CHAPTER 442: CHAPTER 442: AWAKENING THE STAR MARTIAL ART TALENT

"Only five thousand!" Song Jia raised two fingers, making a bunny shape.

"Good use of the word ’only.’ Five thousand isn’t a small amount, you know. You don’t have to pay for meals, and you don’t need to buy clothes or anything. It’s only the twelfth today, and you’ve already spent that much?"

"I’m troubled too." Song Jia looked somewhat panicked. "I spent it all on snacks. My appetite this past month has terrified even me. It feels like no matter how much I eat, it’s never enough, and I don’t even gain weight."

"Snacks?" Wang Lan’s expression suddenly turned grave as he grabbed Song Jia’s wrist.

"I’ve been checked, and not just at one place. My body is fine—very healthy, and all my trace elements are normal. The doctors don’t know what’s wrong either; they eventually guessed it might be puberty. And... my strength has increased a lot recently.

Before, I couldn’t even drag twenty kilograms of water, but now I can carry two buckets on my shoulders. I’m really panicking... A delicate girl like me, and I feel like I’m evolving into Li Yuanba."

"And you can still laugh?" Wang Lan gave Song Jia a cold look. "Sudden overeating definitely means there’s something wrong with your body, and you’re still in the mood to joke? Does Aunt know?"

"She doesn’t. I didn’t dare tell her. I just secretly went for a check-up. I even had cell vitality tests done, and the results showed no issues."

"Come with me to my room."

"What for? You might be a Medical Attribute Star Martial Warrior, but you’re not a doctor. I’m warning you, don’t try to take advantage of me."

"You little brat! Want me to dig out those photos of you in split-crotch pants?"

"You wouldn’t dare!" Song Jia retorted, but she still obediently followed Wang Lan into his room and carefully closed the door.

"Alright, let’s arm wrestle. I want to see just how strong you’ve become."

Song Jia’s strength was nothing compared to Wang Lan, who could casually bend steel bars like pretzels. However, her strength did indeed exceed that of an average adult male.

In terms of data, Song Jia’s strength should be over eight, but not quite nine.

A normal male’s strength index is typically between five and eight. A strength of five would belong to a slender man who doesn’t engage in physical labor. A strength of seven would usually be found in someone about one point eight meters tall with a robust build.

A strength of seven is already quite rare among ordinary people. A strength of eight would classify someone as a fierce general in ancient times. A strength of nine is a one-in-a-hundred-thousand, hegemon-class strength that can’t be achieved through training but is purely due to innate talent.

Ten points of strength is the limit for an ordinary human. Yet Song Jia, a thirteen-year-old girl still in her developmental stage, had a strength level over eight. This was definitely not normal.

Grasping Song Jia’s wrist, Wang Lan sent a stream of Star Power into her body. Song Jia showed no rejection, which meant she hadn’t awakened a Star Martial Warrior’s Innate Ability and was still an ordinary person. However, her cells possessed an exceptionally strong vitality, even surpassing that of ordinary Star Martial Warriors.

Seeing the serious expression on Wang Lan’s face, Song Jia immediately grew nervous.

"Bro, is there something really wrong with me?"

"I can’t say for sure what the problem is, but your body’s vitality is exceptionally strong. Here’s the plan: I’ll take you for another check-up tomorrow."

"Let’s not tell Mom yet. I don’t want to worry her."

Wang Lan considered it and agreed. It was better not to tell his aunt until the results were clear.

That evening, Wang Lan’s aunt still hadn’t returned home by the time he left her place. She had called, saying a crucial research project had reached a critical stage, so she would be home late. Song Jia said she was used to it.

He spent the night alone in an empty house, his dreams filled with desolation.

Suddenly, his phone rang, jolting Wang Lan from his sleep. He picked up his cell phone and was instantly wide awake. He had promised to take Song Jia for a check-up today, but he’d forgotten to set an alarm after talking with Jiang Xinyu last night.

That girl wasn’t old, but she had an incredibly explosive temper. Wang Lan rubbed his ear and held the phone away from it before answering.

"Wang Lan, hurry over! I’ve disappeared..."

"Who’s disappeared?" Wang Lan was baffled.

"Me! I’ve disappeared..."

"Then, may I ask who I’m talking to?"

"Wang Lan, I’m not joking! Wang Lan, I’ve disappeared! I can’t see myself... Do you think I’m dead? Did I die and become a Ghost?"

"Stay at home and don’t move. I’ll be right over."

Wang Lan hurried out, driving to Song Jia’s apartment complex. Pushing open her door, he called out, "Jiajia, where are you?"

"You can’t see me either, can you?" A voice spoke from right in front of Wang Lan, yet there was nothing there. Instantly, the hairs on the back of Wang Lan’s neck stood on end.

Wang Lan’s normal strength was already firmly at the level of a Titled Strongman. Yet, just now, if Song Jia hadn’t spoken, he wouldn’t have even known someone was right in front of him. The thought of an invisibility that could elude his senses made Wang Lan’s scalp tingle.

"First, take my hand," Wang Lan said seriously, stretching out his hand.

Soon, a soft hand slipped into his. Wang Lan quickly channeled Star Power into Song Jia’s body. Immediately, he felt a clear repulsion of his Star Power.

The space before him twisted slightly, and a figure gradually materialized. Song Jia, dressed in cartoon pajamas, slowly appeared before Wang Lan. Simultaneously, azure Star Power surged wildly above her head, and a Void Gate gradually manifested.

