Wei Wen hesitated for a moment, his gaze sweeping subtly around the room.
Veterans like Zhou Zhengyong and Lu Gang immediately understood his unspoken meaning.
Judging by Wei Wen's demeanor, he might just have a surprise for them. In other words, Wei Wen might have already mastered the first stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade!
"Everyone else, leave us," Zhou Zhengyong waved his hand, dismissing the surrounding staff of the Extreme Martial Club Hall.
The personnel who had brought Wei Wen and Luo Feng, along with the other staff present, nodded and filed out. Soon, only Wei Wen, Luo Feng, Zhou Zhengyong, and Lu Gang remained.
"The Nine Stage Thunder Blade is renowned as the most explosively powerful and the most difficult force-exertion technique to master."
"I know your comprehension is exceptional, but your training time has been so short—merely a few days," Zhou Zhengyong said with a grave expression. "If you've truly grasped the first stage already, it would be truly unbelievable. It would also prove you are a rare genius across the entire planet!"
"Wei Wen, give it a try. I hope you can genuinely surprise me."
"The Extreme Martial Club has always favored geniuses, especially those with profound comprehension. As long as you possess sufficient potential, we will undoubtedly support you!"
"I have indeed mastered the first stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade," Wei Wen revealed a confident smile.
He understood well that appropriately displaying his extraordinary comprehension could attract the attention and investment of the Extreme Martial Club Hall headquarters, which was beneficial for him.
"Really?" Zhou Zhengyong drew a sharp breath, his face betraying his shock. He struggled to keep his voice calm, but a faint tremor was undeniable.
"What?" Lu Gang also stared at Wei Wen in astonishment, his heart suddenly roiling like a stormy sea.
For instance, an average warrior can exert power between 1x and 2x their base strength, while a God of War warrior can achieve between 2x and 4x. It might take many warriors a full ten years to reach the first stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade.
Take God of War Lu Gang himself.
As a seasoned God of War, he has only reached the third stage. His ability to become a God of War already signifies talent surpassing most warriors. Yet, it took him decades to cultivate the third stage.
Comparing that to Wei Wen mastering the first stage in just a few days… the difference was staggering. This was the source of his shock. He even wondered if Wei Wen was lying.
After all, even Thunder God, the founder of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade, might not have progressed at such an insane rate.
Even Luo Feng was momentarily stunned by Wei Wen's speed in mastering the blade technique, his heart skipping a beat.
'He truly is a genius who managed to improve the power of the Nine-Level Thunder Blade', Luo Feng thought, inwardly amazed.
"You'll know once you see it," Wei Wen said, throwing a casual punch.
Force erupted almost instantaneously. But the moment that force was transmitted to his arm, a second wave of power burst forth within Wei Wen's body. The two consecutive forces merged and surged through his arm, propelling his fist forward with immense power.
Lu Gang, also a practitioner of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade, could tell from the instantaneous acceleration of Wei Wen's punch that he had layered two successive waves of hidden force—a clear hallmark of the first stage.
Although Zhou Zhengyong didn't practice the technique himself, he could still discern that Wei Wen's punch was fundamentally different from an ordinary warrior's explosive power.
"The first stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade?" Zhou Zhengyong asked, poking Lu Gang beside him, his voice still laced with disbelief.
"Though it's incredible, his force exertion method is indeed that of the first stage," Lu Gang replied with a wry smile. "To reach this point in just a few days… Perhaps he'll comprehend the fourth stage within a year—a level I still haven't managed to grasp after all this time."
To master the first stage of the notoriously difficult Nine Stage Thunder Blade in just a few days… If he had been slightly skeptical before, thinking Wei Wen might be joking, he was now utterly convinced and shocked.
It felt like they were both pursuing an unattainable goddess. He had to struggle and sweat for every tiny bit of progress, only to turn around and find the goddess not only welcoming Wei Wen with open arms but practically falling into his lap effortlessly.
This made him sigh deeply—the gap between geniuses was real. There was always someone better, a truth he now faced directly.
"This is a true genius," Zhou Zhengyong said, his expression turning excited. "He's truly a treasure. With Wei Wen's training speed, passing the B-grade assessment in two months won't be a problem. He'll definitely qualify for the elite training camp then."
Though surprised, this was excellent news for Zhou Zhengyong.
He had originally planned to recommend Wei Wen to the elite training camp. After hearing Yang Hui's earlier assessment, he had thought there was little hope. But seeing Wei Wen master the first stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade in a few days, he was now confident that Wei Wen could reach the third stage before the assessment.
