The more Fang Chengwu spoke, the more excited he became, but a peculiar glint flashed in Li Wen’s eyes. He knew he wasn’t any kind of Awakened.

’But if that’s what Fang Chengwu thinks, all the better.’

Li Wen seized the rare opportunity to ask a question:

"So... does a Primordial Spirit help with comprehending the State of Potentia?"

"Help? It’s far more than just a help!" Fang Chengwu declared, his tone firm and decisive.

"The improvement a Primordial Spirit brings to one’s physical control is revolutionary! Once the power of the Primordial Spirit integrates with your body, you can easily increase your physical control severalfold! Even tenfold! The higher the level of your Primordial Spirit, the greater the boost to your physical control!

Having a Primordial Spirit means you’re naturally leagues ahead of everyone else on the path to achieving one hundred percent control! That’s because you can experience what one hundred percent control feels like at any moment!

Beyond that, it allows you to perceive the flow of worldly energy with greater clarity and better discern the resonant connection between your intent, your vitality, and the world itself! Therefore,"

Fang Chengwu’s tone grew incredibly solemn. "Your chances of breaking through to the State of Potentia are beyond imagination! In fact, your future potential will far exceed the Flying Star and Brightmoon Levels! You could say you already have half the foundation needed to reach the Marquis Level!"

Fang Chengwu paced back and forth in his excitement. "A Primordial Spirit is the absolute prerequisite for any peak Great Sun Level expert to break through to the Marquis Level!

Without reaching the first stage of the Primordial Spirit, one can never hope to reach the Marquis Level in their lifetime! A single Marquis Level existence can hold off an entire army!"

’Marquis Level?’ Another earth-shattering term struck Li Wen. The highest realm he’d known of was the Great Sun Level.

’After Super Martial Artist comes Flying Star, Brightmoon, and Great Sun... and above that are Marquis and King Levels?’

"Yes, Marquis Level! And King Level!" Fang Chengwu’s voice was filled with reverence.

"The situation on Blue Star is not as simple as it seems on the surface. Aside from fighting the powerful and ever-mutating native Demon Beasts, our greatest enemy..."

He paused, his gaze turning profound. "...is the Alien Demon Race from the depths of space!"

"The Alien Demon Race?" Li Wen’s heart clenched. The sheer volume of new information was far beyond what he had imagined.

"This is top-secret information that only Flying Star Level experts are qualified to know." Fang Chengwu lowered his voice, which now carried a grim weight.

"The entire underground of Blue Star is riddled with mysterious ’Stargates.’ These gates appear randomly, and there are two types:

temporary gates, which close automatically after a certain period, and the aliens that emerge from them are relatively weak; and the other type... permanent gates!"

"Every permanent Stargate is like a sword hanging over the head of the Human Race. The size of the gate determines the upper limit of power for the aliens that can cross over and descend upon Blue Star."

Fang Chengwu’s tone was heavy. "Small permanent gates can, at most, produce members of the Demon Race equivalent to the Flying Star Level. But what’s more terrifying... are the medium and large gates! Every single permanent gate is a front line, a battlefield that grinds flesh and blood!"

"The nearest war front to our Bluestone County is located hundreds of miles away, deep within the Celestial Wind Mountain Range. A medium-sized permanent Stargate exists there—the Celestial Wind Pass!"

A look of reverence filled Fang Chengwu’s eyes. "The one who stands guard over Celestial Wind Pass, whose presence alone keeps the countless demons from daring to take a single step out of line, is none other than a Marquis Level expert of our Human Race—Marquis Ningwei!"

Marquis Ningwei! One man, holding an entire pass!

Li Wen was profoundly shaken. An image formed in his mind: a colossal figure standing proudly atop the battlements of a majestic fortress, his aura alone suppressing an entire army.

"Demon Beasts and the Alien Demon Race," Fang Chengwu added,

"are two entirely different things. Native Demon Beasts, even the powerful ones, generally have limited intelligence. But the Alien Demon Race that arrives through the Stargates possesses intelligence on par with humans, complex civilizations, and terrifying systems of power!

They are arrogant, viewing humans as inferior prey and native Demon Beasts as no better than insects! In their eyes, both humans and Demon Beasts are nothing more than ’resources’ to be crushed at their whim."

Fang Chengwu clapped Li Wen on the shoulder, his expression extremely solemn as he said:

"I’m telling you all this because you’re an Awakened—a Primordial Spirit Awakened! Your future accomplishments are destined to go far beyond Bluestone County and the Flying Star Level.

You have both the potential and the destiny to step into higher realms and learn these truths! Knowing this will help you see the path ahead more clearly.

But you must remember! Do not reveal this to anyone! Especially the fact that you have awakened a Primordial Spirit!"

Fang Chengwu’s expression became exceptionally serious, even taking on an unprecedentedly stern edge.

"The value of a ’Primordial Spirit Awakened’ is a hundred times greater than that of a provincial champion! This doesn’t just concern your future; it’s tied to the plans and strategies of the Human Race’s leadership!

If you’re exposed, your talent will become a liability! Hidden enemy factions, and even some treacherous parasites within the Human Race, will see you as a thorn in their side! Assassination, erasure, even abduction... the consequences would be unthinkable!"

He stared into Li Wen’s eyes and said, word by word, "So, Li Wen! What we’ve discussed today, once you leave this room, must be buried deep in your heart forever! Even in front of me, you are never to mention the two words ’Primordial Spirit’ again!

You must keep the secret that you’re a Primordial Spirit Awakened deeply hidden! Before you enter Torchflame University, you will tell everyone that you are a ’Technique Awakened,’ with a focus on combat insight and physical control! Do you understand?"

Li Wen felt the immense weight of Fang Chengwu’s words and his sincere desire to protect him. He nodded firmly.

"I understand! Rest assured, Teacher Fang. Before I enter Torchflame University, no third person will ever know of this!"

Torchflame University, a goal so many others desperately pursued, was now spoken of between them as if it were a simple prerequisite.

Seeing the determination and composure in Li Wen’s eyes, the stern look on Fang Chengwu’s face faded away. It was replaced by his gentle, yet now more profound, smile, one filled with boundless expectations.

"Very good. Remember, you have to take this one step at a time. First, secure the top spot in the provincial mock exam. Use your Unity Realm saber techniques to make your thunderous debut! As for how to use and refine your Primordial Spirit... we’ll take our time with that."

He gave Li Wen a look that conveyed he had everything under control, then turned and left.

The heavy, soundproof door closed silently behind him.

The private Martial Arts Room fell silent once more, leaving only the faint hum of the overhead light strips.

Li Wen stood alone in the center of the room. Moonlight streamed through the massive window, casting his shadow long and thin.

His consciousness sank to the point between his brows. In that vast, empty space, the small, jade-like figure sat quietly cross-legged, radiating a gentle and mysterious light.

Celestial Wind Pass, Marquis Ningwei, the Alien Demon Race, permanent Stargates... A magnificent yet perilous tapestry was slowly unfurling before his eyes, one far grander and more mysterious than Torchflame University.

That was the battlefield of the strongest experts! Marquis Level... King Level!

The young man took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. The aura around him deepened like an abyss as the light from the jade-like figure in his sea of consciousness faintly pulsed.

The road ahead was long, but he would not walk it alone.

The greater the power, the heavier the responsibility.

A new Chapter had silently begun.