With a mental strength of 3326, and the ability to channel latent powers, my innate bloodline has unlocked powers including telekinesis and mind control, though transforming into holy power triggers intense aftereffects, leaving my psychic strength temporarily depleted.
"What kind of bloodline do I have to possess such immense psychic power? Next time, I should ask Juliet if there's a way to identify it." The ache in my mind intensified, and in desperation, I activated my nameless martial art, straining to push every bit of qi through my body.
The governing channels from the Eight Extraordinary Meridians wind near the head, and when my qi reached the Yuzhen point, a sudden reverberation struck the back of my mind, as if my energy broke through some long-standing obstruction. This cool qi, cultivated from my nameless martial art card, brought immediate relief. As it surged through Baihui and faded, it reemerged at my brow. Suddenly, light poured forth, revealing a shimmering screen of colors. Through this ethereal lens, I saw myself: bones, meridians, organs, muscles—all previously concealed beneath my skin became startlingly clear.
Not only could I see the flow of qi that had passed through Baihui and reappeared between my brows, but it had transformed. Originally transparent, this qi had taken on a silvery hue after merging with my latent psychic strength, now coursing through my facial muscles with peculiar disregard for the natural flow of meridians.
As these threads of silvery energy seeped into my muscles, I sensed a subtle enhancement in muscle density and nerve sensitivity. The average muscle contains hundreds of fibers, yet only a small fraction are controlled by neural pathways. Athletes strengthen specific muscle groups and sharpen nerve responsiveness, empowering them to control more fibers. "If I could fully harness this method, the potential to maximize muscle output, combined with my tenfold strength card, would become a formidable ability."
Just as I immersed myself in my discovery, the boisterous voice of the bald instructor, Verrill, broke the silence. "Gather around, recruits! I'll assess who among you still has the right to be here!" Reluctantly, I left my bunk and joined the remaining trainees, who now numbered less than a hundred.
To my surprise, the Wolf King, Jack, and Jinpu emerged from the same barracks together, appearing as astonished by my survival as I was by theirs. The Wolf King, taken aback for a moment, let out a hearty laugh as he clapped my shoulder. "Didn't expect you to survive that ordeal, Wang! Seems I underestimated you! If you're planning on holding us accountable for leaving you behind, come to the tent tonight, and we'll talk."
I met his gaze coolly but harbored no resentment. In truth, I would have made the same choice had our positions been reversed. Friendship was a luxury none of us could afford; our bond was barely even a comradeship, teetering between tenuous trust and probable betrayal. I answered him icily, "I don't make a habit of visiting men's tents at night," and ended the exchange. Our small band of four regrouped, offering the faintest sense of reassurance despite our tense camaraderie.
As we gathered in the training yard, Verrill pointed to a long table piled with identical green cards. "Congratulations on surviving the first round. That was merely to weed out the weak. The second round, however, is even simpler. You'll learn to harness your true power—not the cheap tricks you picked up on Demon Isle, but your own inner strength. True power is rooted in the fundamental flow of spirit energy, and it's up to your own wits and grit to develop it further."
"Come get your spirit training cards!" Obeying his command, I retrieved a card alongside Jinpu, Jack, and the Wolf King. Verrill's roar rang out again. "Return to your barracks! You have three days to show results. Let me be clear: the pass rate for this test has never exceeded fifteen percent. Prove yourselves, or you're out!" With that, Verrill dismissed us.
Jinpu caught my eye. "Let's regroup at Wolf King's barracks to discuss our next steps." I nodded in agreement, glancing down at the card in my hand.
Spirit Training Card (Level 1, Special): This one-time-use card creates a space where time flows ten times faster, enabling the user to accelerate spirit training within its field for a full three days.