189: Chapter 189 The Choice of Enhancing Mental Strength

"Fang Zhuo!"

Wang Jinhua walked over. "You're really something! Your combat strength amplification is already 237.6 times. I really didn't misjudge you."

"Just luck, just luck."

Fang Zhuo laughed.

It was quite rare to see Brother Wang gritting his teeth like this.

"Don't get cocky either. Keep it up. I hope when the Civilization Assessment comes, the two of us can fight side by side." Wang Jinhua reined in his usual frivolous manner.

"I've already mastered 'Jade Shatter'. Next, I'm going to go all out and push my combat strength amplification!"

"What?"

Takeuchi Reina exclaimed in surprise.

Jiang Chen also looked doubtful. 'Jade Shatter' was a Universe-class Secret Technique, and its cultivation difficulty was extremely high. Even with Director Song personally guiding him for half a month, he had barely crossed the threshold of entry by today.

To truly master it and perform it proficiently would require at least another eight to nine months of bitter cultivation!

Wang Jinhua had already mastered it?

"Your Mental Energy?"

Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen instantly closed in on Wang Jinhua, her beautiful eyes narrowing as she sized him up.

"It reached Rank 59 yesterday."

Wang Jinhua also looked a bit bewildered. "A month ago, my Mental Energy, which had always been at the same level as my Life Level, suddenly started to surge for some reason."

"It felt like something shattered in my mind, turning into the most refined and pure source power, constantly nourishing my Mental Energy."

Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen fell silent for a long moment before saying, "This... might be related to your Martial Aspect!"

"Did your Divine Ability not grow stronger either?"

"I didn't feel any change..."

"That's strange. But it's a good thing. With Rank 59 Mental Energy, mastering the ninth level of the Thunder Fire Blade and reaching Sky-reaching Perfection in Body Control within a year won't be a problem."

Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen glanced at Fang Zhuo, swept her gaze past Jiang Chen and Takeuchi Reina, and finally looked at Wang Jinhua.

Looking at it this way, maybe they really stood a fighting chance in the Civilization Assessment?

"Fang Zhuo, what Rank is your Mental Energy?"

Wang Jinhua asked with a smile.

Could he refuse to answer? Brother Wang was flexing and rubbing it in his face. As someone who had been defeated by him twice in a row—first at the Extraordinary level, then at the Flying Sky level—how could he still be so smug?

After complaining bitterly in his mind, Fang Zhuo said calmly, "Rank 55."

"Not bad."

Wang Jinhua nodded slightly. "Mastering the ninth level of the Thunder Fire Blade and reaching Sky-reaching Perfection in Body Control within two years is more than enough, but within one year, it's highly doubtful...!"

"Work hard. I hope the fate of our civilization will be in the hands of us two brothers when the time comes. I wouldn't feel at ease leaving it to Jiang Chen or Takeuchi Reina."

"Heh."

Takeuchi Reina snorted softly.

Jiang Chen merely raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

"Yeah, let's work hard together."

Fang Zhuo bumped fists with Wang Jinhua, but thought to himself, 'Brother Wang, actually, if the other person in the Flying Sky battle of the Civilization Assessment is you, I wouldn't really feel at ease either...'

After the Civilization Seed Exchange Group was established, especially after the special training began, among the three Flying Sky candidates, Fang Zhuo actually favored Jiang Chen more. For now, Jiang Chen's combat strength was the highest among the four, and his personality was also the most stable.

"Alright then, I'll head back to the group headquarters first and continue Body Tempering in the gravity chamber. Let's meet at the peak!"

Wang Jinhua laughed triumphantly. With a whoosh, he flew into the air, boarded a Starry Sky Group aircraft, and vanished from the Martial Arts Arena in an instant.

Fang Zhuo withdrew his gaze and focused his mind again.

Next, it was time to try the Secret Technique Jade Shatter Divine Annihilation.

This upgraded-and-returned Secret Technique came from some Civilization City. Compared to 'Jade Shatter', its effects were stronger and it lacked the fatal flaw.

It didn't require burning Mental Energy; instead, it consumed Mental Energy normally, which could be recovered after resting.

To successfully perform Jade Shatter Divine Annihilation... I need to divide my Mental Energy into wisps, a total of 64 fine threads. Using the 'secret runes' provided in the Secret Technique, I must attach these fine mental threads to my Physical Body, thereby stimulating the body's inner secrets and drastically increasing my physical attributes in a short time.

Once he began cultivating the Secret Technique Jade Shatter Divine Annihilation, Fang Zhuo frowned from time to time. There was no other reason; dividing his Mental Energy into wisps wasn't hard, and he accomplished it after just a few attempts.

But trying to simultaneously control the 64 divided fine mental threads... was extremely difficult.

"This is indeed much harder than 'Jade Shatter'. My Mental Energy is only at Rank 55. Forget about one year—even in two or three years, I might not be able to master it!"

Before he knew it, it was early morning. Fang Zhuo opened his eyes, feeling his head spin slightly. The artificial moon above Xinyue City seemed to split into three, blurry and unfocused.

Jiang Chen happened to pack up and stand up at this moment, walking over. "Are you cultivating the Secret Technique Jade Shatter?"

'No, it's a stronger, harder-to-perform version without flaws,' Fang Zhuo replied in his heart. Then, he smiled wryly and said, "Yeah, it's a bit too hard... My Mental Energy Rank is still a bit too low."

"Don't be discouraged."

Jiang Chen said, "You haven't really practiced it properly before. After all, 'Jade Shatter' is a Universe-class Secret Technique. However, you need to hurry up. If you don't master 'Jade Shatter', we won't stand a chance of defeating the Martial Artists of the Civilization Assessment."

"Yeah."

Fang Zhuo nodded, looking at Jiang Chen's departing back with some regret. Due to copyright restrictions, he couldn't teach Jade Shatter Divine Annihilation to Jiang Chen and the others.

The Federation's Secret Manuals all had unique detection programs that could instantly discover any Martial Artist who illicitly learned them.

This Secret Technique Jade Shatter Divine Annihilation, which came from Civilization City of an unknown power in the Universe, surely had even more sophisticated anti-theft measures.

He feared that the moment he taught the Secret Technique to Jiang Chen and the others, a world-destroying fist shadow would descend in the next instant, completely obliterating all seven life planets of the Blue Moon Federation...

Were there such powerful Martial Artists in the Universe?

Fang Zhuo shook his head and returned to his residence.

...

The next day.

Fang Zhuo still started in his cultivation room, using the thunder-fire source crystals to perform Body Tempering, and then honing his Body Control.

Only at noon did he head to the Bamboo Forest Martial Arts Dojo to cultivate the ninth level of the Thunder Fire Blade and the Secret Technique Jade Shatter Divine Annihilation.

When night fell.

Fang Zhuo exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

'No, if I keep grinding slowly like this, within a year, relying on the thunder-fire source crystals, I can indeed cultivate my Body Control to Sky-reaching Perfection, and mastering the ninth level of the Thunder Fire Blade Secret Manual won't be an issue.'

'But as for how many of these 130-odd thunder-fire source crystals will be left, that remains to be seen.'

'Furthermore, there's absolutely no way I can master the Secret Technique Jade Shatter Divine Annihilation!'

"I have to enhance my Mental Energy first!"

Fang Zhuo did not hesitate, but he needed to carefully consider how to enhance it.

"1. Temper the body with red jellyfish fluid."

"2. Go to the Wilderness Area for real combat. In actual combat, one's mind is highly tense, which can hone a Martial Artist in all aspects. As long as one doesn't die, there will be a significant improvement."

Of the two options, Option One would greatly waste the medicinal properties of the red jellyfish fluid.

Option Two carried considerable risk. After all, training in the Wilderness Area and engaging in life-and-death battles with King-level Exotic Beasts could lead to injury or death, because people die when they are killed.

"I only have 340 grams of red jellyfish fluid left. I need to use it sparingly and save it. After all, when I break through to Flying Sky and aim for Cosmic Martial Artist, I don't know what the situation will be like. I should prepare as much as possible."

"To the Wilderness Area it is! Cultivating to this day, with the System's returns, I've always relied on a massive amount of treasures to skyrocket my strength. Frankly, my actual combat experience is indeed far too lacking!"

"This time, I'll also treat it as actual combat training before the Civilization Assessment!"

Having made his decision, Fang Zhuo did not hesitate. He went straight to Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen to explain his plan, then returned home to bid farewell to his wife, child, and parents.

Immediately after, he boarded an aircraft and flew toward the Origin Star.