Chapter 48: Chapter Fifty: Rapid Progress

The days of entering Dragon Gate were orderly; the beast tide had just passed, and the images in the screening hall gave newcomers a considerable shock. It wasn't only Jiang Jiang who previously didn't know the situation of Dragon Gate; the newcomers were all training as if gone mad.

So during this period, one often sees acquaintances met during the assessment in Dragon Gate's various facilities, and after a while they became quite familiar.

Because the family only bought one vehicle, Chen Chen and Jiang Jiang's training times are basically synchronized.

The first stop at six in the morning is Dragon Gate's largest public training ground—the Gravity Abyss.

Gravity, to life, is both a restriction and a protection, both a shackle and also something that can let life transform.

A martial cultivator's training requires absorbing Universe energy and converting it into primal genetic energy to strengthen the body and remodel genes, but such training, as the cells absorbing primal energy reach saturation, can no longer absorb more.

That is why martial cultivators usually spend only a limited amount of time each day on primal genetic energy training.

And in a harsh gravity environment, one can stimulate the body's cells to absorb energy to the extreme limit, thereby counteracting the consumption brought by gravity.

The Gravity Abyss is a training ground themed around a gravity environment.

On the first underground level, from the edge to the center the gravity ranges from one to ten times; the second level is ten to a hundred times; the third level is a hundred to a thousand times; the fourth level, as of now, no one has reached it, and no one knows whether a fourth level actually exists.

Many people with some inside information revealed to Chen Chen and Jiang Jiang that the Gravity Abyss's technology might come from an ancient civilization device called the 'Gravity Chamber,' whose limit seems to be a thousand times gravity, so logically there should be no fourth level.

But the person who leaked the inside information didn't know that Chen Chen not only stole the Gravity Chamber's technology, but also used the material circle to alter the entire environment around the Gravity Abyss, so the Gravity Abyss's limit will surpass what Earth's martial cultivators can imagine.

Of course, at present there is no star-level existence on Earth, and even tens of thousands of times gravity would have no effect for a while.

According to Chen Chen's conception, in the not-too-distant future, Earth's gravity environment can be updated and replaced.

Upon entering the first level of the Gravity Abyss, the gravitational environment from all directions suddenly changes, and the bodily discomfort gradually increases.

In the outer ring one can see many acquaintances; Mo Fan, whom one already knew, initially regarded Chen Chen as a love rival, but because of Chen Chen's optimistic demeanor and the rather close relationship between Chen Chen and Jiang Jiang, he ended up reflecting on himself for a long time.

Moreover, Chen Chen unintentionally mentioned his and Jiang Jiang's grassroots experience of relying on each other, and Chen Chen instantly became a role model in Mo Fan's heart.

"Brother Chen, Jiang Jiang, good morning."

It's still early, but inside the Gravity Chamber one can already see many silhouettes.

Chen Chen, Jiang Jiang, and Mo Fan three people entered at about the same time, so they all moved forward together.

When they reached the area of roughly three times gravity, Mo Fan also stopped there.

"Brother Chen, Jiang Jiang, you go ahead; I'll stop here."

Mo Fan's strength is not weak, but his physique is around that of an initial war commander; three times gravity is especially suitable for him, and most newcomers also tend to stop at this stage.

Chen Chen and Jiang Jiang moved forward further and saw a familiar silhouette in the distance—Ji Heng, who had already been in the Gravity Chamber for two hours, was now drenched in sweat.

Her tight training uniform was already soaked halfway; her slightly curled long hair caught a few crystal-clear sweat droplets, and as Ji Heng thrust her long spear, the sweat droplets seemed to turn into the shape of the spear tip, flashing a cold light like the spear's tip.

Since Ji Heng lightly joked with Chen Chen twice during the assessment and the banquet, thereafter, even when seeing Chen Chen and Jiang Jiang, she never said another word.

Jiang Jiang initially thought this was some tactic, but after several days she realized it was simply Ji Heng's nature—she treats everyone the same way.

Therefore, for this reason, Ji Heng and the vast majority of people, including companions from the World Tree, are also in a state of gentlemanly friendship.

Of course, many people, like Mo Fan, feel admiration and affection for Ji Heng, but it is not the feeling of friendship.

Ji Heng's peripheral vision saw Chen Chen and Jiang Jiang's figures pass by her side; not long after, she also stopped at a distance between five and six times gravity, then drew her spear again, withdrawing her attention—this thrust was heavier.

Perhaps others don't care, but Ji Heng cannot help but pay attention to Chen Chen and Jiang Jiang ahead of her.

One is the man she wants as a husband, who defeated her yet left her with almost no confidence to chase him—a genius; this feeling is especially novel for Ji Heng.

Also there is a girl whom Ji Heng doesn't quite understand but greatly admires; even if this were a grand scheme to steal a corner of the wall, it would not fail.

Meanwhile, Chen Chen and Jiang Jiang also began their morning training, each taking out their own weapons to start magical practice of sword and blade techniques.

