Every weekend, the Blacklight gym became Lam Minh's special "classroom." Under his "scientific" guidance, the entire group began a journey to unlock unprecedented power.
However, each person's progress was completely different, depending on their aptitude and foundation.
Ly Thien Ba, with the physique of an "Awakened," was the fastest to progress. He had a naturally larger "energy tank" than ordinary people, so "sensing" and "guiding qi" was quite easy for him. After just a few weeks, he could already create a small stream of "bio-energy" (qi), enveloping his fist and significantly increasing his punching power.
"Master! Look at this!" Ly Thien Ba shouted, punching a sandbag.
BOOM!
The sandbag, which had only dented when Lam Minh hit it, was torn open this time, sand pouring out in a torrent.
"Very good," Lam Minh nodded. "But don't get complacent. Your energy is still very mixed and difficult to control. You're like a tank full of gasoline; a small spark could cause an explosion. You need to learn how to refine and control it."
Ly Thien Ba scratched his head and happily accepted the instruction. He completely trusted his "master."
The second person to show clear progress was Quynh Nhu. She didn't have a large energy tank like Ly Thien Ba, but in return, she had superior control and combat intuition. She couldn't create powerful punches, but she learned how to channel a tiny, extremely sharp stream of qi into the tip of an arrow or a bullet.
During a practice session at the shooting range, she shot a normal arrow. Halfway through its flight, she focused her mind and channeled a stream of qi into it. The arrow suddenly accelerated strangely and plunged into the bullseye at a distance of 500 meters, several centimeters deeper than usual.
"Success!" she cheered, her face full of excitement. "With this skill, I can even pierce through the armor of a Late-stage Qi Refining creature!"
She glanced at Lam Minh, her eyes filled with both pride and a hint of challenge, as if to say, "See, I'm not so bad myself."
Lam Minh just smiled. "Not bad. But the distance is still too great. Try hitting a falling leaf at that distance."
Quynh Nhu pouted but continued to practice enthusiastically.
To Quyen was a completely different case. She had no talent for combat or innate energy. She approached the "Qi Induction Method" as a research topic. She used sensor devices to monitor every change in her own body and in others.
She discovered that when "guiding qi," everyone's brain operated at a very special frequency, and their ability to concentrate and process information increased several times over.
"Lam Minh," she said during a practice session. "I think this method not only enhances physical strength but can also strengthen the brain. I tried applying it when solving complex algorithms, and the efficiency increased noticeably. I think if we develop in this direction, we could create 'super-brains,' capable of analyzing tactics or hacking into enemy systems at an unbelievable speed."
To Quyen's discovery astonished Lam Minh. He had only thought of using it for combat and had forgotten that cultivation was also a process of comprehensively enhancing "essence, qi, and spirit." To Quyen had inadvertently found the path of a "cerebral cultivator."
"A very good idea," he said, his eyes full of admiration. "Continue your research in that direction. You might create a kind of power even more terrifying than a fist."
Encouraged, To Quyen became even more passionate about her path.
Only Hoang Long and Le Van Hung faced the most difficulty. They were ordinary martial artists with no special aptitude. "Sensing qi" was extremely difficult for them. After many weeks of practice, they only felt that their bodies were healthier and their spirits were refreshed, but they couldn't yet truly "guide qi" for combat.
"Brother Minh... uh, no, Captain," Hoang Long said with embarrassment. "Maybe we just don't have the talent? We've been practicing for so long but haven't felt anything."
Lam Minh looked at his two friends and shook his head. "It's not that you don't have talent. It's just that your foundation is different from theirs. Your path will be slower, but that doesn't mean it's impossible."
He remembered his past life, how humanity had struggled for decades but couldn't find a way for humanity to become stronger.
"You two, don't try to create energy," he instructed. "Focus on using this breathing method to strengthen your bodies first. Let the 'qi' nourish your muscles and bones naturally. When your bodies are strong enough, 'clean' enough, you will naturally be able to feel it. Don't be impatient."
His advice was like a beacon of light for Hoang Long and Le Van Hung. They no longer tried to "rush through the stages" but patiently practiced the path of "body tempering" that Lam Minh had pointed out.
And so, Lam Minh's "special class" had formed its first few paths:
Ly Thien Ba: The path of a "berserker," using explosive energy for destruction.
Quynh Nhu: The path of an "assassin," using refined energy for precision strikes.
To Quyen: The path of a "cerebral mage," using energy to enhance intelligence.
Hoang Long and Le Van Hung: The path of "body temperers," using energy to forge their bodies to the extreme.
Lam Minh looked at his friends, each striving on their own path. He felt an indescribable joy and satisfaction.
He wasn't just creating a team. He was creating pioneers, people who would open up completely new paths of power for humanity in the future.
And he, as the guide, must also constantly move forward.
"Almost 38,000 points. Still need 2,000 more. Looks like... I'll have to find another 'opportunity' to do some 'overtime' again." He thought to himself, a "dangerous" glint flashing in his eyes once more.
...