Moreover, Wei Wen was his recommendation. The more formidable the comprehension and potential Wei Wen displayed, the greater the benefits Zhou Zhengyong would receive.
Combined with his early investment in Wei Wen, once Wei Wen grew into a powerhouse—certainly not inferior to himself—the returns would be immense. It was a win-win situation.
"Luo Feng, you also purchased the Nine Stage Thunder Blade. How is your practice coming along?" Zhou Zhengyong looked at Luo Feng expectantly. Wei Wen had given him a huge surprise; perhaps Luo Feng had one too.
"It's going alright. I haven't fully mastered it yet, but I feel it will only take a few more days of diligent practice," Luo Feng replied simply.
"This…" Lu Gang felt his worldview shaking again, as if he were being left behind by the times.
"I thought Wei Wen was amazing enough, but I didn't expect you to be just as remarkable," Zhou Zhengyong said, feeling that Luo Feng had also given him a significant surprise. "Before, I thought only Wei Wen might barely make it into the elite training camp. Now it seems you have a very strong chance as well."
"With their rate of improvement, once they enter the elite training camp at headquarters and enjoy superior training conditions, they are bound to become the youngest God of War in the future!"
After chatting briefly, the equipment Lu Gang had purchased for Wei Wen and Luo Feng arrived.
"Old Lu, I'm counting on you for their trip this time. If I weren't so busy as the Head, I'd personally take charge of their training," Zhou Zhengyong said with a smile.
"Also, Wei Wen, Luo Feng, report to me on your progress with the Nine Stage Thunder Blade on August 1st."
"At that time, I can submit a report to headquarters and apply for spots in the elite training camp for you."
"Don't worry, Old Zhou. This time, I'm only taking them to wilderness towns with lower threat levels," Lu Gang assured him. "As long as we don't run into Lord-level beasts or large-scale beast tides, their safety is absolutely guaranteed."
"I even feel their future achievements might not be inferior to those of the Dojo Master himself…"
"Being able to guide such peerless geniuses, even for a short while, is something I could boast about for a lifetime…"
As a veteran God of War, Lu Gang was a well-known figure in the martial arts circles of Jiangnan Base City and had a sterling reputation. In terms of strength, he wasn't necessarily inferior to the mid-level God of War Zhou Zhengyong, which was precisely why he was chosen to lead and mentor the two young men.
"Wei Wen, Luo Feng, let's go. From now on, just call me Captain!" Lu Gang looked at the two young men.
"Yes, Captain!" Wei Wen and Luo Feng responded promptly.
Lu Gang was a senior warrior, and after all, he was kindly taking them out for practical experience. They knew better than to be disrespectful.
"Good!" Lu Gang waved his hand. They gathered their equipment and left the headquarters building together, promptly setting off for the wilderness area.
As God of Wars, they could have requisitioned a fighter jet, but the wilderness area they were heading to wasn't far, making it unnecessary.
…
Hundreds of miles outside Jiangnan Base City lay a warrior supply base.
"Wei Wen, Luo Feng, it's summer, and the daytime heat is brutal. We rest during the day," Lu Gang briefly explained the standard wilderness survival practices to them. "Nighttime and early morning are our primary hours for action. Conserving energy is crucial in the wilderness."
"Alright, let's rest here for now. We'll set out at 7 PM to begin hunting beasts in the wilderness area."
At a warrior's speed, covering dozens of kilometers in a few minutes was trivial. For instance, a warrior at the threshold of the junior God of War level could reach speeds of 90 meters per second, translating to 5-6 kilometers per minute.
As for someone like Lu Gang, a full-fledged God of War, even an average one could break the sound barrier, and their attack speed was evidently even faster. Lu Gang's death had been a truly unjust misfortune.
"Thanks for the reminder, Captain," Wei Wen and Luo Feng nodded in acknowledgment.
However, as spirit masters, their soul consciousness was far more potent. They could remain highly alert and energetic even without sleeping for days. Upon reaching higher levels like the Planetary, Star, or even greater realm, sleep might become entirely optional.
Especially after witnessing Wei Wen master the Nine Stage Thunder Blade, Luo Feng felt an even greater urgency to push himself. He had no intention of slacking off on his blade practice during the day.
When tired from practicing blade techniques and movement skills, they would occasionally meditate, cultivating the Five Acupoints Origin Method method, but they spent most of their time honing their mental power. After all, their abilities as spirit masters were their greatest strength.
As for Wei Wen, he stayed inside all day, undoubtedly engaged in rigorous training!
Their relentless drive left Lu Gang deeply impressed. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly: 'It's not others having talent that's fearsome; it's when those talented individuals work even harder than you do.'