Knowing that Jiang Jiang uses short weapons, Ji Heng roughly understood why Jiang Jiang could exceed her in combat power amplitude.

It should be said that the battlefield environment prevents her from exerting her full strength; saying that, her words to the opponent are indeed somewhat laughable.

Is Ji Heng someone who cares a lot about winning and losing?

Ji Heng doesn't know, because from childhood she has never lost in things she cares about. However, only on the day of the assessment did she suffer such setbacks consecutively twice.

But the martial path has just begun; she still has the chance to catch up.

Turning her gaze again toward Chen Chen, this strange man, aside from his identity as future master of Earth, Chen Chen himself unconsciously makes Ji Heng feel more curious.

Chen Chen uses a halberd; that's no secret, but when first seen in the Gravity Abyss, he was practicing the sword.

Ji Heng clearly remembers the scene of Chen Chen's first sword strike—regardless of strength, angle, or swinging method, it was rather clumsy… actually not that clumsy; at least it counts as a war commander level, but for Chen Chen himself, it seems appropriate to describe it as 'clumsy.'

Ji Heng doesn't understand why Chen Chen would practice the sword, nor does she have an obligation to ask, yet she cannot help but pay attention.

If you don't look, you don't know; but once you look, you're startled. Ji Heng, while practicing her spear, occasionally spares a bit of energy to watch Chen Chen's sword practice progress.

Chen Chen wields a two-handed long sword, long and broad; each slash is the most ordinary cut. Yet for some reason, Chen Chen seems to advance the sword way a step forward with each slash.

That step is infinitesimally tiny, like a droplet you can barely see, yet clearly visible, as if you could see which droplet caused the cup to rise a bit.

One strike, ten strikes, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand strikes… Ji Heng watched those strikes fall one after another; in just three days, Chen Chen's swordsmanship had already reached a level she could not comprehend at all.

Unlike many martial artists who have never seen such skill, Ji Heng had already witnessed, from a young age, a rather top-tier swordsmanship among humans.

His second master once said, although his realm is inferior to that of the Thunder God, his swordsmanship realm is certainly not much weaker; even if the second master boasted, it at least amounts to a self-praise of a planetary-level powerhouse.

But in just two or three days, Chen Chen has already reached the same level as his second master—equally making it impossible for her to comprehend.

Ji Heng watched Chen Chen begin to swing his sword; even if she wanted to force herself not to look, her eyes could not help but be drawn.

When Chen Chen's sword strike lands, Ji Heng also thrusts her spear; she can be certain that Chen Chen's swordsmanship realm is already about to surpass her spear technique realm, but is such a thing really possible?

If that is truly the case, what then is all her years of effort worth?

Such a situation, no matter who it befalls, is hard to accept in the heart; moreover, Ji Heng herself is a genius with extremely strong self-esteem.

Ji Heng's spear follows spear, spear follows sword, as if she has fallen into some kind of obsession.

Ji Heng's body, after training in the Gravity Chamber for two hours, had already reached its limit; according to her schedule, the next period should be for training primal genetic energy.

But Ji Heng, trapped in Chen Chen's swordsmanship realm, cannot free herself, or rather, the obsession in her heart prevents her from breaking free.

Whether it is her ten-plus years of competitive spirit, or the other party unreasonably trampling on her hard-earned talent, each is enough to make one lose reason.

Until a certain moment, the sword's swing and the spear's piercing rainbow reached a certain consistency; thereafter each sword strike and each spear thrust are in sync, making Ji Heng even more unable to extricate herself from this state.

It reaches a complete release of some bodily 'desire,' until no strength remains in the body, until vision goes dark, and the body becomes totally uncontrollable.

"Ji Heng, are you okay?"

After Ji Heng regained their composure, Chén Chén was already standing in front of them.

Ji Heng collapsed to the ground, like a weak woman with no strength to truss a chicken; Ji Heng disliked this feeling, wanted to stand up, but could not exert any strength.

A magnetic male voice rang out, the very culprit behind all this.

"You're overloaded, huh? Next time be a bit careful; once or twice occasionally isn't bad, but too much will inevitably waste your time."

"The medical team should come over shortly."

Ji Heng watched Chén Chén talking to himself, with no intention of helping them, and rolled their eyes; this guy is supposed to be high in emotional intelligence, how can there be no sign of it?

Thinking of this, Ji Heng glanced sideways and saw Jiāng Jiāng still practicing sword.

Is it because of that girl?

Ji Heng didn't know why, but for the first time a hint of sourness arose in their heart; they secretly shook their head, then looked at Chén Chén, locking eyes with him.

"Are you really that strong?"

Ji Heng spoke vaguely; they couldn't directly say they'd been paying attention to him these past few days and ask why his progress could be so fast.

Chén Chén naturally knew what Ji Heng meant, smiled wryly and shook his head: "I am indeed strong, but you're probably thinking too much."

"One Dao connects, all Daos connect; the Great Dao is simplest, all things share a source—this is the path I intend to follow."