After a few weeks of diligent "grinding" in the simulation at night and "teaching" on the weekends, Lam Minh's Immortality Points had finally reached the 38,000 mark. Only 2,000 more points and he could break through to the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Just a little more," he told himself. "I just need to 'die' about ten more times in the simulation. But... it's so tedious."
The feeling of being tormented by the Foundation Establishment creature in the simulation over and over, though he was used to it, was still very unpleasant. He craved a real-life "overtime" opportunity more. A quality hit that would give him a lot of points, as well as more military merits.
But opportunities like that didn't come around all the time. The war situation had been relatively quiet recently, with no major incidents.
While he was feeling frustrated, an opportunity came from a place no one expected: the kitchen of Lac Hong Base.
It was the weekend, and he had come to the base again to "guide" his group of friends. After the practice session, as usual, he dropped by the kitchen to greet the chefs, with whom he had become quite friendly.
"Little brother Lam Minh is here!" Head Chef Cuong, a large but kind-hearted man, laughed heartily and clapped him on the shoulder. "Come to show off your skills and treat us to something new again?"
"Of course not, sir. I just dropped by to see if you all need any help," Lam Minh replied with a smile.
Just then, a logistics soldier ran in, his face pale.
"Head Chef! We have a problem! The food transport vehicle heading to warehouse No. 9 in the Xa Tinh outpost area was just ambushed! All the food and fresh produce for the entire regiment there for a week has been completely destroyed!"
"What?" Head Chef Cuong was stunned. "Then what about our brothers at the Xa Tinh outpost? What will they eat for the next week?"
"Currently, all they have left are Type-Z military rations, the hardest and most unpalatable kind," the logistics soldier said, his voice full of concern. "The morale of the brothers there will definitely be severely affected."
Everyone in the kitchen fell silent, the atmosphere becoming heavy. The Xa Tinh outpost was one of the most dangerous checkpoints, directly facing the enemy's den. The soldiers there fought incredibly hard, and their meals were one of their biggest sources of morale. Now, they had to eat hard-to-swallow rations for a whole week, which would certainly affect their fighting spirit.
"Dammit! Those Madakaros bastards!" Head Chef Cuong slammed his fist on the table. "If only there was some way..."
While everyone was sinking into helplessness, Lam Minh suddenly spoke up.
"Head Chef, there is a way."
All eyes turned to him.
"As long as we have enough ingredients, I can transform those rations into a completely different dish, both delicious and nutritious," Lam Minh said confidently.
In his past life, he had fought for many years in deprived conditions. Turning dry, unpalatable military food into delicious meals was one of the survival skills he had been forced to learn.
"Really?" Head Chef Cuong was skeptical. "Type-Z rations are as hard as rocks, with no taste or smell. How can you possibly cook them?"
"The secret lies in the processing and seasoning," Lam Minh explained. "We need to grind it into a powder, then mix it with some dried vegetables and special spices to create a kind of 'nutritional powder.' From that powder, we can make baked cakes, congee, or soup. The problem is..."
He looked at the Head Chef. "We don't have enough of the necessary spices and vegetables here. Especially a type of plant called 'Stone Mushroom,' which only grows on the damp cliffs in the Devil's Cry Canyon area."
"Devil's Cry Canyon?" Everyone shuddered at the name. That was where Lam Minh had his earth-shattering battle, and it was also an extremely dangerous area, frequently patrolled by high-level Madakaros.
"That's right," Lam Minh said. "'Stone Mushrooms' have a natural, light sweetness and are rich in minerals. They are the most important ingredient to neutralize the bitter and dry taste of the rations."
"But going there is too dangerous!" Head Chef Cuong shook his head. "We can't let soldiers risk their lives for a few meals."
"No soldiers needed," Lam Minh smiled. "I can go alone."
"Are you crazy?" everyone said in unison. "You, alone, to Devil's Cry Canyon? That's suicide!"
"Don't worry," Lam Minh said, his eyes full of confidence. "I have ways to protect myself. Besides, I know the exact location of that mushroom, so it will be a quick trip. You all just need to prepare the other ingredients. I promise I'll bring the Stone Mushrooms back before tonight."
With that, without waiting for anyone to object, he turned and left the kitchen.
Head Chef Cuong and the others watched his retreating back, not knowing what to do. They were worried for his safety, but also had a vague belief that this "hero" might just create another miracle.
Lam Minh quickly took the Iron Horse 07, using the excuse of "going on a special mission for the Future Seeds program," and drove out of the base alone.
He wasn't lying. There really were Stone Mushrooms in Devil's Cry Canyon.
But his main purpose was not to pick mushrooms.
He could "smell" the scent of "opportunity." A dangerous area like Devil's Cry Canyon would surely not lack a few "fattened prey" for him to get the last 2,000 points he needed.
"I can do a good deed, boost my reputation, and farm points at the same time. Killing two birds with one stone," he whistled, flooring the gas and sending the Iron Horse speeding forward.
This time, returning to Devil's Cry Canyon, he was no longer the ambusher, but a hunter actively seeking his prey.