Chapter 21: Combat Conversion

After making his decision,

Zhang Sanfeng spoke solemnly, "The Heart of Class Transition is one of the things I will bestow upon you."

"Earlier, I mentioned that I would embed an additional skill into this Heart."

"Rather than calling it a skill, it’s more accurate to describe it as a Chronicle of Fist Cultivation!"

"This book is vast."

"Within it, you’ll encounter countless fist cultivators—some renowned, some obscure, some long departed, others still alive."

"They differ in countless ways, but share one commonality: to this day, none have abandoned their fists!"

"The chronicle bears too many names."

"To the mortal realm, they are nameless, but not to you."

"When you delve into this book, you’ll witness firsthand how every fist cultivator in the mortal realm has tread countless treacherous paths and detours for the sake of their fists."

"Of course, you could also choose to directly learn the 'strongest fist technique' I mentioned."

Li An nodded firmly. "Understood."

"Then let us begin!" Zhang Sanfeng pressed his palm decisively onto Li An’s head.

Without further preparation, the class transition commenced.

Li An felt it clearly: a white vortex symbol gradually emerged on the latent talent sigils within his body.

Fist Intent coalesced, aligning!

Moreover, the sigils now bore the imprint of a book—the very chronicle Zhang Sanfeng had described. By calming his mind, Li An could effortlessly peruse its contents.

The transition was smooth, entirely painless.

With his eyes closed, Li An suddenly asked, "Uncle Zhang, who is the strongest fist cultivator in the mortal realm’s history?"

Zhang Sanfeng replied, "My teacher. His innate talent was Fist God, and that’s what everyone called him."

"Was he powerful?"

At this question, a shadow of sorrow flickered in Zhang Sanfeng’s eyes.

"My teacher fell in battle three years ago at the First Warzone of the First Great Wall."

"The Seventh Great Wall is the smallest battlefield, where combatants are mostly lower-tier geniuses—ideal for novices to acclimate to war. Hence, it’s dubbed the Genius Graveyard."

"The First Great Wall, however, is boundless—a ring-shaped continent spanning five galaxies, encircling the northern frontier of the mortal realm. It faces the Ghost Realm and Demon Realm across the void!"

"Only such immensity can accommodate the might of true powerhouses!"

"The mortal realm’s supreme experts gather there."

"The First Great Wall! First Warzone! Also known as—the Grave of the Divine!"

"The entry requirement? Beyond the Ninth Realm—Divine Ascension."

"My teacher was the only fist cultivator in history to transcend the Ninth Realm!"

Suddenly, Zhang Sanfeng paused. "Remember my next words!"

"Though we hail him as the strongest, the history of fist cultivation spans merely millennia."

"In the ancient era, when humanity struggled across the cosmos, 'fist cultivation' didn’t exist—it was deemed too weak, too useless!"

"Humanity’s resources were scarce; none could be wasted on mere fists."

"Only after the War of Ascension concluded three thousand years ago, when humanity claimed its throne among the celestial powers, did we gain the luxury to nurture 'useless' fist cultivators."

"So don’t resent Meng Chen."

"If some revel in comfort, others must sacrifice."

"Practicing the fist itself is a form of comfort."

"To this day, the Combat Conversion Rate of fist cultivators hasn’t even broken even."

"Do you know what Combat Conversion means?"

Li An answered swiftly, "Yes. The ratio of resources consumed to battlefield merits earned."

Every registered soldier’s records track their merits: enemies slain, resources expended.

Total historical merits earned (numerator) divided by total merits spent (denominator).

For example, if Li An spent 100 merits but killed enemies worth 300, his Combat Conversion Rate would be 3.0, or 300%. Higher numbers command greater prestige.

This metric defines a soldier’s valor, dominance, and sheer intimidation on the battlefield!

A disheveled, ordinary man with "1000% Combat Conversion" emblazoned above his head would command universal reverence—both as a war god and a savior of humanity.

Some might ask: Couldn’t one hoard merits to inflate their Conversion Rate?

Technically, yes.

But no one does.

This is war, not a game!

Merits are spent immediately to bolster strength. Saving them serves no purpose—what use is wealth if you’re dead?

After this explanation, Zhang Sanfeng continued, "The average Combat Conversion Rate for fist cultivators is 65.6%."

"100% is the break-even point."

"Thus, every fist cultivator trained drains the mortal realm’s resources."

"In contrast, war strategists boast the highest average rate: 729%."

"Give a strategist one resource, and they return sevenfold!"

"And Meng Chen’s personal rate? 3099%."

Li An’s pupils contracted. "What does that even mean?"

Zhang Sanfeng said gravely, "Warzones 1–8 are colossal battlefronts."

"Meng Chen’s Conversion Rate ranks 3rd on the current Colossal Warzone Leaderboard."

"128th in all history."

Li An’s heart skipped a beat. "128th in history!?"

"Correct." Zhang Sanfeng nodded. "Over decades and 137 campaigns, he’s never lost—no matter the foe."

"Though not yet Divine, he is a god in Warzones 1–8."

"My own rate is 260%."

"For an ordinary vanguard, that’s passable."

"But as Meng Chen’s vanguard? It’s shameful."

"People joke that even a dog leashed by Meng Chen would hit 1000%."

Zhang Sanfeng chuckled bitterly. "So don’t mistake his pride for arrogance—he’s restrained."

"With his record, I’d kick every mutt I passed!"

"And… we were classmates in university."

"His dream wasn’t to become a strategist—it was to be a sword cultivator. For the flair."

"But he abandoned that dream."

"Why?"

Zhang Sanfeng’s expression darkened. "Today, the mortal realm’s average Combat Conversion Rate is 128%."

"Those above 100% contribute to humanity."

"Those below 100% leech from it."

"So, to put it harshly… we fist cultivators are parasites. We dilute Meng Chen’s glory, dragging down his brilliance with our mediocrity."