“Hmm.” Luo Feng nodded excitedly.

At the side of the neural response testing machine, the chief instructor Wu Tong smiled and said, “Alright, next, Bai Yang.”

Luo Feng walked over to Yang Wu, who had a look of surprise on his face and whispered, “Crazy, congratulations! You’re now a prospective martial artist. As long as you pass the martial arts practical assessment, you’ll officially become a martial artist!” Luo Feng also whispered, “Yang Ge, you must have passed the neural response test without a hitch. We’ll take the practical assessment together!”

“Yeah.” Yang Wu was also eagerly looking forward to it.

Soon, Luo Feng and Yang Wu focused their attention on the individuals currently being assessed.

Before long, two more people were tested, one passed and one failed.

“Last one, Yang Wu!” Chief Instructor Wu Tong shouted.

Yang Wu took a deep breath. He had waited so long for this day, and he had always been stuck at the speed test. Now, he finally had the qualification to undergo the neural response test at the Extreme Club.

“Good luck.” Luo Feng encouraged him.

“Don’t worry.”

Yang Wu strode directly into the red circle. As the chief instructor Wu Tong pressed the start button, the neural response testing machine’s barrel began to spin. It quickly reached a very high speed, and dozens of rubber bullets shot out from the barrel, covering the red circle.

Yang Wu swiftly moved, dodging in a simple manner within a one-step range back and forth, left and right.

“Hmm?” Luo Feng observed Yang Ge’s dodging technique, secretly surprised. “Yang Ge’s movements seem a bit stiff. He’s not as agile as I am, but his dodging efficiency seems very high. Each time he dodges, the movements are minimal. He isn’t fully utilizing the three-point-six-meter diameter of the red circle; he’s only moving within a one-step range.”

Yang Wu’s movements were small, but his dodging efficiency was high.

“This kind of movement style will indeed be useful in actual combat. However, it requires extremely precise control. Otherwise, a slight miscalculation could lead to a monster’s claw tearing apart the martial artist's body!” Luo Feng secretly evaluated. At least, from Luo Feng's perspective, this style was efficient but also very dangerous.

It was like dancing on the edge of a blade.

“Woo～～” Soon, a minute passed, and the neural response testing machine’s barrel stopped spinning.

“60 seconds, hit 52 times, did not touch the red light, qualified. Passed!” Chief Instructor Wu Tong announced.

Yang Wu inside the red circle clenched his fists in excitement, his arms bulging with veins, and tears almost welled up in his eyes. He had waited far too long for this day. Finally, he realized his dream; only one step remained before he could achieve the legendary title of martial artist.

“Yang Wu.” Chief Instructor Wu Tong frowned and said, “The way you dodge attacks is classified as ‘subtle’ level dodging technique. In a life-and-death struggle with monsters, using small body movements to let the monster’s attacks barely miss is an effective strategy! Since the range of motion is small, you can perform more evasions in the same time frame, making it extremely efficient.”

“However, this style of dodging is extremely difficult. If there’s even the slightest error, your calculation that a monster's claw is two centimeters away from your body may be wrong. A miscalculation… could cause the monster’s claw to graze your body, leading to severe injury or death! In a life-and-death battle with monsters, any mistake could be fatal. Therefore—”

“I advise you, in future battles with monsters, try to dodge a bit further. Give yourself some leeway.” Chief Instructor Wu Tong said solemnly, “Given your current strength, it’s best to focus on training basic dodging techniques. It will yield better results.”

Yang Wu was taken aback, then nodded earnestly, “Yes, Chief Instructor.”

“Yang Wu, remember the chief instructor's words. In the path of martial arts, it is crucial to avoid being greedy for success. The subtle-level dodging technique is powerful, but if you lack the strength to execute such techniques and forcefully try to use them, it would only make you a laughingstock,” Instructor Jiang Nian earnestly advised.

Chief Instructor Wu Tong smiled, “Alright, this time, three people have qualified in the prospective martial artist assessment: Luo Feng, Bai Yang, and Yang Wu.”

Luo Feng, Yang Wu, and Bai Yang all had suppressed joy in their eyes.

If it weren’t for the group of martial arts seniors around, they might have already shouted in excitement.

“Everyone, the next steps involve signing the practical assessment contracts and other matters. Please help with that.” As he spoke, Chief Instructor Wu Tong looked at a silver-haired man in a black robe who had been standing at the edge and smiled, “Captain, sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s head out.”

Captain?

Luo Feng and the others were stunned. Chief Instructor Wu Tong was the top authority of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall in Yangzhou City, a highly respected figure. If he addressed this silver-haired man as ‘Captain,’ what was this man's status?

The silver-haired man in the black robe glanced at Luo Feng and the others, and for a moment, Luo Feng felt as if he was staring into an endless starry sky. He was instantly entranced, but then suddenly jolted awake. “What just happened?” Luo Feng noticed that Yang Wu and Bai Yang beside him had also become dazed.