At that moment, he seemed to understand how Wei Wen and Luo Feng had achieved so much by the age of 18.
…
7:30 PM, Wilderness Area.
A strange roar echoed from outside, a sound Lu Gang was quite familiar with. Most of the dominant beasts in this wilderness area belonged to the pig, cat, and dog families, known for their high reproductive rates.
"This herd probably has over thirty One-Horned Wild Boars. The leader is just a high-level beast soldier," Lu Gang briefly informed Wei Wen and Luo Feng. "True combat is often the best way to identify your shortcomings and temper a warrior's will!"
"I'll handle the strongest One-Horned Wild Boar. You two are geniuses… I've heard you've mastered the Micro-level movement skill. Care to take on the challenge?"
"No problem," Wei Wen and Luo Feng replied with confidence.
Being spirit masters, if they fought unrestrictedly, they could take down not just thirty-plus beast soldier-level boars, but even a beast general-level one.
"Let's begin!"
Without wasting words, Lu Gang drew his Blood Shadow blade. His figure instantly blurred into an afterimage as he leaped from the window into the beast herd. With a casual slash, he killed the high-level beast soldier leader, then vanished.
Lu Gang's move stirred up the entire herd of One-Horned Wild Boars. Wei Wen and Luo Feng, positioned in front, naturally became the targets. For reasons unknown to the boars, the thirty-plus creatures charged at the duo from all sides.
Hunting was the innate instinct of these wild beasts. As a pack, their coordination was remarkably tacit.
"Most of these One-Horned Wild Boars are mid-level beast soldiers at best, equivalent to mid-level warriors. They pose almost no threat to you!" Lu Gang's voice rang out.
He was right. The One-Horned Wild Boars were large but their attacks were simplistic and easy to evade. As long as their numbers weren't overwhelming, they weren't a significant threat.
Both Luo Feng and Wei Wen possessed Micro-level movement skills, with Wei Wen's being even more refined than Luo Feng's. Their evasive steps and shifts were precise, carrying a unique rhythm, allowing them to effortlessly dodge the boars' assaults.
Clang!
Wei Wen's base strength had already surpassed that of a junior God of War. Augmented by his force-generation technique, he could even contend with an average mid-level God of War.
A flash of sharp blade light, and a nearby One-Horned Wild Boar was killed in the blink of an eye. Luo Feng, with his strength, could also easily dispatch the medium-level boars.
"How old were we when we reached the Micro-level?" Lu Gang and the others broke into a cold sweat watching the perilously narrow angles at which Wei Wen and Luo Feng evaded attacks. "Their movement skills are indeed excellent, but they still lack practical combat experience."
"Despite their powerful blade techniques and movement, there's almost no coordination, and they don't seem to be conserving any stamina at all."
"This all-out fighting style isn't suitable for the wilderness, where danger can emerge at any moment. You need to conserve every bit of strength for when it's truly needed."
"Especially against these weaker beasts, there's no need to go all out. You only need to use the minimum force necessary to kill them, unlike Wei Wen's method of cleaving them in half at the waist," Lu Gang sighed, palm meeting his forehead.
"Fortunately, practical experience is easy to gain. With their comprehension, it won't take long for them to adapt to the rhythm of combat."
Lu Gang didn't know that mental power was their trump card, so they weren't overly concerned about conserving physical strength—quickly eliminating the beasts was their priority.
"Wei Wen, Luo Feng, your performance was decent, but it was flawed, and the combat efficiency was too low. Later, watch how I kill beasts using similar strength," Lu Gang said, reappearing before them after they had wiped out all the One-Horned Wild Boars.
After traveling a short distance further, they encountered another beast group: the Tiger-beast Cats of the feline family. These creatures, as sturdy as calves with spotted markings, were far more agile and ferocious than the One-Horned Wild Boars.
Lu Gang stepped forward and began demonstrating how to fight more efficiently. As a Tiger-beast Cat pounced at him, he gently blocked and pushed with his shield, causing the beast to lose balance and tumble. In that instant, his sharp blade sliced across its throat.
"Every beast has weaknesses, typically the head, neck, eyes, ears, spine, anus, and underbelly," Lu Gang explained while fighting. "A strike to behead, a thrust to the spine, a blade through the ear into the brain… these are all one-hit kill techniques!"
Just like Lu Gang's use of his shield to disrupt the Tiger-beast Cat's balance, instantly exposing its weakness, followed by a precise, lethal cut. He hadn't used strength surpassing the beast's, nor relied on superior speed or fancy footwork, yet the result was devastatingly effective.
