Unexpected Change

Everyone returned to their daily routines.

Shi Fen continued to analyze basic secret patterns day and night without rest.

After witnessing Deep Spring, Wei Wen became even more fanatical about learning forging. He moved directly into the lounge of the Forging Room, pestering whoever he could catch from Three Stones every single day. He swung his hammer like a madman; even when his shoulders, arms, and palms swelled up, it didn't affect his forging in the slightest.

Wei Wen had completely lost himself to the obsession.

In this "possessed" state, Wei Wen was like a giant sponge, frantically absorbing knowledge about forging. His rate of progress left everyone at Three Stones feeling terrified.

Every day, Luo Feng practiced his blade techniques in the villa's training ground using Deep Spring to increase their compatibility. At the same time, when no one was around, he would secretly train as a spiritual master.

They were all working frantically for their own futures.

August 1st.

This day was the date of the martial artist combat assessment.

Shi Fen knew that Luo Feng would definitely come to find him over these two days, so he simply stayed in his room analyzing secret patterns, waiting for Luo Feng's "good news."

Shi Fen had already analyzed 2,871 types of two-dimensional basic secret patterns. He could now analyze about 43 per day. At this rate, he would only need about 200 more days to finish all 10,081 types of basic secret patterns.

Of course, this was unrealistic; the difficulty of three-dimensional basic secret patterns was far, far greater than that of the two-dimensional ones.

Shi Fen dared not harbor such fantasies.

His experience from his past life told him that when encountering difficult problems, any fantasy was useless. The only useful thing was to spend time, put in the effort, and grind it out!

Just as Shi Fen was frowning while solving a problem, the phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

Shi Fen put down his pencil and took out his phone, discovering it was a call from Luo Feng. Shi Fen glanced at the time on the screen and wondered, "Why is he calling me before the assessment?"

Shi Fen couldn't think of a reason.

Luo Feng couldn't possibly be asking someone like him, who hadn't even reached the level of a prospective martial artist, for advice on the assessment. Holding a curious mindset, Shi Fen pressed the answer button.

As soon as the call connected, Shi Fen heard Luo Feng's anxious voice.

"Ah, brother, I think I've caused you some trouble."

Shi Fen immediately asked with curiosity, "I'm not even participating in the combat assessment, what kind of trouble could you possibly cause me?"

Luo Feng immediately said, "It's about the blade you forged. I just went to deposit my weapons and collect the standard-issue weapon for the assessment. A big shot from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall discovered Deep Spring, called me over, and asked me about it. I didn't dare to hide anything, so I told him everything."

Shi Fen became even more curious and asked in confusion, "It's just forging Deep Spring, what's the big deal?"

Hearing that Shi Fen wasn't worried at all, Luo Feng's tone changed instantly, and he spoke as fast as popping beans, "The big shot from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall took Deep Spring, two throwing knives, and the video I recorded, and flew away in a fighter jet. He said he'd give them back to me in a few days. He didn't tell me why, he just took them."

Shi Fen's heart skipped a beat. In a flash of lightning, he realized the crux of the matter. He couldn't help but think to himself: A thousand precautions, yet one slip! If I had known this, I shouldn't have let Luo Feng record that video.

Someone must have discovered the special nature of Deep Spring and sent it for testing.

Before forging Deep Spring, Shi Fen had no experience forging with blue gold, yet he had successfully forged a "top-grade Deep Spring" on his first try. Because there was no reference point, Shi Fen conservatively estimated that its quality should be sufficient for a high-level Warlord to use.

A guy who wasn't even a prospective martial artist had used blue gold to forge a blade at the level of a high-level Warlord, complete with complex and beautiful patterns. The key was that Deep Spring had been forged successfully in one go.

One had to know that using blue gold to manufacture cold weapons usually only resulted in something suitable for a low-level Warlord. Shi Fen had raised it by two grades and even imbued it with beautiful patterns.

Moreover, Shi Fen had also used the scraps to forge two throwing knives with perfect patterns.

What kind of world was this!

Anyone with a bit of expertise, unlike a layman like Luo Feng, would discover that Shi Fen's astonishing forging ability had already reached the level of a top-tier forging master.

These forging masters were the precious treasures of all the major factions.

Shi Fen realized the key, comforted Luo Feng, and said, "I didn't expect the video I asked you to record would turn into 'incriminating evidence.' It seems your brother here won't be able to keep a low profile anymore."

Luo Feng was stunned. "What do you mean?"

Shi Fen said calmly, "It means my forging strength has been exposed. In a few days, people will come to visit me, hoping I'll join their factions."

"Ah... this..." Luo Feng didn't know what to say for a moment. Like a child who had made a mistake, he said cautiously, "Brother... did I screw you over..."

"It doesn't count as screwing me over; it just means we'll be neighbors again soon," Shi Fen said with a smile.

"Ah? That's great!" Luo Feng was surprised at first, then said with a cheeky, shameless grin, "If I had known this, I should have carried Deep Spring and wandered around the martial arts hall headquarters a few more times earlier."

"Hmph, you've ruined my ability to keep a low profile. When you get back from the assessment, you have to treat me to a good meal!" Shi Fen pretended to be angry and said indignantly.

"Hehe, definitely. I'm going to the assessment now." Luo Feng ended the call with a grin. For him, having already awakened his spiritual power, this combat assessment was effortless; he planned to use it for training!

