Chapter 104: Chapter 98 New Year I Chapter 104: Chapter 98 New Year I The sunset was a fiery red, reminiscent of a miniature red mirror. The color was warm but lacked much temperature.

As the bell rang at the end of the day at the school, the classroom of the senior class suddenly shifted from quiet to noisy.

Lin Fei gently put down his pen and capped it. In front of him was a stack of review materials, printed in black on white paper, at least several dozen pages thick, densely packed with tiny characters. Ever since his encounter with Sis, he had reverted to this life. He continuously enveloped himself with potential energy, an exhausting yet effective method that required him to maintain his entire body’s skin and appearance without causing significant fluctuations, as that could harm his body. Amidst this distraction, he had to focus on other tasks, which itself was a form of training with evident results.

According to the data he had received, potential energy in the psychic world was measured by a unit called the Potential Energy Level, originally applicable to evaluating the level of all psychics. However, it became truly significant at the level D and above. A standard D-level psychic was rated at 10 units, which was a specific test of potential energy. A potent psychic had brought from the headquarters a small device that tested energy levels recently. Lin Fei, when tested, had precisely unleashed one-fifth of his potential, displaying a value of 21 basic units. This meant his total potential energy was already around the hundred units mark, a signifier of C-level. This meant he was just entering the C-level. Such potential energy, when released, could rise over ten meters high and three meters long, attracting significant attention.

Before leaving, Sis had given Lin Fei a satellite phone number and also imparted some practical tips, among them was how to conceal one’s potential. These tricks were all insights he had learned on his own. In fact, according to him, once one reached level D or above, there were no textbooks or the like for advancement; all techniques were closely guarded secrets which no powerful being would share without expecting something in return. What he implied was for Lin Fei to remember his great spirit of sacrifice.

After reluctantly hiding his distaste when Sis left under cover, Lin Fei easily mastered these few tricks. That’s when he understood why Sis wanted to hide his potential, as it was indeed too conspicuous; if he carelessly released a ten-meter-tall totem of potential, erasing its impact wouldn’t be easy. However, what baffled him was that everyone else’s potential seemed to have unique abilities except for his own. For instance, Shunyan’s potential was explosive, Sis’s potential allowed for virtual transformation, significantly enhancing his qualities, and also what he called a ‘Severing Hand,’ seemingly a trump card brought by potential. Mr. Zhao’s potential could form a concentrated strike with great power. Everybody’s potential had its unique ability—so what was his potential’s special ability?

In so many battles, Lin Fei had never discovered any special abilities of his own potential.

“Perhaps it is not a battle capability,” he thought. “Since my totem is a Divine Beast known for its speed and also possessing the ability to absorb blade marks, then my potential’s special ability should relate to speed or maybe to the ability to absorb marks.” Remembering his initial battles, especially fighting against Shunyan, his potential hadn’t shown any peculiarities in speed.

“However, my potential actually originates from Qi Cultivation, the First Realm, The First Layer, primarily focusing on enhancing speed. Both the Divine Beast and the Tracing Shadow Sword Art are related to speed. Clearly, the main purpose of this layer is to boost the cultivation speed. According to physical laws, greater speed results in greater momentum, and naturally greater strength, but the tests had shown that although my speed was very high, my strength hadn’t increased much. Thus, this kind of speed enhancement isn’t a conventional substantial improvement but rather a different approach,” Lin Fei thought clearly.

“Also true, given my current physical condition, although strong, it’s unlikely that either my heart’s capacity or muscle endurance could withstand the burst of energy from suddenly crossing over twenty meters. According to the momentum formula, it means that while Tracing Shadow Sword Art increases my speed, it also reduces my mass. No, perhaps it’s not the Sword Art’s effect but rather the influence of my potential.” Lin Fei suddenly realized.

He stretched out his hand, his somewhat sallow skin had turned a faintly blue-tinged pale, thanks to his potential. He gently picked up an eraser, and his potential slowly enveloped it. Bit by bit, from the edges, it extended to cover the eraser until it faintly glowed blue, the hue deepening over time. Lin Fei then clearly felt the weight of the eraser nearly disappear, leaving only a slight sensation as if what lay in the palm of his hand was not an eraser but a sheet of paper.

