"Ninefold Thunder Blade," Wei Wen replied.
Zhou Zhengyong's expression stiffened for a moment. Exactly what he'd been afraid of.
"You used your free secret manual quota on that?"
Wei Wen nodded. "I got the first five stages of Ninefold Thunder Blade."
Zhou Zhengyong let out a long sigh. "If I'd known earlier, I would've given you some advice. That manual is not easy. I just hope your comprehension ability is good enough to break through quickly—ideally within a month."
"Do you think you can hit the first level? Maybe even the second?" Zhou Zhengyong asked, eyes serious.
He'd seen how quickly Wei Wen had mastered Microstep Movement Technique before the pre-warrior trial—an impressive leap in a short time. The kid clearly had extraordinary talent.
But Ninefold Thunder Blade was an entirely different beast. Among all the blade techniques, it was notorious for its brutal difficulty. Many warriors spent their whole careers just trying to enter the first level and still failed.
For Zhou Zhengyong, what mattered was whether Wei Wen could at least grasp the first level within a month. That would be the minimum qualification to have a shot at the Elite Training Camp.
Wei Wen, however, knew the truth: he wasn't born a genius. His real edge was the feedback system linked to Luo Feng. The stronger Luo Feng became, the more Wei Wen could leverage that growth.
"Honestly, I've tried practicing it, and the difficulty's manageable," Wei Wen said after thinking. "Getting to the first level in a month? That shouldn't be a problem."
He was confident for two reasons.
First, Luo Feng had also purchased Ninefold Thunder Blade and, based on prior patterns, would likely reach the first level in about a month. Thanks to the system's feedback, Wei Wen would probably hit the second level by then.
Second, Wei Wen wasn't working with the standard version. His copy of Ninefold Thunder Blade was optimized—free from flaws, corrected for ideal force output. That cut the difficulty drastically.
Even without sharing the optimized version with Luo Feng or relying on system feedback, Wei Wen believed he could break through the first level in just over a month. But if he did teach Luo Feng and boosted Luo Feng's progress, the system feedback might even accelerate his own cultivation more dramatically.
Frankly, if he really went all in, hitting level three in a month wouldn't even be unrealistic.
Zhou Zhengyong narrowed his eyes slightly at Wei Wen's confidence. "Good. I hope your potential matches your confidence."
He paused, then continued, "You'll be formally joining the headquarters training camp at the end of August. Have you thought about how you're going to improve in the meantime?"
Wei Wen's reply was deadpan. "Train hard."
Zhou Zhengyong cracked a faint smile but shook his head. "Training is crucial, but real battle experience matters just as much."
"You were accepted as a warrior through our Dojo of Limits' internal recommendation, skipping the official combat assessment. That saved you some trouble—but it also meant you missed an opportunity to test and temper your will."
Zhou's tone shifted. His gaze sharpened, and a faint pressure emanated from him, even through the 3D projection. It was subtle but unmistakable—like standing in front of a wild beast.
This was the aura of a warrior who had walked through a battlefield of corpses and blood. The kind of pressure only those forged in life-and-death combat carried.
Even though it was just a projection, Wei Wen instinctively tensed under it.
So this is why even Undying-level pressure in the Virtual Universe can crush Star Traveller elites without a fight, he thought. I really lack practical experience.
The truth hit him hard. Even with the system's help making him appear like a genius, he'd barely tasted real combat. He was, essentially, untested.
And once he joined the training camp, it wasn't just theory. He'd have to head into the wilderness, hunting monsters like everyone else.
Zhou Zhengyong kept speaking. "You've got talent, but you're still new to this. Compared to those who've been battle-hardened or raised by elite families, you'll struggle at first."
"That's why I'm planning to assign you to an experienced warrior team. You'll leave the base city and gain real combat experience."
Wei Wen nodded without hesitation. "No problem."
"The team returns the day after tomorrow. You and one other person will go with them to the Wilderness Zone for training."
"Wait. One other?" Wei Wen asked, surprised.
"Yes. You and Luo Feng."
Zhou Zhengyong's expression was calm. "Both of you have enough potential to join the basic training camp. With hard work—and a bit of luck—you might even make it to the Elite Training Camp."
Wei Wen smiled. The faster Luo Feng grew, the more power he could tap through feedback. If they both ended up in the Elite Camp, Zhou Zhengyong might be in for a surprise.
On the other side, Luo Feng had just received a call from Instructor Zhuge Tao. He'd been informed he'd be joining the headquarters training camp.
But he wasn't happy about it.
The main reason was simple: he didn't want to expose the fact that he was a Psychokinetic.
He'd been reading through posts on Limit Home, the official forum, and saw a consistent piece of advice—don't reveal your ability too early.
Once people found out he was a Psychokinetic, things would spiral out of control. His peaceful life would be over. The major organizations would come after him. Every single one would want to recruit him—or control him.
Psychokinetics weren't just rare. They were strategic weapons.
And while joining the Dojo of Limits had its perks, revealing his secret would paint a giant target on his back. He'd get elite training, sure—but also no more downtime, no more weekends with his family, and zero chance of laying low.
Still… if Wei Wen was entering the headquarters camp, Luo Feng didn't want to fall behind.
Zhuge Tao's hologram studied Luo Feng's expression. "You seem conflicted. Got questions?"
"Yes. Once I join… when can I come home again?"
"Training camp breaks are in January and February," Zhuge Tao replied. "Aside from that, if you meet graduation requirements early, you can leave anytime."
Luo Feng nodded slightly, relieved.
After ending the call, he focused on his blade practice.
He began training Ninefold Thunder Blade—but it wasn't going well.
"This secret technique really is tough," Luo Feng muttered. "I still can't generate even one burst of hidden force properly. How are the later levels even possible?"
He tried to analyze it, but couldn't find a breakthrough.
Eventually, he thought of Wei Wen. It was said he'd bought the same manual. Maybe he had already figured something out.
Luo Feng decided to pay him a visit—not just to ask for help, but to see what Wei Wen thought about the training camp.
If anyone could help crack this technique… it was Wei Wen.