Chapter Nineteen: The Power of Unity

Undoubtedly, the enhancement of neural reflexes was far more than just a boost in reaction speed. This was not a game; it was a systemic change where moving one part affected the whole. At its core, the improvement of neural reflexes was an upgrade to the nervous system itself, even if the primary focus was on reflex capability.

Consequently, there was a massive surge in neural acuity and body control. After all, a 46% bonus was nearly 1.5 times the original capacity. Furthermore, Li Qi’s physical constitution was already formidable to begin with. To enhance it by nearly fifty percent on top of that—if this did not qualify as defying fate, then such a thing did not exist in this world.

"If there is anyone in this world who can be called invincible, then it is surely me..."

Muttering to himself, Li Qi could no longer contain his joy. Instead of standing up, he launched himself off the bed; the explosive power behind this movement was undoubtedly staggering.

Before he could finish his sentence, however, Li Qi realized that because the sudden boost was so immense, he had yet to adapt to his new body. As he sprang up, he lost his balance and hurtled straight toward the wall.

Li Qi's bedroom was not large; the distance from the foot of the bed to the wall was only eighty centimeters. Under normal circumstances, he should have landed steadily after springing up, but this time, he had used too much force.

Seeing that his head was about to collide with the wall—and given the explosive force behind the movement, he would likely have been injured had he struck it head-on—the effect of his "Root of Intention" triggered. That sharp, spiritual power instantly pulled Li Qi into a peculiar state of flow.

In an instant, everything in the bedroom was reflected in the mirror of his mind: outwardly, the distance to the wall, air resistance, humidity, friction... inwardly, his own body, every bone, and every muscle.

Everything was so precise, yet so harmonious.

Then, Li Qi exerted his strength. His spine undulated like a great dragon, driving the power of his entire body’s tendons and bones. He curled his body, and with a technique akin to magic, he pressed both hands and feet against the wall. As if the ninety-degree vertical surface were flat ground, he crouched upon it; gravity seemed to lose its effect in that moment.

More curiously, throughout the entire process, Li Qi did not make a single sound as he stepped onto the wall.

However, this still image lasted for less than half a second before Li Qi fell from the wall, landing with a heavy thud. Yet, the fall only left him covered in a bit of dust.

After landing, Li Qi remained motionless, as if stunned by the fall.

He was savoring the peak of that fleeting moment, but the more he tried to recall it, the more elusive that sensation became.

Li Qi knew that he must have, by pure chance, entered a state of "super-ego," which in a sense meant he had temporarily unlocked the hidden divine storehouses of the body.

The human body possesses vast potential, yet it is difficult to uncover. Throughout his past and present lives, Buddhist traditions spoke of the "Six Supernatural Powers." One could attain these powers through cultivation, and these powers were, in essence, the "divine storehouses."

His explosion just now was clearly triggered by the changes in his "Six Roots," which, by a stroke of luck, had pried open a latent potential. Now that the transformation was complete and his life form had stabilized, that touch of the supernatural was once again sealed away.

But Li Qi knew that as long as he continued his cultivation, that momentary state of super-ego could eventually become permanent. The wonderful sensation of that instant, along with that strange and powerful perceptive ability and control, left him deeply fascinated. He was certain that if that state had lasted longer, he could have even run briefly along the vertical wall.

"Damn it! Why didn't I install a camera in my bedroom?"

After a long while, Li Qi finally snapped back to reality and muttered to himself with annoyance. His remark was, of course, nonsense; after all, no sane person would install a camera in their own bedroom unless they had some peculiar personal habits.

However, although he could not replicate that peak moment, the changes in his Six Roots meant Li Qi was completely different from the day before. As he stood up from the floor, the world unfolded in his eyes, and he fell into a state of pleasant, harmonious mental clarity.

His perception was incredibly refined now—not just physical, but spiritual as well. It was true that he could not yet project his spirit externally—that was something only achievable after entering the Dao—but external things were automatically reflecting into the mirror of his mind in a wondrous form.

"The positive limit for a gray-grade root is 8%, and the positive lower limit for a white-grade root is 10%. With each subsequent increase in quality, it seems I can gain another 2%. White, Medium, High, Refined, Peerless, and Ultimate—if I can upgrade five times, doesn't that mean the white-grade limit is 20%? If I max out all five, could I get a 100% bonus?!"

"No wonder those geniuses don't seem human. Everyone has root traits, and while their traits could never be identical to mine, they are born with higher quality, which has its own extraordinary aspects. Indeed, the gap between people is truly greater than the gap between humans and dogs. Fortunately, I have a cheat..."

Li Qi thought to himself while feeling the various changes.

"Furthermore, the reason a white grade is divided into so many tiers seems to be for my benefit, allowing me to upgrade the traits in stages and grow stronger more smoothly. If I had to jump from white to blue all at once, the cost would be far too great..."

"This seems related to my subconscious..."

"So, is this why the 'Fate Disk' took so long to load?!"

Li Qi pondered. In reality, there was no such thing as "Medium, High, Refined, Peerless, or Ultimate"; these were merely his own standards. Though his internal standards were vague, the interface had formalized and quantified them.

"Does this mean that the 'Five Fortunes' are still loading because of me as well?!"

"The Six Roots are already so profound; I wonder what changes the Five Fortunes will bring? And those stuck, unresponsive projections and the shop..."

Lost in thought, Li Qi slowly put on his clothes, picked up his saber, and walked step by step—very slowly—into the quiet room. Each step seemed to require long deliberation, as if he were learning to walk all over again.

Upon reaching the quiet room, Li Qi did not practice his saber techniques as he usually did. Instead, he simply stood in the center of the room, holding the saber with his eyes closed, as if sensing the world and himself.

After about half an hour, Li Qi finally moved. Inch by inch, he caressed the wooden saber, as if getting to know it anew.

After ten minutes of this, he began to swing the long blade—also very slowly and lightly—as if relearning the art of the saber.

Then, he progressed from slow to fast, from light to heavy, until finally, the room was filled with the sound of roaring tigers and crashing thunder. Li Qi had activated his body's blood and Qi and entered a state of cultivation without even needing to resort to meditative visualization.

When he finally stopped, the interface refreshed.

[Log: Your saber technique has been reshaped; instincts rewritten. Saber mastery has greatly improved. Tiger-Slayer Eighteen Saber proficiency +37.]