“Indeed, this is the ability of my potential. No wonder I learned the Sword Heart Chain so easily. This sword technique, primarily focused on striking speed, inherently corresponds with the ability of my potential. No wonder I am so fast, but feel as if without a vital attack, the lethal power is truly limited, mostly relying on the sharpness of the circle.”

Lin Fei sat in his place, deep in thought.

“Lin Fei, let’s head home!” Chen Yun patted Lin Fei’s shoulder. By then, most of the classmates had left the classroom, making it seem somewhat desolate. “You’re not sick, are you?” he wondered aloud.

“You’re the one who’s sick,” Lin Fei shrugged off his hand. Lately, due to the matter with Sis, any boy getting too close gave him a chilling sense of dread. “Let’s go.” He stood up, gathered his books and materials.

“The time is almost upon us, how are you prepared?” Chen Yun asked in a low voice. The time he referred to was actually the college entrance exam, which was just a few months away, and the blackboard at the back of the classroom had even begun a countdown. A tense atmosphere pervaded the entire class.

Lin Fei glanced back at the blackboard behind him and realized that he had been away from the life of a normal student for quite some time. The college entrance exam was the ultimate goal for three years of a high school student’s life, yet he was completely unalert to it.

“So-so,” he answered. Although True Force had transformed his body, and he now had a strong memory and above-average analytical and comprehension abilities, he had still fallen behind on a substantial portion of the actual revision material. “I’ll just take the college entrance exam like in my previous life.” His university in his previous life wasn’t exceptional but wasn’t bad either, somewhere in the middle, and he really didn’t want to change his original trajectory too much. Even though the Inner World had changed, it was better to keep the changes in his own trajectory in the Outer World to a minimum. After all, no matter who it is, there’s always a desire to cling to the familiar over the unfamiliar, and people tend to opt for the familiar. Lin Fei was no different.

So, although he possessed great strength, the idea of him stepping directly out of his original trajectory and into a completely unfamiliar life was something Lin Fei actually refused. Just because he had power and capabilities, was he supposed to build his own forces, manage, expand, and give up contact with his peers, stepping directly into the complex reality of society? At his age, aside from studying, any significant activity Lin Fei undertook would be highly conspicuous and not conform to current norms. It was better to maintain his original life quietly, secretly cultivate, and grow stronger. As long as it didn’t impede his progress, naturally, he would choose to live in a familiar environment over an unfamiliar one.

While discussing some academic issues with Chen Yun, both of them, carrying their backpacks, walked out of the classroom. This period of calm seemed to have restored Lin Fei to the life he had in his previous life. Of course, if you didn’t count the continuously growing Potential Energy inside him and the daily intensified practice of the Tracing Shadow Sword Art.

After parting with Chen Yun and returning home, Lin Fei had just entered the living room when he saw Lin Jianguo and Jiang Feng already packing up. Lin You was also dressed very neatly on the side.

Lin Fei suddenly realized that Lin You’s attitude towards him had become increasingly indifferent recently, far from her previous nastiness, and the black cat seemed to sense the aura of True Force, but it was instinctively attracted, always liking to jump on him.

“Mom and Dad, what are you preparing to do?” Lin Fei asked as he placed his backpack on the coffee table.

“We’re going to Grandma’s to celebrate New Year early, then afterward we’ll visit Grandma’s,” Jiang Feng explained as she lifted two boxes of milk and placed them at the door.

“And there’s trouble at your Fourth Uncle’s place,” Lin Jianguo added.

“What happened?” Lin Fei asked, puzzled.

“A business investment fell through. Not only has the family property been lost, but now they also owe millions in debt,” Lin Jianguo sighed. “Indeed, fortune and disaster come in an instant. They were fine just a while ago.”

Lin Fei noticed a hint of ridicule flash across Lin You’s face, she curled her lip as if in disdain. It seemed she also had no love for her Fourth Uncle’s family. Her past snide remarks about their dad had also upset Lin You.

He noticed the small cat in Lin You’s arms. Since that night, whenever it saw him, it would bury its face and never look up, nor did it jump his way anymore. It seemed the hit had been significant. Although Lin Fei was surprised by the cat’s human-like qualities, he wasn’t shocked; this black cat was also in Lin You’s arms in his previous life but was at loggerheads with Lin Fei. It was equally intelligent. Lin Fei suspected that this black cat had a certain connection with the Psychic realm, judging by how Lin You valued her, this suspicion was not without reason.