In contrast, to kill a One-Horned Wild Boar, they had to dodge repeatedly before landing an attack. If Wei Wen weren't a junior God of War and used only strength equivalent to the beast's, a one-hit kill would be impossible.
Recognizing Wei Wen and Luo Feng's potential, Lu Gang was determined to train them meticulously—it might also benefit his own future.
Through Lu Gang's daily guidance and leading by example, Wei Wen and Luo Feng rapidly accumulated practical combat experience against various beasts.
Luo Feng, with his high comprehension, quickly grasped that so-called combat experience was about maximizing the effectiveness of every attack and dodge. Their initial, flashy evasions against the One-Horned Wild Boars were merely showing off!
As time passed, Luo Feng's fighting style became sharper, cleaner, and more efficient, his growth rate astonishing.
As for Wei Wen, who was 'bound to lie down' with Luo Feng, his progress was, surprisingly, even more remarkable than Luo Feng's.
Of course, this wasn't the most surprising factor for Wei Wen. The real shock was the improvement in his spirit master strength!
[Your friend Luo Feng is comprehending the power of mental telekinesis. Your control over mental power continues to improve. Congratulations on reaching 2x Spritual Amplitude.]
Luo Feng's talent as a spirit master was far greater than his talent as a warrior.
Just consider this: within a single month and without any secret manuals, Luo Feng managed to double his spiritual amplitude. This alone demonstrated the sheer terror of his innate ability.
Now, after gaining some experience in the wilderness and receiving feedback from Luo Feng, Wei Wen was able to achieve double the spiritual amplitude ahead of schedule.
"Does this make me a God of War spirit master?" Wei Wen's eyes suddenly shone with excitement.
In truth, a spirit master's strength was clearly superior to that of a warrior. Before reaching the first stage of the Planetary realm, Wei Wen's mental prowess would always be two full tiers above his martial prowess.
For instance, his current martial strength was that of an entry-level Warrior, while his mental power had reached the advanced Warrior level.
Furthermore, with his spiritual amplitude now doubled, Wei Wen's explosive power could reach the threshold of a beginner God of War, even touching upon the Lord level.
Under the right circumstances—favorable timing, location, and conditions—Wei Wen could potentially rely on his mental power to hunt Lord-level beasts!
Growl!
A Tiger Cat beast let out a wretched howl as Luo Feng, utilizing his superb combat skills, killed it with a single strike.
The pack of beast soldiers in front of them was completely enraged. Several Tiger Cats attacked Luo Feng from all sides.
Some even leaped into the air, plummeting down from above to block Luo Feng's escape routes.
Yet, all of this seemed futile. Luo Feng's movement skill had reached the Micro-level, allowing him to shift and dodge with impeccable precision.
Clang!
On the rooftop, Lu Gang couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Luo Feng as he watched the dangerously narrow angles of his evasions.
The strongest Tiger Cat hadn't attacked Luo Feng immediately. Instead, it fixed its gaze on him, waiting for him to exhaust his stamina or reveal an opening to deliver a fatal blow.
A minute passed, and Luo Feng had already slain over twenty Tiger Cat beasts.
However, it seemed that due to excessive physical exertion, Luo Feng's movements and blade play weren't as sharp as they were at the start.
Under the cover of the remaining twenty or so Tiger Cats, the strongest one quietly closed in on Luo Feng.
When the distance shrank to about five meters, the Tiger Cat suddenly erupted with its full power, launching a silent, lethal assault.
"Luo Feng, behind you!" Lu Gang shouted.
In reality, Luo Feng was wearing a mid-level Warrior-grade combat suit. As long as the attack didn't hit a vital spot, the Tiger Cat couldn't breach his defense at all.
With Luo Feng's reaction speed, Micro-level movement skill, and his own warning, Lu Gang was sure Luo Feng would be fine, so he didn't intervene.
But what happened next left Lu Gang utterly astonished.
"Hm?"
Luo Feng's mental power instantly detected the Tiger Cat sneaking up from behind. A sense of imminent danger set his nerves on fire, and his eyes widened sharply.
Given Luo Feng's reaction ability—honed by dodging countless rubber bullets in the Reflex Test—he decided to use this moment to challenge his own limits.
In truth, Luo Feng had long felt he was on the verge of comprehending the Nine Stage Thunder Blade, but breaking through that final threshold was no easy task.
Under the immense pressure, Luo Feng's body tensed to the extreme, causing a massive surge of adrenaline.
His heart rate skyrocketed to an astonishing speed, the hairs all over his body stood on end, and his nerve reactions were heightened to an unprecedented level!
Even the mental power deep within his sea of consciousness spontaneously spread out, swiftly enveloping his entire body to defend against the Tiger Cat's attack!
