# 1390
Chapter 1391: Methods to Break Through the Ceiling
"Touching the threshold of the ceiling doesn't mean you can become a Human Apex." Li Kengqiang's voice spoke unhurriedly, "Throughout history, there have been many strong individuals who reached the peak of the 'Klein' realm, but those who managed to cross that threshold and become Human Apex are extremely rare... Do you know why?"
Lin Qiye and the others shook their heads.
"Because that threshold at the ceiling isn't something you can step over just by reaching a certain realm.
What is a Human Apex?
Only those who break through the theoretical limits of humanity and reach the end of species evolution can be called 'Ceiling.' At that level, you've already reached the absolute pinnacle achievable by the species called 'Human.'
Our species, our genes—they determine that we can only go this far. This is the endpoint that was decided the moment humans were born.
Breaking through to Human Apex means that all the potential within our bodies has been fully developed, including the spirit and the flesh."
Li Kengqiang paused, "You've all seen others use 'Yin Soul Guide,' right?"
"Yes."
Not only had Lin Qiye seen it—he had personally used it. Among the [Nightfall] squad, only he and Shen Qingzhu had experienced that滋味 of having their potential squeezed dry.
"The function of Yin Soul Guide is to forcibly stimulate the hidden potential within the human body. The lower your realm, the better the effect. For those who haven't awakened their Forbidden Ruins, it can even help them briefly activate the Forbidden Ruins hidden deep within their bodies.
But this has no effect on Human Apex, because their own potential has already been developed to its limit."
Cao Yuan spoke thoughtfully:
"So Brother Qiang, are you planning to give us training for body potential development?"
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Li Kengqiang's mouth, "That's only part of it."
"There's more?"
"As for body potential development, I'm not worried about that. As long as you have enough time and enough life-and-death training, you'll eventually fully develop your potential. In the end, this kind of thing relies on accumulation of time and experience... Of course, excluding An Qingyu." Li Kengqiang specifically excluded An Qingyu.
"Fully stimulating all body potential only counts as half a step into Human Apex. What truly determines whether you take that final step is here."
Li Kengqiang pointed at his own heart.
"The heart is the bond connecting flesh and spirit.
Body potential can be developed through external forces, but not the brain. The brain is the source of our spiritual power, and it's also the most mysterious part of us. To stimulate its potential, you must use a special state of mind to resonate with the brain, driving the body's potential to impact the spirit, and completely take that final step...
But this special state of mind isn't something you can have just by wanting it. Ninety-nine percent of 'Klein' peak practitioners get stuck at this barrier and never enter the ceiling in their entire lives.
We call this barrier the 'Heart's Gate.'"
"'Heart's Gate'?"
Lin Qiye murmured to himself.
He knew becoming a Human Apex wasn't easy, but the existence of the "Heart's Gate" was something he was hearing about for the first time.
"Then what exactly is this special state of mind?" An Qingyu asked in confusion.
"It varies from person to person, and depends on opportunity." Li Kengqiang thought for a moment, "Do you know the story of Fan Jin Passing the Imperial Examination?"
"Yes." Lin Qiye nodded.
Baili Pangpang suspiciously scratched his chin, "I have an impression,好像在哪里听过......"
"Fan Jin Passing the Imperial Examination tells the story of a scholar named Fan Jin who was poor and down on his luck since childhood, hoping to change his fate through the imperial examination. He failed the exam over twenty times and drifted through half his life in a daze... But then one day, he passed and became a successful candidate in the provincial examinations. Extreme joy flooded his heart, and he went mad.
That's an example of how changes in emotional state can affect the spiritual world. Of course, Fan Jin was just an ordinary person—I'm just using him as an example."
Li Kengqiang raised his fingers and began counting off one by one, "Another example: a wealthy magnate who has been rich for years suddenly experiences a disaster, his temperament changes, he gives away all his wealth and retires to the mountains to find simplicity... In short, extreme joy, extreme sorrow, extreme anger, and some kinds of enlightenment like seeing through worldly affairs—all of these count as special states of mind.
Whether you can attain these states of mind has a lot to do with your personal experiences... Of course, there are exceptions."
Li Kengqiang seemed to think of something, shrugged,
"You all know Zhou Ping, right? For his [Lapis Lazuli Innocent Heart], his state of mind stays in the purest and simplest state at all times... So, he simply has no 'Heart's Gate' barrier."
This explanation from Li Kengqiang carried a lot of information. Lin Qiye and the others fell into deep contemplation.
For some reason, Lin Qiye's mind drifted to the [Mask Squad's] destruction that he witnessed at the Red Moon Fishing Village.
Wang Mian had also broken through to Human Apex only after personally watching his teammates die one by one, falling into extreme sorrow and rage... Was his Heart's Gate broken through at that moment?
And Yiyu—this person entered 'Measureless' back in the last century, and even after forty-plus years, still couldn't become a Human Apex. It was probably closely related to the Heart's Gate as well.
"In short, this training is divided into two parts." Li Kengqiang raised two fingers, "One is the stimulation of your body potential—this portion takes up less weight. The main focus is the other... preparing you for breaking through the 'Heart's Gate' in the future.
Until the training results satisfy me, no matter what happens, none of you can leave this place. Understand?"
Lin Qiye and the others glanced at each other, then asked tentatively:
"But Brother Qiang, didn't you say the 'Heart's Gate' can only be broken through through personal experience and opportunity? How are we supposed to prepare for it? And... how far does this preparation need to go before you're satisfied?"
"When I feel satisfied, that's when I'm satisfied." Li Kengqiang waved his hand casually, perfectly illustrating what is meant by the literature of nonsense.
Lin Qiye: ...
"Let's begin today's potential training first." Li Kengqiang said leisurely, "For where you are now, most methods of training the physical body have become useless, so the simplest and most brutal method is to have you face the fear of death directly in combat.
Originally, this kind of fear should have been brought to you by me, but... now we have a better candidate."
Li Kengqiang smiled faintly and turned to look behind him.
Lin Qiye and the others followed his gaze, only to see a delicate figure wearing a white shirt and holding a Sky-Piercer Halberd who had, at some point, already stood atop the rocky cliff.
"That's..." Lin Qiye gazed at that extraordinarily young face and felt it seemed somewhat familiar.
"Hello." That figure paused,
"I am the third Commander-in-Chief of the Great Xia Night Watch... My name is Tang Yusheng."