“How frightening. Just a gaze made us completely lose focus.” Luo Feng was shocked in his heart.

This strength was terrifying.

If they were to fight, even without engaging in combat, just one glance could leave him disoriented, and by the time he regained his senses, he might already have been stabbed through the heart by the opponent.

The silver-haired man in the black robe smiled slightly, surprised, and looked at Luo Feng.

“Little guy, not bad. Keep up the good work.” The silver-haired man smiled at Luo Feng.

“Ah, impressive willpower too, tsk tsk.” Chief Instructor Wu Tong also nodded in satisfaction.

Then, Chief Instructor Wu Tong and the silver-haired man left.

“What just happened?”

“What happened to me?”

Yang Wu and Bai Yang finally woke up, looking at each other, recalling what had just occurred, and they broke into a cold sweat. No matter whether it was Yang Wu, Bai Yang, or Luo Feng… that silver-haired man in the black robe was indeed the most formidable figure they had encountered in their growth.

“That silver-haired man in the black robe watched our tests the entire time. Yet from the beginning until just now, I didn’t even notice his presence.” Luo Feng thought, filled with awe. “He made no sound, as if he didn’t exist in this space. It’s incredible. No, wait…”

Luo Feng tried to recall the appearance of the silver-haired man but was shocked to discover—

He could only remember those eyes that seemed to pull him in, but couldn’t recall the man’s face at all.

“You three, come here.”

Instructor Jiang Nian and a group of martial artists smiled as they looked at the three, “Let’s head to the training hall.”

From the neural response testing room, they entered a spacious training hall.

“These are three martial arts practical assessment application contracts.” A plump elder took three contracts from the corner of the training hall, “The martial arts practical assessment involves life-and-death battles with monsters! If you are killed in the process, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall bears no responsibility! However, the death rate in the practical assessment is quite low.”

Luo Feng, Yang Wu, and Bai Yang exchanged glances and took the contracts, flipping through the contents.

“The death rate is low, but the disability rate is not.” A bald, muscular man said solemnly, “The martial arts practical assessment involves life-and-death struggles with monsters! Of course, this is the most basic form of combat. When you actually go out to hunt monsters in dangerous areas in the future, the dangers are far greater than this practical assessment. If you can’t even pass this stage, you aren’t qualified to be a martial artist.”

Luo Feng, Yang Wu, and Bai Yang looked at each other.

The contract was straightforward, mainly stating that if death or disability occurred during the practical assessment, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall would not be responsible.

The three didn’t hesitate and immediately picked up the pens nearby to sign their names.

“Hmm.”

Instructor Jiang Nian smiled, “Alright, today is July 1st. The practical assessment will be in a month. You have to prepare well during this month. Oh.” As he spoke, Instructor Jiang Nian walked over to a nearby keyboard and quickly pressed some keys. Soon, a transparent, giant screen emerged on the wall of the training hall, displaying an article.

Titled—“Gene Origin Energy Cultivation Method.”

“Hmm?” Luo Feng held his breath.

Martial artists are strong because of the Gene Origin Energy!

“Back in the great cataclysm era, humans were infected by the RR virus and developed antibodies, causing their genes to naturally change and optimize.” Instructor Jiang Nian smiled, “When the genes are optimized to a certain extent, they can absorb the energy from the universe and integrate it into every cell! During this process, genes are optimized, and bones, cells, blood, organs, skin, and so on will continuously evolve and improve!”

“Your bones can become ten or even a hundred times harder than diamond, and your organs can allow you to hold your breath underwater for half an hour or even longer!”

"All of this relies on you absorbing the energy of the universe, integrating it into every cell of your body, and turning it into your own energy. This is what we call—genetic primordial energy!"

Instructor Jiang Nian pointed to the article on the screen: "This is the cultivation method for genetic primordial energy—the Five Hearts to Heaven cultivation method! It is the only method for cultivating genetic primordial energy on the entire Earth."

Luo Feng immediately read the article carefully.

Genetic primordial energy is the reliance for humans to optimize their genes and evolve!

"So that's how it is," Luo Feng understood immediately after a careful look.

Ordinary people cannot cultivate it because their gene optimization level is not sufficient. Generally, one must reach a punching power of 900 kilograms, a speed of 25 meters per second, and a nerve reaction speed that meets the standard for qualified martial artists. When these criteria are met, the gene optimization level is usually at the qualified line. About ninety percent of qualified martial artists can start cultivating genetic primordial energy!

"You can start attempting to cultivate genetic primordial energy this month," Instructor Jiang Nian said with a smile, "as for the most precious 'guidance technique,' you can only obtain it after becoming a martial artist and joining my Extreme Martial Arts School or the military, etc."

There is only one method in the world for cultivating genetic primordial energy.

However, there are millions of guidance techniques worldwide. Cultivating different guidance techniques can lead to vastly different speeds of genetic primordial energy cultivation—sometimes differing by dozens of times. The guidance technique is the most precious resource for various factions.