Baptism of the Soul

“A drop in the ocean,” Luo Feng nodded slightly, a hint of melancholy in his expression. “No, you wouldn’t understand,” Li Dawei shook his head. “Without truly experiencing the struggle between life and death, you simply can’t comprehend… the sentiments of my generation!” Luo Feng was taken aback. Li Dawei sighed, “I was born in the best of times. The year I was born, ’97, was Hong Kong’s return! My family wasn’t wealthy, but we were comfortably off. I grew up carefree, playing online games, reading web novels. Every day, my parents would nag me a bit, and I’d get so impatient.” Luo Feng looked at Li Dawei in surprise… Online games, web novels? In this era, most students spend their after-school hours in Martial Arts Halls. Becoming a warrior is the pursuit of the youth. “Don’t look at me like that. You didn’t experience that era of peace, so you can’t imagine it,” Li Dawei offered a faint smile, his eyes filled with a trace of reminiscence. “Back then, we’d chat and joke on online forums, we’d gather for meals and go on outings. It was truly carefree!” “But—” “January 2015! It all started in January 2015!” “We plummeted from heaven to hell in an instant! That year, I was preparing for the college entrance exam… but there was no exam anymore!” “The nightmare descended!” “The virus spread globally through the air. Anyone who needed to breathe was infected. Friends died one by one—the girl I secretly admired, my basketball teammates, my neighbors, even some of my guildmates from online games. They all died! I was on the verge of collapse, thinking it was the worst nightmare…” “But later, I learned that was just the beginning of the nightmare!” “In the latter half of 2015, countless mutated monsters launched attacks on human-populated cities! From sporadic skirmishes at first, it escalated into all-out war! We didn’t take these barbaric monsters seriously, believing they were no match for humanity’s firepower, but we were wrong!” “The true disaster began!” “Cities were breached, and humanity began the Great Exodus! For nearly six years of continuous flight, I brushed past death countless times. Each struggle, failure meant death, so I had to endure. I transformed from a naive youth who had never faced setbacks into a ruthless, iron-blooded warrior!” Li Dawei’s voice was low, “In those nearly six years, I watched my father die for me!” “I watched the girlfriend I fell in love with during the life-or-death escape perish in the jaws of monsters, and I could only grit my teeth and flee with tears in my eyes!” “I trained relentlessly, desperately pushing my physical limits!” “Finally, humanity, relying on laser cannons and powerful warriors, formed a stalemate with the terrestrial monsters. With that, the Grand Nirvana Period ended. Humanity entered the ‘Base City Era.’ And I… joined the army!” “In a flash, over thirty years have passed.” Li Dawei smiled casually, but Luo Feng felt that smile held too much bitterness. “For over thirty years, the war between humans and monsters, though not as widespread as during the Grand Nirvana Period, has never ceased,” Li Dawei shook his head. “Do you know how many people have died in the army under my command alone in these thirty years?” Luo Feng was stunned. “Waves of new recruits replacing the old… I can’t even give an accurate number myself.” “Death notices, one after another, sent to their families. They all died for humanity’s survival,” a trace of sorrow flickered in Li Dawei’s eyes. “But I powerlessly discovered that with each annual offensive from the monster hordes in the ocean, new monster species emerge, and more formidable monsters appear.” “What does that indicate?” Li Dawei stared at Luo Feng. “It indicates that oceanic monsters are continuously growing stronger!” “I’m afraid!” “I’m very afraid.” Li Dawei’s eyes were faintly moist. “Humans cannot launch an offensive. Monsters in the ocean can continuously mutate and grow stronger. I’m afraid that one day… humanity will perish!” Luo Feng’s heart trembled. “However, for oceanic monsters to attack humans, they must pass through river channels, invading the interior from the ocean.” “Therefore—” “My life’s purpose is to block them, never letting them advance an inch! The further away we block them, the larger the buffer zone for the Base Cities. Since I became the Southeast Military Region Commander, for eleven years, six months, and three days, the oceanic monsters haven’t been able to advance a single step further along the Huangpu River!” Luo Feng’s heart surged with emotion as he listened, beginning to truly respect this elder before him! Because of their sacrifices, young people like him could grow up safely and peacefully in the Base Cities. “This life, I’m fighting to the death with these oceanic monsters!” “I just want… my descendants to still have a future, still have hope!” Li Dawei murmured. Still have a future, still have hope? Indeed! If the Base Cities were breached again, would their descendants have any hope? “Luo Feng.” Li Dawei gently patted Luo Feng’s shoulder. “In this current era, humanity has only two trump cards to rely on for survival. One is high-tech ‘laser cannons.’ The other is individual might, powerful warriors like ‘Hong.’” “For humanity to survive, one path is to invent weapons even more powerful than ‘current laser cannons’!” “The other is for more peerless powerhouses like ‘Hong’ and ‘Lei Shen’ to emerge. Or even stronger existences, surpassing ‘Hong’ and ‘Lei Shen’!” Li Dawei looked at Luo Feng: “Luo Feng, no one guided me when I was young, and I took a wrong turn. Now, as an Intermediate Wargod, I’ve reached my peak. There’s no hope for further progress.” “You are different!” “You’re not even 20 years old yet… Luo Feng, an existence surpassing a Wargod is comparable to an army of a million! And ‘Hong’ and ‘Lei Shen’ are even more extraordinary, incredibly powerful.” “The reason humanity can live so peacefully in the Base Cities now is because ‘Hong’ went to negotiate with the countless King-level monsters on land. So, one ‘Hong’ is more useful than an entire nation’s army. I hope… you can reach that level, or even higher.” … Watching Luo Feng’s intelligent fighter jet depart into the high sky, Commander Li Dawei’s expression was complex, and he muttered softly, “I am old, but you, Luo Feng… you have infinite possibilities.” … Li Dawei’s words at the war base on the Huangpu River, as he saw Luo Feng off, stirred up a monumental storm in Luo Feng’s heart. In the past, Luo Feng’s desperate training was primarily for his parents, and for his younger brother to stand again! Since becoming an ‘Invincible Wargod,’ although Luo Feng still worked hard, he felt little pressure deep down. His enemy, ‘Li Yao’? He no longer cared about him. His family? They were doing very well. Money? Money held little meaning for him now. Power and status? Even the heads of family syndicates, military, and government bigwigs were all incredibly enthusiastic towards him. “Dad, Mom.” In Mingyue Residential District, Luo Feng had just walked into his home. “You’re back. Qin Ma has already prepared breakfast for you,” his father, who was reading, called out. “Your brother is out jogging. Ever since his legs healed, he loves to run,” his father’s smile was full of joy. “Oh, by the way, Xiao Feng. When are you planning to get married? Your mother and I have no other thoughts now, we just want to hold a grandchild.” Luo Feng sat at the dining table. Sipping the steaming hot rice porridge, listening to his father’s nagging, he suddenly felt… very happy. Warriors fighting without regard for their lives in the war base, while residents in the Base Cities lived peacefully… perhaps, this was the reason Commander Li Dawei and countless soldiers fought so desperately. … “Hello, Ah Wen.” Sitting on the floor of the Training Hall, Luo Feng held his phone and chuckled, “What, you went on a trip with your girlfriend this summer? You’re quite the romantic, aren’t you? Uh-huh, alright, but I don’t have time for a while. I have to go out again at the end of the month! I’ll come find you later, okay, that’s it, bye!” Luo Feng’s face was full of smiles; Ah Wen was also doing well. His parents were living happily, and his younger brother and his girlfriend were deeply in love… Luo Feng recalled Commander Li Dawei’s words— “I just want… my descendants to still have a future, still have hope!” “Still have a future, still have hope!” Luo Feng murmured. “I also want my Mom and Dad to enjoy their old age, and I want my younger brother to marry and have children in the future, to raise his own son to adulthood! I don’t want any of this to be destroyed by the monster hordes. I want my descendants to have a future and hope!” At this moment— Luo Feng’s conviction was more resolute than ever before! “I also want to pursue the limits of life, constantly surpass myself! To become a council member, to become the Speaker, or even stronger than them! To constantly surpass!” “I also want to be like ‘Hong,’ single-handedly deterring the terrestrial monster hordes!” “I also want my descendants to still have a future, still have hope!” Luo Feng’s eyes were filled with powerful resolve! “Strive!” “Advance!” “Surpass!” “When I close my eyes in death, I don’t want to regret any missed opportunities or shortcomings from a lack of effort in the past!” … This baptism of the soul made Luo Feng’s conviction more resolute than ever before. Throughout September, Luo Feng fully immersed himself in training his ‘blade techniques,’ ‘movement techniques,’ ‘physical conditioning,’ and the ‘Divine God Record.’ This immersion, far from feeling monotonous, brought him a joy from the bottom of his heart. The transformation and perfection of his genes. Each step of progress in his strength… This fundamental change in his body was intoxicating. Forcing oneself to cultivate often yields poorer results. But enjoying cultivation, falling in love with the feeling of life’s essence improving, this, in turn, led to Luo Feng’s astonishing rate of progress. When Luo Feng tested himself on the morning of September 29th! His punching force actually reached 258103KG, surpassing 256000KG, officially stepping into the realm of ‘Advanced Wargod physical conditioning’! … Around 2 PM on September 29th. Wearing an SS-grade blood-red combat suit purchased at the best price from the ‘War God Palace,’ and carrying an SS-grade Blood Shadow Battle Blade on his back, Luo Feng stood like an unpolished jade, crystal clear from within. He resembled a towering blade, possessing boundless fighting spirit! “Mom, Dad, I don’t know how long I’ll be gone this time. Luo Hua, while I’m away, please take care of Mom and Dad.” “Understood, Brother.” “Be careful out there too,” his parents repeatedly instructed. Luo Feng smiled faintly and walked directly to the intelligent fighter jet nearby. The cabin door automatically opened, Luo Feng entered, and the door closed. Whoosh! The dark blue triangular fighter jet rapidly ascended, flew out of Jiangnan Base City’s urban defense system area, and then transformed into a streak of light, heading towards the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo Global Headquarters.