184: Chapter 184 Zhao Nianzhen: Put some pressure on Fang Zhuo

As Fang Zhuo thought about it, he suddenly slapped his forehead and muttered to himself, "Right, I should check my current Mental Energy Rank!"

Over the past few days, his mind had been completely immersed in tempering his Physical Body. The leap in his Life Level had left him enraptured, causing him to temporarily forget about his Martial Aspect meditation.

He needed to confirm his Mental Energy Rank.

This was crucial. A Martial Artist's Mental Energy Rank determined how quickly they could cultivate Secret Manuals and Secret Techniques, essentially acting as their Comprehension Ability stat.

Fang Zhuo calmed his mind, focusing his attention using his Visualization Method.

Within his consciousness space, somewhere in the boundless Universe, a fiery red planetary sphere constantly rotated, emitting a scorching heat that seemed ready to incinerate everything!

[Aspect Host: Fang Zhuo]

[Life Level: Rank 59 (Flying Martial Artist)]

[Mental Energy: Rank 55]

[Body Control: Heaven-Reaching Minor Achievement (Combat Power Amplification: 24x)]

[Thunder Fire Blade: Seventh Stage (Combat Power Amplification: 5.8x)]

[Martial Aspect: Scarlet Flame (Superior)]

[Divine Ability One: Purification]

[Divine Ability Two: Devour]

[Divine Ability Three: Flame]

"Rank 55...?"

Fang Zhuo processed the information transmitted back by his Martial Aspect and muttered to himself. He couldn't say he was disappointed, but he wasn't particularly satisfied either.

It could only be described as within expectations.

This was already foreseeable from the fact that even after his Breakthrough to a Flying Martial Artist, his Mental Energy had still remained at Rank 49.

For his Life Level to leap rapidly to Rank 59 and his Mental Energy to reach Rank 55, most of the credit probably went to the red jellyfish fluid.

According to Chairman Xiao, the red jellyfish fluid could temper both the Physical Body and Mental Energy simultaneously. At first, Fang Zhuo had thought the effects on both would be equal, but after cultivating, it seemed to favor physical strengthening.

There was tempering of his Mental Energy as well, but the effect was not as good as that on his Physical Body.

By the window of the cultivation room, Fang Zhuo paced back and forth as he gazed out at the urban area of Starry Sky Base City.

Rank 55 Mental Energy might not be incredibly high, but it was definitely not low!

Old Man Zhang from the High-Civilization Gravity Chamber had mentioned that many Flying Martial Artists whose Life Levels had reached Ranks 52 or 53 had not even been able to raise their Mental Energy to Rank 50.

Meanwhile, some Martial Artists at the Peak of the Flying Sky realm, whose Life Levels had reached Rank 59, only managed to surpass Rank 55 in Mental Energy after a decade or decades of bitter cultivation.

Even someone like Minister Chu Jiang, the former big leader of his department and the number one Flying Martial Artist of Blue Moon, only had Rank 56 Mental Energy.

Moving forward, should he first find a way to raise his Mental Energy to the Peak of Rank 59, or should he focus entirely on cultivating Secret Manuals, Secret Techniques, and Body Control?

This was a question worth pondering deeply.

Mental Energy and Comprehension Ability were strongly correlated. If he could raise his Mental Energy to Rank 59 relatively quickly, it would definitely benefit his subsequent cultivation to increase his combat power.

However, raising Mental Energy was extremely difficult, especially in the Blue Moon Federation, where all aspects of martial arts revolved around the Physical Body.

If he wanted to raise his Mental Energy, he would either have to continue using the red jellyfish fluid to temper his Physical Body, thereby raising his Mental Energy... but was it worth it?

Or should he try fighting in the Wilderness Area, using the pressure of real combat to temper his Mental Energy?

Thinking of this, Fang Zhuo felt a slight stir of interest.

However, after careful consideration, he temporarily abandoned the idea.

He would cultivate his Secret Manuals, Secret Techniques, and Body Control first. He would only consider raising his Mental Energy once cultivation in these three areas hit a Bottleneck due to the limitations of his Mental Energy!

...

Inside the Bamboo Forest Martial Arts Dojo.

On this day, the sky was somewhat overcast.