Her Star Palace opened, and a Starlight flickered within it.

Song Jia looked down in a daze, seeing herself reappear, an expression of grievance on her face.

"Bro... you scared me to death! How could this happen to me?"

Wang Lan gently stroked Song Jia’s head. "If you still can’t figure out what’s happened by now, then you really are a blockhead."

"I... I’ve awakened?"

"Yes. You’ve just awakened, so you’re not yet skilled at controlling your Innate Ability. Familiarize yourself with it over the next couple of days. It’s fortunate that this ability of yours isn’t harmful to others; otherwise, you wouldn’t even be able to interact with people."

"How do I control my ability? This is my first time being a Star Martial Warrior. Can you teach me?"

"How to control your Innate Ability? That’s a good question!" Wang Lan sat on the sofa, adopting an air of great seriousness. "Ahem!"

"Bro, have a drink—" Song Jia zipped to the fridge and presented a can of soda to Wang Lan.

"Ultimately, controlling Innate Abilities is about manipulating Star Power. Manipulating Star Power is like controlling your own limbs. We don’t consciously think about how we control our limbs; it seems instinctive. You want to raise your hand, and it raises.

That’s because we started learning to control our limbs as babies, and it has long since become a subconscious skill. The brain automatically filters out things we’re accustomed to.

Controlling Star Power is essentially the same for everyone as controlling their limbs. The brain issues a command, and the Star Power receives and executes it. With practice, anyone can do it. However, deliberate training can significantly speed up the process of mastering it."

"So, the first step is to sense the existence of Star Power. Where do you feel your Star Power right now?"

"In my head? Is it that... thing that feels like it can glow and give off heat?"

"The Star Palace is the wellspring of Star Power. The Starlight within it acts as the source that generates and replenishes Star Power, much like an ever-flowing spring. Normally, in a static state, Star Power is distributed throughout the meridians in your body; it only flows when you actively channel it..."

Whether it was due to Wang Lan’s excellent instruction or Song Jia’s high aptitude, she managed to perform the steps Wang Lan described after just a few tries. An hour passed without them noticing, and Song Jia could now control her ability to become invisible and visible at will.

This time, however, while invisible, Song Jia emitted a clear Star Energy Fluctuation. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t achieve the same perfect invisibility as the first time—the kind Wang Lan couldn’t sense at all.

Perhaps, during the first unconscious activation of her Innate Ability, she had achieved perfect invisibility. This realization made Wang Lan see the true potential of Song Jia’s invisibility.

Soon after, Song Jia discovered another peculiar aspect of her awakening. When she demonstrated it, Wang Lan was stunned. Song Jia hadn’t just gained invisibility; she also possessed the Innate Ability of Massive Strength.

After awakening, Song Jia’s strength wasn’t merely around eight points like yesterday; it had skyrocketed to a full eighty points. What did eighty points signify? Even Wang Lan, without amplifying his own strength using Star Power, only had about thirty points.

This was because Wang Lan’s basic attributes improved with each level-up. Ordinary Star Martial Warriors typically had a strength of around twenty points. With Song Jia’s current strength, one punch could send an adult elephant flying more than ten meters.

"A Star Martial Warrior should only have one type of Innate Ability. It’s impossible to have two. If it seems like there are two, they are merely different manifestations of a single Innate Ability.

Later, come with me to the Tianjian Bureau. I’ll arrange a comprehensive scan for you."

"Okay!" Song Jia was overjoyed and excited, readily agreeing to Wang Lan’s plan.

BANG—

The front door burst open, and Wang Qi rushed in hastily. She sighed in relief when she saw Wang Lan and Song Jia on the sofa.

"Jiajia, did you really awaken a Star Martial Warrior’s Innate Ability?" Wang Qi asked nervously.

"Mom—" Song Jia quickly stood up. "Look—"

She opened her Star Palace. Within it, a Starlight shimmered with a mesmerizing glow.

"Thank goodness! Your father and I are both ordinary people, so we were so afraid you’d be like us, without any Innate Abilities. But you not only awakened, you awakened on your own!" Wang Qi said, smiling excitedly. "We’ll have a big celebratory lunch today!"

Being unable to become a Star Martial Warrior was Wang Qi’s lifelong regret. This was especially true given that she was the Flame Emperor’s sister; it made her feel even more unreconciled.

Many people might think, So what if you’re not a Star Martial Warrior? What’s wrong with being an ordinary person? You can live a happy life in a large city, avoid battlefields, never have to fight Exotic Beasts, and not worry about dying in combat. Isn’t that great?

But Wang Qi’s perspective and understanding made her firmly believe that one must control one’s own fate. Ordinary people can live peacefully in cities without fighting. Successful white-collar workers can sip coffee and dream about their futures.

However, seventy years have passed since the Demon Clan’s retreat, and mainstream scholars unanimously predict their return within thirty years. When war comes, what will happen to ordinary people?

Star Martial Warriors will still have the ability to protect themselves, but ordinary people will be like lambs to the slaughter.

In the face of a Demon Clan invasion, can one truly expect Star Martial Warriors to protect every single person? When the country is shattered, Star Martial Warriors must protect the land and civilization itself, not specific individuals.

Sometimes, when Wang Qi heard young people express a sense of superiority about being ordinary, she couldn’t help but feel agitated. Superiority? As ordinary people with no means of self-defense in wartime, where does such a sense of superiority even come from?