155: Chapter 155 The Era of Geniuses on Blue Star Begins

Twelve full-body Physique scanners were lined up in the testing center; they were pure white with half-open hatches, and the interiors were covered in dense, fine sensing light points.

The contestants entered in groups, one after another. The testing parameters covered: bone density, muscle fiber elasticity, nerve conduction speed, pain tolerance threshold, cell recovery rate, and more—a comprehensive evaluation of a person's potential ceiling and tolerance limit.

In less than half an hour, the testing for all seventy-two people was complete.

Cheng Jian walked to the front and swept his gaze across the room.

"The test data will take another half hour to be ready. I know you are all curious, so while we wait, I will explain the Intermediate and Advanced Cultivation Techniques so you can mentally prepare yourselves."

His tone was flat, yet the hearts of everyone below instantly tightened, and they even softened their breathing.

"These two sets of Cultivation Techniques were created by the Speaker by taking the Universal Basic Cultivation Technique and incorporating the essence of Physical Body cultivation from various top-tier regional races, such as the Tyrant Elephant Race's War-Blood Body Tempering Art and the Yanyue Race's Heavy-Body Body Refining Method. They were re-derived and created specifically for Geniuses."

"The Intermediate Cultivation Technique has three times the cultivation efficiency of the old version. The Advanced Cultivation Technique has over five times the efficiency of the old version."

A sharp intake of breath echoed through the room.

Three times? Five times? What kind of concept is this?

If others toil for a year, those practicing the Advanced Cultivation Technique only need a little over two months?

Before anyone could rejoice, Cheng Jian's tone turned cold: "But there is always a trade-off. The higher the efficiency, the greater the price. The pain of the Intermediate Cultivation Technique already far exceeds the tolerance limit of ordinary humans. When practiced to the extreme, every movement of the Advanced Cultivation Technique tears at the fascia throughout the entire body; an ordinary person wouldn't last a single breath before passing out from the pain."

He raised his hand and pointed to the facilities surrounding the testing center.

"See those silver-white cylindrical pods? Those are recovery pods. After training, lie inside, and you can repair most of your injuries in fifteen minutes."

"And those enclosed pods over there in the training area are high-low pressure alternating pods. They use air pressure differences to forcibly squeeze the body—high pressure for bone tempering, low pressure for blood tempering. With each compression and release, the tempering speed is directly doubled."

"The nerve electrical pulse array nearby will precisely stimulate every muscle fiber along your meridians, allowing you to maintain a state of maximum exertion throughout your training."

"There is also a specially formulated Blood-Burning Genetic Auxiliary Agent. It can burn excess energy in the body for a short time, strengthening your physical power to the limit. It pushes metabolic efficiency to the extreme. When used in conjunction with the recovery pods, it won't leave any hidden injuries, but the pain during the process will be multiplied several times over."

"These facilities are all prepared for you."

Cheng Jian's tone was plain and flat, without the slightest hint of intimidation, yet those below felt their scalps tingle and a chill run down their spines.

Just hearing the description was enough to imagine that bone-deep pain.

Xiao Xuan turned his head and asked Zhang Feng in a low voice: "What do you think?"

Zhang Feng grinned, but there was no hint of retreat in his eyes: "What else is there to think? We're already here, we can't just chicken out. Five times the efficiency—give it a shot, it's worth it."

In the crowd, Grandmaster Zhao Wuji looked calm, as if he hadn't heard those descriptions of pain at all.

He had practiced martial arts for half his life; the thing he feared least was hardship—he only feared having no path forward.

Lin Mo clenched his fists, his eyes devoid of fear, filled only with a near-stubborn desire.

Cheng Jian stood on the high platform with his hands behind his back, saying no more.

An invisible pressure slowly permeated the silence, pressing down on many people until their hearts pounded.

Some people's palms were sweating, while others subconsciously straightened their backs.

Half an hour later, Cheng Jian's terminal vibrated slightly.

That invisible pressure suddenly dissipated, and a few tense contestants even felt their legs go weak, almost unable to stand steady.

Everyone looked up, their eyes filled with tension.

"Those whose names I call, step forward."

Cheng Jian's voice was not loud, yet it fell clearly into everyone's ears.

"Xiao Xuan, Zhang Feng, Liu Hai... Grandmaster Zhao Wuji."

"You nine have met the standards for Physique and tolerance threshold, and may Cultivate the Advanced Cultivation Technique."

The nine stepped forward and stood in a row.

"Everyone else will practice the Intermediate Cultivation Technique. Some Basic Realm contestants may reapply for testing after achieving a Breakthrough to the Rhythm Realm."

"The Cultivation Techniques have been exclusively adapted based on everyone's test results and have all been sent to your terminals. Familiarize yourselves with the key movements right here. Do not teach each other; everyone's body structure is different, and copying someone else's movements will only injure yourself."

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask me at any time."

Everyone immediately picked up their terminals and opened their respective Cultivation Techniques.

After just two glances, many people gasped.

The movements of the Intermediate Cultivation Technique were still within the realm of understanding, but the angles of exertion and muscle engagement were refined to the extreme; every posture was at the limit of the human body.

But those who received the Advanced Cultivation Technique became more alarmed the more they read.

The movements depicted were distorted to the point of defying common sense; just looking at the diagrams made the body feel as if it were already aching.

Comparing this with the instructions for the training facilities nearby—three-hour cycles in the high-low pressure pods, deep electrical pulse stimulation twice a day, Blood-Burning Genetic Auxiliary Agent tempering once a day...

The nine exchanged glances, seeing gravity in each other's eyes, along with a hint of irrepressible excitement.

"Scared?" Zhang Feng asked in a hoarse voice, his throat feeling a bit tight.

"What's there to be scared of?" Xiao Xuan looked up, his eyes sharp. "We're already here."

Zhang Feng laughed and took a deep breath: "Alright! Then I'll go first!"

He walked to the center of the training ground and, following the first movement on his terminal, slowly set his stance.

His knees sank, his waist twisted to an extreme angle, and the muscles in his back tightened like a bowstring, combined with the body's Rhythm.

Just from the starting posture, cold sweat instantly seeped from Zhang Feng's forehead.

A tearing pain spread from his waist and abdomen to his spine, as if countless steel needles were stabbing into his muscles and bone joints.

He clenched his teeth, a repressed grunt escaping his throat.

"Hiss—"

A chorus of gasps echoed around him.

Just by looking at Zhang Feng's instantly pale face, they could feel that pain.

But no one mocked him; instead, their fighting spirit was stirred.

One after another, the contestants scattered, each finding their own spot and beginning to attempt the first movement.

For a time, grunts of pain rose and fell across the training ground, and sweat quickly soaked through their training uniforms, dripping onto the alloy floor.

No one called for a stop, and no one gave up.

Cheng Jian stood on the high platform, watching the young people below gritting their teeth and holding on, nodding slightly.

Having drive is a good thing.

It's just that...

His own body trembled almost imperceptibly, as the memory of his first time practicing the Advanced Cultivation Technique flashed through his mind—especially the sensation of using the Blood-Burning Genetic Auxiliary Agent.

That kind of pain—once you've tried it, you never forget it for the rest of your life.

He shook his head, suppressed his thoughts, and continued to observe the situation on the field.

The first day of the Genius training camp officially began amidst sweat and pain.

And the era of Geniuses for Blue Star humanity was thus kicked off.