Chapter 13: Joy

“Trainee.” Baiyang couldn’t help but ask, “The Guidance Art is said to be miraculous. Just how miraculous is it? How can it accelerate the cultivation of genetic energy?”

At this moment, a middle-aged man with streaks of gray in his hair, standing in the training hall, spoke up, “Baiyang, let me put it this way. Suppose you don’t cultivate the Guidance Art and rely solely on the ‘Five-Heavens Cultivation Method’—in a day, you might only be able to refine energy for five minutes before your entire body’s cells become saturated.”

“But if you cultivate the Guidance Art, your cells can hold far more. You could train for eight minutes, ten minutes, even an hour!” The middle-aged man looked at Luo Feng and the others, “Do you understand now?”

Upon hearing this, Luo Feng suddenly saw the light.

“The Guidance Art increases the appetite of every single cell,” Luo Feng thought to himself. The cells absorbing the faint cosmic energy and transforming it into genetic energy was like a person eating meals. If a person could only eat three bowls of rice, the Guidance Art would allow them to eat five or even ten bowls in a day.

Jiang Nian smiled and said, “If you don’t cultivate the Guidance Art, let’s say your cells can absorb only one unit of energy. But once you do cultivate it, your cells might absorb two, three, or even more units. In other words, a year of your training could surpass another’s ten years! That is the charm of the Guidance Art.”

The martial artists present began discussing it enthusiastically, clearly having much to say about the Guidance Art.

“When it comes to the Guidance Art, Hong, the world’s strongest warrior and the global grandmaster of our Limit Combat Gym, has created nine supreme Guidance Arts. If you join our Limit Combat Gym and earn enough merit points, you might get the chance to learn these top-tier techniques,” the martial artists said with smiles, trying to entice Luo Feng and his companions.

The various factions around the world all hoped to increase their numbers of martial artists.

“Trainee,” Luo Feng suddenly spoke up.

“Hmm?” Jiang Nian smiled toward Luo Feng, “What is it?”

“Earlier, the silver-haired, black-robed warrior who left with the chief instructor—he immobilized us with just a glance. What kind of ability does a martial artist possess that makes this possible?” Luo Feng had never heard of martial artists having such power and was extremely curious.

Jiang Nian smiled slightly, while the other martial artists burst into laughter.

“Kid, the one who left with the chief instructor is a Mentalist—a Mentalist, who is even rarer than martial artists. They are among the most terrifying beings in the martial world,” the martial artists laughed. “Of course, Mentalists are usually martial artists too—but they are the most fearsome among us.”

“A Mentalist?” Luo Feng was startled.

With today’s advanced internet, Luo Feng had once read online that Mentalists were a special and terrifying group within the martial artist community.

But exactly how terrifying they were, the internet had not elaborated.

“You’ll learn soon enough,” Jiang Nian said with a smile. “Alright, today’s trainee assessment is over. You three may go home now. The official trainee certificate requires official stamping and inputting into your citizen ID system. It might take a few days to arrive. We’ll notify you when it does. Alright, you’re dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.”

Luo Feng, Yang Wu, and Baiyang turned and left the training hall together, watched by the neighborhood’s stationed soldiers, guns in hand, as they exited the community.

…

At the entrance of Mingyue Community, Luo Feng, Yang Wu, and Baiyang all wore bright smiles.

“My name is Baiyang. I’m from the First Military Academy of Jiangnan. My hometown is in Yangzhou, and since it’s summer break, I decided to take the assessment here,” Baiyang extended his hand and shook hands with both Luo Feng and Yang Wu. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

“The First Military Academy of Jiangnan?”

Luo Feng had always wanted to join that academy.

Luo Feng smiled and said, “I’m Luo Feng, and this is Yang Wu. We’re both from the Yian District branch of the Limit Combat Gym.”

“Brother Luo Feng is destined for a bright future. Even in our academy’s elite class, few become martial artists,” Baiyang was naturally inclined to make friends and was especially eager to befriend Luo Feng, who was so young and had already become a trainee. Perhaps one day Luo Feng would become a great figure.

Yang Wu laughed beside them, “Enough talk. The three of us passed the assessment together today, at the same place—that’s fate. It’s a great day, so let’s find a restaurant to celebrate with a good meal and chat.”

“Great idea,” Baiyang agreed with a smile.

“Let’s go,” Luo Feng laughed as well.

The three of them had just passed their trainee assessment and were full of youthful vigor. They chose a restaurant, had lunch together, and then parted ways to return home.

…

Luo Feng had a little to drink and only remembered to call home to share the good news when he was on the subway.

However, there were too many people on the subway. If he started talking about passing the trainee assessment, it would definitely draw a crowd: “I’ll wait until I get off the subway to call.”

…

He took Line 1 to Zhongan Road Station and exited directly, needing to walk a while to transfer to Line 11 from Zhongan Road Station.

“I need to tell my parents and my little brother,” Luo Feng was still excited.

A trainee…

For years, his family had lived in hardship. Now, after years of effort, he had finally achieved something!

Standing by the street at Zhongan Road Station, Luo Feng took out his phone.

“Beep… Beep…”

After dialing the number, he waited.

“Hello.” His younger brother’s voice came through the phone. Luo Feng smiled and said, “It’s me.”

“Of course. You know who your brother is. I passed, of course. Haha, yes, yes. Alright.” Luo Feng spoke happily into the phone, “Hey, is Mom home? Great, have her take the call.”

“Mom, it’s me, Xiao Feng,” Luo Feng said joyfully.

Hearing his mother’s delighted and emotional voice on the phone, Luo Feng couldn’t help but feel a little teary-eyed. After working so hard for so long, this moment had finally come: “Mom, you’ve asked three times already. I really passed the assessment. The trainee certificate will arrive at home in a few days.”

“I’ve already eaten. I had lunch with the other two who passed the assessment,” Luo Feng laughed. “Oh, should I call Dad? Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t forget. Yes, I know.”

After hanging up the phone, Luo Feng couldn’t help but smile.

Happy and fulfilled!

He had worked hard for so long, trained his body and sword techniques since childhood—all for this day.

“Breath in… Breath out…”

Luo Feng took a deep breath to calm himself before dialing his father’s number. In his family, his father, Luo Hongguo, was like a mountain—the pillar of the family. Before Luo Feng became an advanced student at the martial arts gym, nearly all the family expenses had been supported by his father’s hard work.

Although his mother worked, she spent most of her energy taking care of her two sons, especially one who was disabled.

His father’s job in house renovation was extremely tough—his back ached, his hands were injured—he had suffered multiple injuries over the years.

“Dad, from today on, you won’t have to work so hard anymore,” Luo Feng silently vowed to himself.

“Beep… Beep…”

The phone rang repeatedly as Luo Feng waited for his father to pick up.