The notification lingered like a quiet pulse in the air.
[Skill Breakthrough Detected]
[Cyber Security — Lv. 1 (99%) → Lv. 2 (0%)]
[Passive Ability Acquired — Accelerated Parallel Cognition]
Li Feng froze.
Then—
It hit.
Not like a shock.
Not like a rush.
More like… the sudden unfurling of space inside his mind.
Thoughts that once lined up in a single elegant queue now flowed in parallel — smooth, calm, organized, like several streams feeding into a wide river without turbulence.
One part of his mind replayed the NeuraTech simulation.
Another outlined potential improvements to his attack vectors.
A third quietly revisited Li Web's architecture.
A fourth examined long-term strategy involving the Li Group.
All simultaneous.
Without strain.
"…incredible."
He opened the system's passive tab with a thought.
[Passive Ability: Accelerated Parallel Cognition]
[Description: A breakthrough in mental processing. Allows the host to run multiple independent cognitive threads simultaneously with full clarity, drastically increasing total intellectual output and reducing cognitive fatigue. Thought chains remain organized, stable, and interference-free.]
Li Feng exhaled as the implications settled.
This wasn't an upgrade.
It was a qualitative transformation.
His mental processing no longer felt linear. It felt layered, like a vast, illuminated grid where each node could run independently yet stay connected.
He closed his eyes, letting the sensation settle.
Then he opened them and — without consciously deciding — began to test it.
One cognitive thread reviewed Li Web's Phase One data integration.
Another drafted the framework for Phase Two.
A third constructed the foundation for the analytical AI he planned to build — the "core" that would handle automated pattern recognition.
A fourth modeled heuristics for adaptive detection and silent alerting.
All four processes ran together as cleanly as breathing.
He felt a slow, sharp thrill.
So this was Level 2.
His Programming skill hadn't broken through yet, but with this new cognitive bandwidth, every structure he visualized appeared fully formed — refined, optimized, elegant.
He shifted his notebook closer.
On an empty page, he wrote:
Li Web Phase Two
— Central AI Core
— Autonomous pattern ranking
— Cross-departmental correlation engine
— Silent triggers + predictive modeling
— Multi-layer behavioral analysis
Before tonight, creating a true AI core was ambitious — complex enough to require entire teams months of work.
Now?
Now it was… manageable.
Clear.
Almost straightforward.
He sat at his desk, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Then he began.
Code spilled across the screen — precise, symmetrical, almost artistic.
Logical structures mapped themselves out while another part of his mind simultaneously built the next module.
Another mental thread verified stability.
Another optimized execution weights.
Another refined semantic parsing layers for the AI.
His breathing stayed slow.
His heartbeat steady.
But his mind—
His mind felt limitless.
Hours slipped past unnoticed.
By the time he finally leaned back, dawn light had begun to creep through the edges of his curtains, brushing over the scattered pages and glowing code.
Only then did he realize:
He hadn't slept.
He hadn't eaten.
He hadn't even felt fatigue.
Li Feng stared at the newly constructed AI architecture — the beginnings of a silent, omnipresent intelligence that would one day watch every corner of the Li Group.
"…Level 2…" he murmured, a faint, exhilarated smile on his lips, "is on an entirely different level."
And he still had barely scratched the surface.
---
Soft footsteps approached down the hallway.
Li Feng didn't notice at first — his attention was split across three simultaneous threads of analysis, each unfolding with almost lazy clarity. The aftershocks of the breakthrough still lingered in his mind, sharpening everything.
He was mid-revision on the predictive framework for his Li Web AI when—
Knock. Knock.
A gentle rhythm.
Familiar.
"Gege?"
Li Xue's voice came through softly.
"It's morning… are you awake?"
"Coming," he said, pushing back his chair.
He opened the door.
Li Xue looked up at him — and instantly pouted.
"You didn't sleep."
It wasn't a question.
Li Feng thought for a moment.
Then simply said, "No."
She sighed dramatically, crossing her arms.
"Gege… you can't keep doing that. You'll get sick."
Then, squinting suspiciously: "Why don't you even look tired?"
He raised a brow. "Good genes?"
She glared.
He chuckled and patted her head gently.
"I'm fine."
She slipped past him into the room, eyes widening at the desk.
Hand-drawn architecture diagrams.
Clean modular layouts.
Freshly written analysis trees.
His terminal still running several silent threads.
"…You did all of that last night?" she whispered.
Li Feng gave a mild nod.
"Had some inspiration."
She touched one of the pages lightly, careful not to shift anything.
"…Wow."
A moment of quiet passed before she suddenly brightened.
"Oh! Today's the Expo! Don't forget — we leave in two hours."
Li Feng blinked. Right.
The Expo.
She clasped her hands behind her back, smiling shyly.
"And… thank you again, Gege. I know Silent Hands wouldn't be half as amazing without you. I really… really mean that."
He flicked her forehead gently.
"You brought the idea. I only built around it."
She giggled, rubbing her forehead.
Then, with a softer tone:
"I'll go help Dad with breakfast. You should wash up. And…"
She hesitated at the doorway.
"…I don't know what you're working on, but… I hope it's something that makes you happy."
Then she slipped out.
Li Feng watched the door close, the room settling into quiet again.
But not the same quiet as before.
He exhaled slowly, letting the moment clear the lingering emotional haze — then sat back at his desk.
Now, the clarity returned.
The thrill of growth.
The hum of new potential.
The sense of standing on the threshold of something entirely different.
He summoned the system interface.
It unfurled in a clean, blue projection behind his eyes.
