"Wei Wen, how did your practice of the Five Hearts to Heaven method go yesterday?" Jiang Nian asked, eager to get straight to the point as soon as he found Wei Wen.
With Wei Wen's level of comprehension, it wouldn't be difficult for him to cultivate his original gene. No matter how much he improved, his micro-level body skills alone would allow him to pass the combat assessment with ease.
Once he became a warrior, he would likely attract the attention of major forces, such as the Thunder Martial Arts School or the Underground Alliance. Jiang Nian's goal was clear: to recruit Wei Wen into the Extreme Martial Arts Gym before anyone else.
"I practiced the Five Hearts to Heaven method yesterday and successfully sensed the original gene energy," Wei Wen responded with a light smile. "As for my exact improvement, I'm not entirely sure, but I can definitely feel that my strength has increased significantly."
"Watch this!"
Wei Wen threw a punch into the air, generating a powerful gust of wind.
Jiang Nian, with his sharp eyesight, was astonished at the speed of the punch. He quickly realized that Wei Wen's strength had already surpassed his own.
Wei Wen had no intention of hiding his growing strength. After all, it was only a matter of time before people noticed. Revealing some of it now would even be to his advantage. However, his identity as a spiritual master would remain a secret. The emergence of any spiritual master always caused a major stir, given how rare they were—possibly even rarer than planetary-level warriors.
"Wei Wen, you've really been hiding your true strength," Jiang Nian said, his eyes lighting up with surprise. "Your power is now on par with mine, if not greater. And for your first time absorbing genetic energy, you've made an impressive leap in strength. Your genetic talent is outstanding."
"I knew you had a high level of comprehension, but I didn't expect you to be such an all-around genius!" he added with a laugh.
The extent to which one's strength improves after absorbing genetic energy for the first time often reflects their potential. An ordinary quasi-warrior might increase their punching strength by 300 kilograms. A more talented one could see an increase of around 600 kilograms, while an elite might experience an increase of 1,000 kilograms. True geniuses could improve by as much as 2,000 kilograms.
Although Wei Wen hadn't yet undergone a formal test, it was clear that his improvement far exceeded the level of a genius. He could easily be considered a peerless talent.
But deep down, Wei Wen knew that much of his success was due to Luo Feng's guidance. Without following in Luo Feng's footsteps, he wouldn't have grown this strong so quickly.
Still, as long as he kept quiet, no one would discover the truth. Jiang Nian certainly hadn't, and instead looked at Wei Wen as though he had stumbled upon a hidden treasure.
"Mastering micro-level body techniques at 18, absorbing genetic energy for the first time, and already reaching the level of an advanced warrior? What kind of genius are you?" Jiang Nian exclaimed, unable to hide his amazement.
Wei Wen simply smiled. Though the world was starting to see him as a genius, he knew that there were still greater challenges ahead, especially when it came to the power he hadn't yet revealed.
Jiang Nian was slightly taken aback by the implications of Wei Wen's talent. He recalled hearing from his superiors about the exceptional individuals who had previously joined the training camp.
Typically, within the Jiangnan Base City, the Extreme Martial Arts Gym only selects candidates for the "Basic Training Camp" two or three days a year. Generally, only one person is chosen for the "Elite Training Camp" every five years or so.
Given Wei Wen's level of genius, he could potentially qualify for both the basic and elite training camps—provided he received approval from the gym owner and senior management. After all, gaining entry into the elite training camp was a serious matter, with each spot being watched by countless eyes worldwide.
Even Zhou Zhengyong, the president of the Jiangnan Base City General Hall and a powerful God of War, lacked the authority to make such decisions without notifying headquarters.
"Let's head to the martial arts gym to assess your current strength. We'll also discuss your potential enrollment in the Extreme Martial Arts Gym," Jiang Nian suggested.
Though he had high expectations for Wei Wen, he hadn't anticipated that Wei Wen would surpass them to such an extent.
"Sounds good!" Wei Wen replied with a nod as he followed Jiang Nian to the Extreme Martial Arts Gym.