At the tea table by the bamboo forest, the seat of honor had changed from Chairman Song Shou to Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen. She had a petite build, and even while seated, she was more than a head shorter than the burly Minister Chu Jiang opposite her.

"Where is Fang Zhuo?"

Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen raised an eyebrow at Minister Chu Jiang, her tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.

During the special training period, he had vanished. He had claimed he could quickly condense a Medium Life Core to fight for a spot to represent them and contribute to the Civilization Assessment.

Could it be that he was actually just after her thunder-fire source crystals?

"He spoke with Director Song. He wanted to return to our group headquarters to use the High-Civilization Gravity Chamber for Body Tempering," Minister Chu Jiang replied respectfully.

"I see... Has he made a Breakthrough to Flying Sky yet?"

Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen asked again.

Chairman Song Shou had left in a hurry today, busy with his own cultivation, and hadn't told her anything.

Minister Chu Jiang smiled. "He already made the Breakthrough half a month ago."

"Oh?"

Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen's brow finally unfurled, and she asked with some surprise, "Is it truly a Medium Life Core? Did Director Song have him fly to test it?"

No, it's a High-Level Life Core!

Minister Chu Jiang replied inwardly with a bit of exasperation, but on the outside, he simply said, "Yes."

He hadn't forgotten Chairman Song Shou's instructions.

"His physical talent is indeed high. By the way, when he left, had he initiated into the Secret Technique Jade Shatter?" Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen's expression softened slightly.

"I am not sure... He should have initiated into it, otherwise Director Song wouldn't have let him leave,"

Minister Chu Jiang said hesitantly.

Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen frowned again and waved Wang Jinhua over.

"Director Zhao," Wang Jinhua said with a slight bow.

"When Fang Zhuo left, had he initiated into the Secret Technique Jade Shatter?" Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen asked again.

"Replying to Director Zhao, no. He told Director Song that he wanted to first raise his Life Level and Mental Energy Rank, so he returned to the group headquarters to cultivate in the gravity chamber."

"So that's how it is. Once he returns, find an opportunity to spar with him and give him some pressure."

Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen felt that Fang Zhuo was acting a bit too presumptuously on his own.

Raising one's Life Level and Mental Energy Rank was not something that could be done overnight. It required day and night of cultivation.

How could the benefits of returning to use the gravity chamber at this time compare to first initiating into Jade Shatter and eventually mastering it before the Civilization Assessment?

She didn't know how Brother Song had agreed to let Fang Zhuo go back.

Perhaps he really didn't expect Fang Zhuo to fight during the Civilization Assessment, but was instead treating Fang Zhuo as a backup plan in case the Civilization Assessment failed?

"Understood, Director Zhao. I had exactly the same intention," Wang Jinhua said with a smile.

When Fang Zhuo had been late for the special training earlier, Wang Jinhua had wanted to take the opportunity to make a fuss and avenge his 'grudge' from the Ocean Gathering. However, due to Chairman Song Shou's interruption, it had ultimately come to nothing.

*Buzz, buzz—*

At this moment, a small flying vehicle slowly hovered over the bamboo forest bridge.

Fang Zhuo flew out of the opened hatch.

Just in time!

Wang Jinhua immediately went up to greet him with a smile.

"Fang Zhuo, since you've cultivated for so long, how about we cross hands?"

"Hmm?"

What did Brother Wang mean by this? He was trying hard to suppress a smile... and his eyes were provocative. He wanted to reclaim the Face he had lost at the Ocean Gathering...

But as a 'veteran' Flying Martial Artist who had been promoted for a year, bullying a newcomer who had just made a Breakthrough less than a month ago...

Isn't that a bit too shameless... Fang Zhuo grumbled inwardly, then said with a straight Face, "Brother Wang, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Wang Jinhua was, after all, a benefactor in his life, so he decided to give him a chance.

"There's nothing inappropriate about it."

Wang Jinhua rolled up his sleeves as he spoke. "Both of us have not long made our Breakthroughs to Flying Sky. Among Flying Martial Artists, we are both considered newcomers. Come, let's spar."

Fine... I already gave you a chance, Brother Wang. Since you insist, don't blame me if you lose Face in a bit.

Fang Zhuo chuckled inwardly, intentionally putting on a reluctant expression. "Alright then."