Third Sequence! Chen Kefa's Future?

Satisfied, Chen Yan withdrew his Divine Sense back into his main body, feeling a sense of total comfort and a buoyant mood.

The crisis of the Spirit Race had come to a temporary end; even if greater storms were to brew in the future, those were matters to consider later.

For him right now, if the sky were to fall, there were Grandmasters to hold it up!

"I am but a humble ascetic, living in the moment and developing in the shadows."

"Striving to improve myself is the best choice!"

He composed his mind and immediately performed an internal inspection, the pale blue system panel appearing clearly in his consciousness:

[Host]: Chen Yan [Age]: 1 year and 2 months [Cultivation]: Amateur Seventh Rank [Vitality]: 4504/10000 [Spirit]: 5146/10000 [Charm]: 93/100 (Endowed with the essence of nature) [Luck]: 105 (Continual good fortune) [Constitution]: Innate Dao Body (Born close to the Dao, proficient in all laws) [Skills]: [Meditation Method (Great Success) (2080/10000)] [Divine Sense Differentiation (Great Success) (2080/10000)]

He saw that the proficiency bars for [Meditation Method] and [Divine Sense Differentiation] had already broken through the two-thousand mark!

A goal that originally would have required nearly three years of bitter cultivation now seemed achievable in just about two more years of steady, grinding effort!

"Excellent! At this rate, in two years, I will be able to elevate these two key skills to the third sequence!"

The thrill of growth was so palpable that Chen Yan couldn't help but feel a bit lightheaded.

Filled with anticipation, he clicked on the skill details preview for the next sequence:

[Spirit Control]: Use telekinesis to directly interfere with reality! Retrieve objects from a distance, condense invisible weapons, and form telekinetic shields! It can even exert shallow conscious influence over others (strong suggestion, weaving brief dreams, reading surface thoughts)!

[Mirror Flower Water Moon]: Consume half of your Vitality and Spirit to create a real clone with independent movement and a certain level of combat power! Everything the clone sees, hears, learns, and gains can be returned to the main body. If the clone is destroyed, it may cause damage to your spiritual power, which can be recovered through rest.

"Tsk tsk, the prestige of this third sequence is leagues above the second!"

Chen Yan watched with surging emotions.

Especially [Mirror Flower Water Moon]!

A real clone?

Doesn't that mean...

There could be two Chen Yans "grinding" skills at the same time?!

His biggest bottleneck at the moment was his limited time!

The only way to increase the acquisition speed of skill proficiency was to use Divine Sense Differentiation, with each part responsible for grinding one skill.

This allowed for a multi-threaded effect.

Although he had tried every possible way to utilize fragmented time, there was ultimately a ceiling to his efficiency.

Chen Yan had been suffering from not finding a skill that could directly increase his "grind intensity," so he could only pin his hopes on [Mirror Flower Water Moon] to further boost his efficiency!

"However, my intuition tells me that the potential of this skill sequence is far more than just increasing cultivation speed..."

Chen Yan suppressed the urge to start grinding like a madman and analyzed the situation calmly.

Clone tactics, exploring dangerous lands, confusing enemies, multi-line operations...

Its strategic value was immeasurable!

"Very well, the goal is clear! The primary task for the next two years is to prioritize grinding out [Mirror Flower Water Moon]!"

Chen Yan set a clear goal for himself once again, filled with drive.

"Someone as talented and hardworking as me will succeed wherever I go!"

"Xiao Yan! Come down for dinner!"

Just then, the voice of his mother, Du Qionghua, came from outside the door, filled with deep doting.

That's right, Du Qionghua could never truly let go of her own flesh and blood.

Even though she had been much more relaxed while her son was at the martial arts gym, her heart always felt empty, and she missed him dearly.

After a family meeting, it was decided that Chen Yan would adopt a lifestyle of "one week at the martial arts gym, one week in the residential district."

"Coming!"

Chen Yan called out in response.

He skillfully switched back to his innocent baby mode, trotting toward the door with his short legs.

