Chapter 202 - The Bottleneck
Despite numerous beast kings falling, many overlord-level mutated beasts still remained on the battlefield, swiftly dispatched by the Commander's formidable attacks.
Bereft of leadership, both the beast tide and the tide of corpses were compelled to retreat.
Thus concluded the most significant battle in the past century.
Despite heavy casualties, the human forces resounded with laughter and jubilation.
The victory underscored humanity's parity with the Dark Camp, affirming their strength.
Remarkably, the architect of this triumph was not the Commander, but an obscure young hero.
Henceforth, Loong Chen's renown would reverberate across the borderlands, becoming the idol of all human warriors and the subject of their admiration.
Uninterested in the celebratory banquet, Loong Chen refrained from participating.
He proceeded directly to the tent where Hua Yuxin and Hua Yafei rested. Despite Loong Chen's swift intervention hastening the battle's conclusion, several hours had elapsed.
Both Hua Yuxin and Hua Yafei had already awakened.
“I've heard the news. You've truly upheld your stature as my companion, bringing great honor to our Flame Dragon Legion.”
Hua Yuxin grinned, her words filled with pride.
Had the other members of the Flame Dragon Legion witnessed the Queen of Eternal Flame's rare smile, they would have surely believed themselves to be in a dream.
Yet, this was reality, for the man before Hua Yuxin was Loong Chen, the love of her life.
“And how do you intend to express your gratitude?”
Loong Chen arched his eyebrows in inquiry, directing his gaze towards Hua Yuxin.
Instantly, her cheeks flushed crimson.
“What is your desire?” Hua Yuxin's voice was gentle and fragile.
Hua Yuxin's voice was gentle and fragile.
“Naturally, I desire your satisfaction,” Loong Chen replied with a chuckle before lunging towards her directly.
With his advance, a blush of pink energy filled the tent.
A pink energy filled the tent.
Following two hours of gratification, Loong Chen, finally satiated, turned his attention to matters of import.
“Yuxin, I find myself at a standstill in my cultivation. Despite my efforts, I cannot progress beyond the bottleneck. What could be the cause?” Loong Chen inquired.
Loong Chen posed his question.
“You still haven't reached the King Level?” Her response didn't come immediately upon hearing Loong Chen's query. Instead, she exclaimed in astonishment.
Upon hearing Loong Chen's inquiry, she didn't immediately respond. Instead, she cried out in surprise.
Her exaggerated reaction wasn't unwarranted; the news was profoundly shocking.
Loong Chen's feats, such as defeating Chen Qingtian and slaying the beast king effortlessly, led her to believe he had at least attained the pinnacle of King Level evolution.
Yet, to her disbelief, he remained below the threshold of King Level.
A Peak King Level warrior had been completely defeated by a Grandmaster Evolver. The sheer incredibility of this event left everyone astounded.
Hua Yuxin found her entire perspective shaken to its core.
Were it not for the fact that the person before her was Loong Chen, she would have dismissed such a feat as mere showboating.
“Why the surprise? It's true that I haven't yet reached the King Level,” Loong Chen remarked with composure.
Loong Chen remained unruffled. Throughout, he had been accustomed to challenging opponents stronger than himself.
Were it not for his current status at Grandmaster Peak, he might have easily mistaken himself for a King Level Evolver.
“Mr. Loong, your strength is truly remarkable,” Hua Yuxin stammered in shock, struggling to articulate her thoughts.
Left speechless by the astonishing display, Hua Yuxin managed only this feeble acknowledgment.
“To label me as merely powerful would be an understatement. Let's not stray from the matter at hand. Please, answer my initial inquiry,” Loong Chen interjected, almost allowing his demeanor to overshadow the task at hand.
Loong Chen nearly lost focus amid his attempt to maintain a composed demeanor.
Gathering her thoughts, Hua Yuxin took a deep breath before earnestly addressing Loong Chen.
“The transition from Grandmaster to King Level indeed presents a formidable bottleneck, one that proves exceptionally challenging to overcome.”
Hua Yuxin spoke with grave seriousness.
“This bottleneck isn't tied to one's lineage or innate talent. In many ways, it hinges on sheer luck,” she explained solemnly.
After hours of detailed elucidation by Hua Yuxin, Loong Chen finally grasped the nature of the bottleneck hindering his advancement to the King Level.
Only the genetic lock remained.
It was common knowledge that an Evolver's strength relied on their genetic makeup, with the process involving assimilating and stimulating genes to enhance physical prowess.
By the time an Evolver reached the pinnacle of Grandmaster cultivation, their genes had already reached a peak level compatible with their body's limits.
To progress further, they had to activate the genetic lock and uncover latent genes within their bodies.
The human body remained profoundly intricate; even now, understanding it fully eluded most people.
The genetic lock acted as a barrier, restricting a significant portion of human potential.
Advancing one's strength necessitated locating and unlocking the genetic lock.
“Genetic lock?” Loong Chen pondered aloud, unfamiliar with the concept until now.
Loong Chen had never encountered the term “genetic lock” before.
“Though termed a ‘lock,' the genetic lock is essentially invisible. Alternatively, it may possess a physical manifestation, albeit exceedingly challenging to detect. I'm unable to provide precise details as each individual's genetic lock differs,” Hua Yuxin elaborated.
“Similarly, the difficulty of discovering and unlocking the genetic lock varies. Some possess remarkable talent yet remain confined to the Grandmaster Peak indefinitely, unable to reach King Level. Conversely, others with average aptitude unexpectedly unlock their genetic potential, experiencing remarkable leaps in strength,” Hua Yuxin clarified.
Hua Yuxin's explanation hinted at Loong Chen's extraordinary progress, suggesting exceptional innate talent.
Despite the correlation between Loong Chen's rapid advancement and his talent, unlocking the genetic lock was primarily a matter of chance.
Loong Chen comprehended the distinction.
“Understood.”
Despite exhaling deeply, Loong Chen maintained a stoic demeanor, showing no signs of loneliness.
Opening the genetic lock required substantial luck, a fact of which Loong Chen remained uncertain whether he possessed.
Nevertheless, fear eluded him; lacking in luck mattered little when he had the support of the system.
Perhaps he wouldn't access the energy essence and Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth for cultivation, but that wouldn't deter him.
Even if reaching the King Level eluded him, he could still aspire to become the most formidable Grandmaster, capable of swiftly dispatching even a King Level or Emperor Level opponent.
Ascending to the King Level would prolong his lifespan significantly, but Loong Chen placed little importance on this aspect.
With the Law of Life, he was immortal; thus, attaining the King Level held minimal significance. At best, it would enhance his appearance.
“Let things unfold naturally,” Loong Chen mused to himself.
In the ensuing days, Loong Chen trained alongside Hua Yuxin and Hua Yafei.
Their training sessions extended from daylight hours outdoors to nighttime sessions indoors.
It wasn't for the sake of honing combat skills; with his current strength, defeating Hua Yuxin posed no challenge. Rather, it was an opportunity for Hua Yuxin to improve her combat proficiency, while Loong Chen aimed to capitalize on her experiential knowledge.
Due to the temporal manipulation talent, what seemed like days in the outside world equated to a year of actual combat training.
Only later did Loong Chen notice a diminishing return in Attribute Points dropped by Hua Yuxin and Hua Yafei, signaling a limit to their attribute depletion.
It became apparent to Loong Chen that individuals possessed a finite capacity for attribute reduction.
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