After officially joining the Qinghe Martial Arts Club, Lin Feng felt a surge of anticipation and curiosity. The club was a vast complex—a tapestry of training halls, meditation gardens, weapon rooms, and even an ancient library. The atmosphere buzzed with the energy of dozens of dedicated martial artists, each pursuing their own path to strength.
As Lin Feng wandered the corridors, his system panel quietly shimmered at the edge of his consciousness, alert for opportunities.
Gathering Insights
He paused outside a training hall where junior members practiced basic stances and footwork. The system flashed:
[System Notification]
Nearby: Basic Footwork (Talent) – Absorption chance: 20%
Nearby: Endurance Training (Talent) – Absorption chance: 15%
He stepped in, joining the group for a few rounds. As he mimicked their movements, Lin Feng felt a subtle resonance. The system hummed:
Talent absorbed: Basic Footwork (Basic)
Agility +1
Moving on, he watched a group in the endurance room running laps and performing breathing exercises. He joined in, matching their pace, pushing himself harder. Sweat beaded on his brow, but his breathing steadied, and his muscles adapted.
Talent absorbed: Endurance Training (Basic)
Vitality +1
Copying Similar Talents
Later, Lin Feng wandered into the grip strength room, where students squeezed heavy stones and trained their hands. He noticed one student's technique was almost identical to his own Iron Grip, but with a subtle twist—a rotational grip that increased leverage.
The system flickered:
Talent detected: Rotational Grip (Basic) – Similar to Iron Grip
Absorption chance: 12%
Attempt absorption?
Lin Feng focused, syncing his movements with the student. After several attempts, the system chimed:
Talent absorbed: Rotational Grip (Basic)
Strength +1
He smiled, feeling his hands grow even stronger. But then, a new window appeared:
[System Notification: Talent Fusion Available]
Similar talents detected: Iron Grip (Basic) + Rotational Grip (Basic)
Would you like to merge these talents into a higher-level ability?
[Yes] [No]
Heart pounding, Lin Feng selected "Yes." The system whirred, lines of light merging in his mind.
Fusion in progress…
Congratulations! New talent acquired: Iron Cyclone Grip (Intermediate)
Effects: Greatly increases grip strength, leverage, and rotational force. Useful in martial arts, grappling, and weapon mastery.
Strength +2
The power in his hands surged, his muscles tingling with the new potential. Lin Feng flexed his fingers, imagining the possibilities.
The Library and the Polyglot Gift
Drawn by curiosity, Lin Feng entered the club's library—a quiet space lined with ancient scrolls and modern manuals. He skimmed texts in several languages, his Polyglot talent allowing him to comprehend even obscure martial treatises.
Language Proficiency increased: Japanese (Intermediate), Korean (Intermediate), Classical Chinese (Advanced)
Martial Knowledge +1
Reflection
As afternoon faded to evening, Lin Feng paused in the club's garden, reviewing his system panel:
[System Panel]
Strength: 16Agility: 11Vitality: 12Intelligence: 11Wisdom: 10Talents:Iron Cyclone Grip (Intermediate)Basic Footwork (Basic)Endurance Training (Basic)Danger Sense (Passive, Minor)Polyglot (Basic)Martial Knowledge: +1
Talent Fusion: New system feature unlocked! Continue collecting and merging similar talents for greater power.
Lin Feng grinned, excitement blooming in his chest. The club was not just a place to train—it was a treasure trove of opportunities. Each lesson, every challenge, brought him closer to mastery.
He rose, eager to see what tomorrow would bring. With his system evolving and his skills growing, Lin Feng was more certain than ever: this was just the beginning of his path to greatness.