Chapter 33: Comprehension! The Four Combat Skills!

Lightning Step, Skybreaker Thunderstrike, Soulshock Thunder Tone, and Nine Thunder Metamorphosis were all A-Class Combat Skills. Ordinary people might spend months failing to grasp them, but with the Celestial Vault System's enhancements to his energy and cognitive abilities, Lin Ye devoured their essence in mere hours.

Over the next six days, he drilled relentlessly in the underground training chamber, determined to fuse these skills into his own combo techniques.

Training Chamber – Day 6

The holographic barrier rippled as Lin Ye stood at the center, thunder patterns beneath his skin pulsing like living veins. He inhaled deeply, the principles of Lightning Step flowing through his consciousness. A single tap of his toes propelled him as a blur past a 100-meter target.

"Speed peak: 1.2 Mach." Galaxy's synthesized voice flickered with static. "Recommend reducing energy output."

Lin Ye skidded to a halt before an electromagnetic barrier, soles scorching arcs into the floor. "Still adapting to this upgraded body," he muttered, eyeing the smoldering tread marks. Whirling, he unleashed Skybreaker Thunderstrike—a bolt piercing five alloy targets before cratering the energy-absorbent wall.

"Long-range attacks are manageable." He pulled up holographic stats:

Energy Consumption: 3 Hz/shot

Effective Range: 800 meters

"Galaxy, escalate difficulty."

Alarms shrieked. Sixteen combat robots activated kill mode, plasma blades humming. Instinctively, Lin Ye triggered Nine Thunder Metamorphosis—his Thunder Fist fracturing into nine serpentine lightning streaks. The mechs disintegrated mid-charge.

A war cry tore from his throat as Lightning Step and Soulshock Thunder Tone synergized. Resonance waves shattered the final robot's core with a metallic crunch.

"Professor Qin's recommendations are monstrous." Lin Ye surveyed the scrap field. "And I've barely scratched the surface." His fist crackled. "_Nine Thunder Metamorphosis should split punches into 72 strands. I'm stuck at nine…"

Status Panel

Name: Lin Ye

Tier: First-Tier Mid-Class Special Ability Holder

Special Ability: Nine Heavens Thunder Prison (S-Class) (?)

Physique: 802 Qi Blood (+)

Energy: 665 Hz (+)

Martial Arts: Fist Techniques (Intermediate+)

Combat Skills: Thunder Fist (Intermediate+), Lightning Step (Elementary+), Skybreaker Thunderstrike (Elementary+), Soulshock Thunder Tone (Elementary+), Nine Thunder Metamorphosis (Elementary+)

Body Forging: Indestructible Thunder Body – First Layer (Perfected)

Special Ability Points: 2

"Diverse arsenal secured. Now—battlefield polish."

"Bro, you're grinding harder than a quantum drill bit!" A lanky youth in dinosaur-patterned pajamas leaned into the doorway, energy bar dangling from his teeth. "Moved in three days ago—haven't seen you surface once!"

Lin Ye dismissed the holograms, eyeing his bird's-nest-haired intruder. "You are…"

"Chu Xinghe! Your roommate!" The youth flipped his bangs, the pajama's stegosaurus tail swaying. "Eastern Mountain Province's champion, A-Class Light-Special Ability Holder—Stellar Grasp." Stardust swirled at his fingertips as he struck a pose. "Invincible for picking up girls, trust me."

"Lin Ye. Cloud Ridge Province's champion." Before Lin Ye could elaborate, Chu slung an arm over his shoulders with frat-bro familiarity. "The legendary Lin Ye! Heard so much! Don't tell me you're still E-Class—no way a scrub wins provincial gold!"

"My Special Ability mutated post-awakening." Lin Ye defaulted to his rehearsed answer.

"Knew it! A-Class now, right? Told those forum trolls—sparred online for 26 hours straight until they rage-quit!" Chu vibrated with manic glee.

Lin Ye studied his new roommate—a chatterbox wrapped in chaotic energy. Peaceful days were officially extinct.

Villa Terrace – Morning

"Word is you've apprenticed under Professor Qin? Legendary, bro!" Chu Xinghe whispered theatrically, leaning in as they reached the terrace. "That madman's never taken disciples! You're basically our generation's role model!"

"Your intel network's impressive." Lin Ye cracked open a high-energy drink. "But Professor Qin hasn't officially—"

"Save it!" Chu vaulted onto the railing, arms spread toward the storm-wreathed training towers. "This year's freshmen have freaks—Frost Queen from the Northern Wastes, Sword Maniac from the Eastern Sea clans… But we'll crush 'em all!"

Lin Ye was adapting to his roommate's… enthusiasm. "You said you moved in three days ago? What's today's date?"

"August 15th!" Chu's eyes bulged as he counted fingers. "The Freshman Grand Exam's in—holy shit—sixteen days!"

"Since you're so well-informed," Lin Ye pressed, "where's the nearest Thunder Martial Hall?"

"Bro's gonna challenge a dojo?! Count me in!" Chu's logic circuits sparked. "Wait—gotta change!"

"I'll shower first." Lin Ye had surrendered to the chaos.

Campus Pathway – 11:07 AM

Lin Ye marched with military posture, gaze fixed ahead. Chu swiveled like a radar dish, ogling passing freshmen—especially female ones.

"Xiao Ye! Check out that goddess!" Chu jabbed at two girls exiting a villa.

One wore a purple hoodie and black pants—pretty but unremarkable. Her companion stopped traffic: porcelain skin, rosebud lips, curves accentuated by a white tee and sky-blue skinny jeans.

Lin Ye's breath hitched. Definitely S-Class visuals.