"Right," Lu Feng nodded excitedly.

Chief Instructor Wu Tong, standing by the neural reaction tester, smiled and said, "Alright then. Next up - Bai Yang."

Lu Feng approached Yang Wu who was already beaming with delight. He leaned in and whispered, "Crazy man, congratulations! You're now a near-warrior. Once you pass the live combat test..."

Yang Wu's eyes were bright as he responded just as softly, "Bro Lu, your neural reaction scores are solid gold. We can take the practical tests together." His voice trembled slightly with anticipation.

"Right," Yang Wu agreed, his excitement barely contained.

Both men turned their attention to the ongoing tests nearby. Two candidates soon emerged - one passed, the other failed.

"Last candidate: Yang Wu!" Chief Instructor Wu Tong announced.

Yang Wu took a deep breath. This day had been years in coming, and he'd always choked at the speed test. Now finally eligible for testing at this elite facility...

"Just do it," Lu Feng encouraged.

"Trust me."

With decisive steps, Yang Wu entered the crimson-illuminated circle. As Chief Instructor Wu Tong pressed a control panel, the tester's turret began spinning rapidly before launching dozens of rubber bullets in all directions to blanket the space.

Yang Wu moved with mechanical precision - shifting forward/backward/left/right by mere steps. His movements were efficient but noticeably rigid compared to Lu Feng's fluidity.

Lu Feng watched closely. "His evasion technique is... interesting," he mused. While Yang Wu's body shifts were small and precise, they required perfect timing against the barrage of projectiles. A single misstep could mean being torn open by monster claws in actual combat.

Exactly like dancing on a blade's edge.

"Whirring..." The sixty-second test concluded abruptly.

"Fifty-two hits," Chief Instructor Wu Tong read aloud, "No contact with red zone boundaries. Qualified."

Yang Wu clenched his fists so hard that blue veins stood out along his forearms. Tears welled in his eyes - this dream had consumed him for far too long. Now he'd finally crossed the threshold into becoming a warrior.

Chief Instructor Wu Tong's expression darkened as he observed Yang Wu's technique. "This is an 'exquisite precision' evasion method," he said solemnly, "Used by warriors to deflect monster attacks through minimal body shifts. The problem is..."

He paused meaningfully. "If your calculation says a monster claw will pass two centimeters from your skin, but you're even slightly off... that claw could eviscerate you."

Yang Wu nodded gravely.

"Remember," Instructor Jiang Nian added seriously, "Don't force yourself into advanced techniques without the foundation. If you try to copy someone's skill without understanding it first..."

Chief Instructor Wu Tong concluded, "Three near-warriors today - Lu Feng, Bai Yang, and Yang Wu."

The trio exchanged triumphant glances, their excitement carefully restrained in front of these experienced warriors.

"Next steps will be handled by the others," Chief Instructor Wu Tong said, signaling to a silver-haired figure standing at the edge. "Sorry for keeping you waiting Captain," he said with a respectful nod before exiting with the man who seemed to command an entire room just by breathing.

Lu Feng's breath caught as their eyes met - those twin voids seemed to swallow him whole until his consciousness snapped back violently. Both Yang Wu and Bai Yang were frozen in place, eyes glazed over like mindless puppets.

That was power beyond comprehension...

Without a word exchanged, the silver-haired figure simply smiled at Lu Feng before walking away with Chief Instructor Wu Tong.

"Hey," Yang Wu groaned as he blinked awake, "What just happened?"

The memory of their encounter lingered - but when Lu Feng tried to recall that man's face... all he could remember was those abyssal eyes.

"Now you three," Instructor Jiang Nian gestured toward the training hall.

A plump elder handed them thick documents. "Warrior qualification contracts," he said, "Once signed, our facility accepts no responsibility for injuries or fatalities during combat tests."

"Death rates are low," a bald man rumbled, "But injuries? Not so much. This is just basic survival training compared to what awaits in the wild zones. If you can't handle this..."

The three exchanged determined glances before signing without hesitation.

Instructor Jiang Nian activated a holographic display showing an article titled: "Genetic Primal Energy Cultivation Methods."

"Warriors' power comes from..." he began, "During the Great Pandemic, humans developed antibodies against RR Virus. This triggered natural genetic evolution allowing them to absorb cosmic energy into every cell..."

The screen detailed how skeletal structures could become ten times harder than diamond, organs capable of withstanding underwater pressure for hours... all through genetic optimization.

"This," Instructor Jiang Nian pointed at "Five Points Heavenward Method" on the display, "is Earth's only way to cultivate genetic primal energy."

Lu Feng read intently - understanding why most near-warriors could finally access this power now that they'd met baseline requirements.

"You may begin practicing during these thirty days," Instructor Jiang Nian said, "But true mastery techniques will only be available once you're official warriors."