If his breakthrough failed, Luo Feng could still rely on his mental power to kill the Tiger Cat.
"Luo Feng isn't dodging… could he be planning to counterattack?" Lu Gang couldn't help but frown.
The life-threatening crisis pushed Luo Feng's body, mind, and reflexes to their peak in an instant. The deep muscles within his body were fully mobilized, becoming sharper than ever.
Boom!
Luo Feng's slash was almost reflexive. He hadn't mustered his full strength, only utilizing 70% of his power.
But the moment that 70% of power erupted, the strength remaining in Luo Feng's body instantly produced a second burst, also at 70% power!
It happened as a matter of course!
Facing this life-or-death crisis, at the very moment his mind and body reached their zenith, a second wave of power naturally erupted from within.
The Nine Stage Thunder Blade—the first stage—had successfully broken through the bottleneck under tremendous pressure!
The speed of the Blood Shadow blade instantly surged, killing the Tiger Cat before its attack could land.
Blood gushed from the Tiger Cat like a fountain.
"Whew!" Luo Feng's mental power receded back into his sea of consciousness.
"That kind of power burst… is this the first stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade?" Lu Gang immediately recognized the difference in Luo Feng's blade technique. "Can someone truly achieve a breakthrough in a moment of life-and-death crisis?"
"I never expected Luo Feng's talent to be so monstrous as well. He broke through the first stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade so quickly. It seems I'll have to send a message to Old Zhou and congratulate him in advance."
Zhou Zhengyong had previously mentioned that if Wei Wen or Luo Feng made a breakthrough in their blade techniques, he should be notified ahead of time.
However, he never anticipated that due to Luo Feng's breakthrough, Wei Wen would also receive feedback from Luo Feng through the system, successfully achieving a breakthrough in the Nine Stage Thunder Blade.
[Your friend Luo Feng has gained sudden insight into the optimized version of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade. Your comprehension of the optimized Nine Stage Thunder Blade continues to improve. Congratulations on comprehending the second stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade.]
Luo Feng hadn't even mastered the second stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade yet, but Wei Wen had already comprehended it in advance.
The second stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade involved a three-fold superposition of 70% power, resulting in 2.1 times the force—already surpassing his current spiritual amplitude.
It was a pity that Wei Wen's physical physique was only a quarter of the strength of his mental power, so his martial prowess still paled in comparison to his psychic abilities.
A flash of insight emerged in Wei Wen's heart. In the next moment, he almost swung his blade out of pure reflex.
The second stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade—a 2.1 times power burst!
Lu Gang, who was standing beside Wei Wen, seemed to sense something and looked at him in shock.
It was one thing for Luo Feng to break through in a life-or-death situation, but for Wei Wen to achieve a breakthrough just by watching Luo Feng… How was that even possible?
Nevertheless, the fact remained: Wei Wen's power had reached the second stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade.
"Holy shit!" A mix of shock and envy appeared on Lu Gang's face.
He had previously thought it might take Wei Wen two months to catch up to him, but now it seemed Wei Wen was likely to surpass him in a very short time.
…
On the 31st floor of the Jiangnan Base City's Extreme Martial Club Hall, Zhou Zhengyang, dressed in a black training uniform, sat cross-legged.
"Hah." Zhou Zhengyang opened his eyes. "Connected."
Suddenly, a camera projected a beam of light, casting a large screen image onto the wall.
"Freaks! Those two boys are absolute freaks! Beasts, they're just beasts!" Lu Gang's voice came through, filled with complaint.
"What's wrong?" Zhou Zhengyang asked, confused.
"You have no idea! Just now, Luo Feng comprehended the first stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade, and right after, Wei Wen comprehended the second stage!" Lu Gang exclaimed, his face a picture of bewilderment.
"What?!" Zhou Zhengyang's eyes widened. He took a sharp breath, his face etched with utter shock.
The progress of Wei Wen and Luo Feng left Zhou Zhengyang feeling stupefied. He muttered repeatedly, "Impossible… that's absolutely impossible!"
However, he had a very close relationship with Lu Gang. They had once been warriors in the same small team, and he knew Lu Gang wouldn't lie about something like this—there was simply no need for it.
In other words, Luo Feng had truly mastered the first stage of the Nine Stage Thunder Blade, and Wei Wen had mastered the second stage?
But the memory of Lu Gang's own progress in practicing the Nine Stage Thunder Blade was still vivid in his mind. It had taken Lu Gang a full ten years to complete the second stage.
Yet, Wei Wen and Luo Feng's progress had far surpassed Lu Gang's from the very beginning.
…
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