A Thirty-Percent Loss

Inside the training room.

Shen Heng raised his hand and rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache.

"Can't you move anymore...?"

He had just used his mental and Origin Power to try to activate the closed loop and change its form.

But it turned out that this had no effect whatsoever.

Neither mental power nor Origin Power can have any effect on it.

That closed loop itself is constantly changing.

However, its structural stability is far beyond what most people can imagine.

In addition, 30% of the Origin Power was condensed into such a Xiaoxiao closed loop.

The density and strength of that closed loop now far exceed what normal people expect.

and...

Shen Heng lowered his eyes slightly.

The Origin Power in the air was slowly and unconsciously flowing into his body.

Although it is not as efficient as actively breathing, it is more lasting and stable.

This Configuration can automatically absorb the surrounding Origin Power into the body.

Shen Heng had considered this idea before when he saw the Spirit-Gathering Array, and he had even tried it.

However, his idea could not be realized at that time because his body was blocked from the Origin Power.

But now, at the very moment this Configuration is established.

It automatically began absorbing external Origin Power.

This does not mean that the body is now completely unblocked from the Origin Power.

Moreover, this Configuration does not simply absorb the surrounding Origin Power through the Origin Power energy within the body.

It draws in the surrounding Origin Power through that inexplicable fluctuation.

This seems like a good thing, and it is indeed a good thing, except...

Shen Heng carefully sensed the changes in the closed loop within his body.

It was observed that a portion of the Origin Power absorbed into the body was still absorbed into that closed loop.

It is growing too!

"Doesn't that mean we've permanently lost 30% of our Origin Power?"

Shen Heng, feeling a bit of a headache, increased the pressure of massaging his temples.

He originally thought that even if the sound wave Configuration wasn't ideal, at least it could be adjusted and replaced gradually later, as the Daoist priest had said.

Now, not only can it not be replaced, but it has even cost 30% of its Origin Power!

That's thirty percent of the Origin Power!

For ordinary martial artists, this is equivalent to the sky falling down!

In a life-or-death struggle, let alone 30%, even 10% could be the decisive factor in determining victory or defeat.

Furthermore, it is effective in situations requiring a large consumption of Origin Power, such as protracted battles, high-intensity bursts, and extreme defenses.

This missing third will directly lead to a drastic reduction in combat time.

Of course, things would be a little better for Shen Heng; it's not as dire as the sky falling.

After all, Shen Heng's fighting style has never required much Origin Power.

In the two years since he joined the Supervision Bureau, apart from deliberately depleting his source Origin Power during cultivation, he only experienced a shortage of Origin Power during the last rat swarm incident.

At other times, even during last year's seafood market incident, his Origin Power remained very...

I wouldn't say it's plentiful, but it's more than enough to handle one or two more battles!

However, just because he doesn't have a high demand for Origin Power doesn't mean he can easily accept the reduction of his Origin Power limit!

Shen Heng frowned in thought.

After a long while, he opened his eyes...

Northern Martial Arts Academy.

On the three arenas, six figures were locked in fierce combat, the sounds of clashing energy filling the air.

Below the arena stood a vast crowd of students from the Northern Martial Arts.

Further away, a high platform overlooks the entire scene.

A long table and several stools were placed on the stage.

But at this moment, the stools were empty; no one was sitting on them.

Those who should have been sitting there were now gathered at the edge of the platform, some standing and some sitting, watching the match on the stage.

Li Daoyi sat in the middle, one hand supporting his chin, the other tapping his knee listlessly with a wooden ruyi, looking rather uninterested.

"It seems the top three are pretty much decided," a female teacher said. "It'll still be Jiang Mo, Shen Shuning, and Lu Chengyu."

"That's not surprising at all. The three of them have always been the strongest in the first term of our Northern Martial Arts," the male teacher beside him said, glancing at the left-hand arena. "What's truly surprising is Zhou Yanbai."

He pointed at the short-haired youth:

"Last time they were ranked outside the top 20, but this time they've actually broken into the top six. And at this rate..."

The male teacher paused, carefully observing the battle unfolding on the stage:

"Fourth place is hard to say, but fifth place should be a sure thing."

"Indeed," the female teacher smiled, about to reply, but was interrupted by a snicker from the side.

"What's the use of making great progress?" Li Daoyi, crossing his legs and banging his wooden ruyi clattering loudly. "It still looks like children playing house!"

The female teacher smiled helplessly, "Principal, it's already quite an achievement for Zhou Yanbai to climb from over 20th place to the top six..."

"It's alright," Li Daoyi yawned, covering his mouth slightly, "But compared to the top students like Shen Shuning, the gap is not small at all."

"After all, he started from a lower point." The female teacher maintained a helpless smile; she really couldn't handle this unconventional principal.

Li Daoyi nodded noncommittally.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned to look at the girl who had been standing quietly to the side, not participating in the conversation.

"By the way, Xiangtong Tong," he asked, "How has their cultivation progressed this past month?"

Xiao Xiangtong paused for a moment, organizing her thoughts.

"Ever since they learned there would be a friendly match with Southern Martial Arts at the end of the semester, they've been training even more diligently. Zhou Yanbai has also made rapid progress this month."

"I see..." Li Daoyi stroked his gray beard thoughtfully.

"Principal," the female teacher turned around, "Has the prize money for this Southern and Northern Martial Arts Friendship Match been decided?"

"Top three: one A-Class combat skill, one Tier 3 weapon; Top ten: one A-Class combat skill, one Tier 2 weapon; Top twentieth: one B-Class combat skill..."

"Wow... so much for the top three!" the female teacher exclaimed in surprise.

The others nearby nodded in agreement.

The male teacher who had just spoken nodded and said:

"An A-Class combat skill and a Tier 3 weapon will earn you around 10,000 points, which is roughly equivalent to half a year's salary!"

One of the more lively male teachers joked, "How about we register my name for this friendly match too?"

"Hahaha," Li Daoyi laughed, "If you really go up there, the other side will probably have to send Lu Zhaoming to entertain you!"

Upon hearing this, the people around him also laughed.

In less than a year and a half, even Shen Shuning, who is currently the fastest cultivator, is still some distance from reaching the Tier 3.

Not to mention the Late Third Tier male teacher who just spoke.

If he really dares to go up there, Southern Martial Arts is no less capable than a teacher who knows a little bit about martial arts.