In reality, there was no need for Wei Wen to conceal his strength. If he displayed it openly, others would simply regard him as a peerless genius. That way, if he acted even more impressively in the future, no one would be surprised.
As they made their way to the Extreme Martial Arts Gym in Yi'an District, Jiang Nian added, "Because you're an exceptional talent, your assessment must be personally reviewed by headquarters. This test will serve as verification of your abilities."
With that, Jiang Nian pulled out his mobile phone and initiated a call to the headquarters.
Once connected, an image of an elderly man with white hair appeared on the screen.
"What can I do for you, Jiang Nian?" the old man said with a faint smile.
"Uncle Bai, we've discovered a genius warrior in Yi'an District," Jiang Nian replied excitedly. "First, during his quasi-martial artist assessment yesterday, Chief Instructor Wu Tong noted that he had mastered the subtlety of body techniques."
"I visited him today and confirmed that he has cultivated genetic power. His strength has far surpassed mine—he's at least at the advanced warrior level now."
"Given his high genetic talent and understanding, he's definitely a monster-level genius!"
"What?" The white-haired old man's eyes widened in disbelief, his breath catching. "How old is he?"
After a brief moment of silence, his voice came through the phone again, trembling with barely concealed excitement.
"The younger they are, the greater their potential. But conversely, if they're older, their potential rating diminishes," he explained.
"He's only 18 years old this year, which means he's undoubtedly a genius with extraordinary potential!" Jiang Nian replied quickly, eager to share the good news.
"18 years old?" The white-haired old man was once again taken aback. "You need to bring him to the Jiangnan Base City headquarters immediately."
"I'm going to find the president right now to witness this boy's strength test."
He continued, "If he agrees to join the martial arts gym ahead of time, we'll ensure he receives exceptional treatment!"
"Normally, a warrior who joins the Extreme Martial Arts Gym might only receive a villa and startup capital of 100 million Chinese coins. But for a genius like Wei Wen, in addition to a villa, he'll get at least hundreds of millions in startup capital!"
"Moreover, our Extreme Martial Arts Gym will also provide him with access to certain free training resources, which are worth hundreds of millions."
Typically, only those who pass the actual combat assessment and become warriors are eligible to join various factions. However, for a genius like Wei Wen, the situation is different. If his talent is discovered by the Thunder and Lightning Martial Arts School or various families within the underground alliance during the actual combat assessment, they will certainly make offers to recruit him.
That's why the white-haired old man insisted that the president take action. He wanted to secure Wei Wen's allegiance to the Extreme Martial Arts Gym as soon as possible. Given Wei Wen's extraordinary accomplishments at such a young age, he holds the potential to become a God of War in the future, which would undoubtedly attract the attention of Zhou Zhengyong, a powerful figure with God of War status.
"Okay, I'll inform the president immediately. I'll take him to headquarters right away," Jiang Nian replied, his excitement palpable. The more attention Wei Wen garnered, the greater the credit would be for Jiang Nian in discovering and recommending him, leading to significant benefits for himself.
"Wei Wen, I originally planned to assess your strength in Yi'an District first, but since you've heard the urgency of the situation, how about we head straight to headquarters?" Jiang Nian suggested cautiously.
"Sounds good!" Wei Wen smiled in response. Joining the Extreme Martial Arts Gym was already on his mind; after all, they were known for their generous support.
As they arrived at the Jiangnan Base City Extreme Martial Arts Headquarters Building, they entered the expansive martial arts training hall located on the 31st floor. The hall was painted a sleek silver, and in the center, a man in a white training uniform sat cross-legged on the floor, his bare feet resting on the cool surface.
"Old Bai, what brings you here in person?" The man in white turned his gaze toward the white-haired elder, his voice low yet powerful.
"President, Jiang Nian has recommended a genius to the headquarters..." The white-haired old man began, respectfully detailing Wei Wen's background and achievements to the imposing figure in white.
As the white-haired old man recounted the details, Zhou Zhengyong's expression began to shift, reflecting a mix of surprise and interest.