Chapter Thirty-Eight: Preparations Before Departure

The power of the Ninefold Thunder Blade is unrivaled in the world. This technique, aside from its various blade moves, possesses two major traits. First, it is fast—blindingly fast, as swift as thunder. Second, it employs a unique force-generating skill.

Using seventy percent of one’s strength as the foundation, mastering the first level allows for the stacking of two layers of force, amplifying power to 1.4 times the original. Qin Ming had already succeeded in cultivating the fourth level, stacking five layers of force, with a power amplification of 3.5 times.

Four tons of fist strength, multiplied by 3.5.

He unleashed a terrifying force of fourteen tons with his punch.

Even the battle gods Yang Hui and Zhou Zhengyong drew sharp breaths, incredulous at the sight. Even Qin Yicheng never imagined his own son could be this powerful.

"A battle god’s basic punch strength is only between 64,000 and 126,000 kilograms, yet you struck with 140,000 kilograms! That’s nearly the strength of a high-level battle god!" Zhou Zhengyong exclaimed in amazement. "Remarkable!"

"A force amplification of 3.5 times—that means the Ninefold Thunder Blade has reached the fourth level!" Zhuge Tao clicked his tongue in admiration. "Qin Ming, how long have you been training? It’s unbelievable. But it also proves you’re a true prodigy!"

"Prodigy is the perfect word," Yang Hui nodded, his eyes shining as if he had found a rare treasure. "With the physique of a high-level battle commander and the Ninefold Thunder Blade cultivated to the fourth level, you’d rank at least in the upper middle of the elite training camp."

"Have you decided?" Zhou Zhengyong smiled.

"With a talent like this, if I haven’t decided, the master will surely scold me!" Yang Hui laughed. "Qin Ming, I formally inform you now—you have been accepted into the Elite Training Camp of the Global Headquarters of the Ultimate Martial Arts Hall, the Battle God Preparatory Camp. Are you willing?"

"Of course!"

"Good! That’s a wise choice. Come with me today!"

"Special envoy, could I leave tomorrow instead?"

"Haha, certainly!" Yang Hui paused, then laughed. "Yes, suddenly leaving home must be hard. Naturally, you should say your farewells. All right, tomorrow it is!"

"Thank you, special envoy!"

"No need for such formality—just call me Uncle Yang!"

"Hello, Uncle Yang!"

"Haha! Good, good! Tomorrow I’ll fetch you. Spend today with your family!"

With that settled, everyone went their separate ways.

"Well done, kid! You really bring honor to our hall!" Wu Tong, who had been tense all day, finally relaxed, laughing as he clapped Qin Ming’s shoulder. "The elite training camp—the battle god preparatory camp—maybe you’ll even receive guidance from 'Hong.' Even I can’t help but feel envious!"

"Uncle Wu, even if you’re envious, it’s too late!" Qin Ming joked. "But you’re still young; maybe you’ll have a few more children, and perhaps one or two prodigies will appear!"

"To be honest, seeing you makes me tempted!" Wu Tong nodded.

Qin Yicheng could not stand it. "Careful, your wife might make you kneel on the keyboard!"

"At home, I’m the old master!"

"But your wife is the matriarch!"

Pfft...!

Qin Ming couldn't help but laugh.

That day, the hall was abuzz, Yangzhou was abuzz, and even the entire Jiangnan City was shaken. Email after email, invitation after invitation poured in for Qin Ming from every organization.

An eighteen-year-old high-level battle commander!

Advanced admission to the Elite Training Camp of the Ultimate Martial Arts Hall.

It all pointed to a rising star—not just rising, but already shining.

Qin Ming rejected all those invitations without hesitation.

"Relatively speaking, the Ultimate Martial Arts Hall offers more freedom, and its influence is vast, with strong backing. As for those family corporations, they promise ten or a hundred billion in startup funds, which sounds tempting, but it’s not worthwhile," Qin Yicheng said. "With your potential, you’ll become a battle god without worry. Once you step into the realm of battle gods, money is almost useless. What matters are secret techniques, backing, and opportunities to advance!"

