall, followed by a group of curious warriors.
The spacious room was about a hundred square meters.
A large, expensive machine stood on the floor. At the very front were dozens of openings, like the barrels of a six-barreled Gatling gun—though there were far more than on a Gatling gun.
"Xiao Ning, you know the rules, so I won't explain them. Let's begin."
At that, Guan Ning walked directly to the circle in front of the testing machine's barrels. It was three point six meters in diameter.
"Click!" The machine switched on.
A hazy red light immediately rose from the edge of the circle, surrounding the person inside as if with a veil of red mist.
Qian Yun walked to the Nerve Reaction Tester, pressed several buttons, and adjusted the test's intensity.
"Begin!" Qian Yun pressed the red button.
"Beep—beep—" The Nerve Reaction Tester's huge barrel began to rotate. Dozens of barrels inside it fired red lights almost instantly. They moved at different speeds and along wildly irregular trajectories as they shot into the circle.
Guan Ning moved like a nimble cat, dodging back and forth, left and right, avoiding the rubber bullets one after another. Some came too fast to dodge, though, and he could only take a hit.
The watching warriors saw Guan Ning's nimble figure and began talking among themselves.
"Xiao Ning's reaction speed is probably as good as mine."
"His footwork is excellent. His fundamentals are solid."
After 60 seconds,
The Nerve Reaction Tester slowed to a stop, and a long string of numbers appeared on the screen.
Qian Yun was astonished when she saw the results. "Xiao Ning, you've really surprised Aunt Qian. Your nerve reaction speed has actually reached the 'Excellent' rating for a Beginner Warrior."
"That's incredible!"
"A Quasi-Warrior with nerve reactions like that—he's a natural gunman."
Guan Ning was surprised, too. He hadn't specifically tested his nerve reaction speed since reaching the Quasi-Warrior standard six months ago. He hadn't expected such a huge improvement in that time. Then it made sense to him. After all, his soul had belonged to an adult, and he'd fused with a newly born soul as well. Add in his unique training method, and these results weren't so surprising.
"Good job, Xiao Ning. Congratulations. Once your official file comes through and your information is entered into the citizen database, you'll be a Quasi-Warrior!"
"Today's February 16. In half a month, on March 1, you'll take the Warrior Combat Assessment. Gather at the Limit Dojo that morning, then go with the instructor and the other Quasi-Warriors outside the human Base City to hunt monsters. Once you pass the assessment, you'll be a true warrior." Qian Yun smiled.
The Warrior Combat Assessment was held twice a year, once on March 1 and once on August 1, as in the original story. The first assessment was supposed to be on February 1, but it had been moved to March 1 because of the Spring Festival.
"Mm." Guan Ning nodded excitedly.
"Congratulations, Xiao Ning!"
"Xiao Ning, don't let your guard down. Be careful during the combat assessment."
"That's right, Xiao Ning. The combat assessment is no joke."
The warriors around him congratulated Guan Ning and reminded him not to take it lightly.
"Thank you, uncles."
"Xiao Ning, come with me."
Just then, Qian Yun called out to him.
In the training hall outside, Qian Yun took a contract from the corner and said seriously, "Xiao Ning, I know you're familiar with all this, but Aunt Qian still needs to make sure you understand." "Once you take the Warrior Combat Assessment, if a monster kills you during it, the Limit Martial Hall won't be responsible. Of course, the death rate is very low, but injuries and disabilities are much more common."
"But if you can't even get through this assessment, don't even think about going to the Wilderness Area. It's much more dangerous there."
Guan Ning took the contract, read it through, and signed his name without hesitation.
Seeing how decisively he'd signed, Qian Yun smiled. "Good. Now for the main event."
Qian Yun walked over to the keyboard and quickly pressed a few keys. Soon, a huge transparent screen appeared on the training hall's wall, displaying an article.
It was titled—Genetic Origin Energy Cultivation Method.
"When your physical fitness reaches the Quasi-Warrior level, you can absorb the energy of the universe and strengthen your bones, increase your cells' vitality, and more."
