"Hmm? Why does it seem like my strength has increased?"
After bidding farewell to Han Xin, Wang Xu returned to the training room to continue his practice. Soon, he noticed changes in his body; his strength had noticeably increased.
As a gene warrior, Wang Xu was well aware of the nuances of strength. After training for so long, he knew his body inside out. He had expected to feel weaker after his injury, but surprisingly, his strength had improved instead!
"Let's try the 'Wind-Cleaving Strike'!"
Suppressing his inner delight, Wang Xu felt that an increase in strength was nothing but beneficial. He promptly picked up a two-meter-long sword from the weapon rack in the training room to experiment.
The ancient martial art Wang Xu practiced was a style called "Nine Columns of Thunder Blade," which was categorized as a low-level ancient martial technique.
Wang Xu had discovered the "Nine Columns of Thunder Blade" tucked away in a dusty corner of the academy's martial arts hall. The elder in charge had even advised against choosing this low-level technique, pointing out that many had tried studying it but ultimately failed, wasting their time.
Wang Xu simply smiled and resolutely chose the "Nine Columns of Thunder Blade."
As its name suggests, "Nine Columns of Thunder Blade" consists of nine different blade techniques. The first column is "Wind-Cleaving Strike," and the second is "Blood Drop Strike." Wang Xu hadn't even examined the remaining seven columns; until now, he had barely grasped the peak of the first column and had no insight into the second.
"Whoosh!" With a swift slice, Wang Xu could distinctly feel the air vibrating, a subtle sound of wind being cut resonating through the room.
He could hardly contain his excitement; the fifty-kilogram sword felt weightless in his hands, as if it were merely a two-meter toy, with no heft at all! Even as the most ordinary of weapons, a casual swing produced a sound of slicing through the air, clearly indicating that his strength had increased significantly.
"Let's try 'Blood Drop Strike' again!" Wang Xu was eager; he had been practicing the second column for months but had made little progress. Today, however, it felt like a light had dawned, as if all obstacles had suddenly become manageable.
Wang Xu gripped the long sword, closed his eyes lightly, and soon his breathing deepened and thickened. In an instant, he lunged forward, twisting 180 degrees like a corkscrew, and the sword pierced the air!
"Whoosh!" A sharp sound echoed as the long sword impaled itself into the earthen wall of the training room.
The "Blood Drop Strike," like a drop of blood, surged forward relentlessly, piercing through all.
At that moment, Wang Xu experienced clarity, realizing something profound.
"So that's how it is! How could I have been so foolish earlier? Such a simple principle eluded me?" Wang Xu thought joyously, enthusiastically trying the "Blood Drop Strike" again.
"Wang Xu?" Suddenly, a clear voice rang out, causing Wang Xu to jerk his head towards the source.
Tang Yan?!
Wang Xu felt his heart race; despite having reached the third level in "Basic Physique," he couldn't maintain his composure in front of his crush.
"Wang Xu, thank you for what happened last time..." Tang Yan smiled warmly. Wang Xu was momentarily stunned before he relaxed.
"It was just a small matter. Are you practicing in the martial arts hall too? I've never seen you here before," he managed to say, gradually regaining his composure.
"I usually practice at my family's dojo and only come to the martial arts hall occasionally," Tang Yan replied, her gaze suddenly lighting up as she noticed the medal on Wang Xu's chest. "You're a one-star coach here?"
Tang Yan's family also had numerous one-star coaches—some even were two or three-star coaches—far surpassing Wang Xu. However, she was astonished that Wang Xu, at the same age and also a third-level gene warrior, had managed to become a one-star coach after passing the martial arts hall assessment; such cases were exceedingly rare.
"Just luck…" Wang Xu thought, a sense of pride swelling within him at being able to impress the girl he secretly admired.
"Hmph! Just a one-star coach, there are plenty of those on the streets!" A discordant voice cut through the moment, causing Wang Xu to squint in irritation.
Xu Yuan, ranking third in the gene academy's leaderboard, was a notorious spoiled rich kid. His third-level gene warrior power was built on family resources; any points earned from hunting insects were artificially inflated. Though his family was the famous Xu family in the safety zone, no students dared to provoke him.
Xu Yuan pursued Tang Yan with fervor, constantly by her side. This was common knowledge among the academy students; his intentions were clear—he wanted to leverage the Tang family's resources.
Today, seeing Tang Yan out and about was a rarity, and as he rushed over without a second thought, he was met with the sight of her conversing closely with Wang Xu, sparking a rage within him.
Wang Xu, an outstanding student in the academy, always overshadowed Xu Yuan when it came to strength and ranking, which had already stoked Xu Yuan's simmering resentment.