"Dad, I understand," Qin Ming nodded.

"You’re growing more mature, so I’m at ease." Qin Yicheng was deeply gratified. That whole day, as he wandered through the neighborhood, everyone who saw him greeted him with smiles and congratulations—he thoroughly enjoyed it.

"I heard you’ll be gone for a year. Does it really take that long?" Luo Xia was somewhat reluctant.

"Isn’t there video calling?" Qin Ming smiled. "Mom, if you miss me, your son will come home!"

"No, no, focus on your training! As long as you are well, we won’t worry!" Luo Xia waved her hand.

"Not what you really mean!" Qin Lulu pouted, then grinned. "Brother, are you really going to become a battle god?"

"In half a year, your brother will definitely join the ranks of battle gods!"

"Amazing! Then I can strut around school from now on!"

"You could even crawl around school, haha!"

"Brother, you dare make me crawl? Hmph, I’m writing this in my little notebook. If you don’t give me ten thousand—no, a hundred thousand in spending money, I’ll never talk to you again!"

"A hundred thousand? Too little. In the future, I’ll give you ten million, a hundred million, a billion!"

"Wow! Brother, really?"

"Would I lie to you?"

"Hee hee, brother, you’re the best! You’re not allowed to find a girlfriend, I don’t want a sister-in-law, all the spending money must be mine!"

"Ahem..."

Qin Ming nearly spat out his water.

After dinner, he went out and called Wang Lang.

"You still have time to come out?" Wang Lang laughed. "Can’t bear to leave your buddy?"

"A little," Qin Ming replied. "I’m about to leave for somewhere unfamiliar—naturally I feel uneasy."

"I wish I had that unease, but there’s no chance!" Wang Lang shrugged. "When you return, you’ll be a battle god—a battle god, my life’s goal!"

"Train hard, and you’ll find that becoming a battle god isn’t so distant."

"Enough, don’t feed me chicken soup! You called me out, so there’s something you want, right? Say the word—anything I can do, I’ll go through fire and water for you! Of course, even if there’s nothing, just give me a chance to latch onto your thigh!"

"Wang, if you want to latch onto me, at least go for the big white thigh; yours is all hairy!" Qin Ming joked, then grew serious. "I’m leaving soon and don’t know when I’ll return. I’d like to ask, if anything happens at my home, notify me immediately."

"Don’t worry!" Wang Lang assured him. "This is the Ultimate Martial Arts Hall community—who would dare cause trouble? Besides, Uncle Qin is a battle commander; ordinary people won’t mess with him, and anyone who would is afraid of you!"

"That’s true, but since I’ll be away, I can’t help but worry. If anything happens, my parents won’t tell me for fear of making me anxious."

"Understood! Rest assured about your family. If anything arises that can’t be resolved, I’ll contact you right away! Just hurry up and become a battle god, so I can brag about my childhood buddy being a battle god—what an honor!"

"If you keep that attitude, you’ll never become a battle god!"

"Don’t worry! For the battle god dream, I can give up the goddess!"

After chatting a bit, Qin Ming returned home, spent some time talking with his parents, then retired to his room to sleep.

This was his old room.

Lying on the bed, Qin Ming pondered how he should proceed, needing to adjust his path further.

He had originally planned to showcase his strength on August 1, before heading to headquarters, but today he couldn’t resist and revealed it early.

"I need time to perfect Instant Step, and perhaps even go further... If I succeed completely, I’ll have a firm foothold at headquarters!"

"The strength of a battle commander is still too low—only as a battle god, at least a high-level battle god, will I be secure!"

"I’ve nearly completed the Thirty-six Diagrams of the Profound Path. Once that’s done, progress will slow!"

"Slow? Absolutely not!"

"Then..."

Qin Ming closed his eyes, his consciousness entering the space within his mind.

The stars shifted, worlds transformed.