It sounds contradictory: one Dao is the Great Dao, all things are the Great Dao, all things are one thing, the essence of all things—that is the "Having a Name" path that Chén Chén's Earth-person avatar intends to walk.

Precisely for the "Having a Name" path does the Earth-person's avatar exist; or rather, the Earth-person's avatar itself is part of the "Having a Name" path.

Ji Heng stared blankly for a moment, seemingly digesting Chén Chén's words; after a while, Ji Heng then laughed.

"Can I listen to this?"

Chén Chén spread his hands, shook his head indifferently, but did not answer.

"You're strong."

"You're far stronger than I imagined; seeing you is like seeing endless hope."

When Ji Heng was dazed, they only thought Chén Chén's comprehension surpassed their own level, achieving in just a few days what an ordinary person would achieve in a lifetime.

Who would have known that Chén Chén was comprehending the so-called "ultimate Dao," having reached a realm beyond their own ability to catch up, even beyond that of all their own teachers.

Only after Ji Heng regained their senses did they realize that, after entering Dragon Gate, they had been practicing the spear technique they had summarized these past days, and achieved a breakthrough in each thrust as they lost consciousness.

Chén Chén said, "One Dao connects, all Daos connect"; the blade he practices and the Dao he practices have reached a point where merely observing them grants him his own insight.

This is also why Ji Heng asked that; it's an astonishing secret.

Such a person might truly be worth following.

Ji Heng thought, then glanced toward Jiāng Jiāng's position.

At that thought, the medical staff hurried over.

"I heard someone was overloaded; I happened to be nearby, so I brought the equipment over—are you alright?"

Overload is a common term in the gravity abyss, meaning exceeding one's bearable gravity range or undertaking training beyond one's limits, causing loss of mobility, especially common among newcomers.

The speaker was a blue-haired woman in casual clothes, not looking much like medical personnel.

This is because, although the specialized medical staff of Dragon Gate generally have decent physiques, to enter deeper gravity ranges they still need to wear protective gear, whose purpose is to counteract the gravity of the gravity abyss; otherwise, when rescuing people, they themselves might become overloaded, which would be troublesome.

And the blue-haired woman in front of him obviously wasn't wearing protective clothing.

「Well, don't look at me with that doubtful expression, alright? Chén Chén knows me. 」

The woman said as she was about to pull something out of her pocket, fumbling around as if she had thought of something.

「「Eh hehe, I forgot that they had already taken back my medical ID badge from here before I came. 」 The blue-haired woman scratched her head. 」

「「You should help me prove it, alright? 」 The woman said, looking at Chén Chén. 」

Chén Chén nodded, annoyed.

「「Let me introduce you, this is the doctor; in Dragon Gate the title is called doctor, and actually the profession is also considered a doctor. 」」

Jī Héng's heart secretly jumped, because she had actually heard of this person before.

From the World Tree, in just one year she dominated the Black Dragon List with absolute strength, dominated the Black Dragon List as the top genius, and the outside world also called her Doctor Miss, Cang Yue Er.

「「I'll leave him to you; I have to go to the next stop. 」」

Cang Yue Er made an OK hand gesture: 「「You can leave it to me, rest assured. 」」

After Chén Chén left, Jī Héng then asked Cang Yue Er: 「「Doctor senior, do you know Chén Chén? 」」

「「Oh, you must be the newest batch of newcomers, right? You probably don't know much about Chén Chén over in Abundant Capital. 」」

「「Chén Chén is from the same batch as me, one of the earliest war orphans taken in by the World Tree, and he is the most talented among our batch. 」」

「「Just saying, in that batch I was second. 」」

「「The way you were struck down by him, hahaha, is kinda nostalgic. 」」

As for news about Chén Chén, Jī Héng actually knows a bit; according to what her master said, Chén Chén probably joined the World Tree about two or three years ago, and Doctor Senior Cang Yue Er entered Dragon Gate a year ago, so the timelines roughly match.

However, the Doctor Senior is likely somewhat older than Chén Chén, having already entered Dragon Gate a year ago.

In that case, Chén Chén's talent was discovered before he even began cultivating gene primal energy. This sounds far more convincing than being selected by the uncertain 「Earth's Will」.

Meanwhile, Chén Chén and Jiāng Jiāng, on their side, stopped paying attention to Jī Héng's affairs and hurried to the next stop.

On Jiāng Jiāng's side, while she appeared to be focusing on her training, she actually noticed something off about Jī Héng.

「「Finally showing your chicken feet, you little slut, I've been watching you for three days—these three days this woman has already been watching Chén Chén for three days; this person definitely has designs on Chén Chén. 」」

You still want to play a 'hide the sky, cross the sea' trick against me, Jiang someone, a scheme to underestimate the enemy—pfft! Do you know what our Old Ginger family's ancestors do?!

「「By the way, didn't someone just tell Chén Chén long time no see? enmmm, seems like a hallucination. 」」

Speaking of which, Chén Chén's luck with women seems really good.

I need to think of a way; ideally, turning uncooked rice into cooked rice, you know…