Shi Fen helplessly put down the phone. To keep his brother from feeling guilty, this was all he could say.

"Forget it, if I have to be high-profile, so be it. With my consciousness-splitting ability, it won't affect my comprehension of basic secret patterns too much. I just don't know which side will come first."

Having changed the history of the original work, Shi Fen's curiosity was completely piqued.

"Extreme Martial Arts Hall, the government, Thunder Martial Arts Hall, HR Alliance... who will come to visit me first?"

After pondering for a long time, Shi Fen couldn't figure it out.

"Sigh, forget it, let's just honestly analyze the secret patterns!"

Shi Fen continued to immerse himself in the dull work of secret pattern analysis.

August 2nd.

After Luo Feng returned, the two of them called up Wei Wen and Shi Tian, and the four of them went to a decent restaurant to ruthlessly "fleece" Luo Feng.

August 4th.

Luo Feng's three blades were delivered to his home personally by a martial artist from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

Several days passed, and still, no one came looking for Shi Fen.

Could I have guessed wrong? Shi Fen could only comfort himself with this thought; if he could keep a low profile, he would be happy to do so. But the wheels of fate were already rolling forward, and it was unrealistic to expect things to continue according to Shi Fen's original plan.

August 5th, 2:00 PM.

It was the hottest time of the entire day.

The scorching sun in the sky seemed intent on destroying the South Bank Residential District, casting its fiery claws down upon the concrete buildings. The temperature inside the room reached a staggering 38 degrees; being indoors felt like sitting in a sauna.

The electric fan behind Shi Fen spun listlessly, offering him only the faintest trace of coolness.

Shi Fen, whose strength was already immense, did not actually care about the outdoor temperature. His restlessness stemmed from mental agitation. No physical method of cooling could help.

Shi Fen had already mastered all 3,000 types of two-dimensional basic secret patterns. He had officially begun researching three-dimensional basic secret patterns. The first three of these were quite simple, containing only two two-dimensional secret patterns each, and could be mastered in just over an hour. However, the ones that followed were difficult.

Once he started in earnest, Shi Fen hit a wall.

First, his analysis speed plummeted. At most, he could now analyze two or three types a day, and when he encountered difficulties, his progress would even stall, making it hard to advance.

At this rate, he had no idea how long it would take to decipher all 7,000-plus three-dimensional basic secret patterns.

Second, although he had found a solution, it was too difficult to apply in practice.

Shi Fen bought a large amount of modeling clay. He used his spiritual energy to mold the clay into the shapes of two-dimensional basic secret patterns, creating basic templates. He then combined these templates to analyze them against the models. Once this method was implemented, his analysis speed surged, allowing him to decipher over 20 types a day.

But problems followed. The three-dimensional basic secret patterns gradually escalated from combinations of two two-dimensional patterns to combinations of nine. Shi Fen's current conscious computational capacity could barely support the analysis of three-dimensional patterns composed of five two-dimensional patterns.

He was powerless to go further.

This meant that Shi Fen needed to obtain a cultivation method, become a martial artist, and continuously improve his strength. Once he raised his strength as a spirit reader, his conscious computational capacity would naturally increase as well.

The subsequent analysis of three-dimensional secret patterns would then no longer be an issue.

Within his Inner World, Shi Fen could currently withstand 59 times the force of gravity. Under this pressure, he could run, jump, and move without being affected.

He clearly sensed that the rate of his strength improvement had begun to drop significantly. Shi Fen felt that the remaining energy from his previous physical transformation had likely been completely exhausted.

He was now in urgent need of increasing his strength.

Shi Fen secretly rejoiced that Luo Feng had exposed his forging capabilities. With this forging skill, Shi Fen did not believe he would fail to become a key investment target for a major faction.

As long as a major faction was generous, he could rocket his strength to the next level.

If Shi Fen put in a bit more effort, training daily in his Inner World under the highest gravity he could withstand and studying the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Cultivation Method, his conscious computational capacity would surely skyrocket.

The subsequent comprehension of secret patterns would then be easily resolved.

"Why hasn't anyone come yet!" Shi Fen turned off the old fan that was whirring away and lay on his bed, contemplating life.

The "fat sheep" he was counting on had shown no signs of movement.

His forging ability had been exposed, and now he was counting on a major faction to invest in him, allowing his strength to reach the heavens in a single bound.

If all else fails, I'll just go to the Extreme Martial Arts Hall in a few days and expose my identity as a spirit reader. Shi Fen hardened his resolve; if he was going to be high-profile, he would go all the way to the top!

Shi Fen lay on his bed letting his thoughts run wild, and before he knew it, he drifted off into dreamland, snoring unconsciously.

Shi Fen was too exhausted; he hadn't slept for over a month. Only by working around the clock had Shi Fen been able to master 3,000 types of two-dimensional basic secret patterns so quickly. Even though he had the Image World to soothe his mental state, the fatigue deep within his soul could not be recovered.

He was very close to his limit.

And so, not long after lying down, Shi Fen fell asleep without realizing it.

Shi Fen had a very strange dream that night.

He dreamed that all his relatives and friends from his past life were holding a family gathering in a mysterious fairyland filled with birdsong, fragrant flowers, and exotic plants.

He felt incredibly happy, experiencing a joy from the depths of his soul that was impossible to describe. While asleep, a smile hung on his face, and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes...