"This is a Starry Sky Giant Beast Type II gene enhancement Potion. It’s an essence extracted from the Life Core of a Planet-level Starry Sky Giant Beast. Its purpose is to fundamentally improve your physical aptitude."
"It works in two main ways."
"First, it will improve your body’s efficiency at absorbing, utilizing, and converting external Spiritual Energy."
"Second, it will reshape your nerves and bones, and alter your cellular structure."
"To put it simply, after using this Potion, your aptitude will undergo a quantum leap. In the future, the rate at which your life force index progresses will be faster than it is now. At the same time, with an equivalent life force index, your explosive power, speed, endurance, and self-healing ability will all be a cut above other Martial Artists of the same level."
"My personal guidance this time is to help you safely get through the Potion’s berserk phase and guide its power so you can absorb it completely. This process will take about five days. In other words, you’ll probably miss the upcoming veteran tournament."
"Are you ready?"
Hearing this, a trace of excitement flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes.
’An improvement to my aptitude!’
He nodded eagerly without a moment’s hesitation and replied with solemn conviction, "I’m ready!"
Zhou Xiong gave a slight nod and handed the Potion to him.
"Take it, then sit down with your legs crossed."
Without a hint of hesitation, Qin Feng twisted open the container and downed the Potion—which looked as if it held an entire starry sky—in a single gulp.
He then followed Zhou Xiong’s instructions and sat down cross-legged.
The moment the Potion entered his stomach, an unimaginable and excruciating pain swept through his entire body, like a flood bursting through a dam.
It felt as if every pore was being scorched by fire and pierced with steel needles. His consciousness blurred instantly, and he nearly blacked out from the pain.
Just then, a massive hand, as large as a fan, pressed down on the crown of his head.
A gentle yet immense power flowed into his body, anchoring the last vestiges of his consciousness.
Zhou Xiong’s palm began to trace a slow, mystical path across Qin Feng’s body.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Zhou Xiong murmured in faint surprise.
"You’ve been treated with the Ten-Complete Hand?"
Qin Feng, still enduring the excruciating pain, struggled to reply, "Yes... Before... I inhaled toxic miasma from a Subspace fissure... It left lasting damage... A while back, I was treated at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall... by a Mr. Sun Chan Hall. He said at the time that what he used... was the Ten-Complete Hand."
"Mm, understood."
Zhou Xiong gave a slight nod and said no more.
’I wonder if he knows Sun Chan Hall.’
His palm continued its path over Qin Feng’s body. At the same time, his deep voice began to sound softly in Qin Feng’s ear, a deliberate conversation to help him distract himself from the inhuman agony.
"The Empire has a clear set of standards for classifying human physical aptitude."
"The higher the aptitude, the faster the life force index increases, and at an equivalent life force index, the stronger the body. However, this isn’t absolute. A Martial Artist’s ultimate potential is also determined by many other factors: aptitude for Mental Power, insight into combat techniques, weaponry, armor, Spirit Secret Skills, the strength of their Mental Power, and so on."
"As for physical aptitude, it’s categorized from lowest to highest as: pure-blood human, Special Constitution, and Gold Standard human."
"’Special Constitution’ refers to people like that young fellow, Shi Dang, whom you defeated before the finals. He’s of mixed Stone Race blood, so his physique is naturally extraordinary."
"’Gold Standard human’ represents the benchmark physical potential for newborns in the Empire’s artificial human program, and it’s divided into three tiers: I, II, and III."
"Gold Standard Human Tier III represents the peak physical aptitude for the Human Race. To surpass this limit, one must ascend to become a Planet-level Life Form, undergoing a fundamental evolution."
"Right now, your constitution is already top-tier among pure-blood humans, even on par with some of the weaker Special Constitutions."
"And once you’ve completely absorbed this Starry Sky Giant Beast Type II gene enhancement Potion, your physical aptitude will officially be elevated to—Gold Standard Human, Tier II."
Qin Feng’s body trembled ceaselessly amidst the excruciating pain.
Fortunately, his Will was far stronger than before, allowing him to barely endure.
He could clearly feel Zhou Xiong’s massive hand, as if it possessed some kind of Magic Power. With each pass, it guided the Potion’s violent energy, directing it with precision into every corner of his body.
His bones were shattered, piece by piece, then reassembled.
His muscles were torn apart, then regenerated.
His nerves were scorched, then reborn.
This was an incomparably painful process of destruction and rebirth.
Time passed slowly, mired in this ultimate agony.
Five days.
For five whole days, Qin Feng was submerged in this hellish torment.
-----------------
「Five days later.」
Zhou Xiong slowly withdrew his hand.
The immense power that had been protecting Qin Feng’s consciousness receded along with it.
Qin Feng’s taut body went limp, and he collapsed to the floor in a state of utter exhaustion. His mind, however, was clearer than ever.
"Congratulations. You succeeded."
A rare smile touched Zhou Xiong’s lips. He looked at the figure on the floor, who looked as if he’d been fished out of a pool of blood, and said, "Go wash up, then take a look at the changes."
Qin Feng struggled to his feet. The sticky, bloody grime covering his body was so foul that even he felt disgusted.
He dragged his exhausted body into the adjacent washroom.
The cold stream of water washed over his body.
He soon emerged, completely refreshed.
He looked down, examining his body.
On the outside... there seemed to be no change at all.
His body shape, height, skin color, and hair color were all exactly the same as before.
"It’s the changes inside you that matter."
Zhou Xiong’s voice chimed in at just the right moment.
"Oh, right. Sorry, the pain left me a little out of it."
Realizing his mistake, Qin Feng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
He immediately stood firm and began practicing the Intermediate Imperial Body Refining Method.
The moment he assumed the opening stance!
He felt the difference!
The energy that had built up from the Spiritual Energy Potions he’d taken before surged into every famished cell of his body, like a tide that had finally found an outlet!
His body was like a dry sponge, absorbing this energy with a terrifying, unprecedented efficiency!
The proficiency panel was skyrocketing at a visible rate!
His proficiency in the Body Refining Technique was increasing several times faster than before!
’My cardiopulmonary function and all my blood vessels have been strengthened. My endurance has increased dramatically. My nerves and muscle tissue have been reformed, making my explosive power even greater. The fascia throughout my body has also been reshaped, allowing me to perform all sorts of difficult movements with ease. My digestive system... it’s like a furnace now...’
Qin Feng took stock of the sensations in his body.
It was as if he had undergone a series of the most advanced genetic modification surgeries. All his vital human functions had become incredibly powerful!
He eagerly opened his personal terminal panel.
[Name]: Qin Feng
[Life Force Index]: 16.12
[Martial Artist Level]: Second Level Martial Artist