Cultivation was certainly important, but enjoying the warmth of family was also a part of "living in the moment."

Chen Yan ran downstairs, his short legs making a tap-tap-tap sound.

At a glance, he saw Aunt Liu Xin in the living room, holding Yu Qingmeng; the mother and daughter were speaking to a phone on the coffee table with the speakerphone turned on.

"Daddy! When are you coming back? Baby misses you so, so much!"

Yu Qingmeng tilted her little head, calling out to the other end of the line in a milky voice, her small face filled with grievance and anticipation.

"Be good, Little Meng. It's Daddy's fault for being away on business for so long."

"My work here is almost finished, and I'll be home to keep you company very soon, okay?"

Hearing her husband's voice, Liu Xin felt a pang of soreness in her nose.

Even though she longed for his return, she couldn't help but be sharp-tongued, chiding him:

"Why come back? Do you even have this family in your heart anymore?"

"You haven't been home for so long; there's no place left for you here!"

As she spoke, she couldn't suppress her emotions any longer and began to sob softly.

"Chen Kefa, when you graduated from the Martial Arts University, your grades were excellent in every category, yet you resolutely chose to return to the Jiang City Special Investigation Team. Over these years, have you ever felt a moment of regret?"

Wang Anguo's gaze was profound as he continued, "In terms of pill supplies, cultivation resources, promotion opportunities, and even the chance to hone your skills against strong opponents, this rear-guard city simply cannot compare to the front-line battlefield where you face fierce beasts and alien races."

"Besides, dealing with petty public security incidents and low-level conflicts day after day—you must be tired of it by now."

Hearing this, Chen Kefa's footsteps faltered slightly.

A flash of astonishment crossed his face, which then softened into a faint sense of relief.

He shook his head, his tone firm yet gentle:

"Thank you for your concern, Grandmaster. But compared to external things like pills, resources, and promotion opportunities, what I care about more is being able to protect my family."

When he spoke the word "family," a warm smile bloomed involuntarily across his resolute face.

It was a happiness that came from the heart, enough to withstand any storm.

"Being able to watch Little Yan grow up day by day and being able to spend a peaceful life with Qionghua is more important to me than anything else."

Wang Anguo watched him quietly, taking in the unquestionable sincerity and contentment in his eyes, and nodded inwardly.

A man who puts his family first naturally has a soft spot in his heart that needs protecting.

But precisely because of this, he is often better able to understand the essence of human life and the value of the ordinary things worth defending.

Such a person, once they recognize the greater cause, possesses a determination and resilience that may be better suited to shouldering the heavy responsibility of defending the human race than those martial artists who only pursue personal strength.

"I understand your intentions, old man."

Wang Anguo changed the subject, his aura suddenly intensifying.

"However, the Jiang City Special Investigation Team is, after all, too small a pond for a dragon to soar."

"With your talent and temperament, you should not stop here. Your battlefield should be on the front lines!"

"Only there can your brilliance truly shine, and you can build merit for the human race."

His gaze was like a torch as he looked at Chen Kefa: "I still have some connections in the military and on the front lines. If you are willing, I can personally write a letter of recommendation for you!"

Chen Kefa's mind was shaken.

He knew well that the Grandmaster's words were no lie.

If he stayed in Jiang City forever, his limit might truly be the high stage of his profession.

Looking at all the Grandmasters in the world, which one of them hadn't experienced life and death, fighting their way up through blood and fire on the battlefield?

The front line was the true cradle of the strong.

A massive opportunity lay before him, making his breathing grow rapid.

He suppressed the surging emotions in his heart and bowed respectfully: "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Grandmaster!"

"But this... this is a major matter that concerns my future path. I still need to discuss it with my wife..."

"That is only right." Far from being displeased, Wang Anguo's eyes grew even more approving.

"To ask her to agree to 'lend' her husband to the human race is a significant matter; naturally, it is essential to gain her understanding and support."

"I shall personally accompany you to see your wife and explain the pros and cons in person."