Chapter Seven: The Effects of Energy Value

Kinetic energy within cells cannot be accumulated without limit. After all, these are still cells—real, tangible entities. Even though, thanks to his cheat-like ability, they are far more powerful than ordinary cells, there is still an upper bound. This is clearly reflected in the numbers on his attribute panel. Once the value reached ten, the previously fluctuating digits behind the energy stat instantly froze, and a sense of fullness spread through his body.

Though countless blades of wind continued to howl outside, scraping his skin with a pain like flesh being sliced away, they could no longer provide even a sliver of energy. Thus, not only did he have to expend his energy points—he must expend them. Otherwise, all this pain would be for nothing.

So far, he had discovered two ways to utilize his energy points.

The first was attribute enhancement. Adding points to his physical attributes would bolster their corresponding strengths. For example, increasing his constitution would raise his overall bodily strength, encompassing but not limited to defense, power, and agility.

How much each point would improve, Zhou Yi did not yet know. After all, this was his first time filling his energy meter to capacity, his first time making use of it.

The second method was to use energy points to awaken more cells. As for how many he could awaken, that answer had come to him when his cheat ability first appeared—a rush of information had been transmitted into his mind, and after sorting through it, he understood this aspect rather well.

Cells, as his innate gift, were essentially designed to absorb kinetic energy and convert it into all-purpose energy points. However, this conversion was far from one hundred percent efficient. The exact ratio was unclear, but Zhou Yi suspected it was quite low. The information he’d received indicated that the conversion rate depended on both the number and strength of his cells.

And how many cells did he currently possess? Ten. Were they powerful? Without question, they were weak. He hadn’t completed even the first stage of strengthening—how could they be considered strong? Compared to the forty to sixty trillion cells in a typical human body, ten was an almost laughably insignificant number.

Cells increased in increments of ten, and every time their number multiplied by ten, a metamorphosis would occur—a process Zhou Yi referred to as “strengthening.” In other words, every time he illuminated a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand cells in his cellular universe, the cells themselves would undergo a fundamental change. For instance, right now each cell could store one energy point; perhaps, after the first metamorphosis at a hundred cells, each could store ten energy points. This was Zhou Yi’s conjecture after studying the information he’d received. Whether or not it was true would only become clear once he reached a hundred cells and the transformation occurred.

Currently, with just ten cells, he was at the lowest tier—first stage. Awakening other cells at this level was relatively easy: one energy point for each cell. With his current ten energy points, he could awaken ten additional cells, should he choose.

Zhou Yi stared blankly at the lower left corner of his vision, where the attribute panel hovered, his gaze fixed on the energy value, his thoughts in turmoil.

What should I do? In the long run, I ought to awaken more cells. That would not only raise my energy storage limit but also greatly improve the efficiency of kinetic-to-energy conversion. Enduring all this agony would then be worthwhile—after all, twenty cells are twice as many as ten!

But, I also want to know: what benefits will I gain if I invest these ten points directly into my physical attributes? Zhou Yi’s brow furrowed, his heart torn. Furthermore, doing so would let me gauge the practical effect of energy points and estimate how many I’d need to enhance my overall attributes. I could then plan more effectively.

Most important of all—if my physical attributes improve, maybe this blade wind won’t hurt so much anymore?

Torn between two approaches, Zhou Yi hesitated. One was the conventional path—awaken more cells, improve conversion ratios, make the most of his unique gift. The other was to sharpen the axe before chopping wood—strengthen his body, learn the true value of energy points, then strategize accordingly.

There’s not much difference either way, he finally decided. Neither path is necessarily shorter; both have their own pros and cons. In the end, it probably makes little difference which I choose.

That settles it. I’ll boost my physical attributes first. He made up his mind, his gaze steadying on the energy value. With a thought, the number leapt from ten to zero.

Let’s add it to constitution. Maybe increasing my body’s strength will also help me endure the pain.

Name: Zhou Yi
Spirit: 1
Constitution: 1.001
Vitality: 1

After expending his energy points, Zhou Yi shifted his attention to the attribute panel, his mood tense. When his eyes landed on the constitution stat and he saw the additional 0.001, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Ten energy points had only increased his constitution by 0.001—a mere one-thousandth boost to his physical attributes. The result was poor but not unexpected. With only ten cells, the conversion ratio was bound to be low. Even so, that the energy stored in ten initial cells could still enhance his constitution by a thousandth was already fortunate.

On the attribute panel, each point in constitution equated to the strength of a grown man—about a hundred kilograms of force. So even though ten energy points had only raised his physique by a thousandth, that still amounted to an increase of 0.1 kilograms. Not so insignificant after all, especially since constitution encompassed not only strength but also defense, agility, and more.

If all those aspects were considered, this was no meager improvement. What mattered most was that this growth was not fixed—it could be developed further, and the future potential was virtually limitless.