I Can Control Resources

’Finally, another Middle-Level Treasure Chest!’ Gao Neng was very much looking forward to the Soul Tempering Pill that he had a chance of getting from the chest.

Right now, Spiritual Power was arguably his greatest weapon.

’It’s just that my current Spiritual Power can only be used for scouting. I wonder what would happen if it got even stronger?’

"Mission Description: You are the man who controls it all. A simple physical enhancement is no longer enough for you. You must control more! Increase your strength! Make the world tremble before you! Remember: you must grasp with both hands, and both hands must be strong!"

"Mission Completion Condition: Break through and become an Energy Warrior."

"The fourth mission is to become an Energy Warrior?!" Gao Neng was genuinely surprised this time. Of course, he also felt like cursing someone out.

’Everyone wants to become an Energy Warrior.’

’I want to, too!’

’But the key question is, how?’

The books didn’t say how, and he’d already asked Li Qingping before. Li Qingping’s answer had been that once he had the chance to attend the Military University, he would naturally find out.

But he hadn’t even submitted his university applications yet.

’If I have to wait until I get into the Military University, that’ll be at least two months from now, right?’

’Does that mean I can’t complete this mission for another two months?’

’Hmm, that’s possible.’ Gao Neng thought it wasn’t out of the question. But if so, it meant he’d have to wait two months for the system to evolve.

’Wait a minute.’

’Couldn’t I just go ask Li Qingping again?’

’Before, I only had a chance of getting into the Military University, but now it’s practically a sure thing. Li Qingping might be willing to tell me a few things now.’

With this thought in mind, Gao Neng closed his eyes and went to sleep.

After two days of exams, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t completely exhausted.

...

A night passed.

When he woke up the next morning, Gao Xiaomeng was already back. As usual, she was asleep on his bed, curled into a ball and looking rather exhausted.

Gao Neng gave Gao Xiaomeng a few pets.

She didn’t stir.

He stopped petting her, had breakfast, and left some food for Xiaomeng. Then, he called Li Qingping to set up a meeting and headed straight out the door.

When Gao Neng arrived at Li Qingping’s home, the man himself was on his balcony planting flowers. A smile involuntarily spread across Li Qingping’s face when he saw Gao Neng.

"Gao Neng, you called so early. What’s on your mind?" Li Qingping wasn’t one for pleasantries and got straight to the point; he didn’t figure Gao Neng was there to bring him gifts.

"Yes, Principal," Gao Neng nodded. "I came today to ask how one breaks through to become an Energy Warrior."

"You want to break through?" Li Qingping was stunned for a moment, but then his expression softened. "Well, you have indeed reached the threshold for a breakthrough."

"So you’re willing to tell me, Principal?" Gao Neng asked, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

"Of course. I didn’t tell you before because you hadn’t reached this stage. But now, even if I keep quiet, you’d find out eventually anyway," Li Qingping said with a nod.

"So how do I break through?"

"First, let me tell you the story of the birth of the first human Energy Warrior." As a principal, Li Qingping preferred to explain things by telling stories.

"Okay." Gao Neng wasn’t in a rush and settled in to listen attentively.

"It was really something of a coincidence, actually. It happened in the early years of the Great Cataclysm, when the world was struck by a massive disaster. An unknown ’energy’ appeared all across the globe."

"Magnetic Piles?"

"Oh? You know about those? Well, since you know about the Magnetic Piles, I can save some breath. It’s so much easier teaching a fast learner. AHEM... I’ll continue. The appearance of the Magnetic Piles led humanity to discover many strange phenomena. We made huge leaps forward, especially in the study of space!"

"Mm." Gao Neng nodded. He’d had similar suspicions himself.

"The appearance of the Magnetic Piles seemed to grant the world a new civilization and new opportunities. But at the same time, their appearance was followed by the descent of alien races. Their power was beyond human imagination; even our technology was not enough to destroy them. That was the origin of the Great Cataclysm."