"Your bones can become ten or even a hundred times harder than diamonds. Your internal organs can grow so powerful that you can hold your breath underwater for half an hour or even longer!"
"To achieve all this, you must absorb energy from the universe and integrate it into every cell, making it your own. That energy is called—Genetic Origin Energy!"
Qian Yun pointed to the article on the screen. "This is the cultivation method for Genetic Origin Energy—the Five-Heart-to-Heaven Cultivation Method! It's the only way to cultivate Genetic Origin Energy anywhere on Earth."
Guan Ning didn't hear what Qian Yun said after that. From the moment the Five-Heart-to-Heaven Cultivation Method appeared, it had consumed his full attention. He knew that if he wanted to become stronger, the method before him was his only path. There was also the Guiding Technique, but without the Five-Heart-to-Heaven Cultivation Method, it was nothing but a pile of useless paper.
Seeing that Guan Ning had memorized the Five-Heart-to-Heaven Cultivation Method, Qian Yun turned off the screen and asked, "Xiao Ning, why don't you come to my place for dinner today?"
"Sorry, Aunt Qian. I already promised Uncle Zhong I'd go to his place," Guan Ning said apologetically.
Qian Yun sounded a little disappointed. "All right, then."
After saying goodbye to everyone in the training hall, Guan Ning left the Limit Dojo and headed for Zhong Liang's home. He'd given his word, so he couldn't go back on it!
The Limit Dojo was in the center of Ginkgo Residential District, not far from Zhong Liang's home. If Guan Ning went all out, he could get there in just three minutes.
But it was still early, and Guan Ning wanted to take the opportunity to relax. For the past year or so, aside from the handful of times he'd gone to Zhong Liang's home for a meal, he'd spent all his time training in the basement. Even though he wasn't a teenager of seventeen or eighteen, but a soul in his thirties, he'd still accumulated plenty of negative emotions. He needed to let some of them out so he could face the combat assessment in better shape.
When he saw the villa, Guan Ning pressed the doorbell.
"Ding-dong!"
"Who is it?" a clear voice called out.
Hearing it, Guan Ning's lips curved into a smile. It was Aunt Xue, Uncle Zhong's wife. She wasn't a warrior, but during the period after Guan Ning's parents had passed away, she'd been the one to look after him. Naturally, he felt especially close to her.
"Aunt Xue, it's Guan Ning. Long time no see. I missed you, so I came especially to visit." Guan Ning grinned.
"Click!"
After the door opened, a beautiful woman around forty smiled at him. "Oh, you sure know how to talk. If your Uncle Zhong hadn't called you, would you have come over?"
Hearing that, Guan Ning saw Aunt Xue's teasing expression and straightened his face. "Aunt Xue, that's not fair. I was planning to come over as soon as I was done, anyway. Who knew Uncle Zhong would call?"
"You always have an excuse. You little smooth talker! Come on in." Hearing Guan Ning's reply, Aunt Xue scolded him without any real annoyance.
"What's for dinner today? I'm starving!" Guan Ning smiled and went inside.
"Hm?" Aunt Xue sounded puzzled. "Xiao Ning, you seem different today."
"How so?"
"Mm..." Aunt Xue thought for a moment, then said, "You seem more relaxed and at ease than before."
Guan Ning guessed it had something to do with the unusual state he'd just been in. "Aunt Xue, do you think that's a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Of course it's good," she replied without a moment's hesitation.
"Then there you go."
Hearing Guan Ning's clear, bright voice, Aunt Xue didn't press him for an explanation. After all, he seemed more comfortable to be around now.
"Not bad, Xiao Ning. Your nerve reaction speed has even reached the Beginner Warrior standard."
As the two of them talked, Zhong Liang appeared. Someone had told him how Guan Ning had done in the assessment after he left the Limit Dojo. As soon as he saw Guan Ning, he praised him.
"You're too kind, Uncle Zhong." Guan Ning modestly brushed off the praise. Seeing that only the three of them were there, he asked curiously, "Is Brother Xuan out?"
"Your Brother Xuan's been a little busy these past few days," Aunt Xue explained.
Before you continue