ruth be told, awakening as a Spiritual Force User wasn't entirely a good thing—even Luo Feng's experience proved that much.
The awakening process came with searing pain, a torment most people couldn't bear without passing out.
Over in another testing chamber, Wei Wen had just received system feedback. It told him what had happened to Luo Feng.
The moment that feedback hit, Wei Wen's blood pressure spiked, and his pulse kicked into overdrive.
By all logic, his Spirit Energy—boosted by the Lay-Flat System—was already stronger than Luo Feng's. That meant the backlash from awakening should have been even worse for him.
Luo Feng, for all his grit, had still collapsed. Wei Wen's own mental resilience didn't come close to his. Objectively, he should've dropped like a rock.
But… something was off.
The pain was there, but nowhere near unbearable. It felt distant, like a bad headache dulled by painkillers.
Wei Wen blinked. The discomfort was noticeable, but barely scratched the surface.
"The system favors positive feedback. It probably filtered out most of the backlash," Wei Wen muttered, letting a small smile play on his lips.
Not every experience Luo Feng had was purely beneficial. A lot of his gains came with a price—some almost fatal.
When Luo Feng refined the Blood River Crystal or the Star Tower, the spiritual torment nearly destroyed him. If that same agony had hit Wei Wen head-on… he wouldn't have lasted a second.
Now, with the pain significantly dulled, Wei Wen exhaled, his nerves settling. The last thing he wanted was to be taken out by some random spiritual surge.
He turned his attention back to the system and examined the changes.
First off, just like Luo Feng, he'd awakened as a Spiritual Force User—a rare cultivator whose mental strength alone could shape reality.
But his sea of consciousness—where that Spirit Energy gathered—was far denser than Luo Feng's at the same stage.
If Luo Feng's breakthrough only carried him to the peak God of War level, Wei Wen's Spirit Energy was already sitting solidly at Planetary Stage, Tier 1.
This wasn't just a qualitative difference. It was a massive leap on the cultivation scale.
The improvements weren't just mental either. Physical strength saw a massive jump too.
When Luo Feng first awakened, his punching power rose by about 300 kilograms.
Wei Wen's increase? Much higher.
A quick internal check put his new punching force around 1200 kilograms.
For context, the requirement to pass the quasi-warrior assessment was 900 kilograms.
But raw strength wasn't enough to qualify. There were also tests for speed and neural reaction time.
Still, it was clear—Wei Wen's body had undergone a fundamental change.
The exam wrapped up not long after, and as he exited the testing chamber, he overheard whispers: someone had collapsed during their trial.
He didn't need to ask who. His system had already given him the answer.
Hospital.
Luo Feng had woken up, and his family was in full panic mode.
His father, mother, and younger brother surrounded the hospital bed, throwing all the blame on his recurring headaches.
"Xiao Feng, this wasn't your fault—it was that damn illness acting up!"
"Why now of all times? Why not months ago? Years ago?"
Even though Luo Feng was frustrated, he kept that emotion buried. No point passing it on to his family.
He smiled through the tension and walked with his father and brother out of the hospital lobby, playing the part of someone who hadn't just watched his future vanish.
Wei Wen arrived a little later. Even though he knew Luo Feng didn't need comfort, technically speaking, Luo Feng wasstill his worker. The Lay-Flat System needed Luo Feng to thrive—so checking in was just good strategy.
"Thanks for coming, Wei Wen. I really blew it this time," Luo Feng said, surprised but grateful for his presence.
"You collapsed in the middle of the exam and still probably scored higher than me," Wei Wen replied, half-joking. "Besides, even if college isn't an option… you've got another path: become a warrior."
Luo Feng nodded. His adaptability kicked in fast. Sure, his exam score probably tanked, and that shut the door to university.
But awakening changed everything.
His body had evolved.
He felt the difference.
And if he couldn't go the scholar's path, then fine—he'd take the path of a warrior.
Luo Feng's eyes gleamed with new conviction.
"If I can't enter a military academy, it's not the end of the road," he said calmly. "Actually, this might have been a blessing in disguise. My strength skyrocketed. I'm fully confident I can pass both the quasi-warrior and combat assessments—and become an official warrior."
If he had followed the standard path—basic training, gradual improvement—it would have taken him a year or two just to hit quasi-warrior level.
But that mental awakening fast-tracked everything. It wasn't just about willpower now. His entire body was operating on a different level.
"Warrior…" his family repeated. They were stunned.
To them, warrior wasn't just a job. It was a symbol of human greatness. Warriors stood above the masses—representing strength, wealth, status, and authority.
If Luo Feng made it, everything would change. Not just for him, but for the whole family.
Wei Wen watched this transformation with interest.
The Lay-Flat System's special trait was simple: if Luo Feng failed, it would forcibly keep him alive.
Because Wei Wen needed Luo Feng to thrive—so that he could lie flat in peace.
Which meant pushing Luo Feng was part of the game. The more Luo Feng grew, the better Wei Wen's future looked.
Dojo of Limits, Yian District
"If I'm going to push Luo Feng to get stronger, then I better become a warrior too," Wei Wen murmured as he approached the towering structure.
He swiped his access card and walked in.
To qualify for the quasi-warrior assessment, he first needed senior student certification.
He had just finished the college entrance exam. This was the perfect time to upgrade his status.
Given his current strength, it should be a cakewalk.
Wei Wen, still wearing his intermediate student badge, stepped into the senior student training hall.
The room was filled with instructors and a dozen advanced trainees. His presence immediately drew attention.
"You're still an intermediate-level student," one instructor said, frowning. "You're not allowed in here unless you're taking the senior student assessment."
"I am," Wei Wen said, nodding.
The instructor raised an eyebrow. "Alright. Come with me."
He led Wei Wen to the corner of the hall, where a punch strength testing machine stood waiting.
"This is the only requirement. One test. Punch hard enough to qualify. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready," Wei Wen said, exhaling slowly.
He let his body relax, coiling his muscles like a spring.
Then—with explosive force—his right fist shot out like a cannonball, tearing through the air and smashing into the machine.