Chapter 21: God-Level Comprehension - Ascension to Bronze Warrior
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The crisp morning air carried a sense of urgency as Qin Changqing's team scoured the perimeter of White Dragon Mountain. The devastation left by Xia Chuan's gravity experiment had drawn their immediate attention—a perfect circle of pulverized rock and flattened trees spanning a hundred meters.
"Team Leader, have we located the spatial tunnel yet?" a young agent asked, his voice tense with anticipation.
Qin Changqing's expression remained grim as he shook his head. "It's never that simple. These spatial anomalies appear randomly—we can only predict general areas, not exact locations. Our current intel suggests the tunnel will manifest somewhere in the White Dragon Mountain range near Fengcheng."
He turned to his team, his gaze sharpening. "That's why we're deploying round-the-clock surveillance. Every tremor, every energy fluctuation must be reported immediately. A single oversight could cost millions of lives."
The team stood at attention, the weight of their mission settling over them. They were the first line of defense against threats from beyond their world—a responsibility that brooked no failure.
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High above in a secluded mountain cave, Xia Chuan observed the agents through the Book of Wisdom's enhanced perception. The artifact's power allowed him to overhear their conversation with crystal clarity.
"Interesting," he mused, stroking his chin. "So this world is facing an interdimensional invasion?"
The revelation aligned with his earlier suspicions. The resurgence of spiritual energy, the strange occurrences—it all pointed to a collision between worlds.
The Book of Wisdom materialized beside him, its pages rustling. "Master, the convergence of two realms will bring catastrophic changes. The spiritual energy permeating this world may not be native... but a leakage from the Otherworld itself."
Xia Chuan considered this. The implications were staggering—but not his immediate concern. "Let the authorities handle their crisis. We have our own path to walk."
With a dismissive wave, he refocused on his priorities. The miniature world in his possession offered limitless potential; engaging with global powers would only complicate matters. For now, strength was his sole objective.
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Settling into a meditative stance, Xia Chuan closed his eyes. The Hundred Apertures Breathing Technique flowed through his mind—a supreme cultivation method designed to harness spiritual energy with unparalleled efficiency.
Normally, mastering such a technique would take years of grueling practice. But Xia Chuan possessed an unfair advantage: the Book of Wisdom's second ability, God-Level Comprehension.
"Activate," he commanded.
The book's power surged, merging with his consciousness. Complex theories and esoteric concepts that would baffle even seasoned cultivators unraveled before him, their secrets laid bare. What once seemed like advanced calculus now felt like simple arithmetic.
"So this is the essence," he realized. *"Drawing in spiritual energy not through gradual absorption... but by force."*
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As Xia Chuan began the breathing exercise, the mountain itself seemed to shudder. A vortex of energy spiraled around him, growing fiercer by the second. Where ordinary techniques siphoned energy in thin streams, the Hundred Apertures method plundered it.
Trees swayed violently as gusts of wind whipped through the cave. Pebbles levitated, caught in the maelstrom. Within a hundred-meter radius, every wisp of spiritual energy was ripped from the environment and funneled into Xia Chuan's body.
The sensation was electrifying. Energy surged through his meridians, scouring his flesh and bones like liquid fire. His muscles tightened, his skin tingled, and his senses sharpened to preternatural levels.
Boom!
A shockwave erupted as the first cycle completed. Xia Chuan's eyes snapped open—now gleaming with an otherworldly light. He flexed his hand, marveling at the power coursing through him.
"This is... the Bronze Warrior stage."
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To test his newfound strength, Xia Chuan threw a casual punch.
**CRACK!**
The air itself split with a sound like thunder. The force of the blow created a visible shockwave that carved a fissure into the cave wall. Dust rained from the ceiling as the mountain trembled in response.
"Incredible," he whispered. Even a fraction of his strength now surpassed peak human limits. His skin had taken on a faint metallic sheen—the hallmark of a Bronze Warrior's tempered body.
But the surprises weren't over.
As he regulated his breathing, golden strands of energy—distinct from ordinary spiritual energy—began seeping into his pores. With each strand absorbed, his power swelled exponentially. His dantian (energy core) burned like a forge, refining the energy into pure potency.
"What is this?" he wondered, sensing the energy's divine quality.
The Book of Wisdom vibrated excitedly. "Master, this is Faith Energy—from your believers in the miniature realm! Your connection to it deepens as you grow stronger!"
Xia Chuan grinned. The implications were clear: his path of cultivation was intertwined with the miniature world's power. Every breakthrough would amplify both.