Later, during a competition at the academy, Xu Yuan was humiliated in front of the entire student body after losing to Wang Xu, deepening his hatred.
Now, seeing Wang Xu engaging with the girl he liked ignited a fierce anger, reflecting in Xu Yuan's venomous glare.
"A one-star coach? That's just a thousand Earth coins an hour—does that qualify as a coach?" Xu Yuan spat, completely unrestrained.
Around them, those who heard Xu Yuan's words frowned, but upon seeing who he was—a privileged scion of a prominent family—they merely shook their heads and remained silent.
"Xu Yuan! Shut your mouth!" Tang Yan said, displeasure etching her lovely features as she glared at him.
Hearing her rebuke only intensified Xu Yuan's animosity towards Wang Xu.
"Wang Xu, ignore him. I've hit a bottleneck in my martial arts training; since you're a coach, could you possibly guide me?" Tang Yan tried to change the subject, but Wang Xu waved his hand, signaling her not to bother.
"I have things to attend to today, so I'll take my leave. We can talk another day." After saying this expressionlessly, Wang Xu walked straight out of the martial arts hall.
Tang Yan stared blankly at his departing figure, a sigh escaping her lips.
"Hmph! Just a lowly commoner!" Xu Yuan scoffed, his eyes full of disdain at Wang Xu's retreating back.
...
"Strength! Strength! In the end, it's all about strength!"
At that moment, Wang Xu was seething inside, his fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his flesh, drawing blood—all of which he remained oblivious to.
In the face of Xu Yuan's provocation, Wang Xu could easily retaliate with his strength and leave Xu Yuan defeated, but he knew that such actions would only endanger his family!
Xu Yuan held significant sway; a single word from him could plunge Wang Xu's entire family into dire straits. Wang Xu would never provoke such calamity for fleeting satisfaction.
"As long as I can advance to 'Fourth-Level Elite Student' and earn the title of 'Elite' through assessment, I won't have to fear this wretched scoundrel anymore!" Wang Xu vowed angrily.
The nationwide armed martial arts craze had exploded; first to third-level gene warriors were commonplace and considered the most ordinary class. To gain true privileges, however, one had to advance to fourth-level and attain the title of 'Elite.'
Once he held the 'Elite' title, Wang Xu could be recognized by the government of the safety zone, becoming elite humanity, with his family granted access to the "Protected Zone."
The Protected Zone was a government-funded sanctuary for fourth-level elite gene warriors and their families.
In this area, the use of force was absolutely prohibited. Even a powerful gene warrior who entered and committed murder would surely face severe consequences!
There was once a sixth-level gene warrior, the "Bloodhand Maniac," who intruded into the Protected Zone and slaughtered an entire gene warrior's family, stirring up chaos in the safety zone. A "Supreme" from the safety zone immediately dealt with him, ending his life!
It could be said that no one had ever killed within the Protected Zone and survived.
Yet achieving the title of 'Elite' was no easy task. The chasm between third and fourth-level warriors was extensive, seeming only a single tier apart.
Wang Xu faced formidable challenges in crossing this divide—it was dauntingly difficult!
...
"Dad! Mom!"
Upon returning home, Wang Xu donned a casual demeanor, concealing his emotions.
"Xu'er is back! Haha, let's have some meat today to celebrate!" His usually stern father, Wang Zhenguo, looked particularly cheerful.
"Dad, is there something good happening today?" Wang Xu's eyes brightened; it was rare for his father to be so jovial. The last time he saw him this way was when Wang Xu had become a one-star coach, allowing him to earn money like an adult, leading to a celebratory drunken state.
"Your dad got a promotion and is now the supervisor at the factory. Look at how happy he is—he can hardly keep his mouth shut!" His mother, Lin Hui, said while busily preparing dinner.
The factory had changed from its previous state; private ownership was no longer allowed. Every factory was government-supported, making supervisor positions scarce. Though it might seem minor, a supervisor oversaw thousands of employees and held real power.
With his new role, Wang Zhenguo's salary and status naturally soared, how could that not bring him joy?
The family of three gathered around the table to enjoy dinner in a warm, harmonious atmosphere. A sense of happiness flowed through Wang Xu's heart, deepening his appreciation for his family and solidifying his determination to grow stronger.
Only by becoming stronger could he protect this family!
Only by becoming stronger would his parents no longer be bullied or beholden to others!
Dinner passed quickly, and after saying goodnight to his parents, Wang Xu returned to his room.
He closed the door and turned on the light, pulling out a chair to sit down and casually grabbed a book to review before bed. Suddenly, his gaze froze, drifting toward a picture frame across the room.
Inside the frame was an old photograph, its edges yellowed with age. It was clear it had been many years since it was taken, showcasing Wang Xu with his parents, alongside a young boy who was even smaller than him.