After the quasi-martial artist examination, Wei Wen returned home, eager to begin practicing the Five Hearts' Original Method. Although this method was an optimized version of the Five Hearts to Heaven Method, Wei Wen knew that his genetic talent didn't match Luo Feng's.
He couldn't help but regret his limitations, especially knowing that warriors with poor talent might take a year and a half just to sense the original energy of genes.
"It seems I can only rely on my brother Luo Feng!" Wei Wen thought to himself, feeling a mix of hope and apprehension.
As night fell, Luo Feng sat cross-legged, his feet resting atop each other with the soles facing upwards, his palms facing the sky. His breathing was so subtle that it seemed inaudible, allowing him to quiet his mind.
With impressive willpower and self-control, he soon calmed his thoughts completely and concentrated on sensing the original energy of the gene. For many, the initial stage of 'sensing' the original energy was the most challenging; one had to first perceive it before being able to absorb the energy from the universe.
A genius like Luo Feng could sense it on his very first day of practice. After about an hour and a half of focused effort, he suddenly opened his eyes, a look of surprise crossing his face. As he settled back into calmness, he couldn't help but think of Wei Wen.
"I wonder if Wei Wen has sensed the original energy of the gene?" Luo Feng mused. "His understanding and talent are quite good. He should be able to succeed—maybe even faster than I did."
If Luo Feng knew that Wei Wen was depending on him to successfully sense the energy, he might have felt a mix of pride and concern.
Suddenly, Wei Wen, who had been lying down in a state of despair, sat up abruptly, filled with disbelief. "What the hell?"
Despite initially struggling to sense the original energy of genes, he now found himself inexplicably connected to it. In a mysterious, almost surreal experience, Wei Wen felt a torrent of genetic energy flowing into his body through the absorption method of the Five Hearts' Original Method.
As the energy surged, his cells, which had been starved for 18 years, began to grow and transform as if experiencing a second growth spurt. His skin, muscles, and bones improved rapidly, and even the deeper cellular genes began to optimize. The essence of a genetic warrior's practice lay in the evolution of life, and with this influx of energy, Wei Wen felt his strength escalating at an extraordinary pace.
While Wei Wen's genetic talent might not have matched Luo Feng's, the advantages of the Five Hearts' Original Method and the feedback from his bond with Luo Feng led to unexpected results. In this instance, Wei Wen's absorption of the original energy turned out to be even more successful than Luo Feng's.
"According to this world, the human body has never consciously absorbed Qi and cosmic energy since birth; it has always remained in a state of hunger," Wei Wen thought to himself.
"This first time I absorbed cosmic energy is the most I've ever taken in, and it's the fastest my strength has improved!" He realized that the extent of strength improvement also indicated a person's talent.
Wei Wen could feel his entire body undergoing essential changes from the inside out. This was the most astonishing improvement he had experienced since childhood.
His bone density was increasing, the size of his cells was shrinking, and each cell was dividing into two. Muscle tissue began to optimize as well. As everything progressed, his strength underwent a profound transformation.
He understood that this initial practice was crucial, so he continued to train without stopping. "This is the first time I've consciously absorbed cosmic energy. If we exclude the influence of Luo Feng being a spiritual master, he likely increased his fist power by about 600 kilograms," Wei Wen thought, reflecting on his friend's progress.
"In contrast, the improvement I'm experiencing from this absorption of genetic energy alone exceeds 1,000 kilograms. If I include the awakening of my spiritual powers..."
Deep within Wei Wen's brain, where changes were currently undetectable, the continuous influx of genetic energy was also affecting his mental state.
With the stimulation from the genetic energy, transformations were occurring in the depths of his brain, distinct from his initial awakening. He could see the mental power ball in his sea of consciousness beginning to rotate and release mental energy like mist.
This change was subtle, and even Wei Wen, now aware of the original energy of the gene, did not fully recognize it. However, as the spiritual master gradually released his spiritual power, it would begin to spread throughout his body.
The physique that had already improved significantly from absorbing the original energy of genes was now undergoing another drastic change. Wei Wen could clearly feel that his warrior strength had increased yet again.
The reason for this was simple: the inherent spiritual power of spiritual masters was incredibly potent. However, a spiritual master with a weak body could not withstand this immense mental power, which is why it remained hidden in the sea of consciousness.
As physical fitness improved and reached a certain threshold, the mental power would gradually be released. In short, the stronger the body, the more mental power one could handle.
Typically, there exists a two-level difference between physical fitness and mental strength. Assuming Wei Wen now possessed a high-level warrior physique, his mental power would quickly ascend to an intermediate warrior level.
As his body grew stronger, more latent mental power would be gradually released, closing the gap between the two levels. The hidden mental power of a spiritual master was finite, though; eventually, all of it would be unearthed.
Thus, the potential of a spiritual master relied on the amount of spiritual power that resided in their sea of consciousness.
When the absorption of genetic energy and the release of mental power were complete, Wei Wen opened his eyes.
"Boom!"
He threw a punch that resonated through the air, a testament to the significant improvement in his strength.
"Although I don't know the exact figure, my punching power is at least around 6,000 kilograms—enough to rival a warrior's strength!" Wei Wen exclaimed, pleasantly surprised.
In his first attempt at absorbing genetic energy, Luo Feng, combined with his mental power release, had only managed an increase of about 2,000 kilograms in warrior strength. However, Wei Wen's increase was more than double that amount.
"Before my mental power is exhausted, a spiritual master's strength is typically two levels higher than that of a warrior, so I must now be classified as a mid-level warrior-level mental master." His eyes shone with excitement. "And I'm not just any mid-level warrior."
The drastic enhancement in his strength filled Wei Wen with joy. He closed his eyes to focus on his inner self.
First, he became aware of his sea of consciousness and the spiritual power residing within it. Where he had previously struggled to feel his potential, he could now sense it vividly—his mental power surging like a wild river, no longer constrained.
With a mere thought, Wei Wen levitated, his body rising effortlessly into the air, buoyed by his mental strength. This was the greatest advantage of being a spiritual master in the early stages—flight!
This unique capability allowed spiritual masters to achieve feats that genetic warriors found challenging. For instance, standing at a height afforded him a broader view, making it easier to spot monsters while reducing the risk of ambush.
Early the next morning, Jiang Nian was eager to find Wei Wen. He was particularly impressed by him for several reasons. Firstly, during the assessment for advanced students, Wei Wen had showcased strength rivaling that of junior warriors. Secondly, in his quasi-warrior evaluation, Wei Wen had demonstrated remarkable agility and body control.
Jiang Nian speculated that Wei Wen, with his evident talent and keen understanding, might successfully sense the genetic energy within a day. He even secretly hoped that Wei Wen would awaken as a spiritual master.
Regardless of whether Wei Wen became a spiritual master, his youth indicated tremendous potential. If he could discover and recommend a genius of this caliber, the benefits for him would be unimaginable.