"..." Gao Neng remained silent.

"I won’t go into the details of the war, but it dealt a massive blow to the world. Natural disasters struck, and even the world’s original seven continents were altered, eventually forming the world we know today. Great numbers of humanity’s Warriors and elites were trapped and killed in the fighting..." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Li Qingping paused for a moment before continuing, "But some survived. And the very first human Energy Warrior was one of them! His squad was trapped in an ’unknown energy region’ for a whole month, but they all managed to escape in the end. Do you know why?"

"Because they mastered the power of that energy?" Gao Neng replied.

"Correct. It was the power of energy. But in the beginning, this power was called the ’Source,’ and people who mastered it were called ’Ability Users.’"

"Ability Users?"

"Yes, Ability Users! When these people returned to the human world, they caused a massive sensation. Their incredible power garnered the full attention of humanity’s leadership. After several years of research, humans finally mastered this power on their own, and more and more Ability Users began to appear."

"So, the term ’Energy Warrior’ is actually a compound of two words with different origins?"

"You could say that. ’Source’ means origin—the origin of all things in the world, including matter, space, elements, and so on. The Ability Users who mastered the ’Source’ came to be called ’Source Energy Warriors’ or ’Energy Warriors.’ It’s just that ’Energy Warrior’ rolls off the tongue a bit better. So, after a hundred years, everyone just started calling them ’Energy Warriors.’" Li Qingping smiled, tacitly agreeing with Gao Neng’s theory.

"..." Gao Neng was a little speechless.

’This was really the first time I’d heard this origin story for the term "Energy Warrior." Isn’t that a bit too random, though? An "Ability User" who mastered the "Source" just gets called an "Energy Warrior"?’

’So if this power wasn’t called "Source," but "Might" instead? Would they be called "Energy Mighters"?’

"Feeling suddenly enlightened? My knowledge is quite profound, wouldn’t you say?" Seeing Gao Neng lost in thought, Li Qingping chuckled and picked up his cup for a sip of water.

"But Principal, it seems you’ve gone off-topic. You haven’t gotten to the main point yet," Gao Neng reminded him.

"PFFT!" Li Qingping was so exasperated he sprayed a mouthful of water. "I’m giving you a history lesson! Explaining the fundamentals! How is that going off-topic?"

"But I asked how to become an Energy Warrior."

"AHEM... Didn’t I just cover that? Fine, it’s actually very simple. I just said that the first Energy Warriors were trapped in an ’unknown energy region,’ correct?"

"Yes."

"Right. When they came out, they discovered they had mastered the power of the ’Source.’ Therefore, as long as you can master the power of the ’Source,’ you can become an Energy Warrior."

"And then?"

"That’s it. I’ve explained it very clearly."

"But I’m not clear at all. At the very least, you have to tell me *how* to master the power of the ’Source,’ right?" ’This is ridiculous,’ Gao Neng thought bitterly. ’No wonder he’s just the principal of a third-rate school in the Forgotten Land.’

"Oh, that? Simple. You just have to condense a ’Source Core’ inside your body. Actually, there’s an easier-to-understand term for it these days. Because the Source Core has the power to attract everything, like a giant magnet, it’s also called a ’Magnetic Core.’ You should get it now, right?"

"Understood... So how do I condense a ’Magnetic Core’?" Gao Neng didn’t really feel like nodding, but he humored Li Qingping anyway.

"For that, you need a special environment. Just like with the first Energy Warrior, you have to be in a space similar to that ’unknown energy region’ to condense a Magnetic Core. And creating a space like that requires special equipment and some special energy materials."

"Energy materials? Equipment? Can I buy them?"

"You can, but they’re expensive. Normally, for one person to break through, the energy materials alone will cost at least 500,000. The equipment you need is called an ’Isolation Pod.’ If I remember correctly, using one costs 100,000 per session," Li Qingping replied.