"Uh…" Luo Feng's lips twitched slightly.
He couldn't believe it—his secret feelings for Xu Xin weren't exactly secret anymore. Even Wei Wen had caught on.
Then again, Wei Wen was a Transmigrator. That sort of insight came with the territory.
Still, Luo Feng wasn't blind. He knew there was a gap between him and Xu Xin. He didn't know everything about her background, but he knew enough to hesitate. Add in the weight of his family situation, and he had never dared to pursue her outright. The affection had remained buried, unspoken.
But he was still human—still a young man with hopes and ambition.
"Everything I dreamed of… maybe it's not out of reach after all," Luo Feng muttered, eyes fixed on the bright lights of the residential sector where warriors lived.
He'd always been on his own. His family wasn't rich. He had no powerful backers. But now? He had his strength, his talent, and his comprehension.
And with that, he could change not just his fate—but his entire family's.
"Push forward, Luo Feng," Wei Wen said, smiling.
If Luo Feng's determination grew, Wei Wen's path would also shine brighter. He needed Luo Feng to believe the dream was real.
Over the next two days, both of them focused entirely on training, quietly waiting for the elite warrior squad Zhou Zhengyong promised—one that would escort them into the Wilderness Zone for their practical combat training.
Luo Feng split his time between cultivating his spiritual force—his psychic energy—and studying the Thunder God Blade Technique, also known as the Ninefold Thunder Blade. It was a high-level combat technique that amplified internal force through layered strikes.
Wei Wen followed suit, meditating, training, and analyzing the same technique, and also practicing knife control methods to refine his mental power amplitude.
Two days passed.
Wei Wen barely left his room. His cultivation was mostly supported through Luo Feng's own progress.
And then, it clicked.
[Your companion Luo Feng is comprehending the optimized version of the Ninefold Thunder Blade. Your understanding of the same technique has advanced. Congratulations—you've mastered the First Stage of the Ninefold Thunder Blade.]
The feedback loop was doing its job.
Luo Feng hadn't fully grasped the First Stage yet—but Wei Wen had already broken through.
A sudden moment of clarity hit him.
He slashed out with his combat blade. The first strike pushed out 70% of his body's strength. But instead of exhausting him, it rebounded—allowing a second strike, also at 70% force, to follow instantly.
Whoosh!
Two consecutive surges of internal force rippled down his arm and into the blade. The Bloodshadow Combat Bladeflared like a bolt of light, slicing the air with more speed and precision than ever before.
"So this is it… I can now release additional bursts of internal energy, not just through my blade, but also my legs, my core… speed, power, defense—they all go up."
The First Stage of the Ninefold Thunder Blade amplified his output by 1.4 times. His combat potential had taken a real step forward.
Later, in front of the towering deep-blue skyscraper that housed the Limit Dojo's Jiangnan Base City HQ, two figures appeared—Wei Wen and Luo Feng.
Zhou Zhengyong had contacted them. The team was ready.
Well—team wasn't quite the right word. It was more like… a single powerhouse assigned to guide them personally.
A staff member at the reception greeted them. "President Zhou is cultivating on the 31st floor. He's expecting you."
"Thanks," both said, nodding.
They followed him into a private elevator reserved only for special-status members—no stops on the way up. Other warriors in the lobby noticed them and raised eyebrows. After all, only those destined for the Basic Training Camp or Elite Training Camp ever got this treatment.
Reaching the 31st floor, the elevator opened directly into a vast training hall.
"Wei Wen, Luo Feng," said Zhou Zhengyong, already waiting. "Let me introduce someone to you—this is Lu Gang, a War God of our Jiangnan Base City."
"He'll be responsible for your next training phase in the Wilderness Zone. He'll also make sure you stay alive."
Zhou added with a slight smile, "And Lu Gang is also a master of the Thunder God Blade Technique. Since both of you purchased the manual, you can learn directly from him."
Lu Gang.
Wei Wen recognized the name. He was one of the well-known War Gods in the original timeline—the first one to die during the Rat Tide.
Even so, a War God was no pushover. Lu Gang had hunted Lord-Class monsters. That was top-tier strength. He deserved respect.
Wei Wen and Luo Feng shared a glance.
The version of the Thunder God Blade they were cultivating—an optimized one Wei Wen had crafted using future knowledge—wasn't something even Lu Gang could fully teach.
But they still bowed respectfully.
"It's an honor, Senior Lu. We'll rely on your guidance."
The truth was, despite his powerful mental force as a Psyker, Wei Wen wasn't yet at the War God level.
Lu Gang, however, was the real deal—someone who operated alone in the most dangerous regions. He usually refused to lead warrior squads, since one weak member could drag everyone down. And now he was responsible for two rookies?
When Zhou first asked him, he was reluctant. Geniuses were often arrogant and impulsive. Babysitting them was a thankless job.
But he owed Zhou a favor.
Still, from what he'd seen so far, both Luo Feng and Wei Wen were respectful and sharp. That earned a mental note of approval from Lu Gang.
Zhou clapped Lu Gang's shoulder. "Old Lu, I'm entrusting them to you."
"No problem," Lu Gang nodded. "President Zhou said you two are rare talents. I'll look after you."
"But listen closely—I'll throw you into real battles. I won't hold your hands."
"You'll have to earn your strength. I'll step in when it matters, but don't expect me to coddle you."
"We understand," Wei Wen and Luo Feng said in unison.
Lu Gang glanced at his watch. "Time's tight. Let's gear up and move out."
Then his eyes narrowed. "Hold on—you're not wearing combat uniforms. Haven't bought weapons either?"
They nodded sheepishly.
Lu Gang snorted. "You're heading into the Wilderness Zone—you need equipment. I can buy gear through the War God Palace at one-third the standard price. Want me to handle it?"
One-third retail.
Wei Wen and Luo Feng's eyes lit up.
Wei Wen had a billion in starter funds. With Lu Gang's discount, he could buy a full War God-level combat suit, shield, throwing knives, and a primary weapon—worth 3 billion at retail.
Luo Feng only had 20 million, but that was enough for a high-quality Advanced Warlord set.
As they were placing their orders, Zhou Zhengyong suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right. You both started learning the Thunder God Blade Technique a couple days ago. How's your progress?"
He didn't expect anything big—just a routine question.
But what if they had succeeded?
He didn't know it yet, but both of them were already far ahead of expectations.