[Skill Dashboard — Current Sync]
Cyber Security — Lv. 2 (0%)
Programming — Lv. 1 (92%)
Software Engineering — Lv. 1 (70%)
Machine Learning & AI — Lv. 1 (35%)
Yi Jin Jing — Lv. 0 (61%)
Zhan Zhuang — Lv. 0 (58%)
Meditation — Lv. 0 (71%)
[Passives:]
Accelerated Comprehension
Cognitive Resonance
System Integration
Accelerated Parallel Cognition (new)
Li Feng closed the panel slowly.
A quiet smile tugged at his lips.
"Level 2… and this is just the beginning."
---
Morning sunlight filtered into Li Feng's room by the time he stepped out of the bathroom, hair still damp, the fatigue washed clean from his expression. A fresh shirt, a steady breath — and the sharp clarity in his eyes made it seem as though he'd slept a full eight hours.
Accelerated Parallel Cognition was still quietly humming beneath the surface, smoothing his thoughts into perfect order.
Downstairs, the clatter of dishes and the smell of congee drifted through the air.
Li Xue looked up the moment he stepped into the dining room. Her shoulders visibly relaxed.
"Much better," she said with a relieved smile.
Their father glanced up from the newspaper, studying Li Feng for a brief moment longer than usual.
"…Did you sleep at all?" he asked mildly.
Li Feng answered in the most non-answer way possible:
"I'm prepared."
A small spark of amusement flashed in Guohua's eyes. He didn't push further.
Breakfast moved quickly.
Li Xue kept glancing at her tablet, rechecking their project slides for the tenth time that morning.
She repeated the introduction under her breath, then whispered:
"Should we switch the order of the demo? Maybe the gesture recognition part should go before the voice output? Or—"
"Xue," Li Feng interrupted gently, "it's already perfect."
She froze mid-panicked sip of soy milk. "…Really?"
He tapped her tablet, opening the Silent Hands test logs.
"Your design layout is clean. Your presentation flow is intuitive. The demo is stable. You've done good work."
Her eyes softened. She looked down with a shy smile, the tension slowly melting from her shoulders.
"…Okay."
A tiny pause.
"Thanks, Gege."
After breakfast, they headed outside.
The chauffeur was already waiting by the car, door open, engine quiet.
Li Xue hesitated before getting in.
"Um… Gege?"
Li Feng raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
"…No matter what happens today, I'm glad I worked on this with you."
She fiddled with the ribbon on her bag.
"And I want to do my best today. Not for the school, not for the family… but because Silent Hands can really help people."
Li Feng looked at her for a moment — the morning breeze lifting a strand of her hair, sunlight catching the determination in her eyes.
He gently patted her head.
"Then that's more than enough," he said softly.
She brightened at once, nodding firmly before getting into the car.
Li Feng followed after her, sliding in and settling back as the door clicked shut. The car rolled smoothly forward, leaving the estate behind.
The day had begun.
And at Longhai No. 1 High School, the Expo awaited.
---
Longhai No. 1 High School's gymnasium had been transformed.
Colorful banners hung from the rafters. Rows of display tables were neatly arranged with cables, monitors, boards, and project kits. The low hum of conversation filled the air — excitement, nerves, ambition. Teachers moved around checking setups, while a few sponsoring companies observed quietly from a distance.
Li Feng and Li Xue entered together, blending naturally into the stream of uniformed students.
Li Xue clutched her tablet nervously. "Gege… there are so many people."
Li Feng scanned the hall. "It's nothing to worry about. Just focus on your part."
She nodded, breathing out slowly.
Their station was near the center — not too exposed, not too tucked away. The perfect spot.
The placard read:
Project: Silent Hands
Team: Li Xue & Li Feng
Category: Assistive Technology
Li Xue set the gloves down carefully while Li Feng ran a quick diagnostic on the display tablet.
Everything worked perfectly.
As expected.
Once they were done, they stepped aside as students, teachers, and early observers moved around the hall.
Li Xue fidgeted with her sleeves. "Do you… think they'll like it?"
"Doesn't matter," Li Feng replied calmly, "it works."
She laughed nervously. "Gege, that's not how this usually goes…"
Before she could finish, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Well, well. Look who actually showed up."
Li Han.
Dyed hair. Flashy jacket. A mocking half-smile that made it clear he hadn't forgotten the dinner.
He strolled up with two rich looking kids at his side —probably his lackeys—, glancing over their display with open disdain.
"Silent Hands?" He snorted. "This looks like something from a middle school science fair. Meanwhile—" he gestured broadly "—other teams actually put in real work. With support. With resources."
Li Xue stiffened again.
Li Feng didn't give him the satisfaction of reacting.
Instead, he flicked a glance at Li Han's badge.
Visitor Pass.
Not participant.
Not even permitted to comment.
Li Feng's expression didn't change, but the corner of his mouth lifted.
"Observing is free, Li Han," he said calmly. "But if you're looking for attention, go bother someone who cares."
Li Han bristled. "You—"
But before anything else could happen, a teacher called for visitors to clear the aisles.
Li Feng stepped forward, effortlessly inserting himself between Li Han and his sister.
"Move along," he said quietly.
Li Han glared, but this time he backed away.
Not because he wanted to.
But because something in Li Feng's eyes — sharp, clear, utterly steady — told him that pushing now would only make him lose face in front of everyone.
He left with a click of his tongue.
Li Xue let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Gege…"
Li Feng patted her head gently. "Ignore him."
Her shoulders loosened immediately.
They turned back to their booth, and for a moment, it felt like the world had calmed again.
But only for a moment.
Because from across the hall, a small commotion had begun — teachers straightening their postures, students whispering, judges gathering near the entrance.
Someone important had arrived.
And the Expo…
was officially about to begin.
---
Hello, Author here,
Thanks for reading — Leave a comment to tell me what you think about this chapter, and drop a Power Stone if you're enjoying Li Feng's story so